Bahku,
I would like to pick your "green" brain for a second if you don't mind.
1. What are "tommy points" and how do they work?
2. What is the price of gas there? Just curious. About $4.15 for regular unleaded here.
3. Do you guys have a "Luke Walton"? Meaning do you guys have a player that the media and (by default) other teams fans think is a good player, but you know he really sucks.
4. What are your teams weaknesses and strengths? Be honest.
5. Are you guys really confident in your teams abilities, or do you really think we are overrated? I realize this is a leading question, but I am just following the tone of the posts. The Laker blog is the same way.
6. Are you going to any games at TD? I am going to game 5 at Staples, and maybe game 4, not sure yet.
Thanks
I'm not Bahku but i'll try
#1 - Tommy Heinsohn is a legendary former Celtic and is the TV color commentator during Celtics games. When someone has a hustle point (dives for a loose ball or something) he awards them a "Tommy Point". This forum has "tommy points" basically to give someone kudos for a good post.
#2 - Dunno bout gas in Boston, but it's 4.15 in Seattle
#3 - A "Luke Walton"? Well... seems like some of the media (read some Laker articles today) talk about Sam Cassell like he's still going to make an impact on the series. The guy is a corpse at this point. He should only be playing garbage time at this point. Total freakin waste. He's like 3 for his last 40. Look it up. Terrible defense, messes up our offense and forces every other shot. If this team unravels and starts playing selfish, I'll point the finger at Sam Cassell. loser.
#4 - Weakness? Mentally soft at times. You don't lose 3 to Atlanta by being focused. I think the expectations worked against them. When we were expected to dominate, we struggled. When we were slight underdogs (against Detroit) we showed up. This is why im happy we are considered overwhelming underdogs against the Lakers. If we play our game and play the players who got it done in the regular season... we can and will beat the Lakers. Strength? Defense and intensity. Obviously.
#5 - We had the best record in the NBA. We have met every challenge we have faced. Yeah... we are confident in our teams abilities as long as they play like they can. We have not played 100% during these playoffs. If we do play 100%... Lakers aren't going to have a cakewalk. My personal interpretation of the Lakers is that they are a very good team... but replacing Bynum with Pau doesn't suddenly mean they sweep the Celtics. We handled Kobe and your team in the regular season... KG can handle Pau in the post season. Again... it just comes down to if we play our game. If we play up to our capabilities I am fully confident we will beat the Lakers. If we play mentally soft and choke like we did at various times during the first 3 rounds... we're screwed. It's that simple. But personally (and I can only speak for myself here) I don't buy the media hype that the Lakers are a much better team. Don't buy it at all. We won 66 games this year and at times we played like we were unbeatable. In the playoffs?... we only lost when we beat ourselves and it has frustrated the entire fanbase. Seriously.
Hey, PS ... I must have ditched before I saw your post ... sorry. LB pretty much nailed it, though.
Can't expound any on #1 ... it is what it is (inside joke), and basically just a reward system created by Tommy on Comcast local broadcasts of C's games.
The price of gas where I live, (in Maine), is just now over $4.00, like $4.05 most places, but I think it's a little higher in Boston.
#3 would definitely be Sam ... there were some of us who really didn't want him coming here, me included, and we got bashed at the time for even talking about it. Now he's here, he's playing just exactly like we said and thought he would ... like he always has ... pounding the ball, looking for his shot, being selfish, and a complete tempo-destroyer. Go figure. Tony Allen is a major disappointment, too, and can't seem to get beyond his injury and the emotional trauma from the extensive rehab he went through ... and it's a shame ... a lot of talent there. But anyway, I don't think Luke's much good, either, so we agree there. 
#4 - I just wrote this whole thing on the weakness thread, so here it is:
Just mainly reiterating what Roy already nailed down, but consistency is definitely the C's biggest weakness, and I think it's mainly from the lack of history/playing time with each other. The more games we play, obviously, the better it gets, but we're still a ways from being consistent, at least on a consistent basis, that is. (Sorry) This team is so up-and-down, (or hot-and-cold), and can be playing huge on both ends for ten minutes, then have these complete lapses and totally let down ... it's extremely frustrating to watch.
The next biggest weakness I see is shot selection, or I should say play selection, to be more accurate. This team seems to have a propensity to be a bit lazy, and not continue to attack the basket, even when it's proving to be successful, (which is most of the time). Everybody loves to hit the "Big Shot" and is plagued by the temptation to do so, but we fall back on it far too often, and choose to take a three, even when there's a clear lane to the basket ... it's truly baffling at times.
Following on the list for me would be foul-shooting. This drives me completely nuts, and there's really no good excuse for it. Free-throws are Basketball 101, and for the best team in the NBA to miss so many foul-shots, especially in the playoffs, when every point is crucial, is just absurd to me. Honestly, if I were Doc, I'd spend way more time and energy getting these guys to tighten up from the stripe. Maybe he does already, but it sure as heck isn't enough. These guys should be a bit embarassed about it, and take it upon themselves to do much better. They could have had a much easier time this season, if they'd just hit more of their free-throws.
Fourth in line, I feel, is foul trouble. There have been many games this year, including the post-season, where two or three of the starters, (usually KG, Perk, or Rondo), have been sitting on the bench with two fouls by the middle of the first period. This is really unacceptable, and while the poor officiating has had much to do with it, we should be taking that into consideration, and minimizing the damage as much as possible. There have been so many games where we came out and got off to a great start, then KG and Perk got two quick fouls, and the wind was totally gone from our sails. It kills the momentum, and changes the face of the game.
Keeping it to five, I'd have to say lastly also, that it's the coaching. I think the Detroit series was a step in the right decision ... Doc made some great adjustments and called some very smart offensive plays, especially halftime changes. But unfortunately, there were still times when it was painfully obvious that the wrong players were on the floor, and the match-ups weren't right. Eddie House especially, should be the first one off the bench for Rage, not Sam, and Leon should be used far more than he has been. I also think that the "two-big" or "three-big" line-up should be used more for the subs, especially with LA, and that Sam should be used more as a two-guard, and play with Rondo, not in place of him.
Have to add one more, as it's been on my mind: Lack of aggressiveness. There seems to be, as a result of the very positive "team" concept, (indirectly), a reluctance by the three superstars to step-up and take over a game. Paul finally did it at a very important Detroit game, and Ray as well in another one, but we need this to happen more often. I honestly don't think the "We Not Me" thing suffers at all, on the contrary, I think even the closest of units need a leader, and becomes stronger by following the lead of the one being aggressive, and by gaining confidence in knowing that that person is the foundation. I'd like to see more of the Big Three scoring big points, especially Paul and KG, as their match-ups are key against the Lakers.
As far as strengths, defense is the obvious one, being tops in the league. It's become absolutely proven by this team this year, that defense can win games ... without a doubt, and it's a joy to watch it in action, (although they don't do it consistently enough). Also huge is the "ubuntu" and "We Not Me" philosophy ... I've never seen a bunch of guys together in their first season who mesh as well ... who all made a commitment from day one, to put aside their egos and personal agendas for the good of the "Team" and a chance at the Championship. The results are obvious ... and when they're really playing their best, it's truly the perfect example of how a team should play basketball ... so sweet. If I was an NBA coach, I would hope for little more than a monster defense, and an unselfish team ... very powerful weapons! (oh yeah ... and there's those Big Three guys, too ... what are their names again? 
)
#5 - I'm very confident in this team's abilities, just not confident in their consistency. But when they play their best, there's no one that can beat them. Problem is, they don't do that all the time, and are very up and down. I don't think your team is over-rated, but I do think the media is under-estimating these Celtics, and that they may just get a wake-up call to how really impressive the Celts can be when they're at their best. Frankly, I love the fact that we're underdogs!
#6 - It depends on my daughter's work schedule and her boyfriend, but there's a good chance I'll be going to at least one home game ... and I'm psyched! It's her Father's Day gift to me .... what could be better?!?
OK, PSLakerFan ... now it's your turn - I'd like to see your answers to the same questions! Thanks!
Well there is no point in responding to 1 and 2. Actually gas is going up quick, probably around $4.30 by now.
#3 I will expound on the Luke Walton thing a bit. You will not find a media outlet that doesn't speak of Luke Walton as though he is a great all around player (stat filler, and High b-ball IQ are the overused terms). However Laker fans (for the most part) are just sick of him. He signed a fairly big contract this summer and he hasn't even remotely lived up to it. I would estimate that he had 6 or maybe 7 good games this year. That is being generous. He played decent in the enver series (no D) but that is about it. Horrible decisions with the ball and very inconsistent shooting would be the biggest issues.
#4 Weakness and Strengths: Well I guess I will start with strengths. Since the addition of Pau, the passing has been incredible. I posted a few times that people were making the mistake of looking at the addition of Pau as a Bynum vs. Pau thing. The problem with that logic (while valid on the surface) is that the Lakers have become a completely different team. The offense is built around penetrate and dish, give and go, finesse, fast breaks, etc. Before Pau it was basically Bynum post up or Kobe isolation. Three pointers are a key as well. If we are hitting them, we are unbeatable. Unfortunately we have had quite a few 4-25 nights from beyond the stripe. With Gasol in the middle and Kobe and Odom being aggressive it is impossible to guard the perimeter players. Radmanovic, Vujacic, and Fisher will have plenty of opportunities to shoot the 3 against any team. As a Laker fan I hope we don't shoot too many as I hate pinning the series on 3pt shooting percentage.
I would say our biggest weakness is..............wait for it..................also inconsistency. I know how pathetic to give the same answer as you did, but it is true. Like the Celtics, if we are on, it is over. Wouldn't it be great if we were both on? A battle for the ages. Rebounding is a problem as well. The biggest loss we felt with Bynum's injury was rebounding. Believe it or not he was rebounding the ball at a better rate than Dwight Howard when he went down. That's per 48 minutes if you choose to look it up. Actually in his last few weeks he was beating Dwight Howard across the board per 48 minutes. Man I can't wait to get that guy back. Unfortunately when we played you guys he just wasn't quite there yet. The last weakness I suppose would be the "buy a ticket factor". That is what the Laker announcers call it. Meaning the rest of the team just sits and watches Kobe do his thing. If you are going to be a spectator then "buy a ticket" as they would say. Believe it or not while Kobe does "take over" quite a bit he is an excellent passer and he will get you the ball if you put a little effort into getting open. I don't know if it is the chicken or the egg with Kobe but he passes a lot more now.
#5 I am confident in our teams abilities. I don't think the Celtics are overrated at all. To be honest they scare the hell out of me because I think the troubles you have had in the playoffs so far are due to complacency more than anything. I don't expect complacency in the finals. Do you?
#6 I have season seats so I have tickets to games 3,4,5, but I am not sure if I am going to all. Right now I have games 3 and 4 up for sale, but if they don't sell I will go. I am definitely going to game 5 with my father as it is on fathers day and he is a huge fan. I hate to sell tickets, but I need the money and my seats are going for about $450 per seat per game. I could use the money.
My daughter is only 2 and doesn't work yet. LOL
