Game 3 observations from a Laker fan

[plasmaPG]

Wow, what an ugly game.  I think that was one of the worst games to watch for me as a laker fan.  But here are my observations.

1.  The Lakers have no heart.  Every loose ball, every hustle play was from a Celtic.  I did not see any one hustle or played with passion except Kobe and Sasha.

2.  Boston most likely will win game 3 or 4 and then take it home.  I can't imagine if the Lakers play the way they did, that will be able to sweep 3 games.  Game 3 looks like the worst game for the Celtics and you guys still had a shot to win it.

3.  Odom and Gasol disappeared again in the game.  Odom is proving he is not worth his $14M contract.  Kobe carried the team to a victory, he can't do that for 4 games.  Odom and Gasol needs to step up.

4.  KG is not a franchise player.  Neither is Pierce or Allen.  What you guys have are 3 great number two type players without a single number one.  KG whittle in the second half going for jumpers when he can dominate inside the paint.  Pierce had a bad game but to go 2-14 is inexcusable, Kobe had a bad game 1 and was able to score 24 pts.

5.  From a Laker fan, my hope lies in the fact that you guys have a bad road record 2-8 in the playoffs but if you play like you did in detriot, my Lakers are done.  If you play like you did in Cleveland and ATL, then it will be a game 7, all or nothing.

6.    Watching the Lakers cruise through the west was a beautiful thing, lots of lops, cuts and ball movement.  But your east coast brand of grind it out, all defense, bad looks makes for ugly games and this was an ugly game.

[CelticsPrideKG]

Wow, what an ugly game.  I think that was one of the worst games to watch for me as a laker fan.  But here are my observations.

1.  The Lakers have no heart.  Every loose ball, every hustle play was from a Celtic.  I did not see any one hustle or played with passion except Kobe and Sasha.

2.  Boston most likely will win game 3 or 4 and then take it home.  I can't imagine if the Lakers play the way they did, that will be able to sweep 3 games.  Game 3 looks like the worst game for the Celtics and you guys still had a shot to win it.

3.  Odom and Gasol disappeared again in the game.  Odom is proving he is not worth his $14M contract.  Kobe carried the team to a victory, he can't do that for 4 games.  Odom and Gasol needs to step up.

4.  KG is not a franchise player.  Neither is Pierce or Allen.  What you guys have are 3 great number two type players without a single number one.  KG whittle in the second half going for jumpers when he can dominate inside the paint.  Pierce had a bad game but to go 2-14 is inexcusable, Kobe had a bad game 1 and was able to score 24 pts.

5.  From a Laker fan, my hope lies in the fact that you guys have a bad road record 2-8 in the playoffs but if you play like you did in detriot, my Lakers are done.  If you play like you did in Cleveland and ATL, then it will be a game 7, all or nothing.

6.  Watching the Lakers cruise through the west was a beautiful thing, lots of lops, cuts and ball movement.  But your east coast brand of grind it out, all defense, bad looks makes for ugly games and this was an ugly game.

Ridiculous.


All three carried their respective franchises at times when there was virtually no talent around them.  KG carried a team in the dominant West for the better part of a decade and was possibly a healthy PG away from winning the title in 2004.  Pierce has carried the Celtic franchise for a decade and almost made it to the finals by himself. 


Easy to make these comments after possibly the worst games of their respective careers.

[ma11l]

Kobe scored more points on his off night because he took more shots, went to the line more, and was playing with two healthy knees.  Paul Pierce has been our franchise player his whole career, he's not on Kobe's level obviously, but he also hasn't had the help on the rest of the roster which is why Kobe has the rings Paul is looking for.


You would think you guys would have more faith in your team after your first win of the series.  I see your points, but I think you should have a little more faith in your team.



There truly is a vast difference between the styles of play.  Last night it resulted in an ugly game, but at times I find it interesting.  Last night was the Celtics style of game, which in my opinion makes it less encouraging that we couldn't pull it off. 

[BballTim]

  Pierce is a lot closer to Kobe than Kobe is to MJ. He's not healthy, which is why the Lakers aren't down 3-0. There's nobody on that roster that can guard him.

[Barnabas]

KG and Pierce were MIAs on offense last night.  But so was Gasol.  So was Odom.  I think one of the things that make a player like Kobe very special is the fact that he can find a way to score, no matter the situation.  It may be ugly and scappy, but it won't be often that he's a non-factor on offense.  Kobe made some very spectacular shots last night. 

As a Celtic fan, the most frustrating thing about this team is the fact that their shooting will go off-track quite frequently.  I never thought Boston could sweep the Lakers.  Shooting well for 4 consecutive games might be asking a lot from them.  I've always had this fear that one, two, or maybe all three of the big Three would have a night like they did last night.  I don't know if it's because of the fact that this is a jumpshooting team.  Maybe that's the reason why a skilled low post player is so very helpful. 

In any case, Gasol and Odom didn't play any better.  At least Pierce and KG played good defense.  But your bench was very, very good.  Vujacic has been a 3-point threat all year long.  He showed up to play last night.  I wish we had that guy on our team. 

And yeah, I agree, House should have gotten more minutes at the end.  He actually was more effective than Rondo in the end.  I suspect Doc was thinking "defensive stops" though.

[spelz]

Paul just had a bad night shooting - It happens.  He has been lights-out the entire play-offs.  He will rebound with a great game in game 4.  Paul is very underrated around the league in MHO.  Kobe is the only Laker with a chance to guard him, but won't because he would get into foul trouble.

[plasmaPG]

Kobe scored more points on his off night because he took more shots, went to the line more, and was playing with two healthy knees.  Paul Pierce has been our franchise player his whole career, he's not on Kobe's level obviously, but he also hasn't had the help on the rest of the roster which is why Kobe has the rings Paul is looking for.


You would think you guys would have more faith in your team after your first win of the series.  I see your points, but I think you should have a little more faith in your team.



There truly is a vast difference between the styles of play.  Last night it resulted in an ugly game, but at times I find it interesting.  Last night was the Celtics style of game, which in my opinion makes it less encouraging that we couldn't pull it off. 

Oh Believe me, I will support this team until I die.  I have grown up and bleed purple and gold for my entire life and will never stop supporting them.  But, I am not a homer and pretending everything is right when its not.  It is so disheartening to watch them play without heart and passion.  If we brought like you guys brought it, meaning the hustle plays and passion, the game would not have been as close.

[BballTim]

You would think you guys would have more faith in your team after your first win of the series.  I see your points, but I think you should have a little more faith in your team.

  Check out some of our posts from the Atlanta and Cleveland series.

[lon3lytoaster]

Saying that KG, Ray, and Paul aren't franchise players is pretty ridiculous. Because two of the three had a bad shooting night makes them lesser players? You watch, even if KG moves in half an inch he'll make atleast half of those jumpers. But I guess neither team has a franchise player, since Kobe had bad shooting nights in Boston.

[Redz]

You would think you guys would have more faith in your team after your first win of the series.  I see your points, but I think you should have a little more faith in your team.

  Check out some of our posts from the Atlanta and Cleveland series.

..or Detroit...

[plasmaPG]

Ridiculous.


All three carried their respective franchises at times when there was virtually no talent around them.  KG carried a team in the dominant West for the better part of a decade and was possibly a healthy PG away from winning the title in 2004.  Pierce has carried the Celtic franchise for a decade and almost made it to the finals by himself. 


Easy to make these comments after possibly the worst games of their respective careers.

And exactly, what did each do for their teams as the Franchise player?  Garnett and his 7 first round exits?  Allen and Pierce never making past the conference playoffs. They are much better together and having 3 #2s => than having #1 and #2.  Theirs only a few number ones in the league, Kobe, lebron, duncan, Cp3 are the ones that I consider #1s.

[Celts1485]

Ridiculous.


All three carried their respective franchises at times when there was virtually no talent around them.  KG carried a team in the dominant West for the better part of a decade and was possibly a healthy PG away from winning the title in 2004.  Pierce has carried the Celtic franchise for a decade and almost made it to the finals by himself. 


Easy to make these comments after possibly the worst games of their respective careers.

And exactly, what did each do for their teams as the Franchise player?  Garnett and his 7 first round exits?  Allen and Pierce never making past the conference playoffs. They are much better together and having 3 #2s => than having #1 and #2.  Theirs only a few number ones in the league, Kobe, lebron, duncan, Cp3 are the ones that I consider #1s.

You can say the same thing about Kobe man.  He hasn't done anything without shaq.  Enough of that.  Kobe is Kobe.  He is great, its a fact.  But basketball is a TEAM sport and the best TEAM will always win.  Which is why the celtics will win the serious.  Kobe or not.

[wdleehi]

Ridiculous.


All three carried their respective franchises at times when there was virtually no talent around them.  KG carried a team in the dominant West for the better part of a decade and was possibly a healthy PG away from winning the title in 2004.  Pierce has carried the Celtic franchise for a decade and almost made it to the finals by himself. 


Easy to make these comments after possibly the worst games of their respective careers.

And exactly, what did each do for their teams as the Franchise player?  Garnett and his 7 first round exits?  Allen and Pierce never making past the conference playoffs. They are much better together and having 3 #2s => than having #1 and #2.  Theirs only a few number ones in the league, Kobe, lebron, duncan, Cp3 are the ones that I consider #1s.

What did Kobe do when his alpha dog left?  Missed the playoffs.  1st round exits.


He needed another number 2 guy to get here as well. 


Kobe is in the same group as the three Celtics players.  Only difference, he got to rid the Shaq train.

[goz421]

I would agree with your post.  Remember though that there have only been a handful of great #1's at any time.  Three good #2 player is better then Kobe in my book.  This was a game where home court really came into play.  You could see the stars were tired.  Kobe missed so many foul shots because of fatigue.  He was really working, and this will catch up to the Lakers.  I doubt Sasha has that big a game again.  Much like Powe for Boston.  Once Boston has a day in LA to rest, and get settled I think the big three will all show in the next 2 games.

Plus th pressure on the officials will slightly subside.  My only real worry is Pierces knee, Rondo's ankle, Perk ankle, and why does KG wear that funny thing on his finger.  Jammed hands can have an impact on shooting, but can also turn around quick.

Look for a big game from Perk much like he did in the Detroit series.

[cdif911]

You would think you guys would have more faith in your team after your first win of the series.  I see your points, but I think you should have a little more faith in your team.

  Check out some of our posts from the Atlanta and Cleveland series.

..or Detroit...

Someone could make a book out of all the ridiculous reactionary cb posts during these playoffs - it would make a lot of money imo... can I claim this idea as my intellectual property right now? I assume by blogging, people give up the rights to their words, so cb could make some cash on this thing - I can envision it now on the NY times bestseller list "The Longest Month: the rollercoaster ride of Celticsblog":