A Great finals

[biggs1221]

Not sure this is the appropriate forum, but I just rewatched Game 4 on ESPN classic, and . . .

From an attempted objective, basketball fan, point of view, this seems to be one of the best finals so far in recent memory.  Celtics v Lakers.  4 great, close games.  Game 1 with the pierce return from injury.  Game 2 included a furious comeback by LA that fell just short (and a great performance by a very likeable "role player" in Powe).  Admittedly, game 3 wasn't all that pretty, but it was tight throughout and included a great finish / performance by Bryant.  And great comebacks, like in game 4, are always good TV, unless your team loses.  IF LA extends it back to Boston (which I am praying does not happen) then you add back in the drama of a close, at least 6 game series.

Anyway, from a bball fan perspective it has been great.  Unfortunately, the national media seems to be ignoring this / has such a pessimistic view of the current NBA.  They are so willing to let other things (Donnaghy, game 2 officiating, Boston's racial history, labeling Pierce a drama queen, "Kevin  Gar-NOT," negative talk of collapses instead of positive talks of comebacks) overshadow a series that has so far lived up to the hype. 

[Redz]

True true.

[Bahku]

I think it can be safely said that the Lakers/Celtics rivalry is renewed ... and with a passion. Whoever says that NBA basketball isn't as exciting as it was in the 80's, or that there will never be rivalries that compare with the ones of previous decades, either hasn't been watching lately, or just knows nothing about basketball. This has been the most fun I've had as  Celtic fan in a very long time, and the worst thing for me is that it's almost over, and I'll have to wait another 4 months before there's any more! (Thanks God for the Red Sox and the Olympics). 

[RebusRankin]

Agreed. Ratings are also up 42% over last year so its safe to say a lot of people agree with us.

[Roy Hobbs]

I think if this series is over in five games, it will be looked upon as a fairly mediocre Finals, despite the close games so far. 

I think a good comparison is the Yankees / Mets World Series in 2000, which the Yanks won 4-1.  Despite every game in the series being decided by 2 runs or fewer, including one in extra innings, people look back on that one as a poor World Series.

[wdleehi]

I think it can be safely said that the Lakers/Celtics rivalry is renewed ... and with a passion. Whoever says that NBA basketball isn't as exciting as it was in the 80's, or that there will never be rivalries that compare with the ones of previous decades, either hasn't been watching lately, or just knows nothing about basketball. This has been the most fun I've had as  Celtic fan in a very long time, and the worst thing for me is that it's almost over, and I'll have to wait another 4 months before there's any more! (Thanks God for the Red Sox and the Olympics). 

I don't think it is the rivalry that has been renewed.



The Celtics dominance over the Lakers in the Finals has been renewed. 

[RebusRankin]

If us winning in 5 games makes it a boring finals, then may all finals be boring.

[Roy Hobbs]

If us winning in 5 games makes it a boring finals, then may all finals be boring.

True.  Certainly not boring / mediocre to Celtics fans.

[Bahku]

One game being one of the greatest comebacks of all time, another game almost being one of the greatest comebacks, the biggest single-season turn-around in the history of the NBA, the Celtics disproving an overwhelmingly Laker-favored media and public, Kobe Bryant being shut down as effectively as he ever has been, the post-injury return of Pierce ... I dunno, I guess you can't please every Celtic fan, but this has been far from boring to me, and way beyond average. Anytime the C's make it to the Finals, is a long ways past mediocre in my book, especially after 21 years! Maybe the rest of the country sees it that way, (though I doubt it, with all the records that were set for attendance this year wherever the Celts played), but who the heck cares what the rest of the country thinks?!? These playoffs have been awesome, including the Finals, where no one gave the C's a chance! Don't know about you, but proving to the rest of the world just what "Ubuntu" is all about, and that defense wins games, and that Kobe can be completely nullified and embarrassed, and that Celtic Pride and Spirit is alive and well, has been absolutely extraordinary!

[biggs1221]

I think if this series is over in five games, it will be looked upon as a fairly mediocre Finals, despite the close games so far. 

I think a good comparison is the Yankees / Mets World Series in 2000, which the Yanks won 4-1.  Despite every game in the series being decided by 2 runs or fewer, including one in extra innings, people look back on that one as a poor World Series.

I agree that a 6 or 7 game series would take this finals to another level.  But, if you think about all the finals over the last 10 years, how many would you rank ahead of this one so far (From the viewpoint of a basketball, not celtics fan)?  In most, it was pretty clear who the winner would be before the series even started (even in the NJ-SA, which went 6).  I'd also add that Chicago-LA in 1991 was pretty memorable (mostly because of the matchup) though it only went five games.

I guess in the end, as Bahku stated, for C's fans this is a great series and who cares what anyone else thinks.

But your comments Roy raise an interesting question: would you (or any other celtics fan) trade / risk a guaranteed game 5 victory for, say, a 75% chance of winning in an epic 7?  After all, a great game 7 victory would be as good as it gets.