Lakers (36-11) at Celtics (29-15) 1/31

[Roy Hobbs]

I love the optimism, I really do, but it is no less misguided than the blind pessimism. Let me ask one question, and be honest:

If th Lakers had a January like we just did would you be worried about them? Would you be thinking, "Wow, this team is still a contender, look how well they play in those losses."

How about if it is was Cleveland? Orlando? Pick a team....

If the Lakers had a January like we just did you would not be anything but overjoyed at their collapse. And that, sadly, is what we have here. I do not give up on my team, but when the Celtics were up 11 late I turned to my son and said, "The Celtics are in trouble again."

If the Lakers had a tough stretch where they played without Kobe, and then struggled while he got back into game shape,  I'd be very hesitant about writing them off.

By the way, the Lakers had a 5-5 stretch in late December / early January, losing to the Clippers, Spurs, Blazers, Cavs, and Raptors.  I don't hear anybody saying they're not a true contender.

[Kiorrik]

I love the optimism, I really do, but it is no less misguided than the blind pessimism. Let me ask one question, and be honest:

If th Lakers had a January like we just did would you be worried about them? Would you be thinking, "Wow, this team is still a contender, look how well they play in those losses."

How about if it is was Cleveland? Orlando? Pick a team....

If the Lakers had a January like we just did you would not be anything but overjoyed at their collapse. And that, sadly, is what we have here. I do not give up on my team, but when the Celtics were up 11 late I turned to my son and said, "The Celtics are in trouble again."

True, I would bask in their agony.

However, I would not be dense enough to kid myself into not thinking of them as our main rivals.

The regular season says something about the team, but seriously, there's 16 teams that play in the playoffs, and a lot can happen.

[ToppersBsktball10]

Tough loss.

[More Banners]

It was a heck of a game.  I enjoyed it.  We lost, which blows.  If I believed that contenders have "moral victories", then this would probably be one.

But I don't.

So let's assess.  We played a touch stretch that was a playoff-like schedule, but against different teams.  Odd.  In the end, we lost all 3, but were close in 2, then lost those in the last seconds.  I'm pretty sure that's still losing, unless one counts moral victories...which...if a teams does, they are not contenders.

We look like an also-ran.  But I think we've learned some good things, like:

what a young athletic slashing wing can do for the offense.

What solid D Ray can still play, though I don't think he could get to the rim with a taxicab.

Pierce ISO's are no better than they ever were, and probably worse.  

We're much better when we're aggressive for 48 minutes, on both sides of the ball.

BBD is a project, and that's about it for now.

Sheed can shut up once in a while.

Doc is still the same coach...for better or worse.  At least he didn't put House on Kobe.  And Scal didn't play.

I think we showed some upside that we haven't in a while, but I have doubts that there is enough in these guys' tanks to win a title without some high-energy reinforcements.  But we're only one or two players away (backup PG and an athletic wing that can also shoot).

[celticinorlando]

i honestly think PP looks slower and more injured that KG right now...when PP has the ball on offense he looks like he is slow motion

[jdpapa3]

i honestly think PP looks slower and more injured that KG right now...when PP has the ball on offense he looks like he is slow motion

I think this is being pretty reactionary to today's game. Last game against ATL on the second of a back to back he looked better than anyone else on the court. He was flying around everywhere.

He only seemed to be in the flow tonight in the second quarter. Artest is all over him all the time. Artest honestly fouls on every single play, but has that defender reputation.

[celticinorlando]

i honestly think PP looks slower and more injured that KG right now...when PP has the ball on offense he looks like he is slow motion

I think this is being pretty reactionary to today's game. Last game against ATL on the second of a back to back he looked better than anyone else on the court. He was flying around everywhere.

He only seemed to be in the flow tonight in the second quarter. Artest is all over him all the time. Artest honestly fouls on every single play, but has that defender reputation.

naw...i have been feeling this for several games now...the orlando game, the pistons game in the second half....i really think it is PP working himself back into shape from his knee more than KG...i think PP's knee was pretty serious

[wdleehi]

i honestly think PP looks slower and more injured that KG right now...when PP has the ball on offense he looks like he is slow motion

I think this is being pretty reactionary to today's game. Last game against ATL on the second of a back to back he looked better than anyone else on the court. He was flying around everywhere.

He only seemed to be in the flow tonight in the second quarter. Artest is all over him all the time. Artest honestly fouls on every single play, but has that defender reputation.

naw...i have been feeling this for several games now...the orlando game, the pistons game in the second half....i really think it is PP working himself back into shape from his knee more than KG...i think PP's knee was pretty serious

Not to mention that Pierce was guarded by Ron Artest.

[Kiorrik]

Anyone else just got an enormous energy boost from this game? I'm really really electrified and I honestly believe we're good. Today we showed we can turn it on when it counts; we can play up to good opponents. Closing out, imo, is a detail. We'll get that part going.

Really, I'm 100% more positive about our chances now than I've been anywhere this season.

[celticinorlando]

Anyone else just got an enormous energy boost from this game? I'm really really electrified and I honestly believe we're good. Today we showed we can turn it on when it counts; we can play up to good opponents. Closing out, imo, is a detail. We'll get that part going.

Really, I'm 100% more positive about our chances now than I've been anywhere this season.

man....honestly..i feel like someone has kicked me square in the you know what

[Kiorrik]

Anyone else just got an enormous energy boost from this game? I'm really really electrified and I honestly believe we're good. Today we showed we can turn it on when it counts; we can play up to good opponents. Closing out, imo, is a detail. We'll get that part going.

Really, I'm 100% more positive about our chances now than I've been anywhere this season.

man....honestly..i feel like someone has kicked me square in the you know what

I thought you thought we were utterly bad lately. You really had me convinced that you thought we were going to lose bigtime.

We lost by a single point, you know.

[More Banners]

Anyone else just got an enormous energy boost from this game? I'm really really electrified and I honestly believe we're good. Today we showed we can turn it on when it counts; we can play up to good opponents. Closing out, imo, is a detail. We'll get that part going.

Really, I'm 100% more positive about our chances now than I've been anywhere this season.

Good optimism.  We are definitely good.  Solid.  Playoff team.  Got a chance. 

Just like 1988-1992.

Sorry, dude.

[Kiorrik]

Anyone else just got an enormous energy boost from this game? I'm really really electrified and I honestly believe we're good. Today we showed we can turn it on when it counts; we can play up to good opponents. Closing out, imo, is a detail. We'll get that part going.

Really, I'm 100% more positive about our chances now than I've been anywhere this season.

Good optimism.  We are definitely good.  Solid.  Playoff team.  Got a chance. 

Just like 1988-1992.

Sorry, dude.

No problem :]

I was just very down on our team, tbh. And today, taking the Lakers to a one point game, made me happy. They *are* the better team right now. But what I saw today was in my opinion a very close game with two teams going all out.

That, was good.

[celticinorlando]

Anyone else just got an enormous energy boost from this game? I'm really really electrified and I honestly believe we're good. Today we showed we can turn it on when it counts; we can play up to good opponents. Closing out, imo, is a detail. We'll get that part going.

Really, I'm 100% more positive about our chances now than I've been anywhere this season.

man....honestly..i feel like someone has kicked me square in the you know what

I thought you thought we were utterly bad lately. You really had me convinced that you thought we were going to lose bigtime.

We lost by a single point, you know.

yes...and that is why is sucks...i actually thought and posted that today would be a better performance than the hawks game...which it was...but you still dont like to lose in the final seconds...esp to bryant

[More Banners]

Anyone else just got an enormous energy boost from this game? I'm really really electrified and I honestly believe we're good. Today we showed we can turn it on when it counts; we can play up to good opponents. Closing out, imo, is a detail. We'll get that part going.

Really, I'm 100% more positive about our chances now than I've been anywhere this season.

Good optimism.  We are definitely good.  Solid.  Playoff team.  Got a chance. 

Just like 1988-1992.

Sorry, dude.

No problem :]

I was just very down on our team, tbh. And today, taking the Lakers to a one point game, made me happy. They *are* the better team right now. But what I saw today was in my opinion a very close game with two teams going all out.

That, was good.

It was a really great game, I enjoyed it...until the bitter, bitter end.  We definitely went all-out, which I don't think I can say about all that many of our recent games.  It was energizing.

You're right on when it comes to one thing:  we are a really good team.  There is no question about it, we make the playoffs this year, and next.  Half of the teams don't do that.  And we're probably in the top half of the top half of teams, at least in our conference.  That's pretty good, too.  There is quite a bit to enjoy.  

I enjoyed watching those late Bird/McHale teams fight like heck.  It was really cool that we could watch young players develop, like Shaw (traitor), Reggie Lewis, and even young Kevin Gamble and Ed Pinkney.  We don't have that benefit now; the future is a complete mystery.  It could just end.

So we should probably enjoy this now, and let Danny earn his money.  Honestly, I don't mind not winning a title (though I strongly prefer it), but if I'm going to cheer for a team, it's going to be a team that fights like heck.  The 2002 team fought for about every possession, flawed though that team was, and I cheered until I couldn't speak.  I'll do it again this year, if they give me a reason to.  Maybe they're starting to.

Thanks.