I have to agree with Tgunslinger. While the West is overall stronger, the four remaining teams are roughly equivalent. None of them seem heads and shoulders above the rest. Boston would seem to have the slight edge. Boston has gotten that no road win monkey off its back. I think Boston’s struggles against Atlanta really surprised a lot of people myself included. But I think it will be tough for Detroit to knock out Boston now.
I love the Spurs but I still think the Lakers are going to win this series. The Spurs must win tonight’s game if this is going to be a series. Unfortunately, Joey Crawford is working tonight’s game. For whatever reason he has a thing with Duncan and the Spurs. I hate to get wrapped up in refs but his finger jabbing Pop during the NO series really seems outrageous to me. No player or coach could ever touch a ref like that without being tossed.
[quote]tGunslinger wrote:
Xeneize wrote:
Celtics-Pistons: Whoever wins Game 5 will win this series. I think the game will be close and that the Pistons have a real chance of taking it. If so, the series ends in 6. If Boston takes Game 5, they will win…maybe in 6, definitely in 7. I could be wrong but I don’t think the Celtics have ever lost a Game 7 at home. Pretty unbelievable. I don’t think the Pistons are the team to break that streak.
Lakers-Spurs: LA will play much better in Game 4. Gasol will have a much better game and the key lies in how Odom plays. If he reduces his turnovers from Game 3 and hits some of those inside shots he was bricking, the Lakers can pull it off. Should be a close game. The Spurs need Manu to repeat his sparking Game 3 performance. This series could easily go 7. I think the Lakers ultimately advance, but to me, this is the real NBA finals.
Boston has lost home Game 7’s before, most recently to Indiana in the first round in 2005. Their overall home Game 7 record is incredible, something like 15-3, but it’s not 1.000.[/quote]
Yes, you are right. Once you mentioned the Indiana thing, it came back to me. Not 1.000 but pretty good.
Again, I agree. The teams are so close in level, but Boston is probably a little better on paper.
[quote]EDIT: Just now saw that last sentence, but I’ve got to disagree. That’s true some years (like in 2002 and 2003, where everybody on the planet knew that the Western Finals winner would easily win the Finals, or the MJ years where the entire Western Conference was just Jordan-fodder), but not this year.
Neither the Spurs nor the Lakers are particularly great teams, and both of the East Finalists are very strong. I think SA would have to pull a rabbit out of their hat to bring home the title this season, but the other three teams are roughly the same caliber.
I think the Lakers would be slight underdogs vs. Boston and slight favorites vs. Detroit. They wouldn’t have home court vs. either team.[/quote]
I completely see your logic. All that makes perfect sense. I just think the Lakers or the Spurs will ultimately win the title. That said, there is very little margin between these four teams. Any of them could win the crown.
Lakers defeat 3) Spurs 93-91: Kobe Bryant had 28 points and 10 rebounds, Lamar Odom had 16 and 9 boards, and the Lakers win a tough game on the road and go up 3-1. Tim Duncan had a big game with 29 points and 17 boards, and Tony Parker and Brent Barry each had 23 points for the Spurs, who now have their backs against the wall.
Stud of the Night: Kobe Bryant. 28 points, 10 boards, and a couple of nice breakaway dunks, and his Lakers are one win away from the NBA Finals.
What a great finish to the game. The Lakers almost let it slip away, but kept it together just enough. Pau Gasol missed a couple of free throws late, and the Lamar Odom goaltending on Parker was questionable, but the Lakers held on.
Kobe shouldn’t have drove it to the hole with 16 seconds left on the shot clock. That was totally unnecessary, but he manned up to his mistake after the game. The Lakers also got another lucky break after Fish’s missed shot (which hit the rim, but they didn’t get a fresh 24), and Horry knocked it out of bounds.
[quote]tmoney1 wrote:
What a great finish to the game. The Lakers almost let it slip away, but kept it together just enough. Pau Gasol missed a couple of free throws late, and the Lamar Odom goaltending on Parker was questionable, but the Lakers held on.
Kobe shouldn’t have drove it to the hole with 16 seconds left on the shot clock. That was totally unnecessary, but he manned up to his mistake after the game. The Lakers also got another lucky break after Fish’s missed shot (which hit the rim, but they didn’t get a fresh 24), and Horry knocked it out of bounds.
Do you think Brent Barry got fouled at the end?[/quote]
yes the Lakers tried to piss it away, but they deserved to win. They controlled the game from the outset. They played much the way I thought they would.
I initially thought Barry was fouled. But after seeing the replays, it was clear he leaned in, looking for the contact. I think it was a good no-call. However you saw it, the Spurs drew up a pretty crappy final play.
I initially thought Barry was fouled. But after seeing the replays, it was clear he leaned in, looking for the contact. I think it was a good no-call. However you saw it, the Spurs drew up a pretty crappy final play. [/quote]
+1. It looked like a pretty bad foul at first, but upon watching it again, definitely a no-call. Although that won’t satisfy Spurs fans, but hey, Timmy got away with traveling earlier, so kind of balances out.
I initially thought Barry was fouled. But after seeing the replays, it was clear he leaned in, looking for the contact. I think it was a good no-call. However you saw it, the Spurs drew up a pretty crappy final play.
+1. It looked like a pretty bad foul at first, but upon watching it again, definitely a no-call. Although that won’t satisfy Spurs fans, but hey, Timmy got away with traveling earlier, so kind of balances out.
[/quote]
Gregg Popovich: “If I was the official I wouldn’t have called that a foul.”
Is it just me, or is Odom really stepped up this year in the playoffs? I always thought he was a decent player, but this, he’s really elevated his game to a new level. He’s obviously no threat to Kobe, but has proven himself to be a good number two for the Lakers. Consistent night in and night out, staying healthy, he’s done well for himself.
I’ve been doubting the Lakers all playoffs long, so I’ll give them their due when they win a tough road game that really tightens the noose on the Spurs.
I’d be really surprised if the Spurs pull off three straight to win the series at this point.
But that was very definitely a foul on Fisher. It should’ve been a non-shooting foul with two free throws for Barry. When you get a defender to leave his feet, and then said defender falls on you, thus greatly impeding your ability to either pass or shoot, you’ll get a foul call nine times out of ten.
This was that tenth time.
Even with that, the Lakers out played the Spurs all night long; the better team won the game tonight.
Is it just me, or is Odom really stepped up this year in the playoffs? I always thought he was a decent player, but this, he’s really elevated his game to a new level. He’s obviously no threat to Kobe, but has proven himself to be a good number two for the Lakers. Consistent night in and night out, staying healthy, he’s done well for himself.[/quote]
From what I’ve read, Odom was really disappointed in his Game 3 effort and was determined to step up tonight. I consider him more of a No. 3, and I think he’s very comfortable in that role. He’s really found his niche.
[EDIT}From The New York Times story for tomorrow:
Odom, who blamed himself for the Game 3 loss, was having another rough night, battling foul trouble and poor shooting. But he found his way when it mattered, with eight points down the stretch, including five on a driving dunk and a 3-point play. After scoring through Fabricio Oberto’s foul, Odom bellowed, “Yeah!” and slapped hands with Bryant.
I’d be really surprised if the Spurs pull off three straight to win the series at this point.
[/quote]
Surprised is an understatement, considering the Spurs would have to take 2 out of 3 in LA, where the Lakers are undefeated at home in the playoffs so far.
But if there is one team in the West that can pull it off, it’s the Spurs.
