[quote]randman wrote:
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
Like I’ve been saying for the last two or so pages, the Lakers will meet the Celtics in the finals and put it on 'em. Bryant will have a monster series and the Lakers take it in 5. maybe 6.[/quote]
I really hope you are right cuz the whole Celtics team looks extremely focused this whole post season. They didn’t get their crap together until the Finals in 08. It’s funny how Cleveland and Orlando are both loose, happy go lucky teams that do funky dances before game time and get silly and do “over the top” celebrate when they have big leads.
And then there’s the Celtics, that rarely smile and are all business and they wipe the floor with those two teams. That’s why I said it before and I’ll say it again, I’d much rather have teammates that come off as dickheads more than goofy, happy go lucky players (i.e. Lebron, Howard, etc).[/quote]
This game is all about match-ups. This is a healthy [albeit older] Celtics team that’s playing with a single minded focus. Rondo coming into his own certainly doesn’t hurt. I think the C’s just matched up well with the Cavs, and the Magic’s postseason performance up to this series was a little misleading 'cause they steamrolled two teams that just plain weren’t that good [especially the Hawks].If they meet in the finals I just don’t see Bryant losing to them again. I see him going apeshit, willing his team to the title [with obvious help from the supporting cast] and erasing a lot of the naysayers doubts, at least publicly.
Andrew and Whiteflash, both very good analyses. I’m impressed and I’m not just saying that cuz u think the Lakers will exact revenge against the Celts this year, it doesn’t hurt 
The one thing I didn’t think about was having the length of Gasol and Bynum (and Odom) bugging Rondo just like they are doing now with Nash. It will be fun go watch for sure.
[quote]randman wrote:
Andrew and Whiteflash, both very good analyses. I’m impressed and I’m not just saying that cuz u think the Lakers will exact revenge against the Celts this year, it doesn’t hurt
The one thing I didn’t think about was having the length of Gasol and Bynum (and Odom) bugging Rondo just like they are doing now with Nash. It will be fun go watch for sure.[/quote]
Glad we can make you a believer again Celtics lover!
Now stop letting your secret Celtic love cloud your judgement, the lakers are here for redemption, Boston will not be able to contain them this year and may be their last chance to do so, because let’s face it KG isn’t getting any younger. Kobe and the Lakeshow will send these bad boys into retirement, time to regroup after this loss if they wanna contend in the future.
I like the confidence fo sho.
Biggest differences from the 2008 BOS-LAL matchup and a possible 2010 rematch: Posey and Artest
In 2008, Posey was still athletic enough to bother Bryant and that strong-side zone took care of the rest. And Artest’s arrival means Bryant is no longer wasting energy defending Pierce, but Pierce gets no such relief.
Another very good point, Bryant doesn’t need to be the main lockdown defender anymore and Posey killed the Lakers the last time.
[quote]chillain wrote:
Biggest differences from the 2008 BOS-LAL matchup and a possible 2010 rematch: Posey and Artest
In 2008, Posey was still athletic enough to bother Bryant and that strong-side zone took care of the rest. And Artest’s arrival means Bryant is no longer wasting energy defending Pierce, but Pierce gets no such relief.
[/quote]
The only arguement I have here is I imagine Bryant guards Rondo for stretches to keep him contained.
Why all the hate on Nash, Flash? A white PG in the NBA? He should be your Captain America.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]chillain wrote:
Biggest differences from the 2008 BOS-LAL matchup and a possible 2010 rematch: Posey and Artest
In 2008, Posey was still athletic enough to bother Bryant and that strong-side zone took care of the rest. And Artest’s arrival means Bryant is no longer wasting energy defending Pierce, but Pierce gets no such relief.
[/quote]
The only arguement I have here is I imagine Bryant guards Rondo for stretches to keep him contained.[/quote]
I only hope Ray Allen will have enough in him to either have monster offensive games or tire kobe out by making him run around all the time.
Not really a Celtics fan, more anti-Laker so this may be just wishful thinking
For non-Lakers fans, yes this article is from a Lakers friendly website. Lakers fans, here is a good article that does flip that question around on it’s ear of whether the Lakers are being tested enough to be ready for the Celtics.
For full article: http://www.dailynews.com/lakers/ci_15131293
For the poignant excerpt:
"The in-thing to do now is worry if the Lakers’ march to the Finals has become too easy, to wonder if they have been properly prepared for the big, bad Celtics.
Unprepared?
Are people forgetting the Lakers torched a Utah team that beat Denver, a club many predicted would challenge the Lakers?
Have they been watching them dismantle Phoenix, which swept the San Antonio Spurs, another team so many people warned could trip up the Lakers?
Have the Lakers been sufficiently pushed in these playoffs to deal with the Celtics?
Turn that question around and you will have the real issue.
How equipped are the Celtics for the Lakers versatility, their size, strength and depth?
How prepared are they to deal with a team that has excelled playing every style, exploiting every type of opponent during these playoffs?"
^EXACTLY!!! I feel like me and the writer are sharing a brain, lol.
The lakers have been preparing for the celtics for the last 2 years whether they admit it or not. They acquired artest for his toughness, gasol has gotten stronger, they’ve been prepping bynum to dominate, they’ve been trying to encourage bynum to play like the big that he is. Its no secret that the lakers want to pass the celtics in chapionships so to think that management and the coaching staff haven’t kept their eyes on the celtics and trying to build a team that can contend with them is a mistake. They’ve prepared the lakers as best they could, now its time to get our money’s worth.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]chillain wrote:
Biggest differences from the 2008 BOS-LAL matchup and a possible 2010 rematch: Posey and Artest
In 2008, Posey was still athletic enough to bother Bryant and that strong-side zone took care of the rest. And Artest’s arrival means Bryant is no longer wasting energy defending Pierce, but Pierce gets no such relief.
[/quote]
The only arguement I have here is I imagine Bryant guards Rondo for stretches to keep him contained.[/quote]
True, but that can be a good thing. It took them forever (until Game 5) to put Bryant on Westbrook in the 1st round, but that seemed to keep Bryant more focused on the team concept at both ends. Perhaps not a coincidence that they’ve also won eight straight since then.
I actually dont’ see any other option for LAL besides Bryant, should be fun to watch.
[quote]chillain wrote:
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]chillain wrote:
Biggest differences from the 2008 BOS-LAL matchup and a possible 2010 rematch: Posey and Artest
In 2008, Posey was still athletic enough to bother Bryant and that strong-side zone took care of the rest. And Artest’s arrival means Bryant is no longer wasting energy defending Pierce, but Pierce gets no such relief.
[/quote]
The only arguement I have here is I imagine Bryant guards Rondo for stretches to keep him contained.[/quote]
True, but that can be a good thing. It took them forever (until Game 5) to put Bryant on Westbrook in the 1st round, but that seemed to keep Bryant more focused on the team concept at both ends. Perhaps not a coincidence that they’ve also won eight straight since then.
I actually dont’ see any other option for LAL besides Bryant, should be fun to watch.[/quote]
I didn’t mean for that to discredit Fisher 'cause he’s actually done a pretty good job throughout the playoffs, I just think Bryants size and athletic ability could/would frustrate Rondo. Shannon Brown would aslo be a smart choice as fresh legs athletic legs off the bench. Also, to the other poster, outside of one game for the Sonics Bryant has historically MURDERED Ray Allen.
I disagree with Brown being a good matchup. He’s a bit over zealous in trying to block shots, I could forsee Rondo doing a quick shot fake, Brown going up and him zipping right by him for an easy basket. I think Farmar may actually be a better matchup for rondo. He doesn’t get carried away and has been improving on D lately.
[quote]AndrewG909 wrote:
I disagree with Brown being a good matchup. He’s a bit over zealous in trying to block shots, I could forsee Rondo doing a quick shot fake, Brown going up and him zipping right by him for an easy basket. I think Farmar may actually be a better matchup for rondo. He doesn’t get carried away and has been improving on D lately.[/quote]
That’s a valid point, my thing is NOBODY’s going for a Rondo pump fake from 15’ out. He’s proven able to stick open jumpers but I don’t know if he’s ever taken, let alone hit, a contested jumper in his life. Brown’s significantly bigger, stronger and more athletic than Rondo, and if he stays planted can frustrate him.
[quote]WolBarret wrote:
Why all the hate on Nash, Flash? A white PG in the NBA? He should be your Captain America.[/quote]
Haha. If he dunked on somebody even once in his career I’d probably be singing a different tune.
[quote]WhiteFlash wrote:
[quote]AndrewG909 wrote:
I disagree with Brown being a good matchup. He’s a bit over zealous in trying to block shots, I could forsee Rondo doing a quick shot fake, Brown going up and him zipping right by him for an easy basket. I think Farmar may actually be a better matchup for rondo. He doesn’t get carried away and has been improving on D lately.[/quote]
That’s a valid point, my thing is NOBODY’s going for a Rondo pump fake from 15’ out. He’s proven able to stick open jumpers but I don’t know if he’s ever taken, let alone hit, a contested jumper in his life. Brown’s significantly bigger, stronger and more athletic than Rondo, and if he stays planted can frustrate him. [/quote]
Thats a big IF. Shanon Brown hasn’t shown that he is capable of that kind of self restraint yet, not IMO anyways. I think he’s too eager to use his athleticism, he needs to realize thats great for offense, but for defense he only really needs to use his strength and size to body up. I wish Ron Ron would pull him aside and start training him on how to be a truly effective defender.
I really do think that Shannon Brown can develop to be a GREAT defender, I just wish it was sooner than later.
^^^i totally agree with this point. Brown has really started picking up his game lately and could be a really good defender if he really focused on it and put his mind to it. He definitely should stick around Artest and try to learn a few things (about defense, not all of Ron rons other antics)
.greg.
Oh yeah and two nights in a row with no playoffs when there are still two series being played is bullshit! Lol
.greg.
This wait is nothing, the wait after these series are over before the championship starts is going to be killer.
Tonights game should be interesting. I think orlando is going to bang out a win.