A few quickie tidbits before the game
1) The Celtics locker room is surprisingly small for a home domain. Granted, it's a castle compared to where the Lakers lodge (some things never change, even in a new building), but still, I was expecting something a lot bigger for The Big Three and Co. I wonder if KG saw the place before agreeing to the swap.
2) Phil Jackson talked for roughly 45 seconds before making a quick exit. The audio is below.
3) I talked briefly to Andrew Bynum, who said his knee is feeling better and he can tell the difference between "pre" and "post" surgery already. He also really wishes he could be out there right now (and frankly, so does his team)
4) The Laker inactives are Bynum, Coby Karl and DJ Mbenga.
5) This building is still outrageously cold, but maybe the frigid atmosphere can work to the advantage of the Lakers, who certainly haven't seen much consistency from anyone during the Finals. If there were ever an incentive to perform well, keep yourself on the court and working up a sweat as opposed to stagnant on the bench and likely freezing your arse off, this would be it.
AK
AUDIO
Phil Jackson: Download 20080617_164305.mp3
Off to my lucky bar stool.
Let's win this one.
LET'S GO LAKERS!
LET'S GO!
LET'S GO LAKERS!
LET'S GO!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 17, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Damn brick ass cold building? Whattup with that?
Fish is due for a vintage game, Kobe, an all-around game something like 27, 7 and 8 with 3 steals...
We can get it done if Lamar and Pau score and rebound in double figures and we get like 20 from our bench...
Damn..this is str8t stress, if we only knew how to close they ass out in Game 4 I wouldnt have a weak stomach!
Go Lakers..
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | June 17, 2008 at 05:32 PM
One game at a time....
One game at a time....
Win this one and then look to Thursday.
A one game series.
Winner takes all.
The pressure is on the Celtics tonight to close out, they don't want to come back.
GO THE LAKERS!
Posted by: mobsta | June 17, 2008 at 05:49 PM
nervous...but this is gonna happen.
I have a weird felling about it.
It's a crazy year and it's gonna get more crazy!
Go Lakers!
Posted by: jq | June 17, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Kobe hasn't really gotten off yet. He scored 36 once but he took a lot of shots to get it. I think he will try again to drive the ball to the basket and get layups or shoot free throws. He has had a couple of low scoring games for him. He is due for a big game, and I think the lakers have to get that big game from him in order to win this game tonight.
Posted by: john_in_houston | June 17, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Kobe looks like relaxed and confident. Lamar looks really pumped. Vlad looked white as a ghost when they introduced him first in the starting lineups. Pau looked solid as always. And Fisher looks psyched too.
Posted by: john_in_houston | June 17, 2008 at 06:03 PM
SuzieQ, and all-
And with that, I think we should put this debate to bed. Obviously not everyone in Boston is a racist. It's a beautiful city, one that I for one enjoy. Nor do we want to paint everyone in LA, or immigrants for that matter, with a broad brush, either. Let's stick to basketball going forward.
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | June 17, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Hear Mark Jackson? It's time for Kobe to show what separates him from all other basketball players. Time to take over the series. If Kobe can do it, we win.
Posted by: john_in_houston | June 17, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Boston will probably be the one that comes out with a big push to start the game tonight, and we'll have to withstand the run and make our own run.
Posted by: john_in_houston | June 17, 2008 at 06:07 PM
If Vlade passes up another shot like that he's gotta go!
Posted by: SteveInDenver | June 17, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Push it Fish! Keep drawing those fouls!
Posted by: SteveInDenver | June 17, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Five on four with Vlade in there
Posted by: SteveInDenver | June 17, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Looks like they lakers don't want this AT ALL! Will someone please show up to play? This is inexcusable.
Posted by: blakeorbitz | June 17, 2008 at 07:24 PM
STOP COMPARING KOBE TO MIKE!!! THERE IS NO COMPARISON AT ALL!!! MIKE WOULD NOT HAVE EVER GONE OUT LIKE THIS. KOBE LOOK'S LIKE HE IS SPACED OUT!!
Posted by: Tim Wynn | June 17, 2008 at 07:59 PM
OH, NO!
WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO THE POOR, POOR LAKERS?
SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!
Posted by: Luigi999 | June 17, 2008 at 08:55 PM
c y'all next year
Posted by: jeffgrotke | June 17, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Boston will definitely come out on top - they don't need all those Hollywood stars showing up just to be seen. They've got the fans who are there for the game!! Go Celtics!!
Posted by: Mike | June 17, 2008 at 09:12 PM
The advantage of the Lakers, who certainly haven't seen much consistency from anyone during the Finals. If there were ever an incentive to perform well, keep yourself on the court and working up a sweat as opposed to stagnant on the bench and likely freezing your arse off, this would be it.
Posted by: Mary Khan | June 18, 2008 at 02:43 AM
I think he will try again to drive the ball to the basket and get layups or shoot free throws. He has had a couple of low scoring games for him. He is due for a big game, and I think the lakers have to get that big game from him in order to win this game tonight.
Posted by: Mary Khan | June 18, 2008 at 02:54 AM
First thought: The Lakers went further this season than anyone expected.
Last thought: Based on the finals with Boston, how did they do that?
Posted by: David Shapiro | June 18, 2008 at 07:54 AM