I've got thoughts! I've got forecasts! I've got predictions!
Yes, that is me, in a photo taken shortly after my arrival in Boston. (You should see how the TSA folks react to a crystal ball!) This what a playoff run does to the media. Anyway...
After an unnecessarily long, only-in-the-NBA layoff between the conference finals and Thursday night's Game 1, it's finally time to play some basketball.
Like a lot of people, I think there's no question that the Lakers have been the more impressive of the two Finals teams through the postseason, beating three teams that won 50-plus games, including the defending champs in five. But while the Celtics were flat against Atlanta and disappointed against Cleveland, they bounced back to beat a good Detroit squad, including two wins in Motown, and are such a good defensive team that they have the ability to beat anyone.
Really, it should be fun. So with that, the thoughts, forecasts, and predictions promised in the post's title:
- I'm not a guy who likes to go position by position to decide which team has the advantage. Is Paul Pierce a better player than Vlad Rad at small forward? Well, yeah. What's your point? What matters is how each team operates, since individual matchups are often fluid throughout a game and a series. While the Celtics are indeed an outstanding defensive team, the Lakers are by far the best offensive team Boston will have faced this postseason, can score on the run and in the half court, and against the Spurs the Lakers proved they don't have to drop 115 points a night to win. The big question for me isn't really how much the Lakers will score against Boston, but whether or not the Celtics will find enough offense to be productive against L.A.
Lost in much of the talk about the Big Green Wall Boston puts in front of its hoop is the reality that the Lakers, despite how much people like to complain about it, are actually a solid defensive team, too. Just ask the Spurs, who went huge stretches without being able to generate enough offense to take advantage of openings presented to them. Throughout the postseason, when the Lakers have needed stops, they've found them, and have had long stretches where they shut teams down.
In short, the gap between each team's D isn't as big as the one between their respective offenses. Advantage Lakers.
- Celtics fans are already wondering how Doc Rivers is planning on screwing up the Finals. I wonder if the players have the same level of faith in him that the Lakers do in Phil Jackson.
- If Ray Allen continues to find his groove, the Lakers could have some problems. For all the talk of Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo, who both could undoubtedly have a huge impact on the series (though as dynamic as Rondo can be, is he better than A.I., Deron Williams or Tony Parker?), if Allen is on he truly gives Boston a Big Three, and makes it much, much more difficult to guard Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. You may have received the memo that those guys are pretty good.
- KG has made his living in the playoffs with a midrange game. If he stays there, he's doing the Lakers a favor. Should he be able to make hay in the post, though, it'll be a problem for L.A. Conversely, if the Lakers are able to work from the inside out, I don't care how stout the Celtics are defensively, the Lakers will score. Along those lines, it might help Boston to get that good work inside if Doc unshackled Leon Powe and Glen Davis from the bench.
- Pau's point production is less important than his point prevention. The slack always seems to get picked up somewhere offensively.
- The Celtics are one of the few teams with enough horses to try to play Kobe straight and hope to shut down the supporting cast, but I wonder if they will. The temptation to try to get the ball out of his hands is incredibly strong once games start, but as I've written in the past, the minute teams overplay Kobe, they're doing the Lakers a favor.
- When it comes down to it, the Lakers have the best player on the floor (Kobe), the better coach (PJ), similar balance up and down the roster. They've beaten a running team, a physical team and a championship team, showing along the way they can win in a variety of styles. To make a long story short, right now they're the better team. Not by a ton, but by enough. Lakers in six.
BK
A laker team led by kobee is flawed from the outset - this is the same playa who SHACK carried to titles, and has yet to be able to show us that he's not really a selfish, infantile leader on the court.
braynt is good, but then so is Paul Pierce. It takes leadership to win a title though, and we only have to look at true superstars such as D-Wade, Jordan, Bird and Steve GNASH to see that this is indeed true.
The nation is on Boston's side, because they are the underdog and they deserve the title more than the lakers. Again, 8 of those nifty title banners in Boston came from laker failure - Boston loves to play LA in the Finals!
Posted by: BUTLER | June 05, 2008 at 12:21 PM
You have to take your hat off to Bill Simmons - he nailed kobee through PJ's own words.
Remember how kobee "quit" in Game 7 vs. the superior PHX SUNS a couple years back? He did it to prove a point, an incredibly selfish and childlike move.
Add to this that Paul Pierce hasn't had this easy a matchup yet in the playoffs. Radmonovich? Please, he needs to take his snowboard and play in the mountains during this series.
Posted by: BUTLER | June 05, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Hello Laker Blog!!
Mamba24 - I NEED to get the MANTRA. If was posted already, I am sorry.
To the Banner Holder - Game day prayer? We can't break tradition and that holds true to our at home activities as well.
So with that being said - NO ONE SITS ON MY COUCH AT HOME WHILE I WATCH THE GAME - they were not there during the regular season nor during the playoffs up to now.
Also, if you DVR and they always lose when you DVR - well, you know.
I know, hokey pokey superstition....but we can't mess with the Laker universe at this stage...
GO LAKERS!!!!! TAKE GAME 1!!!! TAKE THEIR SOULS!!!
TAKE THEIR DREAMS AND DEFLATE ALL HOPES!!!!
WE HAVE THE MAMBA AND THEY DO NOT!!!
janaya
Posted by: janaya | June 05, 2008 at 12:27 PM
BUTLER, COME OUT AND PLAY...
"Boston loves to play LA in the Finals!"-Butler
LA loves to take out whoever's in the Finals! We don't care where you're from! You're gonna lose!
Everything else you said is not even true and doesn't deserve comment.
Now go fetch me some refreshment, my BUTLER.
Posted by: ajax | June 05, 2008 at 12:32 PM
BK,
Excellent thread and points.
Butler,
At this point we just have to wait and see till the series is over.
Posted by: Charles | June 05, 2008 at 12:36 PM
"Add to this that Paul Pierce hasn't had this easy a matchup yet in the playoffs. Radmonovich? Please, he needs to take his snowboard and play in the mountains during this series."-BUTLER
Why don't you go ask Manu how Vlad the Impaler guards one in the playoffs. And then ask how it is to have Sasha all over you. And I can only imagine how much more tough it's gonna be with Ariza guarding whomever PJ puts him on! Oh, and 1st-team-all-defense Kobe will be all over the floor!
Posted by: ajax | June 05, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Go LAKERS!
celtic fans are insecure and frightened.
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | June 05, 2008 at 12:38 PM
BUTLER = the new Sonny Belfast
Can't get enough attention, can you?
CALI KING
Posted by: CALI KING | June 05, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Here's Simmons quoting Phil Jackson in regards to kobee's juvenile performance vs. the mighty Steve GNASH and the superior SUNS in Game 7 in 2006 (and kobee is the person you want leading your team? Right...):
"Kobe finished with eight points, his lowest total ever in a game in which he played at least 40 minutes. The theory being tossed around is that Kobe, stung by criticism for his shot selection in recent games, decided to show the Lakers how stagnant the offense can become when he doesn't asset himself. 'I don't know how we can forgive him,' one anonymous teammate was quoted as saying in today's Times."
Posted by: BUTLER | June 05, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Butler,
I should know better to even reply since you must be 12 years old.
You said "A laker team led by kobee is flawed from the outset - this is the same playa who SHACK carried to titles, and has yet to be able to show us that he's not really a selfish, infantile leader on the court."
I say: " You must not have watched a SINGLE game or your just out of your BIASED mind. ANYONE and EVERYONE can see that KOBE has changed his ways and is 100% ABOARD the TEAM PLAY concept."
You just keep thinking (if you call it that) whatever you want.
janaya <-- actually WATCHES games
Posted by: janaya | June 05, 2008 at 12:44 PM
FORWARD... INTO THE PAST!
Speaking of flawed, whatever happened to Dancing Barry? While he wasn't the inventor of the JumboTron, you might say he was the necessitator of it, if that's even a word. I can't imagine the post-prime years of an NBA demi-mascot are very satisfying professionally.
Posted by: Jonathon Alsop | June 05, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Brian K.,
You look great in a turban, by the way. I think you should braid the beard, though.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 05, 2008 at 12:48 PM
BK:Celtics fans are already wondering how Doc Rivers is planning on screwing up the Finals. I wonder if the players have the same level of faith in him that the Lakers do in Phil Jackson. " LMAO!! BK sir you have outdid yourself. LOL!
Posted by: Mamba24 | June 05, 2008 at 12:51 PM
AJAX sez:
"Why don't you go ask Manu how Vlad the Impaler guards one in the playoffs."
That's an excellent point. The lakers are in the Finals thanks to the great PHX SUNS, who hurt Manu and softened up the spurs in general.
The spurs never recovered from facing SHACK, and indeed, were Grant Hill not injured at the wrong time (akin to the Bulls losing MJ in the playoffs), the SUNS would be representing the WC right now.
So, enjoy your gift from the SUNS, laker fans! And by the way, when kobee catches up to GNASH in terms of MVP greatness, maybe then he'll understand what it's like to be a true leader. Until then, kobee will be playing in the shadow of 8 Celtic banners courtesy of the lakers past failures.
Posted by: BUTLER | June 05, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Okay, I've done my part to wound the little pissant troll named Butler.
Now I'm moving on to the Starving phase. Implementing full scroll mode on mouse... NOW.
p.s. Did you fetch Ajax's drink like you were told beeeeyach. (Figured one last wounding wouldn't hurt)
Okay, NOWWWW I'm starving the little booger.
Posted by: magicman | June 05, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Haha I love to hear people talk so much mess about the Lakers. Come on, everyone knows in the 2007 2008 postseason, Lakers are the team to watch for excitement! Lakers got Kobe (best player in the nation/world) Lakers have Lamar, pao, Sasha, Derek, Jordan, and Ronny. All of the Lakers have performed well in the playoffs. We have beaten the nuggets, who what dropped over 106 points on teams during the regular season, we beat the jazz who play rough and hard! We beat the former champ spurs in 5. All of the teams who are better than the teams in the eastern conf. Celtics have who? Paula pierce is good, but not like Kobe. It will take stray Allen and Paula pierce to come a little close, but still not Kobe. Boston, hmm now everyone watched them only for the reason that they were going to choke in the first round against a team who had more wins, than losses during the regular season? As for Kevin, now he is a good player. Ultimately, he will stumble. Remember Celt’s fans, you are talking about your team, whom none of your star players have ever made it to the finals. Wow! Kobe, fisher, and oh yeah Phil have all been there and won it! Lakers in five Boston Fans. Game one win for us, game two Boston. Games two and three we win. Game four Boston. Game five --- Lakers champs and to defeat the big three at home, ha we will be rocking in Boston!
Posted by: Brian M | June 05, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Butler,
Remind me again how many NBA titles Nash has won? Let me count them up...hold on let me re-add that to make sure my math is correct....oh yeah ZERO for that Superstar of yours. Just like Pippen and Jordan - Kobe and Shaq both contributed to the titles - deal with it. It is a fact that both were instrumental in winning those titles. Shaq and Wade in Miami did it together too, though with that title I would give Wade the lead role as opposed to Shaq having the lead role for the titles in LA.
As BK pointed out the Lakers have beat the physical team, the running team and a defensive minded Championship team in their run. Kobe is one of the greatest talents to ever play the game, and there are a lot of experts, former players and executives that all agree Kobe's leadership this year has improved dramatically. All those years Pierce was on the Celtics that didn't even scratch the playoffs - where was his leadership? I mean really. Kobe Bryant had Kwame Brown and Smush Parker as starting mates and he took that team to the playoffs - with guys like Cook, Luke, Shammond Williams getting real PT. Bash Kobe all you wish, but the guy brings it every single night and did more with less than anyone could ever hope.
Will this series be a slam dunk for the Lakers? Probably not. I see the Lakers winning - they have great offense, a good to very good D. The difference in the "great Celtic D" and the Lakers D is not nearly as large as the great Laker offense vs. the Celtics offiense. It is an advantage for the Lakers and I think they make the most of it.
Go Lakers Go!
Peace
Eagleboy
Posted by: Eagleboy | June 05, 2008 at 01:02 PM
Yes, Butler, let's go back four years into the past and try and figure out how a Celtic or Laker might play today. In fact, let's do it with Garnett, who had 2 assists and 8 turnovers in the last game of the 2004 WCF. (Is this guy wobbly in the clutch, or what?) Here is the Lakers Finals strategy: In the last three minutes of the game, they need to do everything in their power to encourage the other Celtics to pass Garnett the ball. Then let the Big Ticket try and deal with his adrenaline/nerves. It isn't gonna be pretty.
Posted by: greenpaz | June 05, 2008 at 01:05 PM
BK
Good Assessment........However if the Lakers manage to get one of the first two in Boston I see the Lakers winning in 5 games.
My biggest concern??
KENDRICK PERKINS!! Can we keep this guy off the boards.........This matchup is crucial in limiting the number of possessions for Boston by keeping this guy off the boards.
The next concern??
LUKE WALTON!! Phil Jackson has to nail this guy to the bench and not wait to see how he looks against Boston. Luke Walton in this game for ANY length of time greatly damages the Lakers chances of winning. There are no more excuses Phil........Ariza has had plenty of time to get his feet under him and is much more athletic and defensive minded than Walton off the bench........Phil do the right thing..........Also, Ira Newble should be used in this series against Pierce.
My last concern??
COACHING!! Phil Jackson.............Will he limit his rotations and make the proper substitutions without destroying the momentum of the game?
If the Celtics make the mistake of checking Kobe straight up.......Kobe shouldn't hesitate to put up 30 shots a game and be ultra aggressive and not listen to the pundits.
Remember the 93' finals with the Bulls and Suns? Jordan was about Kobe's age in that Finals.....Anybody want to take a guess on a Phil jackson coached team the number of shots Michael averaged that series?
TRY 33 SHOT ATTEMPTS!!
Hmmmm.........I wonder why Phil or the media didn't say Jordan was selfish during that series..............Go Figure
Go lakers........Get your popcorn ready
Posted by: pfunk36 | June 05, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Morning all.......Move the ball......Move that dam ball..
Go Lakers
Posted by: Thirty2 | June 05, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Butler: it's past your bedtime little boy. Nighty, night.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | June 05, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Andrew and Brian K.,
Hey. I know over the years we've had our ins and outs at times, but I just wanted to thank you two for your consistent energy, intelligence, skill and humor. You two (along with some extraordinary bloggers) truly make this place more than a blog, but a blogmunity of Lakers fanatics.
You don't find this combination of intelligence, creativity, passion, and personality anywhere else.
You two have done a tremendous job and I'm glad I've stumbled onto this blog at very beginning and have been able to witness the arc of development of this blogmunity.
You two have a bright, long future ahead of you as sportswriters, critics, sport media experts (we expect to hear a lot more of you two on the radio and on television.)
Great job. Well done. Keep it up.
And I'm sure when you're old and gray the two of you will share stories with your bright-eyed grandchildren about what it was like to write stories on the Lakers for your FIRST NBA Championship of what did become a historic Dynasty.
Good times.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 05, 2008 at 01:09 PM
Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant will not let the Lakers lose.
This is a MAGICAL SEASON that will go down in history.
This season reminds me of the 80 Championship when Magic played all 5 positions in that defining game for the Lakers. When Jamal Wilkes was asked about winning it in Philly with Kareem out injured he had a statement that reminds me of where the season started with the Kobe mess and outlook of the team being in despair. Wilkes comment was: OUT OF THE MUD GREW A ROSE.
How true is that with this Laker Season?? From Kobe wanting to leave to the FINALS are you kidding me??
LakerTom being you are an old Showtime Fan as I, I am sure you remember Wilkes comment after winning it all.
Go Lakers and Laker win in 5 in this magical season.
BD
Posted by: BD | June 05, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Butler, stop stalking me, don't forget the restraining order.
What we had was a one time thing.
Posted by: Steve Nash | June 05, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Guys! Come on!
What's the rule? What's the rule? Anyone? Anyone?
Starve the Troll.
Starve the Troll.
It's very simple.
Starve the Troll.
Butler is a Troll.
Starve him.
If you HAVE to respond to some nonsense that Butler vomits out like a kid with Down's Syndrome and Tourette's, if you HAVE to DO NOT ADDRESS HIM DIRECTLY.
Talk to me about it. Talk to anyone about it, but do not treat Butler with the dignity of addressing him directly. He simply does not deserve that basic level of respect.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 05, 2008 at 01:13 PM
Yeah I'm starving Butler now. No more attention from me!
Anyway, onto tonight, baby!
Posted by: ajax | June 05, 2008 at 01:14 PM
Blogger of the day goes to Mamba24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I enlisted myself to give it to you Mamba24, since you wont give it to yourself. why am I the first to do this........
Lakerman420 is out to lunch right now but for your blogger of the day prize-........INHALE!!!!!!!
Ill make sure he gives you the proper response when he gets back.
On another note- I notice that I am missing from most of the bandwagons.. I want to be on them all and I do not want to directly report to Jeanie Buss anymore! I want to be on the court flashing the celtics everytime they go up for a shot, lets distract those weenies! LOL
We are the Lakers! The Mighty mighty LAKERS!
LETS GET THE RINGS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PURPLE AND GOLD!!!!!
Posted by: Simi Laker Girl | June 05, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Sorry Laker fans for our crazy fan Butler. He's off his meds again. We know our team sucks and we have no right talking since we are out of the playoffs, but Butler didn't get the memo. Its just like the old days again, Lakers-Celtics in the finals and Phoenix is a crappy team again.
Posted by: The Suns | June 05, 2008 at 01:16 PM
"Just like Pippen and Jordan - Kobe and Shaq both contributed to the titles"
Exactly - kobee is the next Scottie Pippen. They both can finish, run the floor well, and are best as 2nd bananas.
Let's leave the talk of true greats for LEADERS such as SHACK, D-Wade, Kareem, and GNASH.
Posted by: BUTLER | June 05, 2008 at 01:17 PM
The Celtics are a very good club. Too bad their fans don't have the same kind of class.
Posted by: Craig W. | June 05, 2008 at 01:18 PM
likening Grant Hill to MJ.. that's funny
trying to compare steve nash's 2 MVP wins (with no visits EVER to the finals, never even sniffing a ring), to Kobe's single MVP with 3 championships, with at least one more coming soon and probably several given the lakers current team and age. And how old is Nash? And how many years do you think he's going to play? I love Nash, but he's no Kobe.
Here's the facts: The celtics have not played a TEAM with the offensive skills of the lakers yet this playoffs. Yes, they shut down a young atlanta team that played a lot of one-on-one, they shut down the Lebrons (a team that had ONE player that could score), and they took out a Detroit team that isn't very good offensively. They haven't faced a team like this yet. And the lakers have played Utah and Denver along the way, two of the highest offensive efficiency teams in the league. Guess what? Lakers held both to poor shooting marks and totally ruined their offenses.
Fact is that the lakers' D has been tested against good offenses and the lakers O has been tested against a historically awesome D (spurs). The celtics D has not yet been tested in the post-seasn, and their offense has struggled against every team they've played.
Lakers in 5
Posted by: sean | June 05, 2008 at 01:18 PM
Butler, dear, I have something to tell you. Your father isn't Mike D'antoni after all, its actually former Laker Mark Madsen, we conceived you during the Championship Parade. Your part Laker son!!
Posted by: BUTLER'S MOM | June 05, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Laker Nation,
Top 10 reasons why the Lakers will beat the Celtics:
#10 – The Celtics are just happy to be there (did ya see the party just for winning the easiest conference this side of the “D” league)
#9 – Danny Ainge is upstairs and will not be able to scratch and claw under the hoop
#8 – Downtown hoop dojo (Staples Center) – Lakers do not lose at home (and know how to play on the road)
#7 – Celtics do not know how to close out an opponent (7 games, 7 games, uh….6 games with major Detroit injuries - whew)
#6 – Phil (9 rings) Jackson v Doc (What’s up) Rivers…not even close (don’t those buggy eyes bother you chowder heads?)
#5 – Down 20 points, down 17 points……..no problem, Kobe’s on it
#4 – KG doesn’t want the ball late
#3 – Youth will be served – Laker bench deeper, fresher, hungrier
#2 – Kobe stopper…….(the voice of Ben Stein)…..anyone…anyone….Bueller?
#1 – Red Auerbach is dead – no one around to screw with the air conditioning………
Posted by: Savant | June 05, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Here we come. I can feel it. LAKERS!!!
Posted by: nik kannan | June 05, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Janaya: Check today's earlier threads. I posted the Game Day Prayer on both of 'em.
Lakers in 6. Although I have a feeling it may only take 5 so we can clinch at home for the first time since 2000.
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | June 05, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Butler, you amuse me.
"braynt is good, but then so is Paul Pierce. It takes leadership to win a title though, and we only have to look at true superstars such as D-Wade, Jordan, Bird and Steve GNASH to see that this is indeed true."
I'll give props to Peirce, he has some skill. But he is not the leader. KG leads the Celts, and perhaps Ray Allen's calm class is the second. Pierce is only the offensive threat of your "Big 3" but he is no leader. Of the "true superstars" that you named, not one led their team by intense screaming and defense alone. They led by example, by scoring for their team when needed, and bringing their game to another level. KG is consistently good, but he can't carry his team.
Kobe on the other hand is the undisputable leader of this Laker squad with a skill set that his teamates respect and can follow into battle. And Mr. 81 CAN take it up a notch to the next level and carry his team. The Celtic's leadership by committee is laughable.
Posted by: lakerboddhi | June 05, 2008 at 01:23 PM
BK
Good Assessment........However if the Lakers manage to get one of the first two in Boston I see the Lakers winning in 5 games.
My biggest concern??
KENDRICK PERKINS!! Can we keep this guy off the boards.........This matchup is crucial in limiting the number of possessions for Boston by keeping this guy off the boards.
The next concern??
LUKE WALTON!! Phil Jackson has to nail this guy to the bench and not wait to see how he looks against Boston. Luke Walton in this game for ANY length of time greatly damages the Lakers chances of winning. There are no more excuses Phil........Ariza has had plenty of time to get his feet under him and is much more athletic and defensive minded than Walton off the bench........Phil do the right thing..........Also, Ira Newble should be used in this series against Pierce.
My last concern??
COACHING!! Phil Jackson.............Will he limit his rotations and make the proper substitutions without destroying the momentum of the game?
If the Celtics make the mistake of checking Kobe straight up.......Kobe shouldn't hesitate to put up 30 shots a game and be ultra aggressive and not listen to the pundits.
Remember the 93' finals with the Bulls and Suns? Jordan was about Kobe's age in that Finals.....Anybody want to take a guess on a Phil jackson coached team the number of shots Michael averaged that series?
TRY 33 SHOT ATTEMPTS!!
Hmmmm.........I wonder why Phil or the media didn't say Jordan was selfish during that series..............Go Figure
Go lakers........Get your popcorn ready
Posted by: pfunk36 | June 05, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Excellant post but there is another stat out there that defies logic. The Jazz outrebounded the Lakers and still lost! I agree we need to do great job on boards but we can still overcome if rebounding edge is not that huge.
I would rather we not win that way and beat them on the boards.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 05, 2008 at 01:23 PM
That's it Eagle Boy!
Puff our chest and drive momentum. That's the Mamba way of thinking!
Psyched!
Put him to bed. Check his temperature please?
Guys,
Been posting at the Celtics blog and saw Gunner and Mamba24 fighting for us. Still haven't seen my post's.
Also, the t shirts they are handing out says "Gotta Beat LA?" Is it me or does that not sound so secure in their quest for a championship. "Gotta?"
Posted by: Charles | June 05, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Hope Kobe comes out in attack mode, but I mean attack the basket and not settling for jump shots all the time. Kobe taking it to another level is most definitely good, but could also spell disaster if he stops moving the ball.
I'm with you Thirty2.
Posted by: Fire32 | June 05, 2008 at 01:25 PM
butler, when did steve nash win the championship? i must have missed it.
Posted by: rafa rules | June 05, 2008 at 01:26 PM
AK/BK,
Ok your caught red handed! You guys are BUTLER! What are the odds that every single new thread has Butler as the first post! Only you guys know when a new thread is coming..I'm not buying it! We know you're trying to increase blog hits right now..You guys can come clean.. We won't mind.
Posted by: zen | June 05, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Obama and McCain
Obama is taking the Lakers in 6 although his favorite player is Garnett (who played his senior year in high school in Chicago)
I wonder if McCain's made a pick yet?
Posted by: giantsquid | June 05, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Blogger of the day goes to Mamba24!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I enlisted myself to give it to you Mamba24, since you wont give it to yourself. why am I the first to do this........
Lakerman420 is out to lunch right now but for your blogger of the day prize-........INHALE!!!!!!!
Ill make sure he gives you the proper response when he gets back.
On another note- I notice that I am missing from most of the bandwagons.. I want to be on them all and I do not want to directly report to Jeanie Buss anymore! I want to be on the court flashing the celtics everytime they go up for a shot, lets distract those weenies! LOL
We are the Lakers! The Mighty mighty LAKERS!
LETS GET THE RINGS BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PURPLE AND GOLD!!!!!
Posted by: Simi Laker Girl | June 05, 2008 at 01:16 PM
Simi Laker Girl,
I don't know if that will work since I am not convinced the Celtics are real men! They can't handle a real woman!
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 05, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Charles: "GOTTA Beat LA" T-shirts. Dang. They scrrred...
Posted by: utzworld - THE BANNER HOLDER | June 05, 2008 at 01:29 PM
The ghost of injuries could come to haunt the lakers in this series. What would be the result of a broken pinky, perhaps?
Or a sprained ankle for the gentle spaniard?
It's a precarious position, starting a series on the road, and playing under 8 title banners won at the expense of better laker teams.
Posted by: BUTLER | June 05, 2008 at 01:32 PM
BK,
“Lakers in six.” Jesus, Brian, why didn’t you just have Andy do the prediction. He’s at least a Lakers fan. Then it would have been Lakers in four or five. What do the Lakers have to do to break this media bias? JK.
Great analysis, BK, although I still am confident that we will not be returning to Boston because the Celtics are going down in 4 or 5. No way the Lakers lose a home game in these playoffs. Steal one or two in Boston and then close the Greenies out in Staples.
I agree with your key point: The Lakers offense is good enough to score on the Boston defense but the Boston offense is NOT good enough to beat the Lakers defense.
The bottom line is simple: The Lakers have the best player, the best coach, the best bench, the best team, and – drum roll, wait for it – the best blog in this series.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | June 05, 2008 at 01:33 PM
As a lot of smart people have already stated winning one(though two would be a lot better baby) of the first two games in Boston is crucial--
Then holding serve at home becomes paramount as it were.....
One positive I have gleaned from our previous play-offs series this season is our ability to come back from big deficits (ie 20 and 17 points down to the reigning champs)...hopefully this young team can remember that if and when we find our selves down big in a game....
Tonight almost smells like another Memeorial Day Massacre, hopefully this team rises to the occasion and we can silence the crowd early--winning game one would be another part of the dream coming true...
4 games---4 GAMES----4 MORE FRICKIN' GAMES !!!
AS ALWAYS, AS EVER, YET ANOTHER GREAT DAY TO BE A LAKER FAN !!!
GO LAKERS !!!
Posted by: Floyd | June 05, 2008 at 01:33 PM
WHY ARE YOU GUYS FEEDING BUTLER WITH ANY ATTENTION?
just chillax and know he is only doing this to get a reaction out you all.. and you all keep referring to him as a young boy then why bother responding to young boy..hmmmm oxymoron
In some sense you guys are worst off than Butler..
Posted by: oxymoron | June 05, 2008 at 01:33 PM
"You guys can come clean.. We won't mind."
Posted by: zen | June 05, 2008 at 01:27 PM
Zen,
It's Psyched hasn't tucked him in yet.
Posted by: Charles | June 05, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Laker love in the Wall Street Journal.
http://tinyurl.com/5k5zum
Posted by: Lakers Legacy | June 05, 2008 at 01:37 PM