Live from the Finals, Game 6: Lakers vs. Celtics
You folks cheering at home better do some screaming, because your Lakers need all the help they can get drowning out these Bostonians. They seriously know how to yell at whatever this arena is called. There was even a small "Beat L.A." chant going an hour before the game.
AK
Big cheers for Kendrick Perkins, who is starting.
By the way, I know longer feel bad about my nose bleed dwellings. I'm actually seated next to Kevin Blackistone, of "Around the Horn" fame. He's a considerably bigger and more prominent figure than yours truly. That provides me some comfort in a petty kinda way.
And look, David Stern is on the other side of me! Okay, that part isn't true.
FIRST QUARTER
Lakers win the tip. That's certainly not a bad start. And 14 seconds before Perkins picks up a foul and Kobe cans a jumper. All in all, not too bad.
11:00 - The Celts fans don't like the charging call against Pierce, but the replay shows it was the right one. PP was neither set nor square when taking the contact from a driving Fisher. Derek hits both freebies.
10:18 - Some tightness by the Celts (a terrible missed trey by Ray Allen against the side of the backboard, Perkins bricking a put back) is finally offset by Rajon Rondo, who strips Gasol and streaks towards the bucket, then dishes out to Allen outside the arc. Money this time for Jesus Shuttlesworth.
9:01 - Kobe pulls up and cans his third three ball early in the game. He's 3-3 from the field, all behind the arc. Good results, but I definitely don't want to see him there all night. But still, great start for Bryant.
END OF THE FIRST: 24-20 Boston. (BK here, as AK is having interweb problems at the Gah-den.)
Not a terrible quarter for the Lakers from a score standpoint, but they aren't looking good in some key areas. First, Pau Gasol has been nonexistent on the offensive end, and has been extremely passive. Four turnovers assigned to him (I might have given one to Kobe that was tagged to Pau, but that's not the point). They need him to find some confidence and start giving the Lakers another outlet. Kobe kept the Lakers in the quarter with some very clutch shooting from downtown, but that can't be expected through an entire game. Defensively, the Lakers are doign a nice job in the halfcourt, but are giving up far too many offensive rebounds (five) and have shot themselves in the foot with six TOs.
That's given the Celtics 24 field goal chances already. Clean up that stuff, and the Lakers might be able to make some progress. Good moves thus far include getting LO on PP more.
SECOND QUARTER:
8:23- Timeout on the floor, Celtics up by five, 28-23. Boston is making the Lakers a perimeter team. Lots of deep jumpers, and Kobe in particular is having trouble getting some space. They're stagnant right now on that end- LO has found some rhythm and is getting aggressive, but they have to figure out a way to find holes in that Boston O. Inside out.
6:25 - Eddie House connects from distance one possession removed from Posey giving him the idea. Same left corner of the court, same result, pushing the Celtics' lead to nine. Rotating around to cover is leaving guys way open. Everyone needs to make sure not to overcommit and keep a bead on their guy. In particular, Posey was given days to measure up his shot and fire.
Belichick gets puts on jumbotron and gets thunderous ovation. I have nothing against the Pats, but I really hate that dude.
6:15 - Another quick three from Kobe fails to connect. He's enjoyed some early success, but he needs to knock it off with the downtown stuff, especially early in the clock. Take it inside, keep the ball moving.
5:53 - Third foul on Fish around the perimeter, sending House to the line. Farmar checks in.
5:37 - Kobe turns the ball over after working iso'ed in traffic and it slips into House's mitts. Another three ball from Posey comes from it. Theat would be the ninth turnover by the lakers, for those keeping a running tally (and I am).
3:57 - Vlad takes a catch and shoot from Kobe and comes up bad on his first attempt, both from the field and behind the line. He compounds the error by sending Pierce to the line after fouling him (his third) along the baseline. PP shoots a pair and Walton comes in for Vlad.
3:04 - Walton passes up the three ball, steps inside a few, then clangs off rim and eventually to the top of the backboard. The Laker O has gone seriously cold, with Boston outscoring them 15-4 since the 7:50 mark. Time out Boston.
2:12 - After turning the ball over working his way into traffic, Farmar redeems himself with a steal under the Boston basket, then draws a foul going back to rack. One of two fall.
1:12 - A little floater by Rondo under the bucket goes down. The Celts are back up by 18. Scratch that. 20, after KG sinks the fall away floater after picking up LO's second foul. And now it's 21, when the freebie strokes nylon.
23.6 - Some criss cross action between Celtics eventually works the ball into Perkins' hands down low. He works the layup into the goal, making this a 23 point affair, where it sits at halftime. Hard to say which is hurting the Lakers more. A shooting percentage that's plummeted to 30% (8-27 from the field). An absurd 11 turnovers. Getting beat 26-14 on the boards. Being outdimed 17-5. But whatever you label the #1 factor, they all need to be corrected ASAFP if the Lakers want to maintain any prayer of a miracle comeback. We'll see if they can get it together after some halftime Gatorade and orange slices.
THIRD QUARTER
11:42 - Boston's first possession is a mid-range jumper by Rondo gone good. That's not what I would categorize as a proverbial "good omen."
10:51 - More movement inside by Boston, with Rondo drawing attention around the tin and kicking out to Ray Ray at the arc. Kobe's late to close. Three ball goes down.
9:52 - After missing from behind the arc, Fish thinks again from that distance after receiving the kick out from LO. Instead, he worms inside and works a layup home, drawing a whistle on Perkins. And one good. L.A. finally gets on the board with a field goal this frame.
9:32 - LO sets up Pau for the dunk. It's back to 24, then back up to 26 after a PP driving layup.
8:48 - Vladdy finally gets on the board after slipping a defender, then parking himself back behind the line to spot up for three. But before any momentum can be found, Rondo drives the lane and picks up a whistle on Kobe. "And one" layup made good. We're still in "tough sledding territory" for the Lake show.
7:30 - An LO turnover creates yet another score for Boston off transition. This time it's Ray Allen, who's left beyond wide open for what's essentially shooting practice for him behind the arc. He drains it.
6:11 - Pau can't handle Fish's pass inside, resulting in... you guessed it... another turnover (a baker's dozen and counting). On the other end, he picks up an offensive on the ground in a scrum with PJ Brown. It's been that kind of night for him... and everyone wearing his uni, really.
5:09 - This game's tone was just neatly summarized, as Pau tries to work his way to the bucket against KG, who stymies Gasol's motion and forces a jump ball while grabbing the rock with ONE HAND. Not a typo, folks. One hand. If you need an example of how and why nothing is going right for L.A. (or how and why everything is for Boston, depending on your POV), there you have it.
2:54 - Time out, Lakers, with a 30-point spread staring them down. I just receive an email. "This isn't going well, love Mom." The woman knows her hoops.
2:49 - Pau gets the chair pulled out from under him by KG, adding another turnover to the mix. No Celtic bucket comes from it, but the Lakers don't get a chance to capitalize. Kobe quickly adds a turnover of his own, with a sequence ending with Rondo at the stripe. One of two go down.
1:47 - Kobe earns a pair at the line after driving and drawing a foul on Brown. Both are good. Coming on the heels of a converted layup, am I the only person wondering why he didn't do more of that earlier on instead of all the long jumpers?
The quarter wraps up with Kobe's 17 foot baseline jumper going errant at the buzzer, leaving the Lakers with 29 points to make up for in the next dozen minutes. That would be a tall order under any circumstances, but the way this team is playing, it's beyond ludicrous to picture. I just want them to go out playing hard, playing with heart and, if we're lucky, maybe playing smart.
FOURTH QUARTER
Eleven seconds in, we have LO at the strip on another fouled and unconverted layup (0-5 on a tough night) and hitting one of two at the line. Trevor Ariza makes his first appearance of the night.
11:02 - Ariza at the line after drawing the foul underneath the cup on Big Baby. One of two are good. In the meantime, the crowd is chanting "Where is Kobe," in reference to #24 taking a seat on the pine.
10:44 - Clear path foul on Farmar while trying to prevent a layup by Rondo after the point guard receives a Hail Mary from Brown. Curious how the sequence got started? If you guessed "turnover," give yourself a gold star.
9:11 - Allen buries another three, bumping the score to 101-70, Boston. Of course, it's only an 11-possession game, so really, this baby is still wide open.
7:27 - At least the Lakers are getting interesting turnovers now. After pulling down Rondo's miss at the rack, Farmar attempts the Hail Mary alley oop to Ariza. The ball bounces off the backboard and into KG's hands. Points for originality, I guess.
5:21 - Another bomb from distance courtesy of Ray Allen, giving him a grand total of 26 on the night.
They're playing the music from "The Departed." I figured it had to come soon enough.
The "nah nah nah nah, hey, hey, hey, good bye" chant has started up. Frankly, I imagine the Lakers wouldn't mind obliging the invite to leave.
2:21 - Time out Celtics. A jumbotron montage of "Dancing Gino" from the 70s comes up, mixed in with American Bandstand footage. All to the tune of the Bee Gees' "You should be dancing." I desperately wish it came under different circumstances, but I'm also a sucker for anything of that era. I must admit, it's actually kinda cool.
1:30 - Ariza attempts a dispy doodle layup to no avail. Garbage time can't end quickly enough. This is growing tortuous.
Thirty seconds to go. Boston players, staff, and fans are getting ready to storm the court. The baseline is stacked with spectators. This place is about to go insane. KG, PP and Allen are hugging.
4.4 - House dribbles down to a 24-second violation. Then the last four tick away. "We are the Champions" by Queen plays. 131-92 Boston, in a game that was every bit as lopsided as the score would indicate. On the jumbotron, I see Kobe, LO, Turiaf, Fish, and Sasha seek out various Celts to offer congratulations. I'm sure other teammates followed suit. Glad to see the display of class by the Lakers. It's gotta hurt bad, but they're doing the right thing. This will be a tough one for the team and the fans to swallow for quite some time, but this was still a fantastic season that nobody could have seen coming and can only be built upon. Try to remember that while absorbing this sting.
And yes, before you ask, I do smell many a cigar lit up.
What does lamar odom have to do to get traded? it's always one step forward , two steps back with the guy. he has a great game 5 and then goes and parties. Then comes out flat for game 6. He has made zero progress as a player, still is inconsistent. He has not developed a low post game, a right hand or a consistent jumper. The man plays poor defense. I respect lamar odom as a man, but i think his time was up with the lakers a year ago. This series proves that as he was exposed and his inability to play tough and score when left open made things very difficult for kobe as garnett was allowed to roam.
Posted by: fdiz | June 17, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Re-peat!
Re-peat!
Re-peat!
Re-peat!
Go C's!
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 10:52 PM
THE BANNER HOLDER
why don't you put your prayer before the game?everytime when I saw your prayer before the game,lakers won. I was looking your prayer today ,but i can't find it. it is so disappointing.
Posted by: dmcoach PJ | June 17, 2008 at 10:53 PM
PHIL JACKSON, LAMAR ODUM, VLADE, AND LUKE MUST GO BANDWAGON
1. Do You See What I See (well do you punks)
Posted by: Do You See What I See | June 17, 2008 at 10:55 PM
I don't understand everyone throwing Pau under the bus. That's just ridiculous. The man is playing center and he weighs like 100 pounds. It's not his fault he's asked to play out of position against a beefy and quick front line.
If you want to blame someone, blame Phil Jackson. I don't know what the hell he was doing ALL SERIES LONG. How about you don't body up Pierce 30 feet from the basket? How about you don't put Chris Mihm in ... EVER. How about trying Lamar Odom on PP? How about making Garnett shoot 20 footers on pick and pops? How about MOTIVATING your players? Phil was just atrocious during this series. I can't believe it because I'm a huge Phil Jackson proponent, but he just did not earn his paycheck at all. It looks like he doesn't even like his own guys.
Our big problem is at the 3 spot. The SF by committee of Walton-Radmanovic-Ariza is not working. All three guys are decent backups (I like Ariza most), but none are starter material. But the problem is that they're signed to long term contracts for wayyyyy too much money. If I had to choose one, I'd pick Walton because I think you can work on shooting, but you can't work on heart and brains and Radman has neither of those. A guy like Stephen Jackson would be a good fit at that spot. Or as many bloggers have suggested, Ron Artest.
Sasha must stay. I like Ronny and actually, since he had a bad series, we can probably sign him on the cheap. Ariza will be resigned I hope. We just need takers for Walton and/or Vlade and use our MLE WISELY this summer. A guy like Craig Smith would be huge coming off the bench. Or, if we're lucky, a guy like Josh Childress.
Bottom line, we've got a TON of young guys who just grew up a LOT tonight. Let them grow together. Share heartache together. Come together stronger next year.
No panic moves! Just wise tweaks here and there.
Posted by: puddle | June 17, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Frankie:
Jerry West had nothing to do (wink wink) with the Gasol gift.
I have a couple of other things for you to consider:
* Easter bunny is paying you a visit with a golden egg.
* Santa thinks you've been a good, good boy.
* Tooth Fairy has a quarter for you.
Oh, did I mention that Celtics win! Just thought I'd rub more salt.
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 10:56 PM
I am embarrassed to be a Laker fan right now. I understand we are putting things in perspective and that this season was more than we could have imagined, BUT...
There is no way to excuse a team that plays in the FINALS and plays with no heart losing by 39. NO EXCUSE.
If you can't lay it out there and fight in the FINALS, then when are you? We have a team with an extraordinary amount of talent and skill, but lack miserably in heart, aggression and toughness. All I wanted was a fight... a win would have been fantastic, but at the very least, a fight.
Lakers failed to do so.
Old Laker players like Rick Fox didn't have all the talent, but he played tough... and man could we have used players like that now...
The one thing the Lakers should learn from this- is that toughness never quits, but talent obviously can.
Posted by: letsbereal | June 17, 2008 at 10:56 PM
NO ARIZA, NO NEWBLE, NO MBENGA, NO KARL
2 DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST... 1 BIG BODY....1 DEAD EYE
PHIL JACKSON IS A JOKE
FIRE PHIL JACKSON
Posted by: Do You See What I See | June 17, 2008 at 07:34 PM
agreed. And Doc trusts his whole team even saying we play 12 guys. PJ only plays 7-8 and that is why we stood no chance in this series. He lost to the suns with 3-1 lead and never even got us into this series. What a joke and a Zen phoney. Never takes blame and trashes his players.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 17, 2008 at 10:56 PM
Where do they go from here?
Can the weaknesses (rebounding, bench scoring/defense/rebounding, perimeter defense, point guard, small forward) be addressed by existing players returning from injury/improving with experience? Or do they need to add someone?
How much luxury tax is the front office willing to pay?
The answers to those questions will determine what happens to the roster.
It probably starts with the confidence the front office has in whether Bynum, Ariza, and Mihm will fully return from their injuries.
I think it is reasonable to expect that Farmar and Vujacic will improve some amount. But how much? And assuming health, Ariza will likely improve, too. Bynum will improve a lot, if he can stay healthy. Gasol's individual skills will probably not improve, but increased time with the system and the roster will result in better play overall.
At this point, I don't expect improvement from Walton, Vlad, Fisher, or Odom. Probably not from Kobe, either.
I think the jury is out on whether or not Turiaf will get any better. (Arguably the biggest disappointment in the finals.)
How will Odom's game mesh with Bynum's?
Assume good health from everybody, I think that they will shop Odom around, and see what is available. A PG who with a little more speed (preferably a veteran), and a back-up PF, would really strengthen the bench.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 17, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Go Lakers!
I am a fan for life.
Thank you for an exciting season.
Next year we need different ending.
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | June 17, 2008 at 10:58 PM
I guess it was Phil Jackson who averaged 25 points on 25 shot attempts pretending to be the "best player ever" in the NBA.
Do you know what I mean?
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Let's go C's!
umm ok...
unlike you we still have jobs to return to. squeal all you want, and after that what? youre still a tasteless bia+ch who just loves to yadda...
Its a loss. so what? who cares??
all i can say is that boston should continue pursuing home court... we all know they couldnt win sh*t on the road.
for a team who almost got whacked in the 1st and 2nd round, you are a bunch of arrogant pr*cks...
Posted by: i_heart_LA | June 17, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Want to suggest something to all of you...knowing many/most will think it crazy and hurl all sort of invective. But this is a serious point that hasn't yet been suggested in the nearly 1000 posts on this board:
The Lakers should trade.....Kobe.
That they won't do it and Kobe may not again demand it will doom them to 2nd place or worse perenially.
here's the thing. As has been written and stated millions of times, Kobe's a great performer. But he is not only not a leader but also a divisive and disruptive force for the team.
Think about this before you attack. Think how much Mitch could get for Kobe now, as the MVP. A smart trade could form the core of a sustainable great Lakers team for years to come. 2-3 yrs max to hoisting the trophy.
Think about it. Hasn't been said until now. It makes sense if you get past all the assumptions that it has to revolve around him, he needs better support, he's the only one leaving his heart out there, etc., etc.
Posted by: neutrality | June 17, 2008 at 11:00 PM
Hey Faker Fans,
At least your starlett finally won his covetted MVP award?
Kobeef did very well this year.
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 11:01 PM
fdiz, I agree with you. I just don't understand why the Lakers keep holding on to Odom. I remember last year, the Lakers had a 4 point lead and the ball during the regular season and instead of taking the time down, he tried to drive and charged, and the Lakers ended up losing in overtime. He's made one boneheaded play after another throughout the years. But I think you'll get your wish this year and he'll be traded.
What was Pau Gasol's free throw percentage in the finals? Is he one of the least clutch players in the history of sports?
Posted by: sclakerfan | June 17, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Hey letsbereal, you think Michael Jordan would have let his team lost a finals game after leading by 24 points?
You think Jordan would let his team lay an egg (again) in the playoffs?
Ko-crybaby is no Michael Jordan. Where are my Faker fans who LOVE to make that comparision?
Let hear it ladies.
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 11:04 PM
Well, that sucked. It is an embarrassing loss. I thought that even if they lost, they'd put up a better fight than this. Oh well, back to the drawing board. Congrats for getting this far, Lakeshow. Work hard this summer. You have a lot of growing up to do. See you next year!
Posted by: SamLL | June 17, 2008 at 11:05 PM
its not that PJ needs to play 12 people....
it is a veteran move to play a small circle... which also works fine...
PJ's problem is in-game adjustment and player motivation...
adjustment on how to fix the C's defense on kobe... 6 games no adjustment... kobe not going to the line killed us. dont say he cant... but he has been obedient to pj's direction to the bitter end.
and like some of you, the triangle doesnt work. scrap it
motion offense is the way to go...
Posted by: i_heart_LA | June 17, 2008 at 11:05 PM
PHIL JACKSON
PLEASE DO ALL LAKER FANS A FAVOR AND RETIRE
YOU DON'T COACH
AND NEXT YEAR WITH BYNUM COMING BACK WILL ONLY PROVE FUTILE BECAUSE WE CANNOT BEAT THE CELTICS NEXT YEAR EITHER
YOU ARE AN EMBARASSMENT YOU HAVEN'T COACHED ONE SECOND OF THIS SERIES AND YOU EXPECT US TO BE OK WITH THAT
I'M MAD AS HELL AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE
FIRE PHIL JACKSON
Posted by: Do You See What I See | June 17, 2008 at 07:46 PM
Sign me up on that bandwagon!!!!!!
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 17, 2008 at 11:06 PM
neutrality,
just shut up.
Posted by: i_heart_LA | June 17, 2008 at 11:06 PM
i_heart_LA,
Did I tell you that I, too, Loves LA?
You Faker fans rant all year about Kobeef's alledged "greatness".
Sorry to say, but I don't see "greatness" in Kobeef. I see fakeness.
Sorry. Your guy is simply not as great as you Fakers think. Basketball will always be a team sport.
Michael Jordan's "greatness" is not his individual greatness, but his ability to ooze his greatness on to others.
Hell, even Shaq O'neal was able to pass is greatness to Dwaye Wade in 2006. Oh, not to mention Kobeer in 00-02.
Too bad, so sad. Happy summer of sobbing.
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 11:08 PM
wtf is a starlett?
you trolls need to learn how to spell.
Posted by: lakerluuuv | June 17, 2008 at 11:08 PM
neutrality: Great idea as long as Kobeef isn't traded to Boston.
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 11:12 PM
neutrality, trading Kobe isn't a bad idea, but... They just can't get value for him. First of all, he has a no trade clause, so he won't want to be traded to a losing team. If the Lakers tried to trade him to Miami for Wade and Marion, he'll say no. They would need to trade him to a team to make THAT team a contender yet give something back to the Lakers that the Lakers would want. Also, I doubt the Lakers would trade him to a Western Conference team. The only reason a Western Conference team would help the Lakers is if that team was rebuilding. Maybe the Suns may decide to rebuild any may even have the players, but if a team is rebuilding, Kobe wouldn't agree to go there. Maybe a team like Detroit could do it. I just don't see it happening. I think that although Kobe didn't win the series for the Lakers, it's still not his fault the Lakers lost. He's still their best perimeter defender and definitely the only Laker than can break a defense down. But he can't win if everyone else is playing badly.
Posted by: sclakerfan | June 17, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Celts fan here; just want to say, you LA fans have a great team which had a fantastic season, and congrats to you on that. It might hurt now, but you guys are going to be a force in the West for years to come.
Oh, and don't pay any attention to the nitwit trolls from Boston, just like I don't pay any attention to the nitwit trolls from LA who raided the Boston sites
Thanks dude for being a classy celtic fan. I hope they will play against each other again next year at full strength since we don't have our real center. But having Pau for like 30 games was a treat enough for me too! Lakers for life!
Posted by: hyns | June 17, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Nothing more pathetic than a Sees fan spending time on a Lakers blog the night his team wins an NBA title. No number of championships can hide the sick obsession you animals have with Los Angeles (and New York for that matter.) I'll remember that comment next year when the Lakers are back in the Finals and KG leads the Sees to one of his patented first round exits.
Posted by: GW Forum | June 17, 2008 at 11:13 PM
I get a call tonight from one of my Celtic fan friends. Couldn't believe it. All I've heard for the last 20 years is pro hoops suck and I watch college - it's a better game. All it takes is one year and the classless Celtic fans come out of the closet as obnoxious as ever.
Hats off to this Celtic team - they're very good and were better than the Lakers.
But to all you fair weather Celtic fans - which is 90% of the current Celtic fans, you got nothing - no credibility, nothing. Where have you been for 20 years while your team was tanking seasons for draft picks?
Congratulations Celtics and to the Celtic fans who aren't smart enough to learn a little humility after 20 years of being fans in hiding for one of the worst franchises in the league - who cares what you say?
Posted by: dkw | June 17, 2008 at 11:14 PM
The box score doesn't lie. We're shooting 35% and no offensive rebounds. Boston has 10. So much for pulling off a miracle.
You can complain about PJ all you want people but we're weak inside and that's a personnel problem. Bynum will help but I am not sure he's the answer. God knows we'll struggle even more with those fleet of foot point guards in the Western Conference next year.
We made it a long way but defense really does win championships. Congrats to the Celtics.
Posted by: WaitingEvenLonger4Ringers | June 17, 2008 at 07:58 PM
It is only a personel problem when you don't have the personel. It is entirely a different story when you have the personel but leave them out of the game and on the bench. Do you trully believe Mbenga could not have helped or Ira Newble?
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 17, 2008 at 11:15 PM
We lost be we still have a lot to be proud of. No Bynum, no excuses. What would Boston have done if we had Bynum but they didn't have Kg. With Bynum it doesn't matter that Gasol is soft. He's a huge asset at PF.
Also, did I miss something about Allen and Kg. I respect Pierce (not so much after the wheelchair scene but still) he was with the Celtics since day one. I didn't see Malone and Payton calling themselves Lakers for life when they joined the club. Why do Kg and Allen think they are Celtics. They are sell outs. Couldn't do nothing by themselves. They are a T-wolve and a loser Sonic/Buck. I'm pretty sure they're going to want their numbers retired as C's. Don't deserve it.
Man, THANK YOU LAKERS!!!!!!!!!! You gave me thrills and chills all year. From Battiers 3 in the first game to this awful loss. We all love you and we will be blogging and rooting all offseason.
TO ALL THE CELTIC FANS:
I'm pretty sure you were chanting "MVP" to Kobe last year in BOSTON. What a bunch of bandwagon fans. Worse then the Colorado bandwagon rockie fans. LAKERS fans have been down since DAY 1. Straight UP. We were here when Kobe demanded a trade. Sticking by our team. We were here when we got beat by the Funs 2 years in a row. We were here when we were predicted to lose in the 1st round again. If anything...LAKERS fans deserve this year more then celtic fans. WE'RE TRUE FANS. Watch all the Boston fans jump off the Pats bandwagon when the CHARGERS run over the loser Patriots.
LA's got the best weather, the best looking girls, and the BEST BASKETBALL TEAM IN THE WORLD!!!!!
Lamar = Finals MVP
WEST UP!
LAKERS YESTERDAY, LAKERS TODAY, LAKERS TOMORROW, LAKERS ALWAYS
GO LAKERS
Posted by: mrbarneydangles | June 17, 2008 at 11:18 PM
>>>I been thinking How CRITT could've maybe helped us
>>>as far as his physicality is concerned
Yeah, he'd be really good with the physicality of the Lakers
watching San Antonio get shredded by the Celtics.
They wouldn't be in the finals without Pau.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | June 17, 2008 at 08:02 PM
But if Crit was not part of that trade i would be much happier.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 17, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Ko-crybaby is a starlet.
Any questions?
Definition: a young actress (Kobeef) promoted and publicized as a future star, esp. in motion pictures.
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 11:21 PM
PJ= dont give the game away..is what he said to the lakers...
we need to get this lead down to 10..and under
we have 12 minutes....
Posted by: Lakers4Realz | June 17, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Funny since that is exactly what he did!
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 17, 2008 at 11:21 PM
I didn't have a dog in this fight. I just wanted to see some great basketball games.
The Lakers just are not as good as the Celtics.
The series lasted longer than it would have had Boston been healthy.
Read the early posts on this blog. Laker fans are sad to see Boston's players healthy and able to play again. Lakers fans are thrilled to see all the early fouls going to Boston.
Why? Because THIS Laker team couldn't beat a healthy Boston team without the refs help. Yeah, between Boston's injuries and questionable refs the Lakers won a couple of games. Even those two didn't come easy.
The better team won. Boston had the best record in the NBA with 66 wins. Boston had ALL the best defensive stats. Boston finished the year 6-2 against the Lakers and it easily could have been 8-0. It was Boston who ended the Rockets win streak.
Detroit is a better team than the Lakers and Boston beat them.
I checked this blog out tonight and if some Boston fans are being jerks and equal number of Laker fans are being crybabies and sore losers.
Any basketball fan worth his salt should be happy that the one true best basketball team in the NBA actually ended up the champions.
Some on the blog have said Kobe is no Michael. I have news for you: in big games he is no Jerry West or John Havlicek either.
Congrats to Boston. They are hard working and play a team concept. They also have a great coach.
Laker fans are better than they are showing on this blog. Grow up.
Posted by: 45 year NBA fan | June 17, 2008 at 11:23 PM
It is not the end of the world. This shall pass.
A team just doesn't turn that bad that quickly, I said it from game 1 of this series. I've been a Laker fan probably longer than all of you, but no one's counting, who cares. Yes the Lakers were good enough to win the west, but the Celtics overmatched them just about everywhere except with Kobe, and as usual, if he gets frustrated it's over, we've seen it all before.
No doubt with Drew is another story. Need to move LO, I don't know what his status is, but he's the only player with value and expendable for a tough rebounder power forward next to Drew. Got to give Gasol the 3 spot, he can play soft on offense, and rebound on the offensive glass, but would be slow on defense, though.
So they'll need defensive strength on the bench.
Forget all those lame 3 point shooters, got to keep some around but got to make one choice out of Jordan, Vlade and Sasha. And Luke and Ronnie, well, how more sorry can they play?
Also, a solid point guard with speed and toughness on the defense.
Also, the real problem I saw in these matchups or mismatches, was Phil's insistence of not playing zone, that man on man stuff, whatever that is, does not work. On the other end, somehow he needs to admit that the triangle offense is meaningless against that tough lockdown zone, that unless your outside shooters are on, otherwise it's disaster like today's. A strong low post could help against the zone, and that's where Drew comes in.
So Laker fans, I know it sucks losing to those damn Celtics, and let's hope the lesson is learned from this season.
I say why not draft Mbah Moute, he'll be there in the second round, it would not hurt.
Posted by: zopi | June 17, 2008 at 11:24 PM
JustaLaker fan
What makes you think Newble would have helped? I watched every Laker game and he played like twice in garbage time and showed nothing. mbenga seems like a nice guy with a heartwrenching life story - but he did very little to show he would have made an impact. I don't get where the mbenga support comes from. he was a scrub, and played like a scrub in scrub time
??????
Posted by: dkw | June 17, 2008 at 11:25 PM
posted by puddle
Bottom line, we've got a TON of young guys who just grew up a LOT tonight. Let them grow together. Share heartache together. Come together stronger next year.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AND JUST WHAT DID THEY LEARN?
1. TO PLAY WITHOUT HEART
2. TO PLAY WITHOUT AGRESSION
3. TO PLAY WITHOUT THINKING
4. TO PLAY WITHOUT PURPOSE
5. TO GIVE UP
6. TO BE EMBARRASSED
7. TO BLAME KOBE FOR NOT COMING THROUGH
8. TO QUIT IN THE 2ND QUARTER OF A GAME
9. TO NOT PLAY DEFENSE
10. TO FOUL ON EVERY POSSESION
11. TO THROW GIRLY PASSES
12. TO CHOKE AWAY 24 POINT LEADS
13. TO COMMIT TURNOVER AFTER TURNOVER
I'VE GOT NEWS FOR EVERYONE
BOSTON WILL BE EVEN BETTER NEXT YEAR AND THE ADDITION OF BYNUM WILL NOT CHANGE THINGS BECAUSE THE COACHING PHIL-OSOPHY OF THIS TEAM CANNOT BEAT A GREAT DEFENSIVE TEAM.
Posted by: Do You See What I See | June 17, 2008 at 11:26 PM
I just want this team to play hard and leave it on the floor tonght! PJ has failed to use important pieces that could have helped Lakers win this year, but he coaches with dinosuor mindset! I blame AK/BK for not putting fire under PJ when they had the chance back in March. You guys saw this coming but did not step up and call out Phil when he was insistant on keeping Luke in the game!
Posted by: chuck23 | June 17, 2008 at 07:58 PM
As I remember one of the K bros was a luke lover but I don't remember which one.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 17, 2008 at 11:27 PM
dkw: How does your nonfat, soy latte taste?
Faker fans are the one who jump on and off the bandwagon whenever they see fit.
Game 4 (haha) was a like playing a basketball game in a library. The stadium was half empty half way through the first quarter.
Let's go C's!
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 11:29 PM
"Kobe has that little smile..he knows something". Best post of this blog tonight !!!
Sure...he knows he won't hit another shot for a half hour.
Gasol DOES look like a llama. Hey Pau...Frank Sinatra has a song for you.."in llama land there's a one man band and he'll toot his flute for you".
Congrats to the Lakers for setting a second NBA final series record. The other night it was for the biggest choke in finals history and tonight the Lakers lost a deciding game by the biggest margin ever.
The Lakers are not in the same league as this Boston team. The better team won.
Posted by: He knows something | June 17, 2008 at 11:32 PM
WHY $12 MILLION CAN'T BUY YOU A PARADE:
LACKLUSTER LUKE WALTON - IF YOU CAUGHT HIS LIFE W/LUKE SEGMENTS, HE NEVER MADE A BASKET DURING PRACTICE. IF I WERE LAKER MANAGEMENT, I'D ASK FOR MY REFUND BACK.
CHRIS 'MISTAKE' MIHN
VLADE 'NOT SO' RAD
PRICELESS...AND FOREVER RINGLESS
Posted by: mad as hell | June 17, 2008 at 11:34 PM
I don't think Bynum will be the answer to all of the Lakers problems next year. He's not a go scorer, and it's obvious that Gasol isn't either, at least not against any elite big men.
Baron Davis grew up in SoCal and he'd love to be back. Fisher faded throughout the playoffs and Farmar is a few years away. I think they should do a sign and trade because Golden State doesn't want to lose Davis for nothing, but they don't also want to take on his contract. If they can trade Odom for him, the Lakers would have at least another go to guy and a good defender. Sign Artest for the MLE.
Starting line up:
Baron Davis
Kobe Bryant
Ron Artest
Pau Gasol
Andrew Bynum
Bench:
Farmar
Fisher
Turiaf
Walton
Mimh
Posted by: sclakerfan | June 17, 2008 at 08:11 PM
Disagree. Bynum is a go to scorer and with Walton still on the team that is who PJ will play and forget about rest of bench.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 17, 2008 at 11:34 PM
N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk
Woo woo wooo wooo wooo wooo
N-Yuk N-Yuk N-Yuk
Posted by: Curley Howard | June 17, 2008 at 11:35 PM
How can anyone call the celtics class act? they kept shooting when the game was decidedly over. i really wanted someone to foul anybody HARD. what was even worse, when i saw farmar help up that cartoon character rondo. embarrassing.
And i'm sick of all the NORTHeast coast bias, especailly when it comes to the NBA broadcasting partners, espn. they're too giddy for their beloved teams winning
I'm also sick of the notion that boston fans are great. last year that building chanted MVP for kobe. boston is a worse bandwagon than LA - obnoxious.
hopefully this marks the end of lamar odom, luke walton and radmonovich wearing laker uniforms.
I realize they weren't supposed to be there. but that does it make any better. PLAY TO WIN.
Posted by: JF | June 17, 2008 at 11:35 PM
JLFan, there is no way PJ will be fired. He has two years option on his 12M contract per year, so next season will be his last year. Even if we question his rotation, PJ is a good coach that brought us to the Finals. After the injury of Bynum, he has no legitimate Center or healthy Centers out there, used Turiaf prior to Gasol and when Pau got injured, brought in the best in DJ Mbenga eventhough he was trashed by Mavericks and Golden State. PJ stretched some winning streaks out of a rag tag team of one Superstar and some medium stars. You mentioned bring in Artest, Arenas etc. - will these players accept MLE? That's all we have. It will be a problem for Mitch how to dump players to clear cap space b/c we're near the luxury threshold.
Trading Pau Gasol, that's not a good idea, Troy, you're being carried by his soft baggages ignoring his assets when teamed perfectly with Bynum, Kobe as well as other medium stars joining the team out from free agents list. Initially, I agree with what Korey suggested that Ariza should be a starter and Lakers need a quick PG. Farmar should consider playing 2 since he loves the perimeter shooting. I think we're going to lose Sasha b/c other teams are willing to give him an MLE contract of $6.5M for 5 years. Will the Lakers match that? We should bring in Sun Yue as shooting PG but being a fresh international player, I doubt if he can compete with CP2, Deron, Monta etc. Is Coby Karl ready to play more minutes next year?
Ironically, Lakers need a complete preseason games this coming August and September exposed themselves in other sports of endeavor, not only basketball. They need to join track meets, martial arts classes, soccer, sharpen their minds with Chess games. These sports are not related to basketball but it develops the total personality of an athlete to make the right decisions, hardened those strides in grabbing the ball, avoiding injuries by learning how to fall and develop endurance to fight back at those little rondos or bulky perkins. That's what I mean by Championship, it is not just a word or a destiny but a plan, a process in preparing one self like what Bynum did and declare in the end that you are ready to be a Champion.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 17, 2008 at 11:36 PM
PHIL JACKSON, LAMAR ODUM, VLADE, AND LUKE MUST GO BANDWAGON
1. Do You See What I See (well do you punks)
2. JustaLakerFan (riding shotgun for Phil, the other 3?)
Posted by: Do You See What I See | June 17, 2008 at 11:38 PM
sclakerfan: very good point. I mistakenly didn't address the no-trade clause.
I think it's not a huge issue because of a) Kobe's ego and b) the ease with which Lakers mgmt could exploit that in (I hate to say it) Ainge or Auerbach like way to BUILD the team more smartly.
Let's assume Kobe really, really wants to win again. Some challenge this but, if we take it as a given, he'll want out of LA if he believes Mitch & Co won't pay/trade what's necessary to avoid more embarrassment like tonight. I agree with many of the posters here that a decent chunk of the current team is fatally flawed. And, if you watched Kobe's postgame IV tonight, you saw he was uncharacteristically thinking before he spoke by taking a pass on all the questions about where the Lakers go from here. Guess he's learned something from the tirades of the past and even foolish comments (20 shots) more recently.
On getting equivalent value for Kobe: Mitch would need to do what Gretzky always advised: skate to where the puck WILL be and not WHERE it is. This is the essence of team building--recognizing potential talent where others don't. They wouldn't need to get equal value for Kobe in 2008 terms. They'd be much smarter to trade for a small stable of high potential players and/or trade for jewels that others don't yet see sparkling. To be frank, I'm not sure Mitch is up to that challenge.
But I'll say again, for whatever it's worth, this team is fatally flawed as long as they keep viewing the puzzle as "what do we need to get around Kobe" instead of, clean piece of paper, "what do need for a roster to WIN."
Posted by: neutrality | June 17, 2008 at 11:38 PM
I don't seen anything wrong with what PJ has done --
Getting a royal ass-kicking will ultimately be much better for the4se young guys than to win a championship. You see -- who will have more rings in 5 years: Rondo and perkins or the laker kids.
The fact is that this will make them much more humble and much hungrier by losing like this (unless, of course, it totally devastates them)...
Posted by: t_sensei | June 17, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Wow more PJ love. He is stupid and no need to develop players for next championship. Win the one your in. Don't know what will happen next year with injuries et al ruining seasons. Can't count on that win now.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 17, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Jman449 is an example of a fan who takes out his aggravation by attacking others. You also prove my point about classless fans.
Grow up, man. The Warriors aren't at the Lakers' level (yet), but that isn't the point here is it? The hungrier team won the finals. Deal with it. This is a taste of what we get whenever Laker trolls pull their cocky "we're so good" acts on our blogs and forums.
Posted by: WarriorsRule | June 17, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Kobeef, the starlet, has a smile cuz he's a bitch.
I wouldn't be surprised if he starts off this summer on how his teammates suck just like last summer.
That's why Ko-crybaby is "starlett" with two "t".
haaahhahahahaahahaahahahhaha
brahahaahbrahahahahhbahahhGHHAHSHFSRHEH
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 11:41 PM
JF: HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAHHHA
Run up the score.
Expose the Faker and Kobeef for that they are: A Bunch of Wannabees.
Celt's win!
Posted by: Let's go C's! | June 17, 2008 at 11:45 PM