Some postgame quoteage
Obviously there was much to talk about after the Lakers dropped Game 2 of the NBA Finals to the Celtics in Boston Sunday night, 108-102.
Click below to read some of the reaction.
BK
Phil Jackson:
Q. What are you most struck by, your rally at the end or your difficulty scoring points on them the first three quarters?
COACH PHIL JACKSON: (Laughing) I'm more struck at the fact that Leon Powe gets more foul shots than our whole team does in 14 minutes of play. That's ridiculous. You can't play from a deficit like that that we had in that half, 19 to 2 in the first half in situations like that. I've never seen a game like that in all these years I've coached in The Finals. Unbelievable.
Q. Do you have a theory on why the foul shot disparity was so pronounced in this game?
COACH PHIL JACKSON: You know, I think that reporter hit it right in the head, the aggressiveness swayed the effective calls. They were aggressive. They went to the basket. We didn't take charges in situations that we had charges to take, and the first half the contacts subsequently ended up being a foul shot. I thought that that was what we tried to focus on when we came in at halftime is we have to stop the penetration and get that accomplished, but they got off to another big jump in the third quarter and put us back on our heels again
Q. Just getting back to the foul disparity there, just to clarify there, were you upset that your team didn't create foul attempts or upset with the officiating?
COACH PHIL JACKSON: No, I think my players got fouled. I have no question about the fact that my players got fouled but didn't get to the line. Specifically I can enumerate a few things, but I'm not going to get into that. I don't want to get into dispute with those situations. It's the illusion that's created. The referees referee an illusion. Our guys look like maybe the ball was partially stripped when they were getting raked or whatever was happening, but it was in the crowd, so the referees let that type of thing go. So we have to create the spacing that gives the right impression, and that will have to get accomplished.
Q. Which Celtics team are you expecting to show up at Staples Center, the one that struggled on the road for most of the playoffs or the one with momentum on its side, the one that played better on the road?
COACH PHIL JACKSON: I'm not worried about which Celtics team shows up. I'm worried about what Lakers team shows up. That's the one that moves the ball and we do things well on the offensive end, and you saw that as the game progressed that we started finding our rhythm on the offense.
Q. Until the fourth quarter when he was able to get loose, they did another good job on Kobe. It seemed in the first half almost everything he took was going away from the basket. What can you guys do to get him space? Is it just a question of patience?
COACH PHIL JACKSON: You know, there's some things that we did I wasn't pleased with in the first half. We got anxious, we got out of our offense. I put Trevor Ariza out there in the first quarter when Vladdy got two fouls in the first, whatever, four minutes of the game, just to give a different look out there, and I thought our offense got stagnant and we had some things going for us. But that kind of snowballed as we went into the half. We tried to post Kobe too much, the situation got us out of the rhythm of our offense.
We got back into it the second half and found the rhythm we want. We'll be fine.
Q. Coach Rivers said that his team got too cute towards the end and that may have contributed to the comeback you guys made. In your eyes what got you guys back in the game?
COACH PHIL JACKSON: Basketball is about momentum. It's just about who carries the momentum out there. We took the first quarter and played well in the first quarter. We had a 15 7 lead when Garnett got his technical foul. A lot of bitching went on from that point on. The game kind of turned, and I told the players we let the game turn at that particular point when they made a big fuss about Garnett getting a technical foul. They finished the 2:59 or the last segment of the first quarter with a little bit of a run, and it carried over into the second quarter, and that was a big run they had on us. That's what we have to learn as a young team, that we have to stop those runs.
Q. The momentum you guys gained towards the end, can you guys carry that over to Game 3?
COACH PHIL JACKSON: No, no. It's 2,500 miles away. It's too far to carry it.
Q. How do you guys hopefully gain what you have? What can you learn from the ending of the game?
COACH PHIL JACKSON: We just learned about momentum. We started turning the corner a little bit in the fourth quarter, but they'd come back, hit a three, something would happen, and I just kept saying we'll find a moment in this game to come back and play it. We just want this game to last long enough to carry it out. But it didn't. So we'll learn some lessons from that and we'll learn some lessons from what we have to do offensively to control the game and control the pace of the game.
Kobe Bryant:
Q. What are the Lakers' biggest problems defensively this series?
KOBE BRYANT: I think their transition has been what's really hurt us the most, the threes and transition, game is a three point, four point game, two possessions, all of a sudden it's a ten point game. It just busted open really quick with transition threes. So we've got to do a better job focusing on that and eliminating that.
Q. Are you guys still trying to figure out how to run your offense against this defense, and was the fourth quarter an answer to that?
KOBE BRYANT: Yeah, we noticed some things in the fourth quarter that we can do that we'll look at and see if we can't use them at Staples.
Q. You seemed very frustrated in the first half picking up that T, for example. How did you refocus and make a run and almost win the game near the end?
KOBE BRYANT: We just had to make a stand a little bit. Guys were getting hit going to the basket and not always being called. We've got to make a stand, but at the same time, you've still got to play. You can't lose your aggressiveness. You still got to go through it and you just do your best.
Q. Talk about the lopsided fouls. Celtics got to the line a lot more. Coach Jackson talked about that.
KOBE BRYANT: I didn't notice (smiling).
Q. I guess you guys know what to expect from a Garnett and even Perkins inside, but does a Leon Powe going for 21 kind of catch you guys a little off guard?
KOBE BRYANT: Just a little (smiling), just a touch. He played a great game. I mean, he came in and did what he had to do. I mean, that's been the mark of this team all year, and in the playoffs when PJ Brown steps in, gives big minutes, Powe comes in, gives big minutes, that's been the mark of their team. We've got to do a better job focusing on personnel, and guys that come into the game trying to contribute, we have to keep them quiet.
Q. Earlier in the playoffs you were really comfortable on the wing, and you're getting some good side screen and roll action, but they've limited you some on the wing. Do you think you'll be able to reestablish there?
KOBE BRYANT: Yeah, I think we did a much better job tonight in getting to the rim and moving the ball well and hitting my shooters and them knocking shots down. What we have to do is we have to get those loose balls. We've got to get timely rebounds, and we have to stop them in transition knocking down those threes, and we'll be fine. A free throw or two wouldn't hurt.
Q. The comeback from 24 points down with eight minutes to play to 2, is that something you guys can draw from going home, momentum?
KOBE BRYANT: Sure, it's something that we can take from, absolutely. Understand, we played harder. We played with a sense of desperation and more aggression, and I think that's something for us to take home and learn from.
Q. What were you telling your guys in the fourth quarter during the time outs? It seemed like you were being very active in the huddle actually.
KOBE BRYANT: Get our, beep, A in gear. Play beep harder, a bunch of other beeps. It's beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. Eddie Murphy Raw times ten.
Q. You knew the game wasn't over? You knew you were still there?
KOBE BRYANT: Yeah, you just keep playing. You don't know what's going to happen. Mathematically we felt like if we cut it down to about 10 the goal was to cut it down to 10 with about seven minutes to go. We weren't table to do that, so after that it was about slicing it and getting it to single digits and applying more and more pressure. That's what we did, and I think they learned a lot tonight because we're a young team and I think that shows you're never really out of a game. I think being down 24, if you find yourself down 8 or 10, that's not something that should discourage you.
AUDIO: On the officiating, their execution, "holding serve," responding in Game 3, PJ's evaluation of his play, and more.
- Lamar Odom: Download lamar_odom_post_game_2.mp3
(repost)
I'm going to watch the series with a nothing to lose mentality. The way I see it, Boston was supposed to dominate the season and the playoffs. With three hall of famers and franchise players, Boston has played a good season.
The Lakers on the other hand have overachieved. They weren't supposed to have Kobe on the team. They weren't supposed to make the playoffs. They weren't supposed to have the Western Conference number one seed. They weren't supposed to have Kobe as the league MVP. They weren't supposed to sweep Denver with Iverson and Anthony on that team. They weren't supposed to close out the Jazz ,who had the best home record, at Utah. They weren't supposed to beat the defending champs in 5 games. Now, they're not supposed to win this series. The Lakers were never meant to be here. NEVER
With you to the end...
Posted by: never | June 09, 2008 at 02:19 AM
Fellow Lakers fans. Please chant MVP louder. The Lakers is obviously missing its MVP. Somebody please put Kobe’s picture on a milk carton.
A practical no show for the past two games. Sure. He made more jumpers today. But what kind of impact did he have other than scoring?
This is the supposed best player on the planet. He’s relegated to being a glorified version of Jerry Stackhouse (Detroit Pistons days where he led league in scoring). Seriously. It’s like Bryant’s not even on the court when he is on the court.
Doesn’t play particularly great defense on Ray Allen. Still questionable shot selection. When you have Leon Powe have more attempts at the FT line than the reigning MVP, that should tell you something.
Take the damn ball to the hoop more. Kobe is still taking too many jumpers. Kobe is the only one who can create shots on his own. He needs to take the ball strong to the hoop to put pressure and create foul troubles on the Boston Bigs.
Send a message. Create a tone for the rest of the game. The aggressive nature needed to win when away from LA. That’s the message the MVP needs to bring for the entire team. Not settle for jumpers that bail out the opponents and the refs.
Valiant effort at the end. But too little too late. Lakers need to establish the aggressive nature from the beginning of the game.
Maybe Kobe can pull a Dwyane Wade and lead the Lakers to 4 consecutive wins. Wade certainly took the ball strong to the hoop. Got 20+ FT’s every game.
Maybe that’s too much to ask for.
Maybe we can start by asking Bryant to just not fall in love with the jumper (because rest of the team follows suit) and take it to the hoop more.
Pretty please.
-Jeffs Aho
Posted by: Jeffs Aho | June 09, 2008 at 02:26 AM
“…the aggressiveness swayed the effective calls. They were aggressive. They went to the basket.” - Phil Jackson
As written in the previous posts, Lakers need to establish aggressive nature from the get go to let the refs understand the type and tone of the game the Lakers are going to play.
Not settle and bail out the opponent and the refs.
Kobe “Jumpers ‘R’ Us” Bryant needs to set the tone. Plain and simple. Pau tried doing it against KG with a monstrous dunk in the 1st but as usual, Lakers went away with what works and settled.
Lakers offense basically took shots the Boston team wanted LA to take. Keep LA off the line and let them shoot jumpers. Easy game plan. More dosage of it coming in the next few games.
If Lakers don’t adjust, series over.
There is a remedy. It involves Bryant.
Here it is:
***Dwyane Wade shattered the free throw record in a 6 game NBA Finals with 97 attempts and 75 makes. He averaged over 16 free throw attempts a game.*** - Wikipedia
Most pundits were crying foul when they witnessed Wade being paraded to the FT ad infinitum.
Now Kobe needs to do the same.
Who cares if it’s ugly basketball.
Whatever it takes to win. No excuses.
-Jeffs Aho
Posted by: Jeffs Aho | June 09, 2008 at 02:59 AM
THe referees decided this game period. I know it does not sound good, but it is the truth. Blaming it on the lakers' lack of toughness or drawing some ill-advised comparison with Utah's complaints or San Antonio's lack of complaint will not do any good, just reflect a poor understanding of the game. The referees changed the complexity of the game, the did not changed the score because of a couple of bad calls, they changed the way the game was played, and they did it in BOston's favour. The Boston's defense would not had been so tough and effective had the celtics been in foul trouble as they should have been. I am talking about at least six or seven instances on Odom, Gasol, Farmar (pulled by his jersey) and even Kobe being fouled with no consequences. On the other hand, after less than one quarter the LAkers were in foul trouble and never really recovered. Those two fouls called on Kobe were just incredible. I really hope the lakers come back, I was really hoping to see some good basketball in these finals, not this.
Posted by: d | June 09, 2008 at 03:19 AM
Lakers in six.
They will all fall starting Tuesday. And it better be.
Posted by: excel | June 09, 2008 at 04:41 AM
38-10 difference in FT shots..
21 points from Leon Powe..
Lamar 5 pathetic rebounds, 5 fouls...
35-23 scored by each bench respectively..
Those points driven home why we lost game 2. You cannot blame the ref for the game when you allowed the C time and time again to secured off. rebounds after missed their shots.
Posted by: Wallace | June 09, 2008 at 05:20 AM
I agree with you Jeffs on Kobe, however he also needs to step up as the leader. He would make his comments in the timeouts however when your leader begins to look beaten because he's not getting calls that just kills the other guys. Wake up Kobe, this is the NBA and we all know the calls are fixed. Magic or Bird didn't sob to the refs, they played harder and took control of the game. I hate to say it however it's KG's year and the NBA wants him to have his ring, just like Shaq getting his last in Miami and Duncan with the Spurs. Maybe next year.
Posted by: dan | June 09, 2008 at 05:53 AM
just note on Trevor.
I was pretty happy when he came in. I thought heres the guy who will actually put a stop to PP.
i was truly disappointed.
Not to the point im like some of the guys who would probably shout TRADES!! but I just thought that made PJ look like a genius of not using him more. He was a half slower out there and most of the time out of sync. Maybe its the recovery, maybe its the pressure.
I hope he gets his swagger back.
I have to say from the three - walton, radman, trevor - radman has done a more decent job. Altho there are still a LOT of things he can do better.
RE:Pau on garnet:
there were 4-6 times he didnt use his head. Garnet is a jump shooter... and most of the time gasol never bothers to presure him when he's in the perimeter... whats with that?
Like PJ said, we have to protect the momentum...
i also hope kobe goes the to rack more... i know its difficult to do with the C defense, but thats the only way we can win... have you seen how he swallowed the defense with the spectacular drives? thats more of what we need... not fadeaways...
GO LAKERS.
Im really beginning to hate the celtics... specially PP...
Posted by: jawo | June 09, 2008 at 05:54 AM
Before the series, it was "Gasol this," "Gasol that." They beat the Lakers twice, but it was without Gasol. Gasol will make the difference.
.
Well, it's Game 3 coming up, and the only thing Gasol means to the rest of the country is something you pump into your tank.
You people keep counting on stars. Meanwhile, the Celtics count on TEAM. But hey, whatever keeps Nicholson courtside....
Posted by: Jimmy Doors | June 09, 2008 at 05:59 AM
I'm a celtics fan born and raised and as much as I yearn for nostalgia of a game 7 back in bean town its not gonna happen
Celtics in 4 end of story
Sure the lakers came back last night but were the celtics even trying?????
come on when you're up 24 you just kinda lay back and watch things role they had this series locked before game one even tipped off
and what was that block from Rondo and then he dunks at the other end????
Tell Kobe to just sit the rest of this series out not even a year ago he didn't even want to be here
I guess it goes to show all you have to do is whine a little bit to get MVP
Posted by: Paul | June 09, 2008 at 06:08 AM
Liked Never's post, my thoughts coincide. A bet in Vegas on the Lakers being in the finals before the start of this year would look good now.
Lakers aren't done. Kobe has the opportunity for greatness right in front of him. My guess is he likes the opportunity.
Coming off that huge but falling short comeback, more guys should be able to pick it up and contribute.
Posted by: Doublehaul | June 09, 2008 at 06:21 AM
Good morning early bird LAKER fans:
Well, we have dug ourselves a little deep. But I have FAITH (where are you?) I changed 3 times last night and switched rooms for the tv. I felt a last stand which came up just short. BUMMER!
2008 Lakers: Don't be afraid - they are just little leprachauns! The little green men don't hurt anyone! Except they are KILLING us!!!
Pau: loved his energy and wish we would have stayed with him throughout. Since the refs were calling stupid fouls we should have made them call them in the paint where he was - it should have gotten more C's in foul trouble and maybe stupid Powe wouldn't have lasted as long as he did. And at some point the C's would have started doubling him creating some room for LO and MVP.
D-Fish: Rondo is good. I will give them that - but our help D is atrocious! Fish is playing to expectation but I expect more baskets tomorrow.
Bench: UGH......I hope they come out shooting (and making) a LOT of baskets. They really need the confidence. Sasha also needs to figure out how to take a charge again. We need those for Pierce. Turiaf too needs to take some for the team. Mbenga might have to come in just to be the enforcer.
LO7: where are you, where are you? We need your game more than ever. What happened to you being the best linebacker? Let's go, make a stand!!!
MVP: the only thing I can say is he is not letting us go down without a fight. That much I give him credit.
I am disliking (can't say the H word) a bit now..........don't like KG, Powe, don't like Rondo and Pierce is doing just that - right through our hearts. And why does it feel like some unknown ALWAYS seems to have a career shooting night against us?
Ariza: I liked that PJ put him in and hope to see him more - I just hope we do and he gets a big 3 to drop to get Staples rocking!!!!
Have faith Laker friends - the odds are against us but they were this whole season!!! I dreamt we would tie it up and make this a best of 3! I still believe...
Our chance, our time, our season!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | June 09, 2008 at 06:45 AM
Good morning Laker family around the Globe,
Wow! Over a thousand posts on the blog last night. I guess we all had a few things to get off our chest.
Bottom line, the Lakers aren't out of it yet. But it sure seems like David Stern and the NBA are determined to re-establish the Boston franchise, and will go to any lengths to do so. Still, if any team can overcome 8 against 5 basketball, it is our Lakers.
Grinding out 4 wins out of the next five is a daunting mission, but I still have faith in PJ and Kobe. The rest of the team needs to step up its game. The Celtics will continue to swarm Kobe unless others make them pay the price. After the game, PJ said that Lamar "got a little confused out there." Ouch! Regardless of the officiating, Gasol was getting manhandled by Garnett. Neither Vlad nor Walton were getting the job done defensively. Walton simply can't match up against the Boston forwards, and doesn't provide enough offense to justify his minutes.
Doc Rivers has found success, so far, by going with whomever of his bench players is getting hot on a given night. It's not something we should expect from PJ based on his track record, but as ineffective as Walton and Turiaf have been in this series, Ariza and Mihm deserve every opportunity to see if they can do better.
But ultimately, it comes down to Fish, Lamar, Gasol, and VladRad. In every playoff game before this series, at least one of them has stepped up and become the X-Factor. Kobe can't be Kobe if this doesn't happen.
Boston has shown its hand in the first two games. The Lakers have yet to show theirs. Now is the time.
One more point: It is really important for the blog regulars to post and declare yourselves today. We dare not cede this space to the trolls, who are salivating over their tainted victory on Sunday night. Laker fans, it's important to speak up today. This is our team. This is our year. More than ever, it's time to say, GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Rick Friedman | June 09, 2008 at 06:49 AM
dunk, lamar, dunk!
they stole the game but we are never going to give up.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: isang | June 09, 2008 at 06:50 AM
ATTENTION PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES:
You are representing the millions of Lakers fans across this great country Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Those of us who cant physically be at Staples because we live in Iowa, Virginia, New York and so on.
PLEASE BE LOUD. PLEASE MAKE SOME NOISE. PLEASE GET THE LAKERS FIRED UP DURING THE BREAKS.
(The rest of us will be on our feet, screaming at our televisions -- but you guys to represent for all of us.)
--Heartland Lakers Fans
Posted by: Heartland Lakers Fan | June 09, 2008 at 06:51 AM
Does Phil Jackson ever stop complaining about the officiating? His team played badly - bad spacing, bad defense etc., sometimes you have to just call it what it is and not look for excuses!
Posted by: MaryB | June 09, 2008 at 06:55 AM
Sux.
--Fearless
F the Celtics!
Posted by: Fearless | June 09, 2008 at 06:57 AM
No excuses. We just have played 2 subpar games. Referees or no referees, we all were wincing at our lousy O and D.
We paly Lakers basketball. Kobe earns his MVP and then some. Lamar wakes up. Or We Go Home.
Based on our last 40 games (excepting the last 2), We can still win it all.
Enough being embarassed. Play.
Baywood
Posted by: Baywood | June 09, 2008 at 07:01 AM
The Lakers are not going to the line ( including the first half where it was really obvious ) because they were taking nothing but jump shots.
Boston ( especially Powe ) was taking it to the basket. I can assure Phil Jackson that if Leon Powe was taking and missing 28 footers he wouldn't be at the foul line either.
Lakers are playing too much hand defense and not moving their feet.
Do the Lakers have a point guard?? Rondo is picking the average Laker defense apart and nobody seems to be playing that role for the Lakers. Had Boston not foolishly declared garbage time too early Rondo would have had 20 assists.
Notice to the Lakers: play defense, take it to the basket, find the open man and you will be in these games.
Powe put the entire Laker bench to shame.
Any team (Boston or the Lakers) that plays average defense and just shoots jump shots won't win the title.
Posted by: Shawn | June 09, 2008 at 07:03 AM
While most Lakers fans remember that Boston lost all three games at Atlanta, I haven't heard any of them discuss the enormous foul shot disparity there that favored Atlanta.
The reality is, if the Lakers had 10-15 more points via free throws, the Celtics would not have let down when they did, and they still would have had a 9-14 point lead.
Lakers fans want to imagine that if the refs hadn't been so lop-sided, that the Lakers still would have hit 7 3-pointers in the 4th, and that's not how it goes.
Posted by: Neil McLaughlin | June 09, 2008 at 07:03 AM
Hey KAM brothers, does Pau Gasol ever work with Kareem Abdul Jabaar on low post play, jump hooks and sky hooks???
He needs to.
He has the skillset and length to incorporate some of Kareem's game.
Posted by: Lakerbake | June 09, 2008 at 07:05 AM
Phil spoke the truth.
This was as close to a fixed game that I have ever seen.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 09, 2008 at 07:07 AM
I usually do not agree with TJ Simers but I am in total agreement.
KOBE BRYANT needs to be all of the best that he can be and you don't say to reporters that they won't let me get in the lane.
KOBE BRYANT who I'm a huge fan of is starting to look like a European player who is a jump shooting shot maker but not a "go to the rack" guy when the going really really gets tough.
He can do it against many teams but the teams that are going to meet him with force, he is showing now that he's not willing.
This series does not turn on a KOBE BRYANT jump shot.
Dr. J and all the great ones went to the RIM.
Magic included!
Posted by: Lakerbake | June 09, 2008 at 07:07 AM
the officials were on the side of the celtics, like phil jackson said, it was ridiculous!!!
last time i see a game like this in the finals, was the bunch of fouls on dwayde, against the mavs!! thats horrible to see!!
lakers got soul!!!
Posted by: bag | June 09, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Nothing to worry about (except the fact that the link to the blog takes me a thread from last week).
The stress of this post season is taking it's toll on me. I've now watched Deliverance over ad over for three consecutive days. Any psychotherapists want to take a crack at this one?
Post season losses, especially deep ones like the Lakers have just experienced goe a long way to show what changes/improvements have to be made in the off season.
I expect the Lakers to win all three home games to come within a hair's breath of the championship only to...
I won't say it, but what changes should we be looking toward this off season?
Bynum's return is going to answer a lot of questions for us, but he's still a baby and I don't know if a 21 year old is going to be enough to secure a championship next year.
We can get past the Western conference opponents, we know. But we don't have enough size and toughness to play the same game in Boston.
So we either need to get the best record in the league next season so we can ride the home court/home fan momentum all the way to the title, or we need to add the size and grit to stomp the Celtics in Boston.
Again, Bynum gets us quite a distance toward that goal. But we may need more yet.
My ultimate goal would be to somehow get Elton Brand. He wouldn't be interested in a two year deal would he? Get himself a few rings, then hit the market as a stud and a winner and cash in.
No?
Finish the season before looking ahead? OK.
We sure could have used a Ron Harper yeaterday…
Wes
Posted by: | June 09, 2008 at 07:12 AM
I believe.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Laker Fan 24 | June 09, 2008 at 07:22 AM
So, let`s do the math.
LA must now win 4 of 5 against a team they are 0-4 against this year.
You would have a better chance of winning the Mega Ball Jackpot three drawings in a row!!!!!
Posted by: Red`s Love Child | June 09, 2008 at 07:23 AM
So, a Celtics fan has clearly cursed my lucky bar seat because as soon as I left it and returned home to watch the game, our fourth quarter rally started.
Anyhow, there were several people rooting for the Celtics at the bar I was at last night. All were Cavs fans. And let me quote you as to why they were rooting for the Celtics.
As one succintly put, "They beat LeBron James! They beat LeBron James! Any team capable of beating LeBron James HAS to be the best team in the world!"
Something must be in the water here. Probably really high levels of lead.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 09, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Let's be real.
The Celtics were up 2-0 against Atlanta and the Cavs. Both series went seven games.
The Lakers are a hell of a lot better than Atlanta or the Cavs.
God, I hope we get different refs for game three. Preferably ones with no mafia or sports betting ties.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 09, 2008 at 07:30 AM
The intensity of the final 8 minutes is what they'll have to draw on, that and the crowd.... Probably need to win all 3 at home....
Lane
http://LosAngelesSource.com
Posted by: Lane | June 09, 2008 at 07:34 AM
My fellows
I understand that the Celtics play great defense but how can a team play that type of defense and not commit a foul?
Yes the Lakers did not play particularly well but yet the refes continually have that bad habit of taking the players out of the game with those type of calls.
To certain people eyes, they make think like if it was the lakers going for 38 FT and the Celtics 10, we lakers fan would not complain or even talk about but I believe not everyone are talking about how many times the Celtics went to the line but about how many times the lakers did.
So, with that I am saying only that the lakers did go to the FT lines 28 times less than the Celtics.
In an universe where math works pretty well and the results are 98% of the times accurate, 38 free throws equal exactly 38 points!
Now lets talk about a game that no one makes a basket and only one side gets that amount of call and the other side that few amount of calls... guess who wins? and guess by how many ponts?
Exactly the Lakers lose by 28 points!
Is this a series?
I remember someone writing last night during the game that the NBA every season marks a player to be the face of the NBA and this year, the Celtics had the previlege of having Garnett as the face of the NBA and with that, comes the benefit of a marquee player to get a chance to win it all!
Think about it... imagine if the Celtics don't win this year (Which deeply I think they won't), guess who's going to suffer with that loss? All companies and organizations such as ESPN, Adidas, the NBA! etc because they have invested so much in that team in particular those three players who I call 'em (oldies).
What are the chances of the Celtics winning after this year?? They like the Spurs are getting older in particular their main guys and with that, I believe certain organizations and companies may look at Garnett and think... how in the world this guy never won? I personally think he is a hard working guy but just like him, other players spent almost their entire lives playing without winning (C.Webber, C. Barkley just to mention few).
They (NBA and other major organizations or whatever) got what they wanted... Celtics vs Lakers on the finals and to those who pay attention, this final began as soon as Garnett became a Celtics and A. Bynum started to play well while K. Bryant decided to remain a Laker.
Who will win, I have no doubt that the Celtics were and still are the favorities to win it all and finally give the rings to those three players who many think deserve more than those (out of 192) other 189 players who played in this 2008 playoffs.
But like I said it before... I really believe the Lakers are going to win this series.
Posted by: Maxximo | June 09, 2008 at 07:44 AM
It's a beautiful morning! Seriously!
As Laker fans, we are blessed by a glorious opportunity. Forget about the series for a second. Forget about last night (blech! 38-10...38-10...38-10). Forget about what's happened thus far, because, from now til the end, it's meaningless crap.
Instead, consider this: We Have One Game Left (I know, I know, but if game three is lost, then...)
Our team has one game left to save the season. Our home court. Our fans. Our banners in the rafters. Our hall of famer's sitting courtside. ONE GAME. The whole crazy season has boiled down to this ONE GAME.
And I like our chances.
Now, finally, we can shed the burden of being 'the favorite.' Let all the blow-hards at ESPN re-cast their predictions. Let the Celtics carry the rock for awhile. It's heavy, and awkward, and now it's their turn to lug it around. Our young Lakers can PLAY the game now; enough of all the rhetoric about 'hard work', or getting 'out-worked.' Work-work-work. It's a freakin' GAME, and our young kids can go out and play like Underdogs again. Quit thinking so much, and just let it fly, because you never had so much fun in your life! The Celts now feel it's their title to lose, but as the great Tyler Durden once said, "It's only after you've lost everything that you are free to do anything."
The Celts know that, for them, it's now or never. They've played that way for two games. Deep down, as players, they're embarrassed by the 38-10, but they'll rationalize the extra help they've been getting, saying things like "we gotta get one for the older guys." But to a man, if you put them at the microphone and got an HONEST answer to this question: what if the 38-10 was the other way around? They would acknowledge that it led to an empty victory. And that, my Laker-loving friends, just make their rock that much heavier to carry into Staples for G3.
If you pray to God for strength, or courage, what does God give you in return?
If you are blessed, then HE gives you an even tougher obstacle to success. An opportunity to be brave. What is courage, if not to face certain defeat, and to push on through.
I love this! I wouldn't have it any other way. Lakers in SEVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: karyanr | June 09, 2008 at 07:54 AM
If Celtics play up to their potential, the Lakers can't win. You look at all the teams that won championships and virtually all of them have been very good defensive teams. (Pistons in the early 90s & 2004, Lakers a few years ago with Shaq, Bulls, Spurs of recent years) Outside of Kobe (who the announcers say twice a game that he's over-rated defensively), the Lakers can't play defense.
Posted by: Doug | June 09, 2008 at 07:56 AM
KG is a beast. But, he most definitely is not the answer!
Paul Pierce is. It would be nice if we recognized that fact sometime in the next game.
Those two free throws were huge. Boston spent all season looking for a go-to guy. He's been there all along.
Sux.
You know what double-sux? He's coming HERE to get home cooking!? That seems like a setup to me!
It is going to be mano-e-mano at Staples in the 4th quarter of every game here.
--Fearless
F the Celtics!!!!!!
Posted by: Fearless | June 09, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Folks, I said it at the beginning of the series. Every single series, an average player from the opposing team morphs into Superman. I thought it might be Rondo, Perkins, Cassell or Brown.
But it was Powe. And mainly because of Powe, Boston holds serve at home.
I think both the Celts and Lakers are right. The Lakers aren't forcing the issue on offense. They're not being aggressive and attacking the basket. If you never attack the middle of the defense, you won't get calls. And the floor doesn't open up. The Lakers' MVP is going to have to lead the charge.
But they weren't getting any calls. That happens sometimes. But the disparity -- 4 to 1 -- is hard to ignore. The Game 2 crew was awful. Hopefully, the Game 3 crew was watching and will make the appropriate adjustments . . . LOL.
Oh, and the Celts were unconscious from the 3-point line. I'd much rather Pierce, Allen, Posey et al beat us from inside the arc. The Lakers did such a great job against San Antonio defending the 3-point line, it seems that they forgot everything they did 14 days ago.
And our venerable coach got his lunch handed to him. You never lose faith in the GOAT, but really. The Celts have got our guys running in circles, and for whatever reason, LA has been making poor substitutions.
For all of that, for all the bad calls, big drama, poor execution, and damn-near-flukey shooting, LA was in both games at the very end. They'll need all 3 in LA and maybe the closeness of these games will help them rediscover their basketball IQ and courage.
Whoever breaks serve first wins this series.
Posted by: Peace | June 09, 2008 at 08:06 AM
AFTER WATCHING GAMES 1 & 2, I AM CONVINCED THAT THESE GAMES ARE FIXED:
I will never watch NBA games again...think about this if the Fedaralis can cover war atrocities then then fixing an NBA games is a no brainer.
We as fans are all duped!!
Posted by: Feeling Duped | June 09, 2008 at 08:18 AM
This is one hell of a problem to have, after all.
The Lakers need to win 4 out of 5 to win a title.
In the last 4 years, they couldn't win 4 in May, and weren't even worried about June!
Keep the faith. They're playing a 66-win team without their starting C and it will be tough. But hey, they're still in it.
Posted by: Peace | June 09, 2008 at 08:18 AM
I feel confident that the Lakers will make the proper adjustments. They'll win all three games at home, and then this series will be about winning one on the road. Miami did it, and they weren't that good. Of course, D-Wade was getting some incredibly "helpful" calls from the refs, which I don't expect Kobe to get. But this Lakers team can play well with their backs against the wall.
Time to earn it.
Lakers in six.
Go Lake Show!
Posted by: The Outlaw | June 09, 2008 at 08:20 AM
It is like 2004 all over again. Remember that year when almost all the sportswriter in the land predicted the Lakers will win easily against the Pistons? You know what happened. This 2008 N.B.A. FINALS, 9 out of 10 so called E.S.P.N. experts picked the Lakers over the Celtics, two more games and 2004 will be revisited.
The Celtics is clearly the better team, common the Lakers have not beaten them this season including the regular season. Because of the cockiness of both Kobe and Phil they are in this 0-2 hole right now. They both understimate the Celtics that's why they are in this kind of predicament.
Before the opening of the 2007-2008 season nobody predicted the Lakers will be in the Finals. Now that they are in the Finals nobody expected them to be swept by Boston which will surely be in the offing this second week of June, 2008.
I hope I am wrong with this gut feeling of mine because just like most of the bloggers here, I'm a die-hard Laker fan, and it's hurts to the bone to follow them all year round and reach this far only to lose to those hated ones in four games.
Posted by: dacsila | June 09, 2008 at 08:21 AM
jawo,
I know. For all the artificial media hype about the Lakers/Celtics rivalry, the poor officiating, Paul Pierce's ridiculous crying fits and followed by false bravado, and Garnett's screams has real got me hating the Celtics.
It is definitely a visceral response now.
I just loathe them.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 09, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Good morning Laker Nation,
Ok, where do we start? Well, we're down 0-2 but I'm not nervous at all.
I was at the game last night and I did stay until the end unlike most of my fellow Lakers fans. The entire game was officiated poorly. Even Celtics fans around me were surprised at the lopsided calls.
The conspiracy theories were rampant all night...people suggesting that Stern wants a 7-game sries ($$$)...most suggesting that the TD in the Banknorth Garden name may stand for Tim Donaghy.
I have faith we'll hold home court and come back here up 3-2 with enough momentum to close it out in game 6.
Keep the faith...the officiating crew changes every game!!
Posted by: EastCoastJessie | June 09, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Lane,
I'm with you on that. We definitely need a loud, Celtics-hating crowd for the next three games.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 09, 2008 at 08:24 AM
LA was the easiest team for us to beat in the regular season....AND the post season!
Seven "treys" for the Lakers in the 4th quarter...all wasted!
LA only had 61 points after three quarters. No wonder the Celtics relaxed after that.
Posted by: Red`s Love Child | June 09, 2008 at 08:32 AM
No Means No
Odom has to stop yelling everytime he hits a shot. The man looks like a bafoon when he does that. I don't understand where the bench has been.
The L's just don't have the spark plug off the bench like the pistons do in maxiell or the celtics do with Leon. I see this thing ending in LA. Just not our year.
Posted by: Walter jenks | June 09, 2008 at 08:35 AM
I always get nervous when the Celtics play the Lakers. Maybe it's because I remember how goos the Laker teams of the 80's were. (I'm a Celtic fan). Magic made it look so easy and effortless.
I took that nervousness with me into this series, but this Laker team is starting to lose my respect. When Leon Powe got the ball at 1/4 court, drove the length of the court and slammer it that changed my opinion of the Lakers. I could not believe no one stepped up to even attempt to take the charge. If the Lakers don't get their hearts in the right place this series is over. You can talk about the 4th quarter all you want but the truth is- the Celtics stopped playing.
Celtics win this in LA and celebrate on your court. Poa was strong early but seemed to fade away at the most important times. This Celtic team does not shrink when an opponent comes out strong. Yopu guys are in real trouble. I thought this would be a series to remember. Too bad. The Lakers seem to think they should just be annointed as the Champions, they don't think they need to earn it.
Free throw difference? You guys aren't taking it to the basket. The C's have been far more aggressive to this piont. I see that trend continuing.
Posted by: banner17 | June 09, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Shawn made a good point. The lakers didnt take the ball to the basket they were shooting jump shots, so they didnt get the fouls called. The celtics were driving on us, and they got the calls. Of course there was a big home court edge in fouls called. The lakers will get an edge in LA. If their confidence holds strong and they can win the first home game Tuesday, we should be okay. Like another poster just said, Boston lost 3 in Atlanta and 3 in Cleveland, how could LA not win 3 in LA?
Hey we lost 2 in Utah, so we lost 2 in Boston, big deal. The only difference is it came at the beginning of the series instead of when we were up 2-0. Again the only thing to fear is a young team losing its confidence by getting behind for the first time in a series.
Sometimes you want to think the games are fixed. The talk of Miami winning 4 in a row on Dallas reminded me of all the calls Wade got. And the NBA doing a half time special on Powe last night and he has the game of his career in game 2 of the NBA Finals? How likely is that? Maybe the fix isnt in completely, they just didn't want LA to win it too quick? And it sure looks like now if LA plays well it goes at least 6 maybe 7 games, which the NBA would like.
I thought things would be different last night. I figured the lakers would make their adjustments after game 1, and come out with a big game 2 and get a win. The line was down to LA +1.5 so the oddsmakers thought the same thing. Not to be though. It seemed like a repeat of game 1 to me. The celtics driving getting to the rim and getting fouled. The lakers shooting jump shots and getting no fouls. The bench not only didnt give us points, they turned the ball over time and time again and gave us no defence. It's shameful how bad our bench got beaten by their bench. After all the talk about how good LA's bench is this year. But I guess like Barkley says the bench plays good at home but not on the road. We'll see what happens in LA.
Again I think if we can get one win in game 3 Tuesday we can get back in the series.
John
Posted by: john_in_houston | June 09, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Laker Fans:
Remember what happened to the Celtics with the Hawks. They blew them out twice at home and then lost twice on the road. The Celtics only beat the Lakers by an average of 8 points. Let's see what the Celtics can do in LA. Lakers in 6.
Posted by: laker hopeful | June 09, 2008 at 08:49 AM
Repost
I'm wondering how miserable person should feel to stay on opposing team blog? I bet we never find any true Lakers fan on Celtics blog, but here it's like green salad made from crushed leprechauns evenly spread over this blog. Plus this idiot BUTLER, can not get over his old down to earth SUNS. What are you doing here? Go fishing, follow the trail of your team for many years to come…
Posted by: LAL_Fan | June 09, 2008 at 08:58 AM
Luke Walton....the worse player on the team. Not the reason the Lakers are losing the series but painful to watch him when he is in there.
Posted by: m | June 09, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I am worried, but not discouraged. Take a look at the playoff series record of the Eastern Champs. This is the job that they were supposed to do. The C’s played a full 20 games.
Now it’s our time to hold court.
Enough about of the calls. Off to Game 3!
Posted by: Charles | June 09, 2008 at 09:05 AM