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
People who crying out loud for Kobe shooting jump shots probably did not see the whole game. He try do drive, got fouled many times never getting call. After that, 2 bogus calls on him and he is back on the bench.
Before yesterday's game I thought Miami - Dallas serie was a worst one, but hey what I know? NBA done even better yesterday. Never underestimate the power of the Dark Force...
Posted by: LAL_Fan | June 09, 2008 at 09:05 AM
Jhon and Shawn, That is not true. The Lakers WERE driving the ball to the basket. Gasol, Odom, Farmar, etc were fouled, but did not get any call. Please go back and watch that first half again. It was unbearable to watch. That's how the referees decided the game; their calls changed the way the game was being played.
Posted by: | June 09, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Wow...all the talk of the game is fixed. Did everyone happen to watch the game last nite. Why don't you fix on the fact that your team is:--------
A jump shooting softer team (you want fouls...go to the hole)------
Weaker in the bench. Celtics bench has experience and played two game 7's in contested series. And a tough series against Detroit (winning two on the road btw). Your bench consists of young wide eyed college kids who have not experienced any pressure.-----
Overrated. How could a Lakers team that won 10 less games than the Celtics be so overwhelmingly favored against a team that they haven't beaten this season. Last I checked 66 wins means something.--------
Play in an overrated West Conference. There has been a shift in balance to the East. West was strong but that was 2 plus years ago. San Antonio barely made the playoffs. Denver??? Dallas?? Comeon. Atlanta would have given any of those teams a run. Never mind Cleveland or Detroit. East has been stronger this year.------
Soft: No strong rebounder to get the Off rebound and second shots that demoralize a team after a strong defensive series. Celtics have feasted and are stronger.-----
A weak defensive team. Enough said. Celtics have a dominant defense. Admit it....every time they clamped down the Lakers struggled. When they put the hammer down Kobe forces and everyone else panics.------
Playing against a team that smells blood. Celtics feared noone and took it personally that most of the media are Laker lovers and gave the Celtics no respect.------
Playing agains Paul Pierce who saves his best for the Lakers. Who can stop him. If Bryant tries to his offense suffers. --------
Face it that you are all afraid of this Big Strong Mean Celtics Team. Reminds me of the 82 series when the Lakers looked like they were going to run the Celtics off the floor. Then things got physical and the Lakers wilted in the end. No disrespect but this team doesn't compare to those 80's lakers. ------- Also...I enjoy Magic's commentary. He knows what's going on and he knows the Lakers are in big trouble.
GO CELTICS!!! Would love to see a sweep.
Posted by: russell ghost | June 09, 2008 at 09:26 AM
When your coach has to talk about better spacing so the refs can see the fouls, the game has issues.
THe playoffs are refereed differently. The unwritten rule used to be, at the end, the guy should make the shot.
Pierce missed, and got to the line after going 1 on 3 with his head down. Dwayne Wade set a free throw record, many of which were with less than a minute left, in beating the Mavs.
I like the old unwritten rules better.
It makes for better highlights.
Posted by: Vman | June 09, 2008 at 09:29 AM
Where's Nader when you need him?
In the epic, no-good, gift-wrapped for the Lakers Game 6 of infamy ... the Lakers shot 40 free throws to the Kings 25. If the Lakers had only been -15 on fts last night, they'd have won going away....
This is starting to feel a lot like '04, when in 5 games the pistons shot 60 more free throws than the Lakers. Except worse. So far they're down 35 FTs in 2 games ...
Posted by: FatSam | June 09, 2008 at 09:30 AM
Without having looked at or watched any postgame stuff, I will say that I thought the Lakers came out with great energy and aggressiveness. Boston, however, kicked their butts, plain and simple. They played out of their minds on offense which was something I was worried about coming into the series. While everyone was talking about Celtics D v Lakers O, I thought it would come down to Celtics O v Lakers D. I pointed to the 04 series against the Pistons where Detroit was allowed to feel like they could get anything they wanted to offensively and they became scoring machines. I feel like the same thing happened last night.
What would I suggest? Stop doubling. It didn't work against San Antonio and it isn't working here. All it creates is mismatches like Fisher on Garnett or scrambling that leads to wide open 3s.
I'd like to see the Lakers come out with the same level of aggression on Tuesday night and hopefully we, the home crowd, can inspire them to crush Boston and send a message that this series is far from over. The reality is LA needs to win the next 2 games for this to really be a series.
Something that was highlighted last night was how important it is for someone like Vlad, for instance, to be able to be reliable out there on both ends. His sequence of 4 bad plays in a row in the third quarter after LA had cut it to single digits is what put the game out of reach. If that lead hadn't ballooned up to 20+ then their final push would've made the game a lot more winnable.
Posted by: lakers_sth | June 09, 2008 at 09:32 AM
And .....if you don't get the calls going to the hole...does that mean you stop going to the hole???? Gasol had some great takes in game 1 and 2. Why did he stop??? Sure...some of the fouls didn't get called, but the Lakers did not go to the hole enough for anyone to cry about the officiating. Sometimes they go your way sometimes they don't. Celtics had a guy trying to jam it in the hole every time they were close. How many sticks did the Lakers have vs. teh Celtics. Are you saying a Lakers player was under the hoop and he decided not to jam it in the hole because he knew he was going to get fouled and not have it called. Give me a break. No aggressiveness from your team. And also.....the 4th quarter....do you think you are going to get 7 3 pointers again??? Hope you do and your team keeps shooting from outside. Yummy Yummy eat your lunch.
Posted by: russell ghost | June 09, 2008 at 09:34 AM
my observations:
1. pau gasol improved his aggressiveness in game 2 on the offensive end, he still needs to turn it up one more notch or two. gasol needs to be attacking the basket and getting to the line. i have no problem with him attacking and occasionally drawing iron. much better than the million jump shot clankers that we've seen in the first two games.
2. lamar odom's finishing has been horrendous. the guy attacks and just lofts the ball up hoping it will go in. lamar needs to improve of the defensive end first, and then let everything else take care of itself.
3. luke walton does not belong on the floor.
4. we have vlad rad, luke, and turiaf...and the celtics have posey, pj brown and powe...and to me - this is a significant difference between these two teams. their reserves are simply better players.
5. turiaf's pony tail is annoying.
6. the refs were horrible in game 2. delayed whistles, make up calls, phantom foul calls. i am not asking for every call to go the lakers way...but call the game as straight as you can...ticky tack calls when we're on defense and "let em play" no calls when we have the ball...sick to my stomach...
7. the celtics moving screens...called twice yesterday...but not again...kg is the king of the moving screen.
8. put kobe on paul pierce and take your chances on ray allen and kg beating you.
9. paul pierce is the difference in this series thus far.
10. i was clamoring for trevor ariza to get more playing time, and now i see why he's on the bench...the guy is not 100% back from his ankle/foot injury. sucks for us.
11. kobe needs to be a playmaker for us to win. i'd like to see him bringing the ball up more and setting up the offense. attack the rim when it's there, find the open man when you can, and settle for the jumper when there's nothing else available.
12. vlad rad is a liability...too bad he's all we got...we have to make due (leaving paul pierce alone at the 3 point line is INEXCUSABLE!)
13. gasol is defending kg pretty well, i think his series versus duncan helped out.
14. and many of the lakers issues are a result of the celtics excellent defense which makes the lakers work for every shot.
15. and the celtics have been shooting the ball well from the perimeter...when you are expecting every jumper from pierce, allen and even posey to go in...that means they are playing well.
gonna miss game 3, will be at a erykah badu/roots concert instead...as i have always said, i'd much rather miss the game and the lakers win...then watch the whole thing and see them lose...
c'mon lake show! we still believe...let's win 3 in a row at staples!!!
Posted by: tha show | June 09, 2008 at 09:36 AM
And...I know I'm on the Laker blog and i'm sorry....but I am a fan. You guys have won a boatload of titles since we have been back here so cut me some slack.
Anyways.....The last 5 seconds of the game last nite tells the story. After your 3 point shot missed....did you see how many Celtics tore after the rebound....Posey got it, Ray Allen was charging....it was impressive. Celtics basically played with their hearts on their sleeve and let their play do the tallking. That's it from me. Thanks and good luck!!
Posted by: russell ghost | June 09, 2008 at 09:38 AM
My fellow bloggians,
HOW SOON WE FORGET!
Have we forgotten the hard work it took for the Lakers to get this far?
Have we forgotten how we almost lost our franchised player?
Have we forgotten a major part of our team went down with a major injury?
Have we forgotten how we had the best darn road record in the NBA for a stretch?
Have we forgotten our front office pulled one of the best trades the NBA has seen?
Have we forgotten after 12 years or so Kobe has gotten an MVP?
Have we forgotten we took the best record in a tough Western Conference?
Have we forgotten that we are the Western Conference Champions?
Have we forgotten this is the most home friendly post season run the NBA has ever seen? Just look at the trend this post season, Boston did what they were suppose to do… win at home.
Until we lose at home we are good shape!
I will not forget; I will not stop believing!
Never forget this incredible season, I am a proud Laker Fan; you should be too!
My pep rally for free!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: JBizzo | June 09, 2008 at 09:52 AM
laker_sth,
"Boston, however, kicked their butts, plain and simple"
Agreed. The Celtics have been able to limit Bryant's effectiveness, while still defending the rest of the Lakers well enough to keep them from compensating. That is the first time in the playoffs that that has consistently occurred. The Lakers have some exploitable areas that Boston is doing a good job of exploiting. At this point, it looks like the earlier Celtics playoff series were the aberration, not the regular season.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 09, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I thought when we found out we had lost Bynum for the rest of this year our chances for the title looked rather dim and now I am being proved right, It's not Bynum's offense were missing so much as his interior defense, he would be making Boston settle for jump shot's as well and we would have a shot. His put backs on missed shots would be leading to fouls on KG and Perkins.
This series will go six or seven, we will win two out of the three in LA but they will close it out back in Boston.
Hopefully we will meet them again next year with a healthy Bynum, home court advantage and more experience for our bench. That would also build the rivalry.
Tom k
Posted by: tomK | June 09, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Don't treat the Celtics thugs with kids' gloves, give them back what they want. Did you see Perkins under cut Pau Gasol? That is not a whine. In any language, in any court, that is a dirty play. If you do that on a cement, it could break the back of players. That could start a fight in undercutting. Perkins has been abusing LO throughout the game with his push and shove and LO just tap his butt to let him know he gets the message and just quit it. A finesse player cannot win against a dirty player if referees are not calling hard fouls. Where is the sportmanship in this Finals? Therefore, the remedy if they want dirty plays, mix Mbenga with the other bigs replacing LO or Pau when resting and ask him a yeoman's mission to enforce order on the court. He's a martial arts expert, he knows how to sweep, fall and foul at the right parts of the body that could interpreted as near the rock. Don't whine against the dirty leprechauns, just give them back what the menu of unsportmanship conduct.
Solution to the demise of the Lakers bench mob, don't lump them in one bunch like what happened last night or in Game 1, mix Farmar and Sasha with our first stringers and when resting Kobe, mix Walton and Trevor with LO and Pau. The recipe for disaster is to put them on the floor where there is no offensive guy except those long low percentage shots and minimal rebound with Turiaf on the center.
Like last night, PJ was flexible with his offense in Game 3. At the portion of 3rd Q, he dropped the triangle and let Kobe played, we rallied. Therefore, Don't play the whole game with Triangle. There will be instances when it will be Kobe as the court general and let him decide what is the best play needed as he navigates the floor. There will instances when LO will be the fascilitator and let Kobe and Pau roam to rotate and/or confuse the defense of the Celtics. There will be plays to go for screen and pop our reliable shooters like Sasha, Vladrad and Fisher/Farmar go for perimeter shots while Pau and LO or Vlad will be in the shaded area for rebounds. I observe that when these two tall players are on the post, Lakers have a chance of getting rebounds but when left with Turiaf, Walton and Sasha they are just too small to go against Powe, Brown and Posey.
I believe the last five players in the 4th quarter in Game 2 are good strike force to pound the Celtics into submission namely: 1Fisher 2Sasha 3Kobe 4Vlady 5Pau. There is a threat in all sides of the court. My second team will be: 1Farmar 2Sasha 3Trevor 4LO 5Mbenga. To replace the second team will be 1Fisher 2Kobe 3Walton 4Turiaf 5Pau. As you can see all the five on the floor at any time of the game there is a balanced line up both offense and defense in them.
Reminder to those who will attend the game tomorrow, don't forget the Paula cheer....Paula, Paula, Paula. When Celtics are on the road they are at a lost. That has been proven against a marginal team like Hawks and Cavaliers and also Pistons, the latter made mistakes in the closing of 4th Q, it could have been a 7 game as well. If Pierce do not hear the leprechauns chants that he is the truth (when the fact, he is a congenital liar in faking injuries) then, the Celtic spell or mystic disappears.
I still maintain Lakers will win in 6 games.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 09, 2008 at 10:07 AM
Russell Ghost,
The fouls are obvious on Pau Gasol. Of course, you won't admit because you favor the Celtics. It is not a whine, a foul is a foul from Rondo shoving Pau to get the ball; from Posey hitting behind the back in the 2ndQ those are hard fouls not being called. Adirty play of Perkins in undercutting Pau. Kobe has to get technical because he can't just be on the receiving end throughout the night. I believe you are a veteran in watching playoffs or the rivalries. There are only two ways to avoid dilemma: 1 Don't call fouls and let players play the game or 1. Call fouls as defined in the rule book. To be wishy washy referee of favoring one team is not a good prescription of fair play. To solve this dilemma, used video feeds to aid refs or move to the 21st Century in replacing humans with robots calling fouls. This idea is not remote to happen because lasers aided by video will determine whether there was a body contact, a touch on the palm or a touch on the arm, thereby removing the subjective part of refereeing.
I admit, Sasha made a tactical errror in that last play, he should have just baited the player who blocked the ball by a simple fake and could have made three free throws than a block. He will learn from the master, MVP Kobe.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 09, 2008 at 10:21 AM
AK/BK,
Is there a way for the league to put the officiating team on the podium to answer some questions? I mean, just to give them opportunity to answer the media on how confident they were on their calls last night and the way they officiated the game. Just to give us fans some insights on what are their strategies coming in to these type of games on how they think they can officiate fairly?
This game is about momentum, momentum that a team has to build on to push for offnsive advantage. But, to me, it does not matter how good a team offensively or defensively, if it keeps getting disrupted from making their runs, it will be futile. I don't care how you make your adjustments or whatever the proverbial saying of working through the calls, you ain't going to make it!
The last 8 minutes of the game, I thought when the referees let both sides play, the Lakers made their improbable comeback... I knew that the Lakers can comeback no matter how much the odds is against them. I just hope that the rest of the games in this series, the refs will just let them play... just let them play.
Posted by: GameFaceON | June 09, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Anybody who has ever competed in sports would agree that SYNCHRONY and RHYTHM mean so much to any athletic endeavor, and when they are organically or inorganically thrown out of whack, it is so difficult to recover from. I'm referring of course to the brutal officiating in game 2 of the NBA Finals. When a team's rhythm is thrown off by the opponent, that is organic, it's strategy, it's good coaching, it's getting into the other team's head, and it is to be applauded as part of the game. When a team's rhythm is thrown off by inorganic elements, such as a referee crew that is caught up in the emotion of the home crowd, it is downright pathetic, shameful and inexcusable. These finals are so polarized that you will never truly find a fan with an unbiased opinion. You either love the Lakers or you hate them (and their are more than a few Laker-haters out there), so let the tale of the tape do the speaking. Literally, just watch the game tape, count the fouls. Even ABC avoided going to the replay when questionable fouls were called. Look at Jordan Farmar's drive to the basket. The one they called a "wild shot." Wild shot nothing! Sam Cassell was grabbing Farmar's wrist and literally spun Jordan in the air--in plain view of the everyone! And take a look at Kobe's allly-oop dunk attempt in the fourth. With all eyes on the league's MVP, how is it that something so blatant as a body shove under the basket can be missed? Somehow, some way, the league is going to have to take a good hard look at the way these games are officiated or we are going to have the same skepticism towards the NBA as we now do with professional boxing. There must be a mandate that the game is officiated the same way for both teams. Make up calls mean nothing when the synchrony of a well-oiled machine is thwarted by the proverbial monkey-wrench that is the officiating crew. It's truly disgusting to see these athletes watch everything slip away at the hands of the leagues "most venerable refs."
Posted by: J. Welsh | June 09, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Anybody who has ever competed in sports would agree that SYNCHRONY and RHYTHM mean so much to any athletic endeavor, and when they are organically or inorganically thrown out of whack, it is so difficult to recover from. I'm referring of course to the brutal officiating in game 2 of the NBA Finals. When a team's rhythm is thrown off by the opponent, that is organic, it's strategy, it's good coaching, it's getting into the other team's head, and it is to be applauded as part of the game. When a team's rhythm is thrown off by inorganic elements, such as a referee crew that is caught up in the emotion of the home crowd, it is downright pathetic, shameful and inexcusable. These finals are so polarized that you will never truly find a fan with an unbiased opinion. You either love the Lakers or you hate them (and their are more than a few Laker-haters out there), so let the tale of the tape do the speaking. Literally, just watch the game tape, count the fouls. Even ABC avoided going to the replay when questionable fouls were called. Look at Jordan Farmar's drive to the basket. The one they called a "wild shot." Wild shot nothing! Sam Cassell was grabbing Farmar's wrist and literally spun Jordan in the air--in plain view of the everyone! And take a look at Kobe's allly-oop dunk attempt in the fourth. With all eyes on the league's MVP, how is it that something so blatant as a body shove under the basket can be missed? Somehow, some way, the league is going to have to take a good hard look at the way these games are officiated or we are going to have the same skepticism towards the NBA as we now do with professional boxing. There must be a mandate that the game is officiated the same way for both teams. Make up calls mean nothing when the synchrony of a well-oiled machine is thwarted by the proverbial monkey-wrench that is the officiating crew. It's truly disgusting to see these athletes watch everything slip away at the hands of the leagues "most venerable refs."
Posted by: J. Welsh | June 09, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I was really hoping last night that a Laker would repay the "Rambis Clothesline" play. Something to show the Celtics that we weren't going to get pushed around.
Unfortunately, no one on the Lakers seemed in to that. We weren't getting calls when we went to the basket early and just gave up on going to the basket.
I think we need a change to the starting lineup. I think it's time to have RadMan coming off of the bench, start Sasha at the 2 and Kobe at the 3. Let Pierce and his fake injury try to go around Kobe all night. See how many games they win with Pierce carrying 3 fouls before half-time.
Pierce is the key to the series, defensively. We stop Pierce, we win the series. That simple.
My prediction for the next 3 games: Lakers live at the free throw line. No way this series doesn't go 7.
Posted by: Matt R. | June 09, 2008 at 11:32 AM
To Edwin Gueco:
You are really showing yourself as a homer on the call you are whining about with Kedrick Perkins and Gasol. If you remember...Perkins had the ball and faked Gasol out of his shoes. Gasol jumped up and on top of Perkins who was going up with the shot. THE FOUL WAS ON GASOL YOU MORON. POOR EXAMPlE.....He wasn't undercutting Gasol....Gasol jumped on to his back and was called for the fould because Perkins had position, the ball and was shooting. He got him in the air and then shot the ball. Learn the game of basketball.
In game one KG had 4 fouls early in Q3 and had to sit out big chunks of the game. The calls on him were questionable. The non call against Fisher in the SA serieis. That's how it goes. Celtics outplayed Lakers in every facet of the game. Keep praying that you can build on the 4th quarter when the Celtics thought they could coast with the lead. In the end it is the best thing that ever happened to the C's. If they won by 20 they may have gone into Staple with some overconfidence. Now they are going to be focused.
Every time the Celtics had to put the hammer down your team is lost. And what else do you have but hope...hope that you will sweek the C's and somehow win one in the Garden.
Celtics won 2 in Detroit. I expect they will win at least one in LA. If they win Game 3 I expect a sweep and lots of whining Lakers fans complaining how they were jobbed int his series. Enjoy the MVP. When Pierce gets the real MVP of the Finals we'll happily enjoy that as well.
Celtics are stronger, tougher, better.
Better stars...better bench
Better defense
Better team
66 wins and you have yet to beat them in 4 tries this year. Of course it bothers you. Enjoy the Bravado as you won't be able to soon.
Maybe you should bring back Dancing Barry.
Posted by: Russell Ghost | June 09, 2008 at 11:47 AM
So now it's "the series is going 7 games" from LA will sweep the inferior Boston Celtics. My how things have changed.
Who will stop Pierce
Who will stop Garnett
Stop them maybe Allen kills you with 3's that cut like daggers
Maybe Rondo slices to the hole and dishes to their fifth option like Perkins, or Brown, or Powe.
Maybe Big Baby gets his chance and does his Charles Barkey imitation.
And you haven't seen Eddie House yet.
I don't mind if Cassell doesn't play however....maybe we'll let you have him next year so that someone can come in and spell Kobe.
Posted by: russell ghost | June 09, 2008 at 11:52 AM
And I will admit....I DO LIKE COD!!!
Nice white flaky fish...tasty..not overpowering....unlike most of those Pacific fishies which aren't fit for consumption.
We have flounder too. And Striped Bass is the best. (yours is landlocked and doesn't taste as nice).
I do like King Crab and Dungeness....But those come from way up in Alaska and are untainted by that LA area pollution
And FRIED CLAMS....YUMMMY!!!!! Have had some nice oysters from the Pacific...but those were from way up in clean Seattle.
Posted by: Russell Ghost | June 09, 2008 at 12:00 PM
russell ghost,
don't you dare appologize for being a celtics fan LA proves the coaches, players, and fans are one in the same. Leave it to Kobe to push away Shaq, leave it to Phil Jackson to blame a loss on the oficials leave it to the fans to b***h when they're down. I mean if it has nothing to do with the celtics being a force to rekon with the second coming of the franchise so to speak. OR MAYBE it has to do with it being the new gah'den and the ghost of Red is gonna keep Phil from getting number 10. Either way the celtics are the better team and the BIG 3 will make sure that we get this one finished on the road.
Posted by: Paul | June 09, 2008 at 12:04 PM
I am going to be against the common view for a change. last night was a moral victory although it is general accepted there are no moral vicories without an actual win. We showed Boston that there is nothing that they can throw at us that we can not take a fight back. Boston has been a bully team a year long. They beat up on 2-bit Eastern Confrence teams and run up the score. But in the play-ofs they have become a different animal. They were blown out by the Atlanta Hawks, why because a little slip of confidence breaks up their supposed mental toughness. The Celtics are not tough they are bullies. And the advantage the Lakers have is that they can win on the road, in fact we are 50% from the road. We are due for a win in the Gaahden. And we are undeated at home.
Garnet is not tough he could not keep up with Pichullia.
Ray Allen is streaky and his streak is ending.
Pierce can pull off only some many stunts.
Celtics your theatrics, over played commercial and your psuedo dynasty ends tomarrow
Lakers 4 win streak lets end this!!!!!!!!!
MJT
Posted by: MJT | June 09, 2008 at 12:05 PM
MJT....
You said..."Boston has been a bully team a year long. They beat up on 2-bit Eastern Confrence teams and run up the score. But in the play-ofs they have become a different animal."
You are confusing the Celtics with the New England Patriots.
Posted by: Russell Ghost | June 09, 2008 at 12:43 PM
And I wasn't apologizing for being a Celtics Fan. I would never do that and never will.....been watching these boys and enjoying since Cowens, Havliceck, JoJo, Silas. I was apologizing for abusing the poor lost Lakers fans. But you are right...I shouldn't apologize for that either.
Posted by: Russell Ghost | June 09, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Defense beats jumpshots every night.
I'm worried about the Lakers.
1. The refs can't make them drive to the basket.
2. What are the odds Garnett will shoot poorly again?
3. What are the odds the Lakers will get 7 three-pointers in a period?
4. Boston had a starter ( Perkins) injured and unable to play 10-12 minutes yet the Laker bench didn't take advantage of it.
5. Pierce grew up next to the Forum and always plays great here.
6. Allen and Cassell are two longtime West coast players and play good here.
7. Take out his two layups and Kobe shot bad again.
8. Crying about fouls is the last resort of a team playing wimpy. It wasn't the refs that let Powe go wild underneath or drive three quarter court to dunk over Gasol.
9. L.O. all of a sudden looks old.
10. Boston's defense is the best I've seen in over 15 years. As a 45 year NBA fan their defense is in my all-time top 5 teams. Don't kid yourself...the only reason the Lakers had a big 4th quarter is Boston coasted and stopped playing defense. They then decided to finish the game out.
You can't blame the refs. Boston got hammered with calls during the Cleveland series and STILL beat the Cavs who got all the calls.
I am facing the tough fact that Boston is better.
Posted by: William | June 09, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Folks: however persuasive -- or crass -- their arguments, the Celtic fans on this blog have a point. Boston didn't win 66 games and dominate the West for no reason. This is a very good team, more disciplined than Denver, more experienced than Utah, and deeper than San Antonio.
Their struggles in the Eastern Conference might just be a product of familiarity. The Hawks, Cavs and Pistons saw them a few more times than the Lakers did. And the Lakers are still one of the youngest teams in the league, and they went into an arena that is stark-raving mad for a title and got beat. Maybe Staples Center will energize the team, but tomorrow will tell a lot. I'm as frustrated as any Lakers fan, but I don't think the C's are getting credit for what they have done.
They've outplayed and outcoached LA to this point. Period.
As for the Game 2 officiating, yeah, it was bad, but hey, maybe that's karmic retribution for Game 6 of the 2002 series, which I get tired of hearing about. Let's move on.
One game at a time.
Posted by: Peace | June 09, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Russell Ghost,
"If you remember...Perkins had the ball and faked Gasol out of his shoes. Gasol jumped up and on top of Perkins who was going up with the shot. THE FOUL WAS ON GASOL YOU MORON. POOR EXAMPlE.....He wasn't undercutting Gasol." - according to ghost
You called me a moron for that statement. Based on your response, you're truly an irresponsible leprechaun that comes into this blog with bloody intentions. Of course, that is foul on Gasol, but what I said is that IF YOU PLAY BASKETBALL IN ANY COURT, IN ANY COUNTRY WHAT PERKINS DID TO GASOL IS A DIRTY PLAY OF UNDERCUTTING. If you played basketball, you are familiar with this trick. That's similar to clotheslining a player, this time you do it with your body. Here is why it is a dangerous play? Gasol jumps to block the shot, Perkins fakes and let Gasol falls on his back. A player with CONSCIENCE will catch the player who is in the air, who has no control of his landing and about to fall in an awkward position. (That is not whining and that is not a moronic statement but a fact about sportsmanship conduct,) as a player you don't want to inflict injury on your opponent because of your desire to win a game by taking advantage of possible injury. THAT'S GREED AT ITS BEST, only dirty leprechaun like you will applaud those tactics. If you comprehend what is right and what is wrong, then don't consider basketball as a sport but ultimate combat. You're just a kid with foul language with a dirty mind, so you have the bile to come to this blog and call people by names when you, yourself don't get the message at all. If you have a brother, ask him to jump high and do this to him and see what will be his reaction.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 09, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Stop with all the excuses!! Rims, fouls, alien abductions...etc. The reality is that the Lakers are filled with jump shooting Euro-softs.
Game 3 will come down to the wire. Ray Allen wins it at the buzzer.
Celtics in 5.
Posted by: banner17 | June 09, 2008 at 04:22 PM
Edwin... please stop with the dirty play talk. You cannot be serious. Are you old enough to be on this blog? It clearly states you need to be 13. You want Perkins to turn around and catch Gasol. You sound like a mental midget. Not even the most die hard Laker homer would agree with you. Come back when you learn the game.
Posted by: banner17 | June 09, 2008 at 04:43 PM
Give me a break Laker fans! You all were heard chastising Spurs fans groaning against Joey Crawford's non-call against Fisher. And now you are crying foul against the refs? Here's the distinction: Unlike Pop and the Spurs who never used it as an excuse, Jackson immediately whined about the calls in his post game--par for his course. Seems like poetic justice to me. In any event, take a bit of your own advise and quit complaining about the calls.
Posted by: d-man | June 09, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Hi Big Game, I have lived in both states but I am an old NBA fan. The Lakers don't get to see Boston much but so far the Celtics are 4-0 this season. I DO like the way they are put together.
What is the point of the Lakers having all the height if they don't use it?
The refs..good point on the Spurs series. If it was Kobe instead of Barry that got nailed in the final seconds we all would have been screaming "fix!!!".
I'm sick of all the ref talk. The Lakers have not needed them to screw this series up. Boston has outplayed the Lakers in 5 1/2 to 6 of 8 quarters. The Lakers have yet to beat them this year.
Boston needs only one win here. Going home 3-2 puts them in great shape. The Lakers need a home sweep.
Posted by: William | June 09, 2008 at 08:15 PM
All of this nonsense goes away if we just win, it's put up or shut-up time!!! Go Lakers, one win at a time, Boston fans should know about big comebacks remember the Sox in 04' had to win 4 in a row? Everyone is so quick to bury us after 2 losses, (especially Celtic fan, pissing themselves with glee that their sad sack franchise is FINALLY relevant again) last time I checked the series went 7 games, we'll see what happens tomorrow, then we'll know more.
Posted by: Big Game James | June 09, 2008 at 10:01 PM