PS: DON'T FEED THE TROLLS.

kthxhaveaniceday.

karyanr, Very well done!!!! You had me laughing pretty good.

I hate Bill Effing Simmons. Sorry, just had to get that outta my system.

Mamba, we need to run his sorry @ss over with the I Hate the Celtics bandwagon. I would personally like to take the wheel as we circle Boston Garden (or whatever they call it now) and Bill is walking through the parking lot to the game. Can we get a volunteer to take a picture of sorry @ss Simmons with bandwagon wheel tracks across his torso? Make sure my face isn't in the picture as I'm backing up and running over him a second time.

How the @%#% can someone PAY him to write that ish!?!?!?!

Eric M,

"Yea...you don't want much. We can't even get the KBros to refresh the blog more often. Many times it goes dead for hours."

Yeah, that time period when we choose to sleep is a real hassle.

AK

GO LAKERS!

celtics are insecure and inexperienced.

Jon K,

"You're saying that the Celtics/Lakers rivalry hype feels forced because you didn't grow up a Lakers fan in Los Angeles. If you had and were there for Showtime and before, it wouldn't feel forced at all. It feels real."

It was actually me on the air today, but I don't doubt there's some validity to what you're saying. I certainly can't "disagree," since I indeed wasn't around during the time. My point was more that, in my opinion, the media is overblowing this as a truly "lingering" rivalry than it really feels like. It seems like a stretch to me that any Lakers fan 30 or younger would automatically look at Kendrick Perkins and think "enemy," since the Celts have meant so little to both the NBA and the Lakers since the late 80s. As much as that history is obviously real and heated, I also feel like it's been shoved down everyone's throat as still burning, as opposed to being presented as the backstory. And judging by the way some other readers have responded, I'm not alone.

AK

AK,

By the way, I know you need to have SOME semblance of a life. I don't expect you to be updating the blog every 10 minutes 22 hours a day.

GO LAKERS!

I myself, will enjoy the rivalry this year ( I hate these celtics).
For the reason that I don't believe the celtics will be back in the finals next year.
but I do believe the Lakers will be in atleast 3 of the next 4 finals. Rivalry over next year.

Jon K,

Yes, being mistaken for BK certainly felt like, as you'd put it, a throat punch. haha

What is interesting (and I talked about this a little on the podcast) is how this could be the start of a brand new chapter of the rivalry. While the Lakers are certainly constructed for a longer run than the Celtics, Boston's core isn't so old that it's now or never. Even if their window isn't open as wide, it's hardly on the verge of shutting. They could easily end up in the Finals the next couple seasons. We could be seeing the rivalry begin anew, which would be great.

AK

Edwin Gueco,

Good points..Russel played smart in that game..He pretty much had his hands on his knees the whole first half and then turned it on in the second half. It was beautiful seeing a big man take provide in team ball and pay more attention to defense. He would have had no chance at Shaq though...I know others would disagree, but Shaq is a whole new animal..Russel was mainly playing against a bunch old slow, short, white guys in the 60s.

There are a lot of things in the two eras we cannot compare..But there are a few..

Most of the players were slow and not as gifted athletically as today's players. It would be no contest on that alone..

A lot of it has to do with the style of play they did as well..But honestly, can you tell me that the top 5 rebounders of all time just happen to be playing in the 60's? Are you kidding me? You mean to tell me that in the last 40 years, only Dennis Rodman has produced similar rebounding numbers? The players aren't posting the numbers like those guys because the players are way better today! At least from an athletic standpoint...A young Shaq would have averaged 50 in the 60s. Easily.

10 months ago...

Ainge: Whattaya say Kev, KG for Jefferson, some nobodies and Ratiliff's expiring contract?

McHale: Do you think we'll get a away with that?

Ainge: Of course, ESPN will eat it up, they love the Celtics and KG!! We'll definitely win the title, plus Red would've wanted it that way!!

McHale: Alright, deal!! Celtics Rule!!
**********************************************
7 months later....

McHale: Pau Gasol??!!?? for Kwame Brown!!! How did they do that??!!?? Oh jeeeez, I'm going to be sick!!

Ainge: Don't worry, we'll still win, we'll have home court advantage! Plus I'll get PJ Brown and Cassell, you'll see!! We're still good!!
***********************************************
2 weeks from now......

McHale: I can't believe we got OWNED like that!!! You said we were going to win a championship!!

Ainge: How was I supposed to know Kobe would just dominate like that and what about that Ariza guy, he just came out of nowhere!! I got it!! Let's give Perkins a max deal and trade him for Al Jefferson!! We'll definitely going to win next year!!

McHale: Danny, you know I'll lose my job for sure right?!?! Popovich might even boycott me! Plus you do know they got that Bynum kid coming back next year right?

Ainge: Oh jeeeez, I'm going to be sick!!!

Sorry Celtics fans/ Laker Haters....It's just not your decade!! LAKERS IN 5!!!!

Lakers-sth, Lakafo0 : the ticket at $21000+ is posted for sale on StubHub , I just checked TicketExchange, the most expensive one at section 102 ( row A ) is $30000 ! OMG would you buy it even though you"re very rich?

Celtics who?

They haven't won anything since before Al Gore invented the internet. In fact I think we were still using typewriters the last time the held a trophy or raised a banner. History is just that, history. Get with today's time, today's team you lil' green guys....

LOS ANGELES LAKERS - WORLD CHAMPS '08

Zen,

I agree that this year is certainly Boston's best opportunity to make it happen, but with the East being the way it is, I don't think it's their last. Who's poised to knock them out of the #1 spot? Detroit and Cleveland could be very different teams next season. Washington can't stay healthy (and could be different). Atlanta and Philly are improving, but not by that much (and if Andre Miller isn't around, Philly will drop). For now, Toronto is too perimeter oriented. Save Orlando, I don't see any team in the East really on the definite upswing, much less enough to pass Boston. And as long as they get in the Finals, they always have a chance.

AK

Scouts Inc picked the Lakers to win the series in 6. They also picked the Spurs to win in 6 as well...

It's not hype.

If you say it ain't, then it's because you haven't been in LA
long or haven't been a Laker fan long.

All Celtics players and their fans are evil and the mighty
Lakers forces of good must conquer them.

Kevin Garnett had a chance to come over to the light side
of the force, but instead he chose to go over to the dark side
of the force. That decision will cost him is chance to ever win
a championship. Pau Gasol will now wear the ring that
could have been his.

And next year, several teams in the East will rise up, while
the Celtics will slide back a bit, so the "big" 3 will never
return to the finals.

AK/BK,

The national sports media is coming all over themselves with the plethora of story lines to write or blog about in covering the Lakers vs. Celtics NBA Finals rematch for the ages. For Lakers Blog regulars, though, it’s been like opening the morning paper and finding only the stories you read last night on the web. Regardless of what is written or posted, it feels as if the writers just cherry-picked ideas from prior threads on the blog. LOL.

As to Great Expectations, I just have two answers why: Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. The Lakers coach and superstar are the two factors for which the Boston Celtics just do not have an answer. And for sure, it is NOT the Big Ticket or the Truth or Doc Rivers. Or a fading Ray or over-hyped Tony Allen. Or this week’s defense guru Tom Thibodeau. The Lakers coach and superstar are the geniuses of the game and the Lakers’ trump cards for whatever strategies or tactics the Celtics might elect to deploy.

Charley Rosen said the other day that this season has been Phil Jackson’s best as a coach, even better than the 9 seasons during which he won NBA championships. Phil has the Lakers right where he wanted them, peaking and growing with each game into what may become the greatest Lakers team ever. And whether he will ever admit it or not, Phil will take sweet pleasure in winning his 10th championship and leaving Red in the dust. There is no way he is going to blow this opportunity against a weaker coach and team.

As to Kobe Bryant, nobody can truly understand how geeked and ready Kobe is going to be for this series. But they will find that out from the instant that the ball goes into play. Kobe has been waiting, praying, and playing for this series for the last 4 years and there is nothing in the world that is going to prevent him from totally dominating the series and the Boston Celtics. This is the most important series in his life and Kobe will play like it. Just imagine the unimaginable: 62 points in 3 quarters, 81 points in a game, Finals MVP. 2008 NBA Champions. KB24 will not be denied. Resistance is futile.

Tom

Korey,

I agree that Vlad is really important for spacing on the offensive end, because he can hit open shots. But he hasn’t been too consistent with that shot. At the start of the season I would tell you that VladRad was our best shooter, but now I have to give that crown to Sasha. Truthfully, VladRad missed some open threes in the Spurs series and his shooting consistency does concern me. If he is on, he is usually pretty good, but his lack of lateral mobility, offensive post game/moves, and inability to rebound to his size concern me. I agree he needs to be on the court, and that he is an important part of our team. I am just concern is all. I really do believe that our starting five is not our finishing five, where we have Rad-LO-Gasol-KB24-and Fish to start the game we end the game with – Vujacic, Bryant, Fisher, Odom, Gasol. I think the end of the game situation will have Sasha on ray ray and Kobe playing stopper on PP.

Here is how I see things playing out.;

It is going to be a defense by committee plan. In watching film, the problem with Pierce is not that he is going to get 20+ points, because much like Kobe, he will. We just can not allow him to get into the lane and get Perkins easy lay-ups and ray ray/KG open jump shots. And that is what is worrying me about Vlad guarding him is that; A. He is terrible at containing penetration, which forces the rest of the team to help and rotate, B. He gets lost when he is off the ball too easily. Vlad on PP is the single greatest defense problem the Lakers have. In thinking about it, I really do think that Pau will do a better Job on KG than he did on Duncan. Gasol is really long and KG unlike Ducan is not really a post/power type of player. He likes to shimmy shake and fade away or pick and pop for the jumper. This favors Gasol because he is longer than KG and will alter his shot, and he will not have to deal with KG putting his should down and barging to the rim like Boozer and Ducan did. Got to keep Perkins of the Offense glass, keep Rondo out of the lane, make sure that a jump shooting team takes jump shots, and contest every shot by closing out. But most importantly, to not over close, and allow for penetration. Their offense is very simple. Usually starting with the point guard swinging the ball to one side, and KG setting an on ball screen, making the defense choose to play the ball(Going under the screen, Chasing over the top, or trapping the ball). Although it seems easy, it is the same problem the Lakers have always had with pick and roll teams, if they go under the screen you allow for an open shot, if you chase over the screen you allow for penetration lanes, and if you trap or contain the ball handler this allows for the forward to pop ((ala K. Malone) that has killed us so many time. The problem with the Celtics Offense is not what they are going to do, but how to stop it. With Pierce and Garnett running the pick and pop, it is tough to stop all elements of the play. It is 100% nessecary to contain stopping penetration early in the clock by having the on ball defender chase over the top and the man guarding Garnett to shade to the ball. If the ball if swung to Garnett, the Lakers must close hard on him and force him to put the ball on the floor, where he is uncomfortable. KG, a very good ball player will usually swing to weak side once he gets the pass from (PP), where Allen or Rondo will be, and sets another on ball screen, while the defender is chasing. This allows him to slip the screen and gives him a lane to the basket. They are good at what they do, but are not a very complex team. They do not try and run too much, which is to our advantage, because we should get more easy points in transition. The triangle is designed to break apart team defense, by creating penetration and cutting lanes, as well as spacing, so that one man can never guard two guys. It is up to Lamar to get into the paint, and Gasol to be effective in the post. We know what we get from Kobe. Either Sasha or Vlad need to get at least 10+ points and Turiaf has to come in and be a force on the glass and defense. All and all it is one day away and I can't wait. Can you feel it? LAKERS.

lakerfaze,

BTW, the net was already around by 1986, the last year the
Celtics won the championship. I was using it regularly by
then.

The term Internet was first adopted in 1974 on what at the
time was commonly referred to as the ARPAnet.

Zen,

Just like you, I watched at noon time today the 1985 Finals against the Celts at their parquee floor that always bounced their way. There are tiny leprechauns underneath that favored Bird & Co. Did you see how thin was McHale like Frankenstein with longest arms but Cooper was much thinner. That Championship was very significant to the Lakers, because for the first time they defied the odds and removed the curse that always befell on the Lakers for successive years. They lost to C's prior to that year. Here in San Gabriel Valley my son then was in his graders, I was jumping and running around down our street shouting Laaaakkkkkkeers like a nut that got released, our asian neighbors didn't watch b'ball were curious on what was going on with my wild celebrations, then passing cars were honking with a V signs. It was a victory against Celtics in Boston which made it special, although that was the 3rd Championship within decade 80, 82 and 85. Lakers should have won the 1984 Finals, but because of Game 4 when Worthy inbound the ball with less than a minute and it was intercepted by the white towel waving M.L. Carr broke the hearts of every Laker fans. In 1986 we lost the WCF on 2 sec inbound to Ralph Sampson 2 secs. That was last Celtics Championship, they bragged that they missed the Lakers. It was the heart of the rivalry years against the Celts, the memorable dirty look of Danny Ainge after a hard foul, chuckles of Larry Bird, the face of Red A. wearing a smirk as he lighted his cigar. Those are leprechauns' images that Showtime fans would not forget, perhaps the reason why their blood boils just by mentioning the Celtics are here again.

justanothermambafan,

Pitiful is correct. I have had a fever Fri-Monday. I can now barely get up without the the body hurting.

Reasons why the Lakers will beat the Celtics:

• The Lakers are a true definition of a team. They are a cohesive unit. There is a strong bond that they have developed over the years that can only come through growth, maturation and perseverance. They have fought together as a team, they have suffered defeat together and they have been victorious together. This team knows what it is like to go through the fire and to come out a winner. The bond they have developed gives them strength which can only be brought about through testing by fire. This is a family, a unit, a band of brothers that fights as one. This is a strength and an advantage that not even the Celtics big three can match. The Celtics have faltered in the playoffs for everyone to see…the Lakers have overcome and overcome decisively.

• We have a leader that has been established as the best NBA player in the league, the MVP, Kobe Bean Bryant aka “The Black Mamba”. This player was what brought to the City of Los Angeles by the best Laker player in history…Jerry West. The best player history (Michael Jordan) has passed the torch to Kobe Bryant to one day over take him as the best player in history. The legacy of our leader (Kobe Bryant) overshadows any legacy that your leader (Paul Pierce) has established over the years with your Celtics. It pales in comparison.

• Your team…the Celtics is a patch work of veterans that have underachieved. Sure they are great players in their own right. But all have failed individually to get them their team’s to the Finals, Kobe has not. Your team is built for a 2 to maybe 3 year run tops, but just as the San Antonio Spurs found out…age did catch up with them. Our team is young and hungry and they have been built to last a decade.

• Belief. The Lakers already know and believe that they are the best team in the league. Not just better then the Celtics but better then everyone. Why? Because they know that they are not at full strength. They know that once they have all their pieces together…they will be unstoppable, a force to be reckoned with all 82 games. This is a test for them to see how far then can go. Since they have gotten this far (not a full strength), why not go all the way. They know they can.

• Who have the Celtics defeated? Lebron James, Joe Johnson, Joe Smith, Al Horford, a hurt Chauncy Billups and a hurt Richard Hamilton and a no-show Rasheed Wallace (that was in love with Kevin Garnett.)

• Our team defeated...Alan Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, a sweep of the Denver Nuggest.

• We defeated Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilenko, Carlos Boozer, the Utah Jazz, the team with the best home record.

• We defeated Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry. ….THE DFENDING CHAMPIONS.

• The Atlanta Hawks would not have made the playoffs if the played in the Western Conference. It took the Celtics seven games to defeat them….tisk tisk…what a shame.

• Our coaching staff has a total of 59 rings. They have the experience, the knowledge and the understanding to play at this level. Your coaching staff “0” Zero rings, zero experience.

• Sure you can stand on the past and relive old Celtics Glory…but this is not only a new decade nor a new century but this is a new millennium. Old things have passed away….behold all things become new.

• Since arriving in Los Angeles from Minneapolis for the 1960-61 season, the Lakers have reached the NBA Finals 23 times in 47 seasons. To put it in perspective, the Lakers have pretty much played for the NBA title every other season during their stay in Los Angeles.

• The Lakers are 12-3 in the playoffs, including 8-0 at home. The Celtics are 12-8, including 10-1 at home. The Lakers' 23 finals appearances since 1961 are the most championship appearances for any team in any major North American sport over the same time period. The Boston Celtics have reached the NBA Finals 15 times over that same stretch.

• This Celtics are likened to a deer on the road with headlights shining in its eyes.

LTLF,

LakerFaze just made a passing comment of a well known joke. YOU are the one that brought politics to the blog. So stop with the MoveOn.org B#*L S&%t and don't ruin this great time to be a Laker Fan.

LTLF,
Al Gore exaggerated his involvement with it.

KG-Lamar match up is the critical one , if Lamar can hold his own without getting into a foul trouble then we will win. Vlad's deficiency against Ray will be offset by Kobe's complete domination of whoever is going to guard him.
I have a strong feeling what Mr Stern might milk the series till the very end , he was waiting for this miracle series for the past 20 years , so expect the ref to act accordingly.

Long Time Laker Fan,
Gore did take some personal credit for the internet - as he should have - he was the biggest advocate of funding its development in Congress. Many there thought it was a waste of money, and Gore realized that it could be something very important - and he was correct. And Congressmen and Senators normally take at least some credit for those things they pushed funding through.

But you're correct - some commentators saw a chance to ridicule him for something he deserved credit for.