Great expectations
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Join us for Purple, Gold, and Blue at 11 am. We'll be talking Lakers-Celtics Finals with our guests, David Neiman of SportsHubLA.com and Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe Celtics Blog. Click on the show widget at the side of the page, or go straight to our show window by clicking here.)
The world sits in bated anticipation until the ballyhooed Lakers-Celtics showdown finally arrives. What to anticipate when the sparks finally fly? Try some physical round ball, which may not be the Lakers' bread and butter, but when need be, they've been willing to make a meal of it. One can also count on a serious vibe permeating through the Laker locker room, stolid enough to turn a shlock film like "Judgment Night" into a theoretical learning experience. It's also a safe bet that The Logo-endorsed Kobe Bryant will take his game to another level. After all, when you consider everything Kobe's been through, both during this season and the course of his career, do you really expect him to let up with such an opportunity staring him down? One could make the argument that ghostly spirits will look to sabotage Phil Jackson's quest for ring #10.
From there, the givens become harder to prognosticate. The Laker vets may have faith in the bench Mob, but their inexperience remains something of a question mark until shown otherwise. There's also the presence of Vlad Radmanovic, which means not quite knowing what to anticipate at all. And finally, there's the final outcome, which most "experts" seem to think will emerge a purple and gold delight. Some local scribes like it in 7. Others are even going with a more optimistic 5. Despite the matchups seemingly in favor of the Lakers (no matter who's slicing them up), there are a few analysts willing to take the Celtics.
Boston-bred Bill Simmons attempts to remain objective in analyzing this rivalry. He comes up a bit short. Then again, animosities stretching this far back often die awfully hard. Those who actually lived it -- and especially the ones who helped crank it to another level -- know the emotions might feel a foreign to the newest generation, but as they're confident to remind, give it time.
Celts blog Green Bandwagon provided SportsHubLA.com with some tips on how to beat (and lose to) the team they endorse.
All-time great Lakers vs. all-time great Celtics. And.... go!
hey Butler, get off my jock, I left Phoenix to get away from weirdos like you. Phil would own me if I ever see the playoffs again.
Posted by: Mike D'antoni | June 04, 2008 at 06:08 PM
reality bites,
"way back when al gore was involved in a senate security investigation questioning col. oliver north, he asked ollie who he thought was the most dangerous man alive. "osama bin laden" replied north. i believe the newspaper reports say gore "scoffed at col. north"."
No, multiple lies here. ( http://www.snopes.com/rumors/north.asp)
North did not mention Bin Laden - Bin Laden was actually a US Ally at the time, fighting against the Soviets in Afghanistan. Oh, and Gore wasn't on the committee listening to North's testimony.
Doesn't ANYBODY check snopes before believing emails they get on the internet?
Posted by: akrasian | June 04, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Hi Laker Nation!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would like to know of the people that live in the San Fernando Valley or Ventura county would be interested in a veiwing party- please let me know so we can get one together for one of the next two games- Tomorrow night would be better- but lets get some Laker fans together and show our pride- I will repost this if there is another blog posted.
Hope to talk to you soon!
Posted by: Simi Laker Girl | June 04, 2008 at 06:12 PM
Long Time Laker Fan/pslakersfan,
Come on, guys. Hug it out.
Let's just say this. We've got two candidates now who are both railing against the partisanship that has dominated American politics for two Bush administrations and one Clinton administration. Whoever wins, maybe now we start focusing more reality and getting things done instead of Machivellian political manipulations of the truth.
In any case, we all know a lot of spun mistruths have been thrown out on both sides for the last 20 years. Maybe we're entering into a new era. I hope so.
I mean, come on! We're on the verge of a new Lakers Dynasty! A Dynasty which Roland Lazenby suggested could include a FOURPEAT! A FOURPEAT!
I mean, my God! The future's got to be bright! Let's focus on that!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 04, 2008 at 06:14 PM
STORY FOR AK...
I'm still in Vegas eagerly awaiting for the series to begin, but I've been waiting almost two days to post this little off topic story for AK.
Before I begin, I happened to notice Brian buried among the media in yesterday's practice interview with Phil Jax... the hype is INTENSE.
Okay, Andrew, I think you'll enjoy my little story.
So I pick up my little brother the first night here. We have two penthouse suites so we hit up the grocery store for some in house snacks while we're here. Now my dear brother is a great Lakers fan, and he wishes that he was a card player... but he does not play cards. His knowledge about poker is what I told him in about an hour of me trying to explain the rules, etc...
So my brother wants to hit the tables the first night and I know he'll get crushed, so I take him to the store instead. Get this, he buys a bunch of Oreo cookies because he thinks it will be funny if he sits at a poker table and does his best John Malkovich impersonation eating the cookies while playing poker.
My brother goes on and on about Rounders and thinks we could pull off a McDermott/Worm tandem. Of course I had to inform him that you actually have to know what you're doing if you're going to tag-team at the tables. But Andrew, my brother means well... did I mention he's a big time Lakers fan?
I take him to play some simple 1/2 HE and because he doesn't know the rules too well, he busts his budget in under an hour... pretty much what I thought.
So after my session, we go back to the car. It's my brother, myself, Ms. 4-show and my brother's wife. We're at the Venetian and we need to get to our car...
We all cram into the elevator and I press the button for floor 5 and the door begins to close...
The door is almost shut when this guy runs in and forces the door open, catching the elevator at the last second.
I immediately begin staring this guy down, but he's wearing a cap and I tower over him by nearly an entire foot... but I swear that I caught a glimpse of his face and I know who he is...
Meanwhile no one else in the elevator really knows that Tim-4-Show has just made another notorious random celebrity sighting (like last summer when I came across O'Neal and Horry)...
We hit floor 5 and the little guy immediately runs out. We all are behind him.
At that point, he clicks his remote and his Mercedes starts up and he opens the door... he's parked in a spot that isn't even a parking spot, the guy evidently "owns" the place...
I say, "Johnny Chan!"
He stops, raises his hand to acknowledge 4-show's fanship... and then hauls butt out of there...
My brother can't believe it.
"Johnny f-in Chan" he says, quoting the poker movie...
Our two wives are oblivious, so when we get back to the penthouse, I throw in my DVD of the 88 WSOP to show them who we just met...
Well, thought Andrew might appreciate my little random sighting and chance meeting of a poker legend, and I typed that all out just to say
GO LAKERS! DESTROY THE CELTICS!!!!
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | June 04, 2008 at 06:16 PM
LakerTom,
In all due respect, dude, Andrew and Brian K. both work seven days a week from before training camp through to the lottery.
I mean, sure we'd all like more frequent updates, but come on, these guys have to work seven days a week. They almost never get a break, and despite that, over the last several years the quality of the material has continued to improve. They rarely phone it in.
We should cut 'em a little slack, if you know what I mean.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 04, 2008 at 06:18 PM
Eric M,
"Your last post was artful in its half-truths, and selective comments. John Kerry would be proud. I must point out that the "Issue" wasn't whether LTLF used the web, it was that he was bringing his political BS to the blog. This isn't the place.
I agree we can both be happy for the Lakers.
I won't include a personal attack about you, as I find that ill-mannered and juvenile. You have a good day."
Heh. You start with a personal attack, and then say personal attacks are ill-mannered.
My post you began reacting to merely pointed out that your accusing LTLF of BS - and using his claim to be on the internet years ago (NOT the web) as part of the basis, was ridiculous, since many people WERE using the internet back then.
Otherwise, I've primarily just corrected falsehoods in the relevant posts. I'm not sure what you have against falsehoods being corrected.
Incidentally, I find it hilarious that you would be criticizing LTLF for bringing in politics (done initially in response to a post he felt was political), while bringing in a politically motivated reference to Kerry.
In any case, you are far too loose with the truth, and far too disingenuous, to be worthwhile arguing with.
Posted by: akrasian | June 04, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Sorry I presented the old links for the Global broadcast, it should be:
http://www.nba.com/finals2008/news/numbers_080603.html
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | June 04, 2008 at 06:25 PM
LakerTom,
Say it ain't so!!! Stop the politics.
There are many good political blogs for all points of view.
Out of respect for you, I'll hold my opinion of Obama and his views, and those of his pastor and mentor.
Posted by: Eric M. | June 04, 2008 at 06:26 PM
I am going nuts! I am going to go to bed for 23 hours, see everybody tomorrow.
Posted by: Sleeper | June 04, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Me neither. But I'm sure all the Laker fans on the blog are democrats, aren't they? LOL.
Posted by: LakerTom | June 04, 2008 at 05:48 PM
Actually Republicans don't exist. Until November of course...........Strange how nobody ever says they are a Republican but they seem to get a lot of votes.
And yes Jon K. I am done now....
Posted by: pslakerfan | June 04, 2008 at 06:37 PM
Eric,
Sometimes I just get so damn bored that I cannot resist a little mischief but like my wife always tells me, "Leave the politics to the politicians." After all, it's more important that a person is a Lakers fan than Democrat or Republican. LOL.
Tom
Posted by: LakerTom | June 04, 2008 at 06:46 PM
URGH! See this is what happens when we have to wait six fricken days for the Lakers to play next in the playoffs! People start hitting each other over the heads with baseball bats screaming about political injustice!
Guys! FOCUS!
We're playing the fricken Celtics tomorrow for the NBA Championship!
Get it together, man!
In closing...
Lamar Odom = Finals MVP
Odom spells DOOM for the Boston Celtics!
"F-ing Pau Gasol!"
The Mamba Never Forgets!
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | June 04, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Who's this guy Laker Tom? He should be turkey Tom with comments like Phil Jackson won't allow Rondo or Perkins to have good games. Get with it!
Celtics in seven.
Posted by: Ken K | June 04, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Why is there discussion about insignificant SUNS on this blog ? At this stage ? Who cares about the SUNS ?
Posted by: Ray | June 04, 2008 at 07:10 PM
PsychedLakerMan: KMA.
Posted by: PsychedLakerGirl | June 04, 2008 at 10:02 PM
lakerfaze,
>>>since before Al Gore invented the internet.
don't be a political troll. Al Gore never said that he invented
the internet. What he said was that we (meaning he and the
rest of Congress) created the internet. Since they paid the tab
(with our money) to create most of the infrastructure that became
the internet, his statement was true. It was Fox News &
Rush Limbaugh who changed the word "we" to "I" and the
word "created" to "invented".
So when you repeat that statement, the liar is not Al Gore,
but you.
But you're right... Boston hasn't won anything since before
the Bushes ran up 9 trillion dollars of national debt.
Posted by: Long Time Laker Fan | June 04, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Dead on especially for a fiscal conservative Bush is supposed to be. But back to BB the celtics suck and I hate them passionately.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 04, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Celtics` window of opportunity is huge.
Ray Ray comes off the books in two years, then we sign LeBron James to join the two-time defending champs!
Lakers actually dumb enough to think Rad can "handle" The Truth? LOL!!!
Posted by: Red`s Love Child | June 04, 2008 at 03:31 PM
LeBronze will probably choose NY for max contract which Ray Allens is not. Also why would he want to go to the Suckics?
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 04, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Edwin,
"As usual, the repubs. would always find ways to demonize the dems.whether dukakis, clint, gore, kerry and now o'bummer."
The Demos do that to the Repubs just as much.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 04, 2008 at 04:21 PM
Nice to see Andrew was on the bus with the rest of the team. He seemed to be walking ok. I say suit him up.
Posted by: BD | June 04, 2008 at 04:23 PM
No the Repubs basically do it to themselves and just pointed out by the dems. The moral values party with so many perverts and child abusers. The spying on Americans and all the lies. Any coincidence Bush's ratings are as low as 25%?
But this is not a political blog so I will return to BB and say the Lakers will abuse the Celtics like Republicans abuse pages.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 04, 2008 at 11:51 PM
For the critics of PJ's coaching ability (some of them commenters on this blog) : you know that Phil coached a team in the CBA to a title, right?
http://goldenarmor.wordpress.com
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | June 04, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Definitely knew it but why count Semi Pro as a valid championship?
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 05, 2008 at 12:27 AM
way back when al gore was involved in a senate security investigation questioning col. oliver north, he asked ollie who he thought was the most dangerous man alive. "osama bin laden" replied north. i believe the newspaper reports say gore "scoffed at col. north".
Posted by: reality bites | June 04, 2008 at 04:53 PM
I don't know if that is true or not, but it gave me goose bumps. It makes you wonder.
Posted by: pslakerfan | June 04, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Reality bites,
I do believe you are right about that but I ask you, What have the Rebublicans done to capture him since? Oh yeah, looking for him in Iraq instead of Afganistan and Paksitan.
If Col North was right, then nobody listened including Rebublicans.
Oops! Go Lakers
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | June 05, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Folks, I love a good political debate as much as the next guy... but not here. Thanks!
BK
Posted by: Brian Kamenetzky | June 05, 2008 at 05:55 AM
Justa,
"No the Repubs basically do it to themselves and just pointed out by the dems. The moral values party with so many perverts and child abusers."
That's a bunch of lies, unfortunately you are one of the sheep who have fallen for the Demos line.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 05, 2008 at 07:46 AM