kobe is the single biggest reason the lakers are in the finals, there are other big reasons of course(the stunning trade for gasol, the zen master, an underrated odom, the return of fisher, the bench mob etc etc) but not as significant as bryant's more inclusive playing style and its impact....
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NBA 07-08 season thread
- Thread starter Dravid
- Start date
biased indian
International Coach
Good win by Celtics..hope they can win one of the next three away games
ohtani's jacket
State Vice-Captain
The Celtics were lazy. They had a chance to rip the heart out of the Lakers and they stopped playing defence. I expect the Lakers to win Game 3, but they need to do it in dominating fashion to get back into this series. The Celtics look like such a better team.
duffer
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Kobe's shooting too many jumpers, he stopped going to the rim during the Spurs series because he could just rise over Bowen and knock down fade-aways all series long and hasn't changed his game for the Celts who manage him so much better.
When he goes to the hole he makes Gasol a far better player as he can draw Garnett away from him and give them a massive mismatch against Perkins.
It's all on his shoulders if the Lakers want to get back into this series. Attacking the basket means they'll get to the stripe a lot more and brings Gasol into play which means game on as far as the series goes.
When he goes to the hole he makes Gasol a far better player as he can draw Garnett away from him and give them a massive mismatch against Perkins.
It's all on his shoulders if the Lakers want to get back into this series. Attacking the basket means they'll get to the stripe a lot more and brings Gasol into play which means game on as far as the series goes.
ohtani's jacket
State Vice-Captain
The Lakers are pretty dysfunctional at the moment. Kobe spent the whole of Game 2 bitching at his teammates. He's trying to get to the basket, but he's getting doubled. The defence is collapsing on him, mugging him. He couldn't get a foul call to save his life in Boston. When he passed to Gasol under the hoop, Gasol couldn't catch it & they bitched at each other about the pass.
ohtani's jacket
State Vice-Captain
Great performance from Kobe. Didn't think much of Rivers' coaching in the fourth, but Allen played him as well as he could & Kobe just shot over him. Not sure if it was really the type of win the Lakers would've liked, but it gets them back into the series and Boston missed a chance to take a commanding lead.
duffer
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
For the Kings fans: 2002 Finals was fixed by the League
There you go, time to move on now. Sad thing is that it is very believable that game 6 was the most diabolical example of officiating I've ever seen in sports. Bucknor in Sydney has nothing on this.
Add to the fact that superstars like LeBron or Kobe could take out a catalogue of Sheed's worst moments perform them in a ref's face and still not get ejected and it's no wonder people will believe this.
There you go, time to move on now. Sad thing is that it is very believable that game 6 was the most diabolical example of officiating I've ever seen in sports. Bucknor in Sydney has nothing on this.
Add to the fact that superstars like LeBron or Kobe could take out a catalogue of Sheed's worst moments perform them in a ref's face and still not get ejected and it's no wonder people will believe this.
boston just needs to win one in l.a though and they have 2 more chances...other than kobe and an inspired vujacic, the lakers were woefully subpar, kobe can't do it all alone and unless gasol and odom put in strong performances, they don't stand a chance....
ohtani's jacket
State Vice-Captain
The way I see it, if Boston are gonna win a road game it has to be tomorrow. They need to wrap this up in 6. I wouldn't want to return to Boston trailing, let alone play Kobe in a Game 7. It never used to happen, but in recent years home teams have swept that middle stretch. If the Lakers win tomorrow, they'll easily win Game 5. The refs will probably make calls both ways tomorrow, so this is their chance.
nightprowler10
Global Moderator
Am I the only one watching game 4 and wetting my pants?
probably...
celtics after a historic comeback from down 24 pts beat l.a...the lakers waste a superb first half, go stone-cold in the 2nd and pay the price....garnett, pierce and allen are going to get their 1st rings...
ohtani's jacket
State Vice-Captain
Strange series...
Boston have been the best team all year. People downplayed it because of how weak the East is, but they had a great road record, swept the Texas Triangle, broke the Rockets winning streak & beat every team in the league. They struggled in the first two rounds, but looked good in the Eastern Conference finals. Up 3 games to 1 in the Finals, they could've swept already, but they've also had two dramatic victories in Game 1 and 4 and avoided a Lakers comeback in Game 2 that needed to start in the third. It could easily be 3-1 in the Lakers favour. The series isn't over yet, and I'll be surprised if the Lakers lose Game 5, but I think people should avoid jumping to any conclusions about these Lakers. Sure they don't look like champs, but it's been an odd series.
Boston have been the best team all year. People downplayed it because of how weak the East is, but they had a great road record, swept the Texas Triangle, broke the Rockets winning streak & beat every team in the league. They struggled in the first two rounds, but looked good in the Eastern Conference finals. Up 3 games to 1 in the Finals, they could've swept already, but they've also had two dramatic victories in Game 1 and 4 and avoided a Lakers comeback in Game 2 that needed to start in the third. It could easily be 3-1 in the Lakers favour. The series isn't over yet, and I'll be surprised if the Lakers lose Game 5, but I think people should avoid jumping to any conclusions about these Lakers. Sure they don't look like champs, but it's been an odd series.
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duffer
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I could see the Lakers wnning one game on the road against the C's but surely they can't win two?
They've lost this series in the front court. Pau and Lamar have just proven themselves to be two big softies against vets like KG and PJ Brown. Hell even Perkins has had his own way against them. They really missed Bynum especially for this series.
EDIT: Thing is I can easily see the same two teams lining u[ in the Finals next season, Stern may have got the rivalry he felt the league desperately needed.
They've lost this series in the front court. Pau and Lamar have just proven themselves to be two big softies against vets like KG and PJ Brown. Hell even Perkins has had his own way against them. They really missed Bynum especially for this series.
EDIT: Thing is I can easily see the same two teams lining u[ in the Finals next season, Stern may have got the rivalry he felt the league desperately needed.
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ohtani's jacket
State Vice-Captain
A lot of people underestimated how much size Boston has, the number of bigs they can throw out. Still, Odom and Gasol got the Lakers out of the West and into the Finals. Game 3 showed that the Lakers need those guys. If anything, Phil Jackson has been useless in this series. I praised him earlier in the week, but he's been completely outcoached by Doc Rivers (of all people.)
I dunno if these teams will meet again. The Kobe myth has been shattered, but I expect the Lakers to make a Final again. The Celtics, I dunno. Ray Allen has risen from the dead in this series (arguably the MVP, though they'll give it to Pierce if Boston wins), but he's got some dead wheels. I guess the core is there.
I dunno if these teams will meet again. The Kobe myth has been shattered, but I expect the Lakers to make a Final again. The Celtics, I dunno. Ray Allen has risen from the dead in this series (arguably the MVP, though they'll give it to Pierce if Boston wins), but he's got some dead wheels. I guess the core is there.
Jono
Virat Kohli (c)
Can someone explain to me how a team that is 3-1 up in a series, and just performed a brilliant come back in game 4, can be paying 3.60 in a two horse race?
Okay I understand LA are at home, and generally they're likely to win being 3-1 down, but seriously?
Can someone who knows something about basketball give me a reason why checking a $10er on Boston isn't worth it?
Okay I understand LA are at home, and generally they're likely to win being 3-1 down, but seriously?
Can someone who knows something about basketball give me a reason why checking a $10er on Boston isn't worth it?
what myth is that?
nightprowler10
Global Moderator
Before this game the Lakers were 10-1 at home in the playoffs and had a 7-2 record when facing elimination in playoffs.
James90
Cricketer Of The Year
Yeah I've seen some worse odds than that so far this series and found it absolutely baffling. Especially when things are like 1.18 to win and the line is only 6 points or something. I figured I just don't understand basketball and kept my money.
ohtani's jacket
State Vice-Captain
Lakers were 9-1 at home. Boston were 3-8 on the road. Pretty much expected.
The Jordan comparisons.
Mister Wright
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Because L.A. won.