Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tie game ...
Give Derek Fisher credit, that's a big shot at a big time to tie the game at 64-64 with 5:56 to go. That should be the final TV timeout ... Let's hope the Celtics have the legs in the final six minutes.
Celtics up 4 ....
... With 9 minutes to go. Please, Doc Rivers, give the ball to Kevin Garnett. Yes, he got blocked once by Pau Gasol, but he's been great all night. Get him in situations where he can shoot near the basket.
This could be a fantastic finish.
This could be a fantastic finish.
12 minutes to go ...
A six-point halftime lead ballooned to 11, then was cut to four, where it is now: 57-53. Certainly a low-scoring game. But the Celtics have been in control - from a score perspective - for most of the game.
They have to play hard for 12 more minutes. It'll be interesting to see what Kobe Bryant does for these final 12 minutes. How many shots will he take? Right now he's 5-for-20 from the field.
They have to play hard for 12 more minutes. It'll be interesting to see what Kobe Bryant does for these final 12 minutes. How many shots will he take? Right now he's 5-for-20 from the field.
Lakers cut it to 6
Rajon Rondo, as well as he's played and as much he does on the floor, he can still take the shot that makes your spine cringe. Sometimes he gets out of control, and his last two shots were examples of those.
I think the Celtics need to go back to KG and let him carry the team. Ray hasn't shot the ball in the second half. Got to get him going.
Weather this storm.
I think the Celtics need to go back to KG and let him carry the team. Ray hasn't shot the ball in the second half. Got to get him going.
Weather this storm.
Celtics ahead by 11
Kevin Garnett came to play tonight. He knows the end is near, and he's ready for one more title. Rondo came to play, and Rasheed definitely came to play.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Keep doing what you're doing.
Halftime, Celtics ahead 40-34
Lakers are shooting 27 percent. Kobe is 3-for-14. And 34 first-half points.
Doc Rivers has to be happy. Paul Pierce is playing like a superstar, and you have to think that Ray Allen is going to come around offensively. Defensively, he's been outstanding, although I love what they're doing with their double teams.
Gasol and Bynum haven't exactly been dominant, and Rasheed is playing a hell of a game.
Things are looking good, but 24 minutes is a long, long, long time.
Doc Rivers has to be happy. Paul Pierce is playing like a superstar, and you have to think that Ray Allen is going to come around offensively. Defensively, he's been outstanding, although I love what they're doing with their double teams.
Gasol and Bynum haven't exactly been dominant, and Rasheed is playing a hell of a game.
Things are looking good, but 24 minutes is a long, long, long time.
Boston up at intermission
Celtics up by six at half, but will Lakers continue to shoot 26 percent from the field over the final 24 minutes?
As for Kobe, a Bryant hasn't been this bad in basketball since Bryant U. this past season.
Think I'll make a fast-break around the corner to see if there's joy in Mudville.
As for Kobe, a Bryant hasn't been this bad in basketball since Bryant U. this past season.
Think I'll make a fast-break around the corner to see if there's joy in Mudville.
Brick Alley has moved to L.A.
If someone gets hot shooting, especially from the outside, someone else is gonna be in big trouble.
Can somebody hit a jumper?
The outside shooting so far has been atrocious. Rondo, Allen, Kobe, Artest, nobody can hit an open J.
Kobe's trying to do too much. He clearly has that Jordan "I'm taking over" attitude, but the results, as of yet, are not exactly Jordan-esque. Watching him and Ray Allen put up brick after brick brings to mind a Woody Harrelson monologue from "White Men Can't Jump."
Kobe's trying to do too much. He clearly has that Jordan "I'm taking over" attitude, but the results, as of yet, are not exactly Jordan-esque. Watching him and Ray Allen put up brick after brick brings to mind a Woody Harrelson monologue from "White Men Can't Jump."
You gotta wonder if ..
... Boston's insatiable desire to get out in transition leaves them susceptible to offensive rebounds for the Lakers. It seems like everyone wants to get out and run, and they don't even have the ball. THEY NEED TO CRASH THE DEFENSIVE GLASS!
Jack's attacked
Jack shows YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE CHARGE!!! applies to him. But Artest is killing Boston.
Ray Allen .... paging Ray Allen ....
Has anyone seen Ray Allen? He should be wearing a green No. 20 jersey. Yes, he hit one 3-pointer, but he's missed two and he's let two loose balls go right by him. If the Celtics are going to win here, he's going to have to get going. Not hit eight 3-pointers, but get going.
Other than that criticism, the Celtics are playing great. I can only hope the second team can play even, or even extend the lead. One quarter down, three to go.
Other than that criticism, the Celtics are playing great. I can only hope the second team can play even, or even extend the lead. One quarter down, three to go.
Celtics rolling after first 12 minutes
Lakers start 1 of 4 from the foul line. How about Big Baby down low? Oooh, Garnett get's called on a play that nullifies a basket that would put Boston up by nine ... But Big Baby, busta move down the lane, gets to the foul line and drains two for that nine-point edge ... which is almost a dozen at the end of the first quarter, but Allen can't convert a trey try.
Pulling out all the stops
All 10 starters with the exception of Boston's Rasheed Wallace has played all 9:02 so far. I guess there won't be too many rests in Game 7. I have to admit that this favors the younger Lakers.
Local color
Rhode Island resident Doris Burke, working the sidelines, is Sports Illustrated's pick as "Best Sideline Reporter" of the decade.
She's married to Gregg Burke, deputy athletic director at the University of Rhode Island.
She's married to Gregg Burke, deputy athletic director at the University of Rhode Island.
Celtics ahead 10-9 midway through 1st qtr.
I'm ok with the way they're playing, but they need to get into transition, and they need to keep the Lakers off the glass. Offensive rebounds and putback points take the wind out of a team's sail.
Hit the boards
The team that wins the boards wins the game, and this doesn't look good. Three offensive rebounds for the Lakers already.
Bad omen
The Newport Gulls lost 6-2 at Lowell before 100 fans. Let's hope they're not the only team from Eastern Mass to win tonight.
Second thoughts?
I think that four-point spread I predicted in favor of the Celtics was more heart than head. I think I'll check on how the Newport Gulls are doing in their road game tonight, see if that's a good omen.
Pregame predictions
I polled our newsroom today to see what people felt about Game 7. Here are the predictions:
Dave Hansen, photographer - Celtics, 95-90
Joe Baker, statehouse reporter - Lakers, 103-91
Matt Sheley, Middletown reporter - Lakers, 90-75
Jon Zins, copy editor - Celtics, 101-98
Harvey Peters, news editor and former sports editor - Lakers, 104-88
Josh Krueger, sportswriter - Lakers, 102-90
Rick McGowan, sportswriter - Celtics, 94-90
Olivia Smith, my girlfriend - Celtics, 103-99
Myself - Celtics 89-85.
What do you think?
Dave Hansen, photographer - Celtics, 95-90
Joe Baker, statehouse reporter - Lakers, 103-91
Matt Sheley, Middletown reporter - Lakers, 90-75
Jon Zins, copy editor - Celtics, 101-98
Harvey Peters, news editor and former sports editor - Lakers, 104-88
Josh Krueger, sportswriter - Lakers, 102-90
Rick McGowan, sportswriter - Celtics, 94-90
Olivia Smith, my girlfriend - Celtics, 103-99
Myself - Celtics 89-85.
What do you think?
48 minutes to go
By the end of the night, either the Celtics or the Lakers will be raising the Larry O'Brien trophy. And from all indications, Game 7 favors the Lakers, who will be in the confines of Staples Center.
Sure, they'll be playing with an injured Andrew Bynum, but at least he'll be on the floor. The Celtics can't say the same about their starting center, Kendrick Perkins, who was injured early in Game 6. That leaves quite a hole, especially on the defensive end.
As I said from the start of this series, the Celtics have the better team. And I do expect them to win.
I'll be blogging live during the game, so check back later and give your opinion/thoughts/predictions/etc.
Sure, they'll be playing with an injured Andrew Bynum, but at least he'll be on the floor. The Celtics can't say the same about their starting center, Kendrick Perkins, who was injured early in Game 6. That leaves quite a hole, especially on the defensive end.
As I said from the start of this series, the Celtics have the better team. And I do expect them to win.
I'll be blogging live during the game, so check back later and give your opinion/thoughts/predictions/etc.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Game 6 musings
Well, that wasn't very fun.
Game 6, with the Celtics on the verge of their 18th NBA championship, certainly didn't turn out the way they wanted it to. The Lakers dominated from start to finish in a 22-point victory. Kobe Bryant played like a man possessed, and he finally got the help he desperately needed, especially from the bench.
Boston played with zero intensity, and that is evident from the rebounding statistics, which favored the Lakers 52-39. That means that, through six games, the team that owns the boards gets the desired result. Celtics coach Doc Rivers talks plenty about the 50-50 game, and L.A. definitely outworked the opposition in that category.
Before leaving for the West Coast, Paul Pierce talked about how his team had two chances to win one game. But personally, that really was a silly statement. What kind of a mindset is that? Why put that kind of pressure on yourself? Conspiracy theorists - aka idiotic fans - will say the fix is in, and that the NBA needed this game to go seven games to get the ratings, but that's a bunch of bull.
Boston shot 33 percent and couldn't knock down an open jumper. Pierce got away from what he was doing in the Game 5 win, and Rajon Rondo struggled from the field. Ray Allen scored a game-high 19, but it was a quiet 19. I thought the only player to play well was KG, although his 12-point, six-rebound night won't blow you away.
Even more bad news entering Thursday's Game 7 is the status of center Kendrick Perkins, who injured his right knee early going after a rebound. Personally, I think he won't suit up for Game 7, although a Willis Reed-type moment would be nice. That being said, Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis will have to increase their roles significantly.
The key, as it has been throughout these playoffs, is Rondo. He needs to penetrate, get that defense to shift, and the Celtics need to move the ball. That's the first part. The second part, obviously, is hitting the open shots.
Defensively, they have to play with grit. Let Kobe score his 30 or 40 points and let him keep shooting. He'll slow down eventually. Boston also must keep L.A. off the offensive glass and limit the Lakers to one shot.
Losing by 22 can only bode well for the Celtics. It's much better than losing on a last-second shot, only because a loss of that caliber won't sit well with the boys in green.
Game 6, with the Celtics on the verge of their 18th NBA championship, certainly didn't turn out the way they wanted it to. The Lakers dominated from start to finish in a 22-point victory. Kobe Bryant played like a man possessed, and he finally got the help he desperately needed, especially from the bench.
Boston played with zero intensity, and that is evident from the rebounding statistics, which favored the Lakers 52-39. That means that, through six games, the team that owns the boards gets the desired result. Celtics coach Doc Rivers talks plenty about the 50-50 game, and L.A. definitely outworked the opposition in that category.
Before leaving for the West Coast, Paul Pierce talked about how his team had two chances to win one game. But personally, that really was a silly statement. What kind of a mindset is that? Why put that kind of pressure on yourself? Conspiracy theorists - aka idiotic fans - will say the fix is in, and that the NBA needed this game to go seven games to get the ratings, but that's a bunch of bull.
Boston shot 33 percent and couldn't knock down an open jumper. Pierce got away from what he was doing in the Game 5 win, and Rajon Rondo struggled from the field. Ray Allen scored a game-high 19, but it was a quiet 19. I thought the only player to play well was KG, although his 12-point, six-rebound night won't blow you away.
Even more bad news entering Thursday's Game 7 is the status of center Kendrick Perkins, who injured his right knee early going after a rebound. Personally, I think he won't suit up for Game 7, although a Willis Reed-type moment would be nice. That being said, Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis will have to increase their roles significantly.
The key, as it has been throughout these playoffs, is Rondo. He needs to penetrate, get that defense to shift, and the Celtics need to move the ball. That's the first part. The second part, obviously, is hitting the open shots.
Defensively, they have to play with grit. Let Kobe score his 30 or 40 points and let him keep shooting. He'll slow down eventually. Boston also must keep L.A. off the offensive glass and limit the Lakers to one shot.
Losing by 22 can only bode well for the Celtics. It's much better than losing on a last-second shot, only because a loss of that caliber won't sit well with the boys in green.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Game 5 musings
Kobe Bryant was outstanding, but the Boston Celtics were better.
Much like it did against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston allowed the superstar to have a superstar night and shut down the supporting cast en route to a win. It's been evident from the outset of the NBA finals that the Lakers have better pieces around Kobe than LeBron has in Cleveland, but none of them showed up Sunday night.
And because of that, the Celtics are one win away from their 18th championship.
Paul Pierce finally had a breakout game, scoring 27 points on 12-for-21 shooting. He was absolutely torching Ron Artest, who missed two free throws late in the game that could have made things interesting. I also noticed that Pierce pulled a Cornbread Maxwell move, walking through the lane and saying something to Artest before his second shot from the line.
The captain's performance offset that of Bryant, who scored a game-high 38 that included a number of tough jumpers from inside and outside the 3-point line. But while Bryant was taking over the game, his teammates were held silent. Pau Gasol was the only other Laker in double figures, scoring 12.
Pierce, meanwhile, got a number of strong contributions from his teammates. Kevin Garnett connected on some huge shots in crunch time en route to 18 points, and Rajon Rondo, despite having his worst performance turnover-wise, tipped in a rebound in the waning minutes.
Game 6 is Tuesday night, and I'd like to see the Celtics end it there. A Game 7 is far too unpredictable, especially in Los Angeles.
A couple of extra notes:
- Whoever threw something on the court while Kobe was at the line with less than two minutes to go needs to be slapped in the head.
- Ray Allen needs to start stretching that court again, like he did in Game 2. Maybe the best shooter in the history of the game, Allen hasn't hit a 3-pointer in two games. Perhaps he'll have more success on the West Coast, like he did in the second game, when he knocked down a record eight, including seven straight.
- Tony Allen's block on Gasol in the fourth quarter was one of the best blocks I've ever seen. Allen continues to show he can make strong contributions, as long as it's not on offense. When he took that corner jumper in the first half, I was actually surprised it went in.
- I absolutely hated Nate Robinson when he played for the Knicks, but man, I really love the energy he brings. And let's give Rasheed Wallace some credit for being the anti-Artest. Both have had issues on the court throughout their careers, but Wallace is making a big impact while the Artest signing seems a bit of a mistake at this point.
Much like it did against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston allowed the superstar to have a superstar night and shut down the supporting cast en route to a win. It's been evident from the outset of the NBA finals that the Lakers have better pieces around Kobe than LeBron has in Cleveland, but none of them showed up Sunday night.
And because of that, the Celtics are one win away from their 18th championship.
Paul Pierce finally had a breakout game, scoring 27 points on 12-for-21 shooting. He was absolutely torching Ron Artest, who missed two free throws late in the game that could have made things interesting. I also noticed that Pierce pulled a Cornbread Maxwell move, walking through the lane and saying something to Artest before his second shot from the line.
The captain's performance offset that of Bryant, who scored a game-high 38 that included a number of tough jumpers from inside and outside the 3-point line. But while Bryant was taking over the game, his teammates were held silent. Pau Gasol was the only other Laker in double figures, scoring 12.
Pierce, meanwhile, got a number of strong contributions from his teammates. Kevin Garnett connected on some huge shots in crunch time en route to 18 points, and Rajon Rondo, despite having his worst performance turnover-wise, tipped in a rebound in the waning minutes.
Game 6 is Tuesday night, and I'd like to see the Celtics end it there. A Game 7 is far too unpredictable, especially in Los Angeles.
A couple of extra notes:
- Whoever threw something on the court while Kobe was at the line with less than two minutes to go needs to be slapped in the head.
- Ray Allen needs to start stretching that court again, like he did in Game 2. Maybe the best shooter in the history of the game, Allen hasn't hit a 3-pointer in two games. Perhaps he'll have more success on the West Coast, like he did in the second game, when he knocked down a record eight, including seven straight.
- Tony Allen's block on Gasol in the fourth quarter was one of the best blocks I've ever seen. Allen continues to show he can make strong contributions, as long as it's not on offense. When he took that corner jumper in the first half, I was actually surprised it went in.
- I absolutely hated Nate Robinson when he played for the Knicks, but man, I really love the energy he brings. And let's give Rasheed Wallace some credit for being the anti-Artest. Both have had issues on the court throughout their careers, but Wallace is making a big impact while the Artest signing seems a bit of a mistake at this point.
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