After witnessing a very solid first game of the NBA Finals, I decided to do a blog similar to what I did after game 3 of the Eastern Finals; I put some thoughts down on paper during the game, and now I'll share some of them with you and also analyze the game. Here goes:
Pre-Game Show: Magic Johnson said the Lakers will win tonight. What a surpise! I wonder how (Larry) Bird is picking?
National Anthem: Could James Taylor please speak up! Could he sing the anthem at a lower possible pitch? I can't hear him!
1st Quarter
10:57: Rondo may have missed that jumper, but he must keep shooting to keep L.A. honest.
9:14: (Lamar) Odom hit a jumper. He needs to play well.
7:52: (Mike) Breen said it's loud in Boston. Duh!?!
7:09: (Kevin) Garnett is very aggressive early. I like it! He needs to continue this play.
6:14: Kobe (Bryant) is not into this game right now. Maybe he's having SA flashbacks.
3:56: That was a backcourt violation? I know they (the referees) made a bad call, but why is Pau (Gasol) making that pass?
2:02: Sasha (Vujacic) just made a jumper. You can't say he lacks confidence.
1:02: Posey has two fouls like that? Oh, never mind, he's not that important!
2nd Quarter
10:09: (Sam) Cassell has started very hot. If he keeps it up, look out!
9:09: I guess Odom will continue to struggle.
8:46: Kobe's just returned to the game. Hopefully he can get going.
8:00: Where was this Cassell earlier in the playoffs?
7:25: Garnett's still aggressive. I still like it.
5:30: A lot of players have two fouls. What is this, the 1950s?
5:20: They're selling jerseys worn in this game. Wait until they're finsihed, O.K!
5:14: (Paul) Pierce has 3 fouls. Holy BLEEP!
4:17: Who would have thought the Lakers would be ahead with Kobe playing like you-know-what?
2:48: They just showed Magic and Kareem. Easily the most popular people for Celtic fans to see (lol).
1:36: Kobe's doing a good job not forcing shots and setting up Gasol.
:58: What happened to Garnett?
End of half: Good sign for Lakers to be up 51-46.
Halftime: Is anybody else tired of these damn promos for ABC's game shows? I know I am! And did it look creepy to see Magic and Bird in game jerseys doing those split-screen commercials?
3rd Quarter
12:00: The Celtics need to rediscover Garnett.
11:15: Pierce just hit a three and got the foul. Wait, wasn't that the same play he got called for an offensive foul on in game 6 in Detroit? What was different today, refs?
10:45: Pierce is hot to start the third!
9:03: Garnett's getting going, too.
7:13: Kobe looks like he's getting warm.
6:49: Pierce is really hurt. Oh BLEEP if you love the Celtics!
6:19: Now (Kendrick) Perkins is hurt. Is it 1987 for Boston again?
5:04: Pierce is back. Summon Bird and Willis Reed, someone!
4:59: Thank goodness (Jeff) Van Gundy is here to tell us Phil Jackson calls great timeouts!
1:54: Garnett's cooling off.
1:00: Back-to-back three's for Pierce. Summon Bird, again!
End of 3rd: This should be a helluva finish!
4th Quarter
10:51: The Celtics are more aggressive towards loose balls.
10:07: Cassell's last shot looked like vintage 'Sudden Sam'; bad-looking and missed.
8:52: The Lakers are very sloppy right now.
8:09: Kobe's on the bench? Is Phil crazy? Does he think he still has Bobby Hansen?
6:48: The reserves are making up some ground. Maybe he wasn't crazy.
5:44: Kobe needs to take over now.
4:15: Garnett's ice cold. He needs to go into the post.
3:43: Forget Garnett! The enitre Lakers team is ice-cold!
2:27: Kobe, are you going to take over?
1:32: What a slam by Garnett!
1:12: I guess Kobe doesn't want to take over.
:16: Decided not to foul, Lakers? You must want to lose.
End of game: I guess you did; Celtics win 98-88.
So, how did Boston win? They made Kobe work for his points. Bryant was only 9-26 from the field, as Pierce and James Posey played him very well. His 24 points were about as quiet a 24 as you can get. Pierce also inspired his team with his return from a knee injury to score 15 3rd quarter points (22 for the game), and I liked how Garnett was aggressive early and was good late. Cassell also gave them good minutes, as did P.J. Brown, while L.A. got virtually nothing aside from a couple shots from Vujacic. And I must ask; why is Luke Walotn still playing? Just a thought.
What do the Lakers need to do to recover in game 2? They need a more efficient game from Kobe, and they need to shoot better as a team. They also need to contain Garnett and Pierce and get some production from the bench. Hopefully, that will happen, and they can steal the game. Until then, may the next time they do a Magic/Bird commercial, do it with suits on!
Hoffman, Boston's defense was swarming--it seemed like the Lakers were playing 5 on 6. The Lakers need to match the Celtics' defensive intensity in Game 2. And why wasn't Trevor Ariza inserted into the game at some point? Does he have an injury that I'm not aware of?
LA will win in 5.I say they bounce back in game 2 because KB(mvp) will not let them go down 2-0 goin home for the next 3 in which they will win and take the series. This will happen because Boston will try to ride their momentum like they have all season and not to mention PP'S little show and try to cruise their way to the title.
Personally, I think Kobe will try to avenge his bad game (I'm sorry, but he just didn't look that good tonight). I alluded to the Spurs series in the piece, and I think he'll be O.K. But if the Celtics can sustain this play, the series could be more competitve, and perhaps they'll make me regret my L.A. pick. But I'll wait to pass judgment until game 2 Sunday (why so long between games; by the time they finish, we'll have a new president lol!).
I am David Downs, and I'm a sports nut who loves basketball and football and am open to good discussion about any sports subject. I am a Detroit sports fan, but I not a homer. Expect frequent vents on subjects that irritate me, and also expect the utmost respect for anybody's opinion, even if they disagree with me. Because, after all, that's what these blogs are all about, aren't they?
