After taking the weekend off from blogging to finish up some other tasks, I couldn't resist returning to comment about the end of the NBA Finals. What was promised to be the renewal of a classic rivalry instead became a one-sided affair as Boston wrapped up the title in six with a resounding 131-92 win. First off, 131 points!?! The Lakers' defense never really showed up, and tonight, they just looked like they didn't care. Then again, one could say many of the Lakers never showed up in this series, as Boston thoroughly dominated here. Kudos to Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Finals MVP Paul Pierce for getting the elusive brass ring.
But getting back to the Lakers, it is truly amazing how opinion can change in the blink of an eye. A little more than a week ago, many people (including myself) said the Lakers would win the championship. Now, many of those same people are angry and demanding stuff be done (including the outrageous 'proposal' that would send Tim Duncan to L.A.! Please!). There are many reasons people use to explain the loss. Here are my reasons:
1. Kobe wasn't an MVP because of great Celtics' D: Kobe was (in my opinion) never defended better than he was in this series. Aside from game 3 (36 points) he never broke out. They didn't allow him to set up in his usual spots, and he looked completely out of sync. This, however, should end the "Jordan" comparisions for awhile. Kobe's good, but he's no MJ.
2. No inside toughness: I have said in many comments that Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol "play softer than pillow feathers". So I won't bore you with that again. Gasol, however, isn't and probably never will be counted on for the tough points. He really isn't a center, and if Andrew Bynum returns healthy and continues his prior solid play, Gasol should be O.K. Odom really looked bad in this series, as he never could sustain stretches of good play. I do think he could be in line to be moved if the Lakers want to make a big trade.
3. Where's some bench help?: The Celtic bench thoroughly outplayed the Lakers' bench. James Posey was solid throughout, P.J. Brown made big contributions without the stats to show for it, Leon Powe had that huge game 2, and Eddie House and Sam Cassell had their moments. Meanwhile, aside from a big game from Sasha Vujacic in game 3, the Lakers got little from their assumed better reserves. Vujacic was out of control for most of the rest of the series, Jordan Farmar was here and there, Ronny Turiaf was barely used, and Luke Walton... well, forget I mentioned him. By game 5, Phil Jackson was using Chris Mihm (I didn't even realize he was still a Laker!) for a stretch. There was no consistency, which leads to...
4. There was Zen, but no master: Phil was not at the top of his game against Finals neophyte Doc Rivers, who I'll give credit to; he was prepared and took advantage of every Laker weakness. Phil never got a set rotation going (why else would Mihm be in the game?) and probably was hoping for that Bobby Hansen moment to appear. It didn't, and it's appropriate that it occured on the court with Red Auerbach's name on it. I guess Phil isn't quite #1 on the greatest coaches of all time list, huh?
5. Where was Robin, Batman?: Was there a consistent #2 scorer for the Lakers? I think not! We've already mentioned Gasol and Odom, and Vladimir Radmanovic seemed to get more fouls than points, and Derek Fisher was a non-factor at both ends.
6. No defense, no rings: The biggest culprit was that L.A. treated defense like it was optional. Take game 6; nobody in the current NBA should EVER give up 131 points in any game (unless your in Denver), let alone a Finals game. The 39 point loss was the most embarassing one ever in a closeout game (and only three points off of worst Finals loss ever, eclipsed by Chicago's 96-54 laugher against Utah in 1998). Allen also tied a Finals record (held by Kenny Smith and Scottie Pippen) with 7 threes in this game. In short, defense like that makes you a loser.
So, after all of that, what do the Lakers need to rebound next year? A healthy Bynum would be a good start, but only a start. I say add some front line toughness (and not the Ron Artest kind) by putting Odom on the trading block. They need to acquire some decent, consistent bench help, and maybe Phil should take a cue from Doc Rivers and hire a defensive specialty coach to teach these guys the way to play D. All told, there need be only a few changes in L.A., not drastic measures. As for Boston, they earned that trophy, and hopefully this team (like the Spurs and, to a lesser extent, the Pistons) are the example of how to build a championship team in the NBA.
Well done Downs. Every point is well made, valid, and blatantly obvious.
I don't think any Faker fans should be crying about the refs after that massacre. Yesterday's game opitomized everything great about the Cs and bad about the Fakers.
Before the series, I predicted the Celtics in 6. They are the better team this year, ofensively and defensively. I truly believe they will be back in the finals next year.
Agreed. As a Laker fan, you've totally hit on all the points I think they need to improve on. Grats to the Celts, they were better. LA needs a few tweaks to the front court and totally needs to start to play defense like its their life. This team was a year early. I believe next year they'll tweak this team and they will be more defense oriented next year.
LNSU
People can put it on Kobe if they want but the real reason they loss was because of Odom. Odom is weak and I hope the Lakers see that. Artest is free this year and the lakers need someone that can play on the ball D. Artest to the lakers and 2 vet's off the pine the Lkaers win in 09.
I know that the East would win it. Boston will be favorites next year and maybe years to come.
Lakers are all talk and got lucky this year. Utah are idiots for letting Fisher go for a family medical condition!!! And not have him sign a no Western Conference contract. Then Gazol was a dirty trade which should have not happen. Kobe chocked without Shaq.
Last edited by nbarefssuckballs on June 18th at 7:19 AM.
I think the dumping of the loss of the series on Kobe is a little unfair. The reason he didn't "get off" as others pointed out is because of the defense of the C's. Team defense and nobody, repeat, nobody for the Lakers stepped up. As much as the bench was revered for being more athletic and deeper than the C's, they sure got toasted for the entirety of the series. To be sure, Kobe is a great player, maybe the greatest of his era. There shouldn't be any comparison to Jordan though because they're two different players on two different teams in two different periods.
I think most of the loss should be blamed on the fake MJ...I mean Kobe.
The best player on the team gets credit when the team wins. Kobe got credit and an MVP award when the Fakers were #1 in the West. Now they got embarassed in the Finals. Things should be no different when they lose. Kobe deserves to take most of the blame for not leading his team to a victory or AT LEAST putting up a fight.
I think the whole Jordan wouldn't have let this happen logic and this shows Kobe is not jordan is a bit unfair. Its a different time and this is a once in an era defense.
Also the Lakers are young, gasol, odom etc havent played deep in the playoffs before and these games will let them know about what performanes are necessary to win.
But the Celtics look scary, what about when Rondo can hit that midrange jumper consistently, teams cant play off which seems to be the best defense against these Celtics.
I think its fair for crybaby Kobe to be judged vs. the real MJ because Kobe is an MJ clone as far as his on-court demeanor is concerned.
Today's rules make it easier for players to score. MJ avg 37/game back when defense was defense, not mention 30+ for his CAREER on +50% shooting. Kobe walks, talks, shoots, and tongue wags like MJ but he can't touch MJ's numbers.
I told everybody that kobe will never win with out Shaq!!! Now kobes lookin stupid and Shaq has 4 rings and Kobe 3 and now he looks dum!! You should've kept your mouth shut and Shaq might of help you win another one DUMMMMY!!!! Whatch Kobe wants to get traded before you know it!!!!!
I am Laker Diehard fan and I must say this game was bad. Lets see if they bounce back next year. The name of the game is defense We shouldn't compare the years of MJ vs KB Those days are gone. Look @ what
Boston did, they brought two other great players to make it happen. Kobe needs to realize that he has to have @ least one other great scoring defending player. Paul Gasol and Odom need to lift weights in the summer and step up or step out. Magic Johnson if you want another dynasty you get Kobe the the right players. Read the book Good to Great
The Lakers will be a better team next year,no doubt about it. And speaking of dirty trades,what about the gift that Kevin Mc Hale made to his Boston Celtics,sending KG over,to where his heart is.What can you say "nbarefssuckballs".Let's be fair. And to Doc Rivers,Money did buy the trophy.
THE HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR A LONG TIME. THE WESTERN TEAMS INSTEAD OF KEEPING THEIR BIG PLAYERS AT HOME TRADED TWO PERENIEL ALLSTARS TO AN EASTERN TEAM TO GET EVEN WITH THE COMPATITION BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TOO COMPETE. THE LAKERS WERE TRUELY ROUTED BUT LET US NOT FORGET THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE YOUNGEST TEAM TO EVER REACH THE NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS. THEY WILL BE BACK!!!
NBARefs...
Talk about "dirty trade", the only reason KG's with Boston now is because of McHale/Ainge connection. Mchale will always be Celtic. Boston should give him his Championship ring. If KG contract is just like KB, with "trade clause" he won't be in Boston.
BOSTON fans:
I hope this Celtics championship heals the pain of 22 LOSING seasons and the pain of LOSING the Superbowl to the Giants after a perfect season.
Sounds like player and genesis both need tissues. Its a shame the Faker fans are still crying after losing Game 4 by blowing a 24-point lead and losing Game 6 by 39 points.
You girls just need to shut up, quit crying, give the Cs credit for winning and own up to the Fakers' shortcomings.
The thing about winning it all is that the next year people are guning for you. They have key FA they will have to sign that I don't think there going to sign. E. House will be out of there. He just showed that he can start for a team. James P. Will get big money that Boston will not be able to give to him and with out they will be in deep ####. P.J. done. Powe will be out of there. Sam is out of there. That pine is what won that ring for them so they better fine some money and pay up.
Its funny how you don't mention the trade which put the Lakers to the top. Pau Gasol was traded from the Grizz to the Fakers for some garbage players and a bag of chips. Jerry West, the Grizz GM, orchestrated that trade. In case you didn't know, West is a Laker for life.
Once again, funny how you crybaby Faker fans forget these types of things.
people need to stop the hateing. I've been a laker fan since 88. Boston was the better team this year. The lakers were not even going to make it out of the 1st round again. The Laker fans, the lakers will be fine, they do this every time there about to win. They get right there loss then bring injust the right part to win it all. Look at the history. It was KG time and I cool with that. Let Boston have there and let see what happens next year. Big up to boston for now.
ImSayin:
I was not the one who started that talk, what ImSayin is that if Gasol trade is dirty, how about the KG trade! I'm not forgetting anything. At least Jerry West was no longer the GM of the Grizzlies when the Gasol trade happened. The Gasol trade shocked me as well.
I'm not crying about the loss, Celtics played great on both ends of the floor. I already Congratulated the TRUE Celtics fans.
Well, maybe you're forgetting the KG actually didn't want to go to BOSTON when this trade first came about.
Again, I hope this win eases the paid of 22 losing seasons.
Last edited by GENESIS82704 on June 18th at 10:11 AM.
Downs'
Last night's game was like watching men against boys. The Lakers got schooled in every facet of the game. And it'd appear that Phil Jackson was being outcoached by his counterpart Doc Rivers.
So much so that we oughtn't to be hearing any excuses whatsoever from any of the Lakers' fans. They were beaten by much better team and a team who had the drive and will to win. None of that was evident at all with the Lakers.
The team is need in of an overhaul with regard to certain parts of its roster.
Good breakdown. The better team won. Congratulations to the Celtics and their fans.
Considering both Vlad and Turiaf had more fouls than points for the series and that the entire team did play soft inside and no help defense in the paint at all that I saw and Odom is the most overpaid player in the game with no heart to be found, I don't think Kobe did too bad.
He got them to the finals and there is about 29 other teams that would have gladly traded places with the Lakers.
We always remember the winners as we should but you have to be a good team to be a loser in the finals. Just to get there this year after losing Bynum and the low expectations makes me happy.
Downs...great points. No Laker defense WHATSOEVER because they ran through the West..(which most of you thought was the better conference) when in fact the Spurs are the only ones over there that play anything resembling a defense. All Lakers' fans called the East "soft" and the weaker conference.
The Hawks and the Cavs took the Celtics to 7 games...what's up with that Lakers' fans?? Before the finals all of you crowned the Lakers champions with no respect to the Celtics and the best record in the league.
So since the Lakers lost to the Celtics twice during the season...and 4 out of the 6 games in the finals, what if they were in the East like all of you kept saying? Would they have a number one seed? Hell no....Kobe/Lakers/Western conference fans should stop comparing Kobe to Jordan and stop bashing LeBron so much and give the Eastern conference some respect.
The Pistons would've beaten the Lakers in 7 because of team defense....They all praised the Gasol trade but the Celtics showed us all how soft he is. Bynum would not have made any difference. The Celtics are clearly the better team...in the weaker conference right????????
C BYNUM
PF MARCUS CAMBY/JERMAIN O'NEAL/ ELTON BRAND
SF PAU GASOL
SG KOBE
PG FISHER
THEY NEED TO TRADE ODOM TO DENVER FOR CAMBYOR TO THE PACERS OR TRADE HIM TO THE CLIPPERS FOR ODOM THEY NEED A DEFENSIVE PRESENT IN THE MIDDLE
Man The Lakers dont really need anything except maybe a better back up center. How many LA fans and sportswriters easily overlook the fact that that team played together only half a season and also the starting center is a PF because of injuries. put gasol in his natural position give him a true big guy (bynum) in the middle and Odom at SF and The Lakers will be fine. Ariza will also have time to learn the system and will be a nice replacement for well, we'll see. Anyways this is intended for all the LA fans asking for change seriously we don't need it. They made it to the finals with half a year of chemistry development, Odom and gasol both play better in their natural positions.
Good read and pretty much exactly what happened. Not enough is being said though about how poor a game time coach Jackson is. Also Boston not only beat down the Lakers, they took Stern's officials out of forcing a game 7.
Congrats Celtics, impressive defensive play, they were better than I thought and congrats to the Lakers for getting to the finals when I never figured they would get by the Spurs.
Congrats to the Celtics...they earned and deserved it...The Lakers are a very young team with playooff/Finals Experience now and I think they're coming out on missions next year...improve the defense...don't know if that means Ron Artest but that's a great start if they can afford him. Structure the contract ina way that will work and that could be as big as the Pau pick up. Kobe and the bench mob as well the others will be back next year...take a bow Lakers, you had a great year that nobody expected you guys to have!!!
Congrat Cs. I love you all man!!!
You guys have been great for this season. I hope you can keep up to this level for the up coming seasons too.
To all Fakers fans...Sorry about that Fakers don’t even have a center!! They only have that Odom guy who only know how to commit offensive foul for the Fakers, and hoping that he could made the refs blindly blew a whistle for the Fakers and missed all of his free throws.
Do you guys still remember when Garnet made a foul to Odom? Odom shows you guys how good his gamesmanship really is!! He reacts furiously of course! He is like I am the only one can foul you and no one can foul me.... lol...
Seriously if I were Phi I would have kicked him out of the game at the beginning of this series!! Here are two words for him. He sucx!! Wake up Phi!! You are not that old to think that Odom can win you a Champ!
Last edited by AlexanderTheGreatTheSecond on June 18th at 12:08 PM.
Kobe & Jerry Buss you should have kept Shaq. O.K. he is running low on diesel right now but come on.
Magic had Kareem later in his career, I think he faired just fine. Kobe would have 5 rings by now and Shaq would have his jersey retired in L.A....
Kobe Shaq had your back. Who has it now besides Ben Franklin????????
so what do you"ll have to say about your precious "MVP"player now?You LAKER FOOLS.You laker players and laker fans were BIG ###IDIOTS thinking that thOSE STUPID LAKER players could beat garnett's team and this comment is also meant for that "UGLY UGLY man that sits on the court to be able to grab KOBE'S ###[BUTT]i know everyone know's what UGLY man i'm talking about yes i'm talking about JACK NICHOLSON and to every celebrity that were there tuesday night; how did you"ll like the show that "KOBE"and "HIS"team put on for you'll wasn't that nice? How embarrassing was that?And that's how the LAKERS want to REPRESENT the WEST? OH MY GOD. Please dont win another one like that kobe. Next time let a real team play one that can represent the "WEST" one like ummm... SANANTONIO SPURS they would've done it and kept the trophy here without a dought. A TRUE SPURS FAN!!!!!!!
BleedPRP....its good to see you man up for the rest of the Lakers fans and admit that the Celtics were the better team instead of whining about refs and every other excuse. I have much respect for you. I guess I'll cap it off by saying "Celtics in June"
I just want the Kobe lovers to quit comparing him to Jordan because he gave plenty of clues this series that he's NOT even close.
I couldnt have said it better! KOBE needs a scorer next to him(20-25pts a game)Bynum I dont think will make that much of a difference, but it will help some. They need to play better D to stop the good teams. Other teams have taken notes on how to D-Up KOBE and the LAKERs for next year!! RAY ALLEN shouldve been co-MVP!!! People hated on him earlier in the playoffs, but he should all those who HATE on him because 'HE GOT GAME' and he showed i throughout the NBA Championship series!!
Reality Check: I'm proud of Beantown but you ppl are being unreal about this one guy...Kobe had just a fine performance in previous games in the series. If you remember last night ...there were playbacks where KB was being bombed by 4Celts while he's playing offense. The guy is not Superman...Get real. He is one man with outstanding stats...if you can't see any positive qualities in KB then you must be diluted. I mean that in the nicest possible way.
The Lakers were not ready for the finals yet, however once they got there they did not put there best effort in. The loss in game four is the only thing anyone needs to bring up, that should not happen and Phil is responsible for that the game was handled horribly and changes need to be made. Next year is the year, but there are no guarantees, I think the next three years will basically hinge on Bynum and Kobe's health. Also, bidding farewell to Lamar Odom will work wonders for the teams mental capacity.
Why are the "so called Celtics fans" keep on slamming the Lakers fans when we are actually Congratulating Boston the WIN? Seems like the 22 years losing seasons can really make one so BITTER and not know when to accept compliments and congratulatory comments.
The BETTER team won! Great defense and Great offense.
ATTITUDE70:
You're barking at the wrong tree. It wasn't the us, Lakers fans who compares KB to MJ.The media were the ones who started it all. There will NEVER be another MJ. And if KB is not even close, then no one is.
LIBRA@44:
You're just another BITTER Spurs fan who can't accept the FACT that your team was beaten by the Lakers and didn't have an answer for our MVP. YOU TEAM LOSS to the LAKERS! Deal with it and Get over it! STOP whining like a little girl. Who knows you may get your next trophy in 22 years!
CONGRATS again to the TRUE Celtics fans!
Last edited by GENESIS82704 on June 18th at 12:51 PM.
Since I started watching the Celtics (1950) I can say honestly tyhat this was the most dominant Final that I can remember. Amazing how good defense always stops good offense and now people may realize that 5 men playing together can stop one. I believe that Kobe is a great player but he had no help. Rajon Rondo? what a little nuisance, I think after he works on shooting touch he'll lead this team for several years.
We Laker fans used to go nuts watching Vlade Divac, and his ultra soft game. Pau Gasol makes Vlade look like Bill Lambeer. I have NEVER seen a softer 7' center play this game EVER. Pau played as if he thought he might get beat up by the Celtics or something. Again, I have never seen anything like what I witnessed in this series.
Downs -- Good job. I really like your break down except for what you wrote about Phil Jackson.
If what you wrote about the Lakers BENCH and the BIGS is true, and you and I both believe it to be, then how can Phil be faulted?
If you don't have adequate people on the floor or on the bench, than aren't you just rearranging deck chairs on the Titantic?
More minutes for Trevor Ariza and Ronny Turiaf, and less for Vladimir Radmanovic, would not have changed the outcome of this series. The Lakers don't have the right bigs, bench or defensive mindset to be champions. Not yet.
Which makes me wonder if a shakeup in the coaching staff below Phil wouldn't be a good idea.
---
The best thing Marc Jackson said all series was his anecdote about Doc Rivers. Before the Finals, Marc Jackson told Rivers he thought the Lakers would win and explained why, and told Doc Rivers, "If you were objective, you would agree with me.
Doc simply said, "No I wouldn't, because in the playoffs, I'd pick defense every time."
The difference in the Finals was defense more than anything.
Forget the 39 point blow out, the REAL news is the Lakers allowed 131 points in an elimination game.
Wow, at the beginning of the season, the CELTICS were called an 'EAST COAST JV TEAM' with a bunch of one time great players.
Then we heard the WEST is where real NBA games are played. Then Celtic fans heard there were at least 5 WEST teams better than the Celtics. Then when the Celtics beat ALL THREE TEXAS teams back to back to back they were lucky,
Then the Celtics heard they would never get out of the EAST as the PISTONS AND CAVS were better & more proven playoff teams, then it took 7 games to beat Atlanta and Cleveland so they can't possibly beat the Pistons, OOPS, they got by the PISTONS in 6.
Then the LAKERS were going to either sweep or beat the Celtics in 5 according to all NATIONAL sports figures, ALL the WHILE, the Celtics were getting no respect while compiling the best NBA record and the best NBA defemse. And NOW after they win the Championship, they have NOW BOUGHT THE CHAMPIONSHIP! How sickening. Like no other teams have ever traded for top players. McHale received a great young prospect for KG (AL Jefferson) but no one talks about the great year AL had.
To all you haters, grow up. This is professional sports. Everyone was laughing at the Celtics last year. Well, what goes around, comes around. Celtics legitimately won # 17. Period. And who knows, HOW MANY MORE GOOD TO GREAT NBA PLAYERS WILL WANT TO COME TO THE CELTICS NOW!
Barring injury, they could be good for a couple of more years. Then what will all the haters say.
This year BOSTON professional sports dominated. Period.
Wow how insecure can Boston fans get. All us Laker fans realize we got beat by a better team and are glad that KG, Ray Ray and Pierce got their rings. All you Boston fans can do is rip the Lakers. You were picked in the east to win it all at the beginning of the season, we weren't but got past the Spurs and made it. So congrats to the Lakers also for having a very good and unexpected year and congrats to a very classy Boston organization that played some of the best defense I have ever seen in a final, your classless fans don't deserve you.
Tom, I do agree with the Phil thoughts; you are only as good as what you have. But you don't know how many people said (in my list of greatest NBA coaches) how Phil should be #1. If he wants to be there, shouldn't he at least motivate his guys to play harder? He had Bill Cartwright (not exactly the toughest C), Will Perdue, Luc Longley and Bill Wennington play reasonably hard in Chicago. Why couldn't Gasol and Odom do that? Everyone said Doc's bench was weaker, but he got great things out of that. Phil could have done a bit better.
I'm sick of the ".. you're not MJ ..." comments .. Jordon had pippen .. one of the noted 50 greatest. You put jordon on this laker team and he does no better than kobe .. and all you fools in the media that keep bringing up how kobe never one without shaq ... shaq in his prime didn't win until he was with Kobe ... give kobe his due ... he is a very talented player
WELL WHEN THE REFS LET 1 TEAM PLAY PHYSICAL ON THE OTHER TEAM AND THE OTHER TEAM CAN'T, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT. ALL KG DOES IS SET ILLEGAL PICKS. KG MOVES ON ALL OF HIS PICKS. KOBE WAS MANHANDLE BUT OF COURSE NOTHING CALL. WHEN THE LAKERS GOT PHYSICAL, THE REF MADE ALL THE CALLS MAN. GAME 2 WAS SO BADLY CALLED BY THE REFS THAT EVEN THE ANNOUNCERS WHERE WONDERING ARE THE REFS BEING PAYED BY THE CELTICS. THE CELTICS SHOT AT LEAST 20 FREETHROWS IN EVERY GAME.
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?
