After one of the most memorable (or forgettable) collapses in recent sports history, the Los Angeles Lakers now stare at a nearly insurmountable 3-1 deficit against the far superior and eventual champion Boston Celtics. In Thursday’s Game Four, the uninspired and now downtrodden Lakers led by as many as twenty points midway through the third quarter, yet they somehow managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory. To be sure, it was the largest comeback in Finals history in the shot clock era. It was the 2007 Mets, 2004 Yankees and 1978 Red Sox all rolled into one. And all Kobe Bryant had to say in his post-game press conference is how he wanted to go out and get drunk on… wine, beer and twenty shots, to be exact. Is this a champion’s reaction? Can we once and for all end the comparisons between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan? Michael never lost in the Finals. Kobe’s about to lose his second.
Honestly, is there anybody inside or outside that locker room that thinks the Lakers still have a chance at a title? How is this the same Lakers team that beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs? The team that suited up last night didn’t look like they could beat an NBDL team. They scored 33 points in the second half. That's two less than they scored in the first quarter. So much for consistency.
What’s even more amazing is that the Lakers led the first quarter by the largest margin in Finals history, outscoring the Celtics 35-14. Then they got lazy. They abandoned the triangle and failed to keep their foot on the neck of their opponents by settling for jump shots. How did the Zen Master let this happen?
I can’t lay all this on the Lakers. The Celtics played a great game. In fact, they probably should have won Game Three. Technically this series should be over by now. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been a proponent of more basketball, but not this brand. I’m not even a Lakers fan and I feel deflated after watching that massacre. I can only imagine what they’re going through. It got so bad last night, Lakers fans were cheering on the Celtics. Who does that??
At the beginning of this series, Kobe Bryant said his Finals experience has shown him that a team can want it as bad as anyone, but it all boils down to execution. Well the Celtics are doing both… wanting and winning.
I give tremendous credit and praise to Doc Rivers and his coaching staff. They were able to tap into and inspire a team of men in Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce that wanted to be remembered as champions. If you’re an NBA fan, you have to be happy for these guys.
Meanwhile, somewhere, Kobe sits in a bar drowning his sorrows. Hope he’s a good tipper.
AS MUCH AS I CRITIZE MY BRYANT!!!! it wouldnt serprize me (spelling)???? if he and the LA LAKERS WERE TO TO REENERGIZE AND COME BACK!!!! but lets see???? rememeber any team??? that gets this far?? isnt going hopefully ,for not only for them, but the fans... going to just roll over!!!!!
AS MUCH AS I CRITIZE MY BRYANT!!!! it wouldnt serprize me (spelling)???? if he and the LA LAKERS WERE TO TO REENERGIZE AND COME BACK!!!! but lets see???? rememeber any team??? that gets this far?? isnt going hopefully ,for not only for them, but the fans... going to just roll over!!!!!
Rev - Just got back from a night on the town with Kobe. He was pretty depressed. But after 5 Beck's, 5 shots of Cuervo, plate of nacho's, two Laker's girls and three text's from Charlie Sheen on his next hookup - he was feeling better. Kid is going to make it.
Leon Powe and James Posey? Wow. It is funny how much the Celts have changed their game from the Hawks series, isn't it? Paul Pierce was a man-possessed on both ends of the floor. Think he will be the series MVP?
REV--Im sure thats not the best thing he could have said considering the circumstances maybe that will be my soulution to all of my problems im just going to go get drunk..!! jeesh I had some respect starting to come back for him after his supposed affair now this--I wouldn't put him in the same class as Jordan---Jordan has Class..
Reverend Rhythm
It seems that the Lakers were on their way to The Piggly Wiggly when they took a wrong turn and got hit by a truck from the city of Boston aptly named the Celtics.
Is there no one on this Lakers' team that knows how to drive or even possess an ounce of leadership at this moment ?
Now we're led to believe that Bryant possesses the bravado and aura to lead this team from such a deficit ?
All of those who were likening him to Jordan ought to rethink that whole nonesense. There's no way in hell that Jordan would let his team be in that sort of a position , to relinquish a lead and lose the game altogether !
And I was thinking the same thing. But Doc had everything under control. I think we have to remember that this team was still feeling themselves out. They paced themselves well and really poured it on late.
Bea Arthur is singing somewhere. Probably at tophat's crib.
But why are we so quick to forget the things that Phil said about Kobe years back when all that mess went down. Heck, he even wrote a book about it.
Look, I'm not hating on Kobe. He's a phenomenal player. Certainly one of the best, most cutthroat ever. But KG's no slouch either. I'm just trying to keep an objective eye around here when the rest of Kobe's fan club has a tendency not to do so.
And double-check that Tex Winter link. I clicked but it didn't lead to anything.
I NEVER liked Kobe Bryant. Now he's getting what he deserves. He's a big-headed #### who thinks his #### doesn't stink. I hope he's good and drunk for game 5.
I must say, that if you are ahead by 20 @ home in the 3rd........and loose.......you are not quite ready to be a champion. Boston has been steady and persistent, while the Lakers have played in peaks and valleys the entire series. I am not all that surprised. I really only felt the Lakers had an advantage at shooting guard and coaching experience. The Celtics have gone ahead 3 to 1 because of 2 things....1) team defense 2) great contributions from guys that have played way over their heads in a few critical spots (Powe/Posey). Sasha gave the Lakers one game like that but other than that no big lift from an unexpected player. I give the Celtics credit and am curious as to what the Lakers will be like next year after enduring this most painfull series and the return of Bynum. Should be fun to watch. More than anyone.......I am happy for Garnett, and Rivers. not much of a PP or Ray Ray fan. I will say this, Boston isn't the type of team to string back to back together. The East will be a ####-shoot next year.
And at the beginning of the playoffs, I felt the Lakers were the best team. The Celtics were still iffy and inconsistent on the offensive end while it seemed that the Lakers were really clicking with the addition of Gasol.
At the beginning of the Finals, I did NOT like that Vegas posted Boston as a favorite, particularly with home court advantage.
But I do agree that these two teams should have a healthy rivalry over the next few years. The addition of Bynum could conceivably make a difference.
I respect you as one of the most knowledgeable basketball people on this blog. And I dig our healthy and spirited debates.
I know you're not the president of the Kobe fan club, but you are a client. I just want to make sure you maintain your objectivity.
I'm not closing the door on his career, but he'll need three more championships to be on a par with Michael, who in all fairness, shouldn't even be on a par with Russell if we're judging a player strictly on the amount of championships he's won.
I am right their with the people that don't think Bryant is as good as Jordan was. Can he still achieve it? Most Definitely!!! But like Magic said at game 3...he has to win 3-4 more rings. Don't bet against the guy.....and he is definitely the closest we have seen to Jordan by a long shot.
The Celtics are far better defensively than any team Jordan ever faced in the Finals. The Suns,Jazz,Lakers,Sonics, and Trailblazers were all pretty soft at that end of the court. Boston has made sure that Bryant would not beat them and the rest of the Lakers have not stepped up to championship caliber play on a consistent basis.
Ododm has played 2 good quarters and 14 poor ones. Fisher has been pretty non existent the entire series, Gasol has been steady.....but over powered by Perkins and Garnett. Sasha gave them 1 good game and the rest have played poor at best.
Pretty easy to see why it is 3-1 with the Celtics getting great performances just about every game from someone unexpected and their main guys playing above average to say the least.
LA is just out-matched here. We always ask "what if"..and I have to wonder what this series would be like had the Lakers won as they should have last night. I could have very easily seen this going back to Boston ......3-2 Lakers!!!
Bottom line is Boston has earned it. They have kept themselves in every game with defense and made the big plays when they had to. That is why they are the champs.
Kobe was not the best player in the NBA when he won three titles with Shaq. He was one of the top 5-10.
Kobe has better support this year but not to the levels that even Jordan had with Pippen. Bird had DJ, McHale, Parish and a whole bunch of good role players off the bench. Magic had Kareem, Worthy, Scott, Cooper, Nixon, Wilkes and a whole bunch of good role players off the bench. Kobe has a skilled offensive player with Gasol who is a liability on the other side. Odom is inconsistent, Fisher is nice, but not an elite team overall. Maybe Bynum puts them over the hump, maybe not.
As Hoffman said there are a few more chapters to be written.
I am not in the Kobe fandom, but he has done more with less since O'Neal went to Miami then any other player, even Lebron. He is a better defender and stresses team involvement more than earlier in his career. Think he will be among the elite when the dust settles and he gets a ring w/o Shaq.
I agree that the talent in the league at present is far superior than it was in MJ's heyday. It will be very difficult for any team to dominate or rattle off a string of championships, which makes it all the more impressive that Duncan has four rings.
And you're right, the Celtics are playing complete ball and are really beating the Lakers in every aspect of the game. I'm perfectly okay with Doc, KG, Rayray and the Truth getting what the deserve, which is a championship ring.
I am sure I will catch some "sheet" for this one....but to compare Russ and Jordan is way off as far as rings go. Bill played in a league of 8-12 teams the majority of his career and had an all-star team with him almost every year. Look how many of his teammates are HOF'ers. Jordan and Jabbars 6 rings and Johnsons 5 are far more impressive when all factors are put in play.
No disrespect to Russ....GREAT PLAYER>>>>GREAT MAN.
Guys that have won over the last 30 years carry a little more weight to me because of the other factors involved and the amounts of playoff games you have to win to get their.
We'll see how it plays out. One would have to think that with a healthy Bynum, the Lakers will be the favorites to win the West next year. I do expect them to do some tinkering with that roster though.
The Celtics should be just as powerful next year as well. Is it too early to predict a rematch in next year's Finals?
Jokerwild......please make a fair assesment in regards to Bryant/Jordan. I am so tired of people riding Kobe about his poor decisions over monogamy with his wife. While I am a very faithfull husband and have no support at all for that type of behavior....REMEMBER...this is about sports.....NOT MORAL FORTITUDE!!!!
And by the way......Jordan has at least 2 wel-documented affairs on Juanita (his now ex-wife). Jordan was our national darling and well protected. Kobe has been un-fairly criticised not for what he did....but for giving so many a pass for the same behavior and crucifying Bryant for it. If you dis-like Bryant, I have no problem with that. But don't hammer him for something MJ did and not give the same justice to Jordan. If you are going to have "the law"....make all adhere to it.
Hey Rev.....Russ NEVER owned the Stilt. His Celtics most definitely did on a whole, but when Russ and Wilt went heads up ...... 45 and 25 was a regular night for the Dipper.
The Celts were just far superior to any of the 76ers teams Wilt had other than 68' and that Lakers team in 72'. Russ would be the first to admitt it as well.
That scenario kind of reminds me of the battles Jordan faced with the Bulls against the Pistons. He could put on a show for the ages but until he got a well rounded team with him, he was always at Detroit mercy. Wilt was in that same boat going up against those great Celtic teams
Alaskaballer--Ok I dislike Kobe and he was accused of Rape not fooling around wether he did it or not who knows I just know if I was to pick a player between kobe Or MJ its MJ hands down affairs or not..
rev,
I almost missed the end of the game. I turned the tv off at half (thinking it was over). My ipod failed so I had to restore it. When I finished loading my songs and videos, I just wanted to check the score real quick before I went to bed. I missed a good portion of the third, but saw them cut it to single digits. Couldn't dare think about going to bed then.
I guess if you are counting rings, "Big (Cheap) Shot Rob" was better than Jordan.
Also, remember that Jordan took two years off in the middle of his prime to play baseball. It's not inconceivable (I can only envision the Princess Bride every time I say that) that Jordan could have won eight straight.
Note the '68 76ers you listed above actually lost their playoff series to Russell's Celtics after being up 3-1. That's right, 3-1 just like now.
No doubt you meant 1967.
rev...nicely done. I don't think it was so much of a choke as it was a comeback. Even when the C's were down 24, they kept playing. They have more intestinal fortitude. More heart. They want it more. Funny on the drinks comment...I just wrote my Dizzle blog and that was my opening quote. It was hilarious. I actually feel sorry for Kobe. it's not his fault. It's his teammates' fault. It's Kobe and the four dwarfs. I would bet a drink he asks to be traded. It's coming.
Hoffman
See Bryant for what he is and nothing more. He's an extremely talented player that when it's all said and done . He may well go down as an alltime great. All of the talk about comparisons with Jordan is just redundant and mundane. He hasn't and probably won't ever possess the leadership qualities that Jordan has shown during his career.
Much of which we saw for ourselves last night. Do you in all honesty believe that Jordan would've let a lead like that disappear if he were leading that team ?
There are those who want people to buy into the perception that Bryant has what it takes to be like his perceived mentor in so many ways.
The only thing that they share at this juncture is a unique ability when it comes to playing the game and not much else !
How again has Kobe done more than LeBron with less?
You'd rather have Illgauskas than Gasol?
You'd rather have Ben Wallace than Lamar Odom?
You'd rather have Daniel Gibson than Derek Fisher?
You'd rather have Wally Szczerbiak than Vlad Radmonovich?
You'd rather have Mike Brown than Phil Jackson?
Cavs outscored (outplayed) the Celtics over the 7 game series. We'll see if the Lakers can even FORCE a game 7.
Superstars with a high level of athletic ability should shoot a high percentage. Kobe just isn't nearly as efficient of a scorer as Jordan was. He is not an efficient as LeBron is now (and LeBron's only 23)
The problem I have with Kobe Bryant is the way his loving fans, and announcers talk about him. Because he's the most talented SCORER right now and LOOKS the most like Jordan when shooting, he suddenly is the best at everything!
Last night I kept hearing about "the great facilitator - Kobe Bryant". WHAT? Kobe is not better a facilitator than Carmelo Anthony. His passing is incredibly slow, inaccurate, and unoriginal.
Last night I heard at least 4 times about how no one is better than Kobe in 4th quarters. BASED ON WHAT? STATS? COMEBACKS? CLUTCHNESS? GAME WINNERS? LeBron bested Kobe in every single one of those categories this year. So why does Kobe get umbrella coverage for EVERYTHING. I wouldn't get so worked up if people just treated the guy how he should. Stop dogging him everytime he fails - and stop pretending he is God everytime he succeeds. He's not as good as Jordan was, he's not as good as LeBron is.
Turn-ons: Gator national championships ; Sushi; NBA Playoffs; A Tribe Called Quest; Women; Jack Daniels; Women who drink Jack Daniels; Women who drink Jack Daniels while eating sushi; Women who dream of more Gator national championships while eating sushi and drinking Jack Daniels during basketball season, The Red Zone Report
Turn-offs: Waking up early; The inevitable media coverage Bobby Bowden will get when he finally retires; Drama; Prejudice; Chicken liver; Work of any sort
