hi guys,
I've played basketball... I've refereed over 1k games... and coached a few yrs too.
I've also played with and against major college and nba players... so I hope that gives me a slightly better perspective than at least a few people out there...
I was raised in southern calif, listened to hundreds of laker games on radio w/chick hearn calling... and many a loss to the celts... Jerry West is my all-time favorite player... he always played hard at both ends of the floor.
Then magic and bird had their decade of all-time great players, teams and rivalries...
and now, for the 2nd time in 3 yrs we're back at it.
First off, let me say imho that I don't think either of these teams would stand a chance vs Magic and Bird's teams if they could all play at their peak...
These Celtics do play hard and sometimes the Lakers do not and I can't explain that... but if they don't, they will lose.
The 'kevin mchale/rambis' play is always a possiblity w/this group.
I think the Celts have only 2 real scoring threats w/Allen and Pierce.
The Lakers have more scorers w/Kobe, Gasol (when he's not getting knocked down), Odom (when he shows), fisher is limited but clutch, and occasionally artest can get hot...
I think the celtics bring a physicalness that the lakers will have to match on the boards... or they'll lose.
I think the celts will have many a hard foul on the laker interior players, trying to intimidate gasol and odom in particular by knocking them down...
I think paul pierce will flop trying to get the foul called 20% more of the time than Kobe will... ha! However Kobe will lead the series in "complaining looks" to the ref!
I think gasol and odom's shooting touch around the basket far surpasses the celtic big men...
How I see it...
If I'm the Lakers...
*I cover ray allen and pierce above the 3pt line... they get 2pt attempts only!
*I bring in Mbenga to bang on the boards on occasion w/perkins and davis...
*I tell odom and gasol the 1st 3 qtrs are on their shoulders.... period. Kobe handles the ball everytime down in the 4th...then he makes one pass and it goes in to gasol or odom, and they will shoot a shitload of ft's...
*Artest is on the bench on offense in the last minute if it's close...
If I'm the Celtics...
*I also take away Kobe's 3ptrs, make him drive, and knock him down and let him shoot foul shots if they call it...
Problem: one guy cannot cover him.
*I tell my guys to foul gasol and odom hard if you're going to foul 'em...
*I hope artest, fisher, et al all have off shooting nites...
SERIES: If Lamar and Gasol show up, and get up after being knocked down, Lakers win in 6...
(but who knows if that'll happen lol)
Tonite's game... I think it will surge up and down, but Lakers have alot of revenge on their minds and will put this game away late in 4th qtr after blowing a sizable lead...
LAKERS -5.5
Whatever U play.... enjoy the game!! :toast:
BoL ~ LoB
:box2: :SIB :box2:
I've played basketball... I've refereed over 1k games... and coached a few yrs too.
I've also played with and against major college and nba players... so I hope that gives me a slightly better perspective than at least a few people out there...
I was raised in southern calif, listened to hundreds of laker games on radio w/chick hearn calling... and many a loss to the celts... Jerry West is my all-time favorite player... he always played hard at both ends of the floor.
Then magic and bird had their decade of all-time great players, teams and rivalries...
and now, for the 2nd time in 3 yrs we're back at it.
First off, let me say imho that I don't think either of these teams would stand a chance vs Magic and Bird's teams if they could all play at their peak...
These Celtics do play hard and sometimes the Lakers do not and I can't explain that... but if they don't, they will lose.
The 'kevin mchale/rambis' play is always a possiblity w/this group.
I think the Celts have only 2 real scoring threats w/Allen and Pierce.
The Lakers have more scorers w/Kobe, Gasol (when he's not getting knocked down), Odom (when he shows), fisher is limited but clutch, and occasionally artest can get hot...
I think the celtics bring a physicalness that the lakers will have to match on the boards... or they'll lose.
I think the celts will have many a hard foul on the laker interior players, trying to intimidate gasol and odom in particular by knocking them down...
I think paul pierce will flop trying to get the foul called 20% more of the time than Kobe will... ha! However Kobe will lead the series in "complaining looks" to the ref!
I think gasol and odom's shooting touch around the basket far surpasses the celtic big men...
How I see it...
If I'm the Lakers...
*I cover ray allen and pierce above the 3pt line... they get 2pt attempts only!
*I bring in Mbenga to bang on the boards on occasion w/perkins and davis...
*I tell odom and gasol the 1st 3 qtrs are on their shoulders.... period. Kobe handles the ball everytime down in the 4th...then he makes one pass and it goes in to gasol or odom, and they will shoot a shitload of ft's...
*Artest is on the bench on offense in the last minute if it's close...
If I'm the Celtics...
*I also take away Kobe's 3ptrs, make him drive, and knock him down and let him shoot foul shots if they call it...
Problem: one guy cannot cover him.
*I tell my guys to foul gasol and odom hard if you're going to foul 'em...
*I hope artest, fisher, et al all have off shooting nites...
SERIES: If Lamar and Gasol show up, and get up after being knocked down, Lakers win in 6...
(but who knows if that'll happen lol)
Tonite's game... I think it will surge up and down, but Lakers have alot of revenge on their minds and will put this game away late in 4th qtr after blowing a sizable lead...
LAKERS -5.5
Whatever U play.... enjoy the game!! :toast:
BoL ~ LoB
:box2: :SIB :box2:
