Well, I know up to this point in the playoffs my picks have been worth jack sh*t. But I've been sitting back for the finals, enjoying the show, and watching how these games have been called. Just waiting for my spot and this is the game I'm ready to make my move.
I feel strongly that the NBA is going to react to the amount of calls in the first two games (67 fouls in each) by letting things play out a bit more in this third game. Over 50 fouls in a game is just too much. They've been hearing it from the media, the players, and the coaches that the refs are dictating the game too much and the last thing Stern and the NBA wants is the refs being the star of the show. No more tit-for-tat, no more phantom touch fouls. Things may be a little more physical in Boston, but the refs know that and may be a little more prone to let them play. I also think the players are going to react to the precedent that the refs set in the first two games by being careful not to rack up the early fouls. All this leads to less stopage and more time coming off the clock. Playing the under here.
As far as the side goes, I don't think Boston is going to be able to pull off what they did in game 2. Ray wont be setting any shooting records and they are going to have get Pierce and KG to show up. Lakers haven't had Odom show up yet they still are dominating down low. Celts have had a tendency to relax when they come home in a playoff series, thinking they can fall back on the crowd for energy. Not gonna be the case here if LA jumps out to an early lead. Phil Jackson is good at making adjustments and getting his team to focus on the road after a loss. The Lakers as a team are going to win this one, not Kobe on his own. They will be ready and will want to take back home court for the series. I especially think that Phil and Kobe will be able to get Artest to focus solely on his defensive responsibilities and shut down Pierce so he doesn't get geared up at home as he did in '08. Rondo will get his, but he can't do all the scoring on his own. He'll need all of his older supporting cast to play at a top notch level in order to overcome the size and overall skill advantage of the Lakers. Not saying the Celts can't or won't beat LA, I'm just saying that they will need to be in 5th gear and the Lakers will need to be in 3rd or 4th in order for them to win. Lakers come to Boston ready and focused. Celtics come home tired and too relaxed.
I don't think that either team is capable of beating each other twice in a row to be honest. Taking the Lakers SU in this one.
3 plays:
UNDER 193
LAKERS +125
parlay for 1/3rd the amnt of the other plays.
GL and enjoy the game.
-Deez
I feel strongly that the NBA is going to react to the amount of calls in the first two games (67 fouls in each) by letting things play out a bit more in this third game. Over 50 fouls in a game is just too much. They've been hearing it from the media, the players, and the coaches that the refs are dictating the game too much and the last thing Stern and the NBA wants is the refs being the star of the show. No more tit-for-tat, no more phantom touch fouls. Things may be a little more physical in Boston, but the refs know that and may be a little more prone to let them play. I also think the players are going to react to the precedent that the refs set in the first two games by being careful not to rack up the early fouls. All this leads to less stopage and more time coming off the clock. Playing the under here.
As far as the side goes, I don't think Boston is going to be able to pull off what they did in game 2. Ray wont be setting any shooting records and they are going to have get Pierce and KG to show up. Lakers haven't had Odom show up yet they still are dominating down low. Celts have had a tendency to relax when they come home in a playoff series, thinking they can fall back on the crowd for energy. Not gonna be the case here if LA jumps out to an early lead. Phil Jackson is good at making adjustments and getting his team to focus on the road after a loss. The Lakers as a team are going to win this one, not Kobe on his own. They will be ready and will want to take back home court for the series. I especially think that Phil and Kobe will be able to get Artest to focus solely on his defensive responsibilities and shut down Pierce so he doesn't get geared up at home as he did in '08. Rondo will get his, but he can't do all the scoring on his own. He'll need all of his older supporting cast to play at a top notch level in order to overcome the size and overall skill advantage of the Lakers. Not saying the Celts can't or won't beat LA, I'm just saying that they will need to be in 5th gear and the Lakers will need to be in 3rd or 4th in order for them to win. Lakers come to Boston ready and focused. Celtics come home tired and too relaxed.
I don't think that either team is capable of beating each other twice in a row to be honest. Taking the Lakers SU in this one.
3 plays:
UNDER 193
LAKERS +125
parlay for 1/3rd the amnt of the other plays.
GL and enjoy the game.
-Deez
