Basketball (NBA, College, etc.)

adub2adub wrote:However, if my favorite team is not involved (Knicks :ashamed: ) ... I tend to root for certain storylines or players.

In other words, losing teams. :beaten:

bmwracer wrote:
In other words, losing teams. :beaten:

Ehh? That doesn't make any sense. :headscratch:

I was just commenting on why I would be rooting for the Celts for the storylines involving Garnett and Allen. I had been rooting for the Spurs the entire playoffs since I like some of the guys on the team.

Celtics & Spurs are not exactly "losing teams". :victory:

NBA Finals start tonight. :woot: :dancing:


My picks: Lakers over Celtics ... in 5.

Games will be split in Boston with the Lakers sweeping the 3 home games in the middle. At that point, Kobe will finally win a NBA Title without Shaq ... and the Kobe v.s. Jordan debate will officially begin. :bow:

adub2adub wrote:the Kobe v.s. Jordan debate will officially begin. :bow:

That's been tossed about for a long time now, hasn't it?

If anything, it'll re-energize the discussion...

adub2adub wrote:NBA Finals start tonight. :woot: :dancing:


My picks: Lakers over Celtics ... in 5.

Games will be split in Boston with the Lakers sweeping the 3 home games in the middle. At that point, Kobe will finally win a NBA Title without Shaq ... and the Kobe v.s. Jordan debate will officially begin. :bow:

He did still need a big man like Gasol to get to this point, although Kobe is now the focus and the big men are the secondary options just to keep the defense honest.

Lakers in 6, probably.

adub2adub wrote:NBA Finals start tonight. :woot: :dancing:


My picks: Lakers over Celtics ... in 5.

Games will be split in Boston with the Lakers sweeping the 3 home games in the middle. At that point, Kobe will finally win a NBA Title without Shaq ... and the Kobe v.s. Jordan debate will officially begin. :bow:

If the Lakers take one in Boston before heading back to L.A. that'd be huge, but we've seen during these playoffs that winning on the road is pretty darn harder than postseasons past.

Lakers leading at the half 51-46 despite Bryant going only 3-10 on FGs. The Celtics shouldn't feel too bad, hanging with the Lakers despite Allen's slow start and Pierce having to sit out with three fouls. I like Garnett's performance so far, really stepping up in his first Finals game. Rondo's played well, but Fisher a little better, helping the Lakers take the lead.

deseipher wrote:Bryant going only 3-10 on FGs.

If Kobe's shooting doesn't improve in the second half, the Lakes better keep up the defensive pressure... :sweat:

EDIT: And get better on the boards, particularly on the offensive side. :sweat:

Ugh, that was so frustrating to watch. The Celtics played some great defense and dominated the boards. I thought Posey's defense on Bryant late in the game was pretty darn good. Bryant was really forcing some of his shots, but that's the double-edged sword for him. If those shots go in, then it's Kobe with his killer instinct taking over. Garnett was just awesome for most of the night; the Celtics should've gone to him more often. Pierce had a heck of a third quarter. Those two showed they belong on the big stage, at least for tonight.

I hope the Lakers can get it going in Game 2, but if the Celtics keep playing great defense, it's going to be a tough series. I thought the game tonight was really physical at times and it can wear down a team like the Lakers who have the shooters but aside from Bryant doesn't have the toughness.

deseipher wrote:Ugh, that was so frustrating to watch. The Celtics played some great defense and dominated the boards. I thought Posey's defense on Bryant late in the game was pretty darn good. Bryant was really forcing some of his shots, but that's the double-edged sword for him.

Yup, he has a tendency to force the issue and then the rest of the team just stands around...

Like in the Utah series, they got beat up on the offensive boards, but unlike the Utah series, they didn't eke out a win.

Ack, I'm too bummed to watch Last Friends now... :puppydog:

bmwracer wrote:
Yup, he has a tendency to force the issue and then the rest of the team just stands around...

Like in the Utah series, they got beat up on the offensive boards, but unlike the Utah series, they didn't eke out a win.

Ack, I'm too bummed to watch Last Friends now... :puppydog:

The one thing with Bryant that impresses me at times is the fact that he wants and is very capable of taking on a defender without the help of his teammates. I don't know why, but it seems at times like Bryant does not want a teammate to run a screen for him to free him from his defender, leaving them to stand around while Bryant tries to get off a shot. It's impressive to watch him get some space to get off a shot or take it to the rim. Facing up the defender, the pump fake, the little step forward, and once he gets enough space he rises up for the jumpshot. While it's great to watch, I think it also goes to explain why at times it looks like his teammates are just standing around. I think it's not that they don't know what the heck to do, but it's that Bryant doesn't want the help and they're waiting for him to do his thing and then react accordingly.

The Celtics did a great job of teaming up on Bryant tonight by bringing help long before he could even start getting towards the basket, and some of his shots were contested by two defenders. Posey did a heck of job on Bryant tonight, bumping him around at times. I think it's times like that where Bryant shouldn't worry about shaking off the defender by himself, but getting a teammate to come in and run a screen for him. He had some nice pick-and-roll action going with Gasol and the Lakers should take advantage of that more. Instead we got Bryant forcing up some really tough shots.

bmwracer wrote:
That's been tossed about for a long time now, hasn't it?

If anything, it'll re-energize the discussion...

Yup, true ... But, I doubt there was/is as much of a valid argument for Kobe over MJ since Bryant always had Shaq as his side-kick ... perhaps Kobe being "Robin" to Shaq's "Batman". :beaten:

Now, Bryant can prove he can win championship(s) himself with him clearly being "the man". Validates Kobe in any Jordan comparisons.

deseipher wrote:If the Lakers take one in Boston before heading back to L.A. that'd be huge, but we've seen during these playoffs that winning on the road is pretty darn harder than postseasons past.

Actually, LA is still undefeated at home, and Lakers still have had the most convincing victories on the road out of all playoff teams. Even in road losses, they've been close and had many opportunities to win late. So, I wouldn't be too concerned for Lakers fans, IMO. :sweat:

Rock on Celtics!!!

I smell sweep!

Geezer wrote:Rock on Celtics!!!

I smell sweep!

:shoot:

deseipher wrote:I don't know why, but it seems at times like Bryant does not want a teammate to run a screen for him to free him from his defender, leaving them to stand around while Bryant tries to get off a shot.

While it's great to watch, I think it also goes to explain why at times it looks like his teammates are just standing around. I think it's not that they don't know what the heck to do, but it's that Bryant doesn't want the help and they're waiting for him to do his thing and then react accordingly.

I think you make good points, but Bryant isn't the only guy who prefers to go 1v1 often ... just the best at it. :bow:

All that you just described are just versions of "isolation" plays run for the star player of the team. You see Pierce do that occasionally as well .... Lebron all the time.

He had some nice pick-and-roll action going with Gasol and the Lakers should take advantage of that more.

Yup, I totally agree. That play is basically unbeatable. It could even be done with Odom as well. :sweat:

adub2adub wrote:

I think you make good points, but Bryant isn't the only guy who prefers to go 1v1 often ... just the best at it. Bow

All that you just described are just versions of "isolation" plays run for the star player of the team. You see Pierce do that occasionally as well .... Lebron all the time.

Certainly Bryant isn't the only guy, and he's damn good at it, but watching the game tonight I felt Bryant could've used some help. Iso plays for a guy like Bryant are great since he's capable of going 1-on-1, but if they end up with forced shots, it's time to try something else. :sweat:

Yup, I totally agree. That play is basically unbeatable. It could even be done with Odom as well. :sweat:

Considering how badly the Celtics played against the pick-and-roll at times tonight, I agree that it could've been done with Odom. :victory:

adub2adub wrote:perhaps Kobe being "Robin" to Shaq's "Batman". :beaten:

I think you mean Shaq's FATMan.... The Jabba the Hut of the NBA.

Why the hell isn't KG taking it to the basket? Get a foul! Stop taking so many jump shots!

:banghead:

FarOutFreak wrote:Why the hell isn't KG taking it to the basket? Get a foul! Stop taking so many jump shots!

:banghead:

Sounds like KG has a little Chris Webber in him :sweat: