NBA FINALS THREAD: Lakers vs. Celtics

That was true what he said though. Kobe did ask to be traded.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dream @ May 31 2008, 10:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>jesus shuttlesworth vs. black mamba revisted

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"He feels like he needs to show the league ... that he is better without Shaq, that he can win without Shaq," Allen said. "That he can still average 30 points and he can still carry the load on this team. The point production is not so much what people will look at, because (Tracy) McGrady did it in Orlando and Allen (Iverson) did it in Philly. But can you win championships? Can he make everybody better?

"He has the talent. But is his attitude going to sometimes allow him to take the backseat and let Lamar Odom shine and let Caron Butler have his nights and bring those big guys along? If Kobe doesn't see he needs 2-1/2 good players to be a legitimate playoff contender or win a championship in about a year or two he will be calling out to (Lakers owner) Jerry Buss that we need some help in here, or trade me. We'll all be saying we told you so when he says that."

When asked about Allen's comments before their second exhibition on Oct. 25, Bryant said: "Don't even put me and dude in the same breath."

The second preseason showdown, a 117-91 Lakers win, never materialized because Allen sat out with a stiff lower back. Still, Bryant added fuel to the fire when he was overheard during the game telling Allen: "I'll see you again."</div>

hahaha.....
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Allen got it right on point. Kobe did just that this offseason.

But I doubt there's anything going on between them anymore considering what Kobe did to Allen after he said that:

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[youtube][/youtube]

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dream @ May 31 2008, 10:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>jesus shuttlesworth vs. black mamba revisted

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>"He feels like he needs to show the league ... that he is better without Shaq, that he can win without Shaq," Allen said. "That he can still average 30 points and he can still carry the load on this team. The point production is not so much what people will look at, because (Tracy) McGrady did it in Orlando and Allen (Iverson) did it in Philly. But can you win championships? Can he make everybody better?

"He has the talent. But is his attitude going to sometimes allow him to take the backseat and let Lamar Odom shine and let Caron Butler have his nights and bring those big guys along? If Kobe doesn't see he needs 2-1/2 good players to be a legitimate playoff contender or win a championship in about a year or two he will be calling out to (Lakers owner) Jerry Buss that we need some help in here, or trade me. We'll all be saying we told you so when he says that."

When asked about Allen's comments before their second exhibition on Oct. 25, Bryant said: "Don't even put me and dude in the same breath."

The second preseason showdown, a 117-91 Lakers win, never materialized because Allen sat out with a stiff lower back. Still, Bryant added fuel to the fire when he was overheard during the game telling Allen: "I'll see you again."</div>

hahaha.....
</div>

Allen got it right on point. Kobe did just that this offseason.

But I doubt there's anything going on between them anymore considering what Kobe did to Allen after he said that:

<div><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d16maeHOArM&"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d16maeHOArM&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350" /></embed></object></div>

 

Yankees and Giants (and Nets) fan here, so I'm rooting for the Lakers.

 

The 2-3-2 format pretty much takes away all the benefits of home court advantage, so this should be really interesting. I admit I haven't paid much attention to the Lakers post Gasol, so I really don't know what to expect. I never really viewed the Lakers as a strong team before the Pau trade, so I don't understand how they became such a force. I'm really impressed with the way they cruised through the playoffs, and lately I've found myself gaining more and more respect for Kobe and his place in history. I can't really make a good prediction based on my lack of familiarity with the new and improved Lakers, but I want to think the Celtics will win it in a hard fought battle.

 

Do they still use that format? I thought they changed it back.

 

Yeah, a lot of people are seriously dismissing Celtics. I'm no fan of them, but they have all the tools to beat anyone right now. Remember, the older veterans they brought in specifically for the playoffs have generally played poorly in the playoffs. If James Posey and PJ do some defensive magic on Kobe and Gasol at right moments, and Cassell finds his rhythm for half a game, the Lakers can get into deep sh*t really quickly.

Celtics haven't impressed anyone in the playoffs so far because most people expected them to sweep the Hawks and convincingly beat The Cavs, but they had 2 Game 7s already and came through. They dispatched a much more talented Detroit team faster than Hawks and Cavs. That team is learning about itself and getting more confident by the day. Even if Doc Rivers costs them a game because he's an idiot, I wouldn't put it past the Celtics to came out with the crown.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If Bowen couldn't hold down Kobe, how the hell is Posey going to? Bowen has been notorious for giving Kobe fits...and he couldn't stop him at all. I think Posey would get eaten alive. Kobe is playing with a fire in his eyes that has never before been scene in the league. Nothing is going to stop him from winning #4 unless his teammates completely disappear.</div>

well no one's gonna "stop" a great player, but Bowen did an excellent job on Bryant. He kept him off the foul line, made each shot a tough one, and kept him out the lane for the most part..........if you're an opponent you can live with Kobe working hard for his 30-35 points a night. I think Posey, Pierce, etc. will do as good a job on him as you possibly can........but no one stops greatness.......

 

Kobe has already faced tough defense, the Celtics don't seem as good to me as earlier in the season either.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dream @ May 31 2008, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If Bowen couldn't hold down Kobe, how the hell is Posey going to? Bowen has been notorious for giving Kobe fits...and he couldn't stop him at all. I think Posey would get eaten alive. Kobe is playing with a fire in his eyes that has never before been scene in the league. Nothing is going to stop him from winning #4 unless his teammates completely disappear.</div>

well no one's gonna "stop" a great player, but Bowen did an excellent job on Bryant. He kept him off the foul line, made each shot a tough one, and kept him out the lane for the most part..........if you're an opponent you can live with Kobe working hard for his 30-35 points a night. I think Posey, Pierce, etc. will do as good a job on him as you possibly can........but no one stops greatness.......
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Kobe had a career high in FG% in the WCF.

 

I wouldn't call it "ease," lol.............he shot a good percentage from the field, but trust me if you're an opposing team you can live with Kobe scoring 30-35 a night while staying out of the lane and off the foul line........what ultimately ended hurting the spurs was lakers supporting cast > san antonio's supporting cast....and the fact that Manu decided to only show up once in the series........

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Astral @ May 31 2008, 05:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah, a lot of people are seriously dismissing Celtics. I'm no fan of them, but they have all the tools to beat anyone right now. Remember, the older veterans they brought in specifically for the playoffs have generally played poorly in the playoffs. If James Posey and PJ do some defensive magic on Kobe and Gasol at right moments, and Cassell finds his rhythm for half a game, the Lakers can get into deep sh*t really quickly.

Celtics haven't impressed anyone in the playoffs so far because most people expected them to sweep the Hawks and convincingly beat The Cavs, but they had 2 Game 7s already and came through. They dispatched a much more talented Detroit team faster than Hawks and Cavs. That team is learning about itself and getting more confident by the day. Even if Doc Rivers costs them a game because he's an idiot, I wouldn't put it past the Celtics to came out with the crown.</div>

Billups and Hamilton were injured, it wasn't about talent, more about bad luck for Detroit

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dream @ May 31 2008, 05:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't call it "ease," lol.............he shot a good percentage from the field, but trust me if you're an opposing team you can live with Kobe scoring 30-35 a night while staying out of the lane and off the foul line........what ultimately ended hurting the spurs was lakers supporting cast > san antonio's supporting cast....and the fact that Manu decided to only show up once in the series........</div>

No the point of him not getting to the FT line is to keep him from scoring efficiently. He went around this by going off on them at will from the field.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I think you need to go watch the games again, specifically games 1 and 5. I can't recall Kobe scoring so easily against the Spurs ever before. He turned it on and nothing could stop him. Bowen was no match for him.</div>

seriously I said no one can "stop" him. My best friend who is the biggest kobe fan boy can even admit that Bowen played Kobe as good as you can, but he just hit some tough shots....just like he did the other night in game 5. If you're picking a short list of guys to contain Kobe to 30-35 ppg while keeping him off the line and out of the lane where he can even make your life more of a living hell, Bruce Bowen would make that list.......

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>No the point of him not getting to the FT line is to keep him from scoring efficiently. He went around this by going off on them at will from the field.</div>

him scoring efficiently has nothing to do with him not getting freethrows. Bowen tried to make him a jump shooter (this is why he didn't attempt any FTs in some games).........but Kobe is a good jump shooter, so he still got his in the end.....and at the end like I've been stating you want to

a.) keep kobe off the foul line
b.) make him a jump shooter for the most part

the spurs did this, but kobe shot well from the field and the lakers role players were much too young and athletic for the old decaying spurs........if you make a guy a jumpshooter you just have to pray that he misses....that's all you can do at that point

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Dream @ May 31 2008, 05:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>I think you need to go watch the games again, specifically games 1 and 5. I can't recall Kobe scoring so easily against the Spurs ever before. He turned it on and nothing could stop him. Bowen was no match for him.</div>

seriously I said no one can "stop" him. My best friend who is the biggest kobe fan boy can even admit that Bowen played Kobe as good as you can, but he just hit some tough shots....just like he did the other night in game 5. If you're picking a short list of guys to contain Kobe to 30-35 ppg while keeping him off the line and out of the lane where he can even make your life more of a living hell, Bruce Bowen would make that list.......

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>No the point of him not getting to the FT line is to keep him from scoring efficiently. He went around this by going off on them at will from the field.</div>

him scoring efficiently has nothing to do with him not getting freethrows. Bowen tried to make him a jump shooter (this is why he didn't attempt any FTs in some games).........but Kobe is a good jump shooter, so he still got his in the end.....and at the end like I've been stating you want to

a.) keep kobe off the foul line
b.) make him a jump shooter for the most part

the spurs did this, but kobe shot well from the field and the lakers role players were much too young and athletic for the old decaying spurs........if you make a guy a jumpshooter you just have to pray that he misses....that's all you can do at that point
</div>

I don't buy the argument that Kobe only deserved 2.2 Free Throws a game the way Duncan was being protected.

Bowen did a nice job on Kobe though, so I don't see why Kobe needs to be afraid of anyone from Boston after seeing the WCF.

 

This finals will be great. Gasol will get shited on by KG.