duncan228
06-13-2010, 12:03 PM
The ugly truth about the NBA Finals (http://www.ocregister.com/articles/game-253169-odom-artest.html)
By Jeff Miller
The Orange County Register
When Ray Allen attempted 13 field goals and missed them all in Game 3, his inaccuracy was correctly noted and trumpeted.
You know, you just can't sneak things by us keen sports writers.
But less attention has been paid in this series to all the other shots that have been everything but net, to the bounce passes that have gone flat and to the consecutive Ron Artest Game 2 free throws that hit the rim as gently as would a live chicken.
Already in these Finals, the Lakers have produced a 17-point quarter, a 16-point quarter and a 15-point quarter.
The Celtics, who went almost six minutes in Game 3 without a basket, started the fourth quarter of Game 4 with just 60 points.
And, remember, that was a game Boston won.
Are these the NBA Finals or the NBA's finale? If a series could die of ugliness, this one at times would have been gasping.
"Sometimes you guys get caught up in offense, offense, offense," said Artest, who, when he's doing things like scoring two points in Game 3, doesn't have that problem. "This is a great defensive struggle. It's a great fight. That's what you're seeing out there, a great fight."
We asked Artest to clarify and, yes, he meant to say "a great fight" and not "a great fright."
Honestly, this matchup has been a little of both. It's understandable. If beautiful basketball won championships, the Phoenix Suns would be a dynasty.
When you have Glen Davis muscle waltzing inside and Derek Fisher bouncing off human stop signs and Tony Allen trying to fit Kobe Bryant with waders, the play is going to get a little, let's just say, ragged.
"It feels like street ball," Artest said. "It's so much like street ball because everybody's playing so hard. That's why you're seeing some of the stuff you're seeing. Nothing's easy."
And if this were street ball — just another pickup game — the difference here is nobody's got next.
When the only thing you're playing for is the league's history and your legacy, the extreme effort required can result in unfortunate, trying-to-do-too-much mistakes.
Like the two times in Game 4 when the Celtics could have had one-on-zero fastbreaks — literally, a pair of uncontested layups — but the guy throwing the pass ahead fired the ball too hard.
That's when the nights turn unsightly, turn rather seventh-grade gym class. But neither of those misplays best represented the gruesomeness that has appeared repeatedly through the first four games of this series.
No, that moment also came Thursday, in the first quarter, when Paul Pierce attempted to punctuate a play by triumphantly swinging his fist in the air.
Unfortunately, Pierce's shadow punch landed, right on the face of referee Eddie F. Rush, who clearly was unprepared for hand-to-hand combat.
As Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press cleverly noted, "It's the first recorded case in NBA Finals history of someone trying to punch the air — and missing."
It was not, however, the first time in this series that Pierce's right hand had inflicted cruel and unnecessary pain. Recall that in Game 2 he shot a robust 2for 11.
Before leaving his side, we asked Artest again about the choppiness of this series.
"Everybody has protected their home court so far," he explained. "That's what's happened. Everybody has protected their home court."
We didn't have the heart to mention to Artest that, technically, nobody had done that, seeing how both teams have lost at home.
So now Game 5 is upon us tonight and, in continuing our theme of ugly basketball, we decided to check in with Lamar Odom.
Through the first two games, Odom had more fouls (10) than rebounds (nine) and points (eight). He was better in Game 3, making all five of his shots and scoring 12 points.
But until the fourth quarter, Odom was so indifferent in Game 4 that Coach Phil Jackson said he figured the forward "was going to kind of sit this one out."
The Lakers are at their best when Odom is doing a lot of things, none of which involves sitting out. With Andrew Bynum's knee injury clouding the forecast for today, Odom's production becomes even more important.
The good news is, Odom called Game 5 "the biggest game of my Lakers career." The bad news is, he said he also felt that way about Games 1-4. Then he explained himself.
"It's Game 5 of the Finals," Odom said. "We're tied 2-2. It's obvious."
Well, it is obvious, obvious that the Lakers need more than Odom has provided, obvious they need to win two more times whether or not the games are pleasing to the eye.
And that's what happens when an entire season is reduced to three games. Those last two victories don't have to be beauties. They just need to be yours.
By Jeff Miller
The Orange County Register
When Ray Allen attempted 13 field goals and missed them all in Game 3, his inaccuracy was correctly noted and trumpeted.
You know, you just can't sneak things by us keen sports writers.
But less attention has been paid in this series to all the other shots that have been everything but net, to the bounce passes that have gone flat and to the consecutive Ron Artest Game 2 free throws that hit the rim as gently as would a live chicken.
Already in these Finals, the Lakers have produced a 17-point quarter, a 16-point quarter and a 15-point quarter.
The Celtics, who went almost six minutes in Game 3 without a basket, started the fourth quarter of Game 4 with just 60 points.
And, remember, that was a game Boston won.
Are these the NBA Finals or the NBA's finale? If a series could die of ugliness, this one at times would have been gasping.
"Sometimes you guys get caught up in offense, offense, offense," said Artest, who, when he's doing things like scoring two points in Game 3, doesn't have that problem. "This is a great defensive struggle. It's a great fight. That's what you're seeing out there, a great fight."
We asked Artest to clarify and, yes, he meant to say "a great fight" and not "a great fright."
Honestly, this matchup has been a little of both. It's understandable. If beautiful basketball won championships, the Phoenix Suns would be a dynasty.
When you have Glen Davis muscle waltzing inside and Derek Fisher bouncing off human stop signs and Tony Allen trying to fit Kobe Bryant with waders, the play is going to get a little, let's just say, ragged.
"It feels like street ball," Artest said. "It's so much like street ball because everybody's playing so hard. That's why you're seeing some of the stuff you're seeing. Nothing's easy."
And if this were street ball — just another pickup game — the difference here is nobody's got next.
When the only thing you're playing for is the league's history and your legacy, the extreme effort required can result in unfortunate, trying-to-do-too-much mistakes.
Like the two times in Game 4 when the Celtics could have had one-on-zero fastbreaks — literally, a pair of uncontested layups — but the guy throwing the pass ahead fired the ball too hard.
That's when the nights turn unsightly, turn rather seventh-grade gym class. But neither of those misplays best represented the gruesomeness that has appeared repeatedly through the first four games of this series.
No, that moment also came Thursday, in the first quarter, when Paul Pierce attempted to punctuate a play by triumphantly swinging his fist in the air.
Unfortunately, Pierce's shadow punch landed, right on the face of referee Eddie F. Rush, who clearly was unprepared for hand-to-hand combat.
As Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press cleverly noted, "It's the first recorded case in NBA Finals history of someone trying to punch the air — and missing."
It was not, however, the first time in this series that Pierce's right hand had inflicted cruel and unnecessary pain. Recall that in Game 2 he shot a robust 2for 11.
Before leaving his side, we asked Artest again about the choppiness of this series.
"Everybody has protected their home court so far," he explained. "That's what's happened. Everybody has protected their home court."
We didn't have the heart to mention to Artest that, technically, nobody had done that, seeing how both teams have lost at home.
So now Game 5 is upon us tonight and, in continuing our theme of ugly basketball, we decided to check in with Lamar Odom.
Through the first two games, Odom had more fouls (10) than rebounds (nine) and points (eight). He was better in Game 3, making all five of his shots and scoring 12 points.
But until the fourth quarter, Odom was so indifferent in Game 4 that Coach Phil Jackson said he figured the forward "was going to kind of sit this one out."
The Lakers are at their best when Odom is doing a lot of things, none of which involves sitting out. With Andrew Bynum's knee injury clouding the forecast for today, Odom's production becomes even more important.
The good news is, Odom called Game 5 "the biggest game of my Lakers career." The bad news is, he said he also felt that way about Games 1-4. Then he explained himself.
"It's Game 5 of the Finals," Odom said. "We're tied 2-2. It's obvious."
Well, it is obvious, obvious that the Lakers need more than Odom has provided, obvious they need to win two more times whether or not the games are pleasing to the eye.
And that's what happens when an entire season is reduced to three games. Those last two victories don't have to be beauties. They just need to be yours.