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LOL. Looks like Lakers winning 5 in the 80's has hit a sore point with Masshole.
Rosen's mysterious love affair with Bryant continues. It used to be he couldn't stand him. Since '08, there's seemingly no one in the history of the game he loves more. He did a complete 180 on Bryant and Duncan, for that matter, in '08. Despite the fact that from all accounts Duncan is precisely the type of player he likes; while Bryant is the exact opposite.http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/l...matchups-53010
Ray Allen vs. Kobe Bryant
Inevitably, the focus of both the media and the Celtics defense will be on Kobe Bryant. But, even though Boston managed to control LeBron James, subduing Kobe is an entirely different story. This is because, although LBJ knows how to ac ulate MVP numbers, he still doesn't fully understand how to play the game.
Notice that virtually all of LeBron's passes are meant to be assists. Not simple reverse passes, or passes that lead to assist-passes, but only home runs. Also, aside from his shaky outside shooting and his powerhouse attacks on the rim, LeBron has no middle-game. Not to mention his dismal performances in critical playoff games.
Kobe, on the other hand, is the only player, alive or dead, who can reasonably be mentioned in the same breath as His Airness.
As such, there's no way that Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, or even Tom Thibodeau can hope to hamper Kobe's offensive explosions. In order to somehow dim Kobe's brilliance, the Celtics will have to come up with drastic defensive schemes. But doubling him -- whether on the catch or on the move -- is dangerous because he's such an unselfish and alert passer, and because the Lakers move so well without the ball. And playing a zone is heresy in Boston. The Celtics will simply have to overplay Kobe on one side or the other and try to force him into help areas.
Good luck.
At the other end of the equation, Kobe has the quickness and the determination to find his way around and over the perpetual screens that the Celtics must necessarily set to generate good looks for Ray Allen. Should Kobe get hung up on one of Kendrick Perkins' marginally moving screens, Pau Gasol has the length to reach into Allen's kitchen from a distance if a switch is called for. Plus, Perkins isn't much of a threat when rolling after screening, so LA's baseline rotations will be elementary.Artest vs Pierce is a lopsided matchup in the Lakers favor? This old man is such a blatant Lakers fan that he doesn't even attempt to conceal it anymore. Just saying flat out ridiculous things. Pierce may not be the same consistent scorer he was two seasons ago, but Artest isn't the same defender he was then either.
Paul Pierce vs. Ron Artest
The Lakers' other lopsided matchup pairs Ron Artest against Paul Pierce At age 33, the Celtics' money man has lost his million-dollar first step. Moreoever, his game is frequently reduced to chump change when facing a defender who's stronger, but still has quick feet and quick hands. Artest has all of these qualifications, along with a mean streak and an almost-maniacal desire to be the ultimate stopper. This means that Boston's routine top-of-the-key clear outs for Pierce won't yield the same dividends that they normally do.
At the other end, Artest can bull through Pierce on his way to the hoop and the offensive glass. The Celtics will smartly challenge Ron-Ron to knock down open shots while they point their defense at Kobe. And if Artest can repeat his Game 6 accuracy, the Lakers could sweep.
Odom is taller and longer than Garnett? Since when? Odom is 6-10 and long, but Garnett is 6-11 and longer (though it's well known that he's actually really a 7-footer; in fact I once heard he's actually 7-1)Kevin Garnett vs. Pau Gasol
Garnett is another Celtic who finds himself on the short end of a Finals matchup. Gasol has the size and the tricks to bury KG in the low post, while Lamar Odom is likewise taller, longer, quicker, and much younger. How much help can Boston afford to provide Garnett?
Meanwhile, Garnett is well past his prime and has been reduced to being little more than a jump shooter. He's certainly capable of dropping mid-range and turnaround springers, but he'll surely give up more points than he scores.
Not that he's wrong about Garnett's decline, but he's also made it abundantly clear over the years that he can't stand him and when Rosen can't stand a player, he can't analyze them without that bias being in effect. No matter what Garnett does in this series, even if he turns back the clock for a game or two, he'll still take a shot or two or make a backhanded compliment at him.Rondo is one of the five best PG's in the league at this point. He won't be a "picnic" for anyone to guard.
Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher
Rondo has nearly every conceivable advantage over Fisher. Quickness, speed, rebounding prowess, creativity in the paint, along with an incredible defensive presence. But does any right-minded NBA fan still insist that Fisher is the Lakers weak link?
Fisher's mastery of the triangle offense enables him to find open spaces from which to launch his super-clutch jumpers. And he's also the NBA's best position-defender at the point.
For sure, Rondo will wreak his usual havoc, but Fisher will also make his mark knwon. After all, on the heels of dealing with Steve Nash, guarding Rondo is a picnic -- one with lots of ants crawling all over everything in sight, but a picnic nevertheless.
In the end, the Lakers will dare Rondo to make jump shots. The question will be, can he make them?Just like he can't stand Garnett, he despises Bynum. He's frustrated with him, because he knows if he came close to maximizing his considerable talent the Lakers would be close to unbeatable...which is Rosen's wet dream.
Kendrick Perkins vs. Andrew Bynum
Kendrick Perkins
However, guarding Gasol won't be quite so easy for Perkins. Yes, he bullied Gasol in 2008, but the Lakers' longsome center — he's listed at 7-1, but by personal experience he's at least 7-3 — had been with LA for less than half a season back then. These days, there are several more triangular options that Gasol can go to, including face-ups and operating from the high post.
Actually, Rasheed Wallace is better suited to properly defend Gasol. However, any potential Odom-Wallace pairing also favors the Lakers because LO is comfortable playing defense in 3-point territory and should also be able to escape Rasheed's clutches with his speed, quickness, and full-court versatility.
Gasol is "at least" 7-3? Since when? He's listed at 7-0; not 7-1, like Rosen claims. I buy that he's 7-1, but he's definitely not at least 7-3.
As usual, excuses galore for Gasol. "Only been with the Lakers for half a season"? But I thought then it was "he's a perfect fit, who's made a seamless transition"? Now in retrospect, because that got pushed around and discouraged, he makes excuses for him.
The Battle of the Benches
Other important backup and/or off-the-bench matchups include the following:
• Jordan Farmar versus Ray Allen at the point, with the former being too quick and the latter being too smart. Also, Farmar's streaky shooting and penchant for making mistakes gives Allen the edge.
• Farmar versus Nate Robinson. Can Robinson be trusted to produce positive results at this level of compe ion? A few treys, perhaps, but he's sure to get discombobulated by the triangle offense.
• Shannon Brown is a wildcard at both backcourt spots. He's another spotty spot shooter, but he can jump and touch a star. Trouble is that Brown is so dunk-conscious that he commits too many charging fouls.Isn't this the exact type of ignorant comment Rosen made two years ago going into this series? As if the Celtics collectively DON'T have the will and the way to dominate this series, no, only Bryant does. The ironic thing is, the Celtics are the exact type of team he loves; while the Lakers are the exact opposite. Yet he's such a Jackson and now Bryant homer that he's seemingly forgotten that.
The Finals word
In the long view, Odom's scoring potential trumps whatever points Boston's subs can manage. If the Lakers defense is most vulnerable against screen/rolls, the Celtics don't normally employ as many as either Phoenix, Utah, or Oklahoma City. The Lakers' younger legs will run them into more easy scores, but the longer periods between games will benefit Boston's high-mileage pedal extremities.
Boston's defensive rotations will have to be impeccable, and Ray Allen will have to shoot the lights out for the Celtics to play on even terms with LA. Both possibilities are well within the realm of probability.
But ultimately, there's no getting past the reality that Kobe has both the will and the way to dominate the series, which is why the Lakers will triumph in six games.
There's good reason for picking the Lakers and ultimately, they probably will win. But to act like the Celtics have to play out of their minds and get lucky just to compete with the Lakers is ridiculous. They're eminently capable of beating them.
The Celtics have always had similarities to the Spurs (at least since they formed this nucleus) and now they have one more...they get no respect. Without home court, they just beat the two teams with the best regular season records, in less than seven games no less and at worst, those two teams were thought of as top three teams entering the playoffs. Many were saying at the time that they were the top two teams. Yet it's all about the Lakers, as always.
Last edited by TD 21; 05-30-2010 at 11:24 PM.
LOL. Looks like Lakers winning 5 in the 80's has hit a sore point with Masshole.
Mogrovejo owned this thread rofl.
@ op's asshole falling out, ava devine style
I hope Boston wins only because I hate the Lakers more but the Lakers have too much for Boston.
One thing that has NOT changed since `08...
The lakers are still SOFT
and the Celtics are still a tough defensive minded team
this won't be as close as everyone thinks
Celtics in 5---but counting the REFS factor---Celtics in 6
lol at people thinking that Artest makes the lakers tougher
How dumb are you Ghazi, really
Here is my detailed analysis:
The Celtics will on the Lakers
That's okay...they owed us one after all the gangbangs we laid on them over the years.
A part of me is laughing at how pathetic Spur fans are that they would jump to the CELTIC bandwagon of all teams. The Celtics epitomize baggery in ways nobody else can match. If you want to go cheer for KG "I'm gonna bully deez s" for an entire series then be my guest. I'd rather eat mixed with throw up.
Back to the topic at hand. The Celtics don't have the personnel they once did. Their defensive mindset will be the same, but they can't put the same kind of pressure on the Lakers that they did in '08. Even if they could, the Lakers are much better equipped to handle it. They have Bynum, Artest, and more importantly a mindset that they aren't going to be bullied around by the Celtics.
Since '08 their head to head record is 3-1, in favor of LA. The only loss coming in a game in which Kobe Bryant didn't even play. I still stand by my original analysis. The Celtic's offense will be their demise. They won't be able to put up enough points to hang with the Lakers. This Finals goes 5-6 games max.
And how many points did you win this year's game by? 20? 30? I'll let you look it up. :p
And how many points did the Celtics beat the Lakers by without their best player?
The Lakers punked the out of the Celtics last season ending both double digit win streaks. Both games had playoff atmosphere and it was quite clear which team had the match-up advantage.
Now it's even more apparent with Ron in LA. Pierce is scared less.
Do you know how sex works?
And after the Suns were done Spur fan, the greedy suckers that they are, eagerly slurped Phoenix's ty for the entirety of the Lakers series.
So, no then?
The part most people still don't get is the Lakers defense is vastly improved from 08. Looking forward to the Lakers defense vs the Celtics offense matchup. The Celtics will find out they are not the only ones that can defend.
You're a virgin. We get it.
Am I? It seems you're the one who doesn't know how sex works.
No that would be you actually
Whatever you say Rati
lol missionary anal
I mean I guess you can equate anal sex with ass . But that's not how he meant it
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