Saddest part about having lost the No. 1 seed

[TD 21]

I'm not convinced they've lost home court, but it will come down to the end, as I was saying long ago.

I actually suspect they'll win tomorrow (and thought so before I heard Nash was a no-go) and I think the Lakers will lose, if for no other reason than law of averages.

But whether they win tomorrow or not, hold onto the 1st seed or not, the question is, will this team be irreparably damaged, in the psychological sense? That, above all else, is what matters most at this point. It's not enough to have the 1st seed, they have to actually believe that they can win the championship. If they don't truly believe that, then 1st seed or not, they'll be lucky to win more than a round.

[DirkISaCocLuvinPuSSy]

murder OP!!!

[DirkISaCocLuvinPuSSy]

also. really yall?!?! ur gunna let 6 games define this season. ITS ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS. until were knocked out quit the ing and stop sending bad vibes out into the universe.

[Killakobe81]

The Celtics lost Perkins, so I don't think they can beat LAL anymore, especially w/o HCA.

OKC worries me though...they have been insanely good on both ends since acquiring Perkins. They could potentially upset LA, or at least take them to 7.

Give us another 6 games? ... yes. Upset or push to 7? ...no.

[Isitjustme?]

Very true. Artest has his #, but sooner or later you know the kid is gonna bust out.

OT: LOL at all those people saying the Lakers were dumb for basically swapping Artest and Ariza. Ron-Ron shut down the two most lethal scorers we faced last year in the PO: KD and PP. Ron is frustrating and certifiably insane, but he's such an integral part of the Laker's D--and "swag"

Pierce averaged like the same numbers in the Finals as he did in the rest of the playoffs.

[Giuseppe]

Pierce averaged like the same numbers in the Finals as he did in the rest of the playoffs.

Cept he forgot for just a split second....eased back on his heels........and just like that, Artest snatched the life right out of 'em.

[Harry Callahan]

SA would probably have a 10-20% chance of winning a series with LA at this point (even with home court). However, a lot of games have to be played to get to that point because the earliest they meet will be the WCF regardless of the home court. Dallas' really solid effort last night solidified the 1-2 spots for SA and LA.

LA would probably require a Kendrick Perkins moment to be truly beatable.

However, that is why you play this out. Stuff can happen. It did last year to Boston in Game 6 in the finals.

The #2 or #1 spot is OK. LA can win in SA and vice versa.

[SenorSpur]

The Celtics lost Perkins, so I don't think they can beat LAL anymore, especially w/o HCA.

OKC worries me though...they have been insanely good on both ends since acquiring Perkins. They could potentially upset LA, or at least take them to 7.

That's partly because the OKC coach not only talks and preaches defense, he practices it and has the players to implement it. Unlike Pop, Scott Brooks believes it's best to roll out a 4-man (Ibaka) that can rebound and defend, versus one (Bonner), whose only skill is clanging shots from the 3-pt line and is a tremendous defensive liability, to boot.