The Word Outta Boston...

Wile E. Coyote · Post #1 » by **Wile E. Coyote** » Thu May 20, 2010 4:43 pm

...is that they've already won the championship.

I live in southern New Hampshire, which is very close to enemy lines, and was listening to WEEI's Dale and Holley this morning/afternoon while running errands. Dale said that he thinks the Celtics will win because they have the better defense, and Michael Holley said that he thinks Garnett will have the matchup advantage over Gasol. Nevermind the fact that LA is actually a better team now than they were in 2007-08. They had Jackie MacMullan on and asked her about the series and she said she's worried about Pierce being matched up with Kobe and that he'll use up a lot of energy on the defensive end, but she also said that she thinks the Celtics have the toughest mentality of any remaining playoff teams.

I mean, I was sitting in the car gritting my teeth listening to this thinking to myself that I hope LA blows Boston out in every game. Boston media is the most homerific of any media out there.

Post #2 » by **semi-sentient** » Thu May 20, 2010 4:49 pm

I'd expect nothing less from Boston homers. The Celtics are playing fantastic though, so I have to admit I'm a bit worried since we're going through some very weak defensive teams. If we can't match their intensity and desire, we're going to lose. Simple as that.

LApwnd · Post #3 » by **LApwnd** » Thu May 20, 2010 4:57 pm

nothing will change if LA doesn't win, right now its all talk, they dominated gm 6 and it looked like our team gave up. Time to put up or shut up....look at Orl/Clev fans talking smack before the series started even analyst didn't give Bos a chance against Clev or Orl and Bos is straight killing them.

fareweatherfan · Post #4 » by **fareweatherfan** » Thu May 20, 2010 4:59 pm

Actually, I don't necessarily disagree with anything the Boston folks said. I mean, its all arguable. Boston is playing VERY well and so are we.

For the record, I never thought we were the better team in '08, but I do think we are now (slightly).

Pablo Escobar · Post #5 » by **Pablo Escobar** » Thu May 20, 2010 5:03 pm

Rondo is the key to there success if we can stop him we have a good chance of beating them plus we have that guy Kobe I heard he is pretty good lol

Edrees · Post #6 » by **Edrees** » Thu May 20, 2010 5:13 pm

I dunno, personally, if we took them to 6 games with Bynum playing worse and Ariza a nonfactor returning from injury instead of Artest, with them having home court advantage, Leon Powe, Posey, Eddie House, and they've added Sheed and Garnett is not nearly as good as he was, and we have a lot more motivation than they do, I like our chances in the series.

Boston is playing amazing ball, but the 2008 finals console me and make me feel good about this match up.

Remember, Ariza had a broken foot that year and returned In Game 2 of the finals I believe. We didn't even have Ariza! Vlad Rad/Luke was our starting SF rotation..LOL.

daddyfivestar · Post #7 » by **daddyfivestar** » Thu May 20, 2010 5:30 pm

They have that last memory (game 6 blowout) so would you really expect anything less.

The Lakers though have 5 positives:

1. A much better team that last time
- no Vlad / Luke on Pierce, its Ron Ron time
- 2/3's Bynum better than Turiaf
- Odom off the bench instead of having to start
- Pau only with LA about 50 gms at that point, now well over 200 in the Tri

2. No surprises from Boston
- they're playing great, and last time they were struggling thru 7 gamers with weak teams. LA was over hyped while Boston caught them with a surprise left (pearl jam ref

) and never let up. Not this time.
- no Posey on the second unit to pester Kobe, he will eat up Tony Allen. Sheed is decent but he's a shell of his former self, Powe/PJ did more damage last time around.

3. HCA
- and I expect it to go 6 or 7 so that's big

4. New Kobe
- '08 was the gun n gun Kobe. Since then he's realized he has to supplicate his game and facilitate, only take over when necessary and hit the game winners. It seemed to click in the playoffs last year and worked.

5. Revenge
- Lakers know they couldve taken game 1 and shouldve taken game 4 but evryone outside of Kobe and Fish were deers-in-headlights overwhelmed by the Finals (particularly Pau, Odom, Vlad). Now they're hardened champs.
- game 6. Payback's a beeotch.

Finish off the Suns and let's get to it.
Get to 16 before they get 18.

supaflash · Post #8 » by **supaflash** » Thu May 20, 2010 5:47 pm

Too early to assume either one of us will get there yet. Orlando is deep, young, and good enough to put together some games and push that team and the longer that series goes the tougher it will be on them. The Suns could also get hot at home and extend our series as well so we really shouldn't be talking about this yet...

But yes, Boston media and its people are the worst homers in sports. Like the Celtics announcers, worst crew in the NBA.

I like our match ups with them though. We have played them extremely well the last 2 years and having HC will be big, we have played so well at Staples. Cle and Orlando have just not played good ball, Boston's defense has been great, but to some degree it hasn't been THAT great.

KG is playing well, but I don't think he's still 100%, at least not to the degree he was in 08, while Pau is peaking and at his prime. Just having Drew available so that KG has to start on Pau will be a good thing. He'll have to play tough D for heavy minutes against Pau and LO. Drew looked good last night and Boston can't exploit him like PHX can. Perk isn't a quick guy, nor a great PnR guy and Drew can back off Rondo if they try to keep running him in the PnR. LO has really been fired up against the Cs since 08 as well and has really stepped up to their physical intimidation since that finals series.

Ron is our biggest thing in this series, he's playing really well right now and he has really hurt Pierce. Pierce isn't super quick anymore and that plays right into Ron's game, I think he's already gotten into Pierce's head a little this year. No way PP goes off like he did in 08. Wheelchair won't save him this time.

I still like our ability to put Kobe on Rondo, he'll stil get some stats and do some things, but Kobe will make him adjust to do it, and this time around he doesn't have to worry about switching on to Pierce when he's hot. Fish has been playing well and is fighting through screens as well as anyone lately and he is perfect to hound Allen around.

And Kobe, he's been playing so efficient and under control, while the Allens have played him well at times, this is not the same thing as going against 08 Allen, Piece, and Posey. They can't do the Kobe centric zone this time around, we're too balanced and much better finishers this time around.

Our focus has been great so far this post season. If we maintain that, come out tough and with a chip (don't think this team still doesn't want revenge for that game six..) equal to their focus and toughness I think we come out on top. All things even, I think we are the better team, especially at home. We are simply a different team then in 08, then we were offense first, outside driven, finesse team. Now we are a defense first, physical, inside team. I for one can't wait for this matchup.

beantownski · Post #9 » by **beantownski** » Thu May 20, 2010 6:01 pm

why wouldn't boston fans/media feel like they're going to win it all?!? they have a team that is playing extremely well, especially defensively. they have size, playmakers, shooting, veterans/experience, and they're playing like a team possessed (at least they have during this postseason). during the playoffs so far they have played 13 games and not once has a player lead them in scoring in back to back games. that shows true balance on the offensive end. i'm not here saying they're unbeatable, but they are looking real good right now.

TheSheriff · Post #10 » by **TheSheriff** » Thu May 20, 2010 6:30 pm

Haven't people in LA been saying the Lakers would win it all for a while? How is this different?

fareweatherfan · Post #11 » by **fareweatherfan** » Thu May 20, 2010 6:41 pm

TheSheriff wrote:Haven't people in LA been saying the Lakers would win it all for a while? How is this different?

We're Lakers fans :wink:

The Skyhook · Post #12 » by **The Skyhook** » Thu May 20, 2010 6:41 pm

I think that Boston fans deserve to be cocky and confident about their team. They are playing solid ball and nobody was expecting them to do this well. Same goes for us. Everyone was counting the Lakers out and now you got people jumping on the bandwagon.

SashAlex · Post #13 » by **SashAlex** » Thu May 20, 2010 7:43 pm

Lakers will beat the Celtics if both teams make it to the finals. Simple as that ! 8-)

ShowtimeFan · Post #14 » by **ShowtimeFan** » Thu May 20, 2010 7:45 pm

How rude for a broadcaster to favor his local team, where is his objectivity?

BTW: great post; daddyfivestar

Post #15 » by **Kilroy** » Thu May 20, 2010 8:49 pm

Trash talk is for the insecure or the under-motivated... Example: Amare...

We need to finish off Phoenix without mercy... Then we can talk about what comes next.

Let Boston go fiddle-around with Orlando for a bit... They're not our concern yet.

Let's just enjoy a satisfying beat-down of the Suns for the time being. 8-)

DubaLakers · Post #16 » by **DubaLakers** » Thu May 20, 2010 10:11 pm

I'd be curuious to know if either the Lakers or the Celtics coaching staff has 1 or 2 guys doing a Finals breakdown of each other this early.

It's probably just some video guys getting tape together for analysis at this point. Coach's requests. I'd doubt they are already breaking down tape, but who knows.

LApwnd · Post #17 » by **LApwnd** » Thu May 20, 2010 11:08 pm

DubaLakers wrote:I'd be curuious to know if either the Lakers or the Celtics coaching staff has 1 or 2 guys doing a Finals breakdown of each other this early.

It's probably just some video guys getting tape together for analysis at this point. Coach's requests. I'd doubt they are already breaking down tape, but who knows.

did you watch the Bos/Orl gm 2? There was already a laker scout there, I was wondering why they zoomed to the only guy wearing Laker shirt :lol:

and one of the commentator said it was a Laker scout.

magicfan1989 · Post #18 » by **magicfan1989** » Thu May 20, 2010 11:19 pm

Wile E. Coyote wrote:...is that they've already won the championship.

I live in southern New Hampshire, which is very close to enemy lines, and was listening to WEEI's Dale and Holley this morning/afternoon while running errands. Dale said that he thinks the Celtics will win because they have the better defense, and Michael Holley said that he thinks Garnett will have the matchup advantage over Gasol. Nevermind the fact that LA is actually a better team now than they were in 2007-08. They had Jackie MacMullan on and asked her about the series and she said she's worried about Pierce being matched up with Kobe and that he'll use up a lot of energy on the defensive end, but she also said that she thinks the Celtics have the toughest mentality of any remaining playoff teams.

I mean, I was sitting in the car gritting my teeth listening to this thinking to myself that I hope LA blows Boston out in every game. Boston media is the most homerific of any media out there.

I too live in NH and am a die-hard MAgic fan.

And I too am sickened to see that C's fans are all counting this series as over.

The Magic are a long way from dead.

Y'all won't be playing the C's in the Finals

daddyfivestar · Post #19 » by **daddyfivestar** » Fri May 21, 2010 12:50 am

LApwnd wrote:
DubaLakers wrote:I'd be curuious to know if either the Lakers or the Celtics coaching staff has 1 or 2 guys doing a Finals breakdown of each other this early.

It's probably just some video guys getting tape together for analysis at this point. Coach's requests. I'd doubt they are already breaking down tape, but who knows.

did you watch the Bos/Orl gm 2? There was already a laker scout there, I was wondering why they zoomed to the only guy wearing Laker shirt and one of the commentator said it was a Laker scout.

Was it Lakers scout Bonnie-Jill?

stunnar0b · Post #20 » by **stunnar0b** » Fri May 21, 2010 2:10 am

KB24_ILLMATIC wrote:Rondo is the key to there success if we can stop him we have a good chance of beating them plus we have that guy Kobe I heard he is pretty good lol

this guy has to much hype hes still not at the level of the big three nor will they look for him coming down the stretch we just have to think oklahoma series when it comes to rAjon rondo (cleveland and orlando thought the same way and look what happen to them,, bostons succes is going to start with the big three and end with the big three)