RealGM

Pick who you think will be in the finals and give me reasons why.

I don't want any responses from people who haven't watched any games because you all depress me and I think you should stay fans of basketball regardless of the corruption of the system. Hell, I still like the US even though I think it's horribly mismanaged.

I would want the Celtics to win it. I could care less about the other 3, they've been there too many times in recent memory. I know the Celtics have been there before tons of times, but I want Allen, Pierce, and Garnett to win it.

BBen wrote:I don't want any responses from people who haven't watched any games because you all depress me and I think you should stay fans of basketball regardless of the corruption of the system. Hell, I still like the US even though I think it's horribly mismanaged.

And I think anyone who tells me what I should or shouldn't be a fan of can go screw himself, so I guess that makes us even.

I didn't tell you what to do, I was expressing why I didn't want your response. I suppose I got it anyway, thanks.

BBen wrote:and I think you should stay fans of basketball regardless of the corruption of the system.

BBen wrote:I didn't tell you what to do,

Can't argue with that logic.

It was prefaced with "I think" which is never the start of a command. If you don't like my opinion... sorry?

As far as I know, (at least) two people on this board said something about boycotting the playoffs. But I have watched many of the games. I've also missed some, but when I do, I will usually watch recaps and read box-scores.

Anyway, to answer your question, I think the Celtics and Lakers will be in the finals.

Celtics & Spurs

Dick, I was disappointed with the Spurs in the Hornets series. They would not be in the finals if not for a flurry of threes. But they looked really good the first half tonight ... until Bryant took over. The Spurs just suffered a terrible offensive drought in the fourth quarter. They also might be tired after just finishing a seven game series. I think they are too old and too inconsistent (on offense) to beat the Lakers. But it should be an exciting series. Tonight's game was really good.

It's been the lakers title ever since they got Gasol for nothing

Phil Jax is unbeaten after he wins the first game in a series - and Spurs never win 2 titles in a row

Ironically, Phil will get his 10th ring by beating the team of the man who hated him so much: Red Auerbach

I despise the Lakers, so I'll be happy with anyone else at this point. It's hard to be in New York and root for the Celtics, too, as much as I love KG, Ray, Rando, and Pierce.

Ray Allen is back!

I agree big L. There's no team in basketball I hate more than the Lakers and there's not a player I respect less than Kobe. It's not that I hate him (the only player I could every rally hate was MJ) I just feel his general lack of character and overall nastiness is pretty unattractive.

Well, Kobe Bryant's personality and off-court history are hard to like. But I must admit, the Lakers have become pretty fun to watch. The triangle runs really well now with Gasol's passing.

I was really happy to see Allen get out of his shooting slump in the Celtics/Pistons series.

Yeah the Lakers look pretty good (classic Tex offense) but I'm picking them as an underdog. They look like they might be the first team to lose at home in this series and the one who does that is out in my eyes.

Vlade Radmanovic is also starting games extremely well.

I think it will be the Lakers and Pistons in the finals, with the Pistons winning the whole thing.

Though, the Lakers will win a ring or two during the next few years, when Bynum's healthy again.

The Lakers over the Spurs is an easy call. We can agree on that. But I must admit that the Celtics over the Pistons is a tougher call. It would be much easier if they had won a home game during playoffs. The reason I sided with the Celtics goes as follows. Earlier in the season, the Pistons probably had the edge because of the PG battle. That is, Billups was clearly much better than Rondo. Well, Billups had the injury last series, and Rondo has been playing really well. Rondo doesn't have to be better than Billups, but he has to play well and keep the PG battle competitive. The rest of the match-ups, position by position, are not that disparate, but I think the the Celtics have a little bit of an edge. One might argue that the Pistons have the upper hand because they've had time to mesh ... but I think the Celtics have meshed pretty well themselves.

Lakers wins 4-2 against Boston.