Laker fan here..

[ShowtimeFan]

Celtic fans hate LA? go ahead, I live in OC (about 45 minutes away from LA), that is Orange County, you know, where Disneyland is.. I am not too fond of LA either and rarely ever go there.

Anyway, before the Playoffs I was pretty sure that if the Lakers played the Celtics (for the Championship), the Celtics would run right over them, just like they did in the regular season (TWICE)...

But, seeing the Lakers go 12-3 in the Playoffs and the Celts sitting there at 11-8 and could easily end up 12-9, I think the Lakers have a decent chance.

There is one fact that should at least concern Celtic fans and that is the Play-off schedule, it is 2-3-2, meaning if the Lakers can get a split in firsttwo games, (which they have won FOUR road games in the Playoffs vs the Celtics winning only ONE) the Lakers will be heading back home for 3 straight home games (the Celtics are 3-7 in Playoff Road Games)... CONCERNED?

Bottom line is, I am just happy both Teams are powerhouses again and happier that they will probably be meeting again, if the Celts win it all, I will not complain as they had a steller season and probably deserve it, but I will be rooting big-time for the Lakers...

And these teams will probably be meeting in the Finals for the next 2 or 3 years...Good Luck tonight!

[Dogen]

I don't really care for the 2-3-2 format but also don't have any better plan. The idea, I suppose, is to neutralize the homecourt advantage somewhat, and also limit the back and forth travel involved in the 2-2-1-1-1 format.

But if Boston does hold court for the first two games, then the pressure is really on the Lakers to win three in a row at home-- not an easy task.

The solution is simple: Celtics win the first two games. Also not easy!
Let's not give away the homecourt advantage we worked so hard for all year.

Celtics in 6.

[canman1971]

Thanks. All the "I hate LA" stuff, IMO, is pretty silly from a city standpoint. If you don't like it, don't visit. Most have probably never been, like myself. I do respect the rivalry with the Lakers and hate LA in those regards, but it is purely sports/competetiveness related.

On to playing the Lakers in the finals, well, if we get there it'll be fun, but it is way to premature to even speculate who would win. The Lakers are already there, so they can, but the Celtics are not, so I'll reserve my observations until a later date. (Hopefully I get the chance)

[BrokenLeftyJumper]

(the Celtics are 3-7 in Playoff Road Games)... CONCERNED?

If that were true, I would be far from concerned, I would be delighted.

[Dogen]

BTW, my biggest concern about games 1 and 2 is Doc and Phil. We know the Lakers know how important a split would be. Phil Jackson is a proven championship-level coach, and he would just love to overtake Red as coach with most titles, especially against Boston.

Doc Rivers is going to need to be at the top of HIS game to get the first two.



BTW, I am still aware that Celtics haven't got past Detroit yet.

Just sayin'. Hypothetical like.

[bru87tr]

I am pretty sure the celtics dont want phil to overtake reds tops for titles. that will be one tiny motivation.

this of course is if the celtics beat detroit. but its gonna be tough for them to win the last two games.

I like the lakers, this isnt the 80's. I like the way they play and have been watching every game. Kobe is the best all around scorer in the league. if we get there it will be a great finals with a big audience.

records, once you get to the finals means nothing. its 0-0 and a whole other level. lets not forget the celtics have learned alot and grown up in the playoffs in the first year together. they were the best road team in the regular season. records mean nothing in the finals, if we make it, expect PP and KG to be monsters against the lakers. hopefully RA will bring it too and his slump is much in the past.

BTW: I really, really enjoyed watching the lakers take down the spurs. I was hoping LA would win. now the celts need to take care of business to have a great finals thats been due for years.

[UGA Hayes]

Forgetting whether we make it to the finals or not, there is pretty good evidence that the Lakers record isn't indicative of how good they really are. As crazy as it sounds Kendrick Perkins is becoming the most important guy to our success. He is the one guy against Detroit and in a hypothetical matchup against LA who sort of creates isses due to his bulk and that he inexplicably good at guarding peremiter oriented guys (not named McDyess.)

[bruno sundov]

[quote="canman1971"]Thanks. All the "I hate LA" stuff, IMO, is pretty silly from a city standpoint. If you don't like it, don't visit. Most have probably never been, like myself. I do respect the rivalry with the Lakers and hate LA in those regards, but it is purely sports/competetiveness related.

I hate LA!!! The city is an actual poophole. Nothing of any significance besides a few rocks bands has come out of LA. I have spent time in LA and would never go back. The city is flat and spread out. There isn't a whole lot you can do without a car. The place really does suck. Therfore the lakers suck and their star is a felon.

[John from Hemet]

Thanks. All the "I hate LA" stuff, IMO, is pretty silly from a city standpoint. If you don't like it, don't visit. Most have probably never been, like myself. I do respect the rivalry with the Lakers and hate LA in those regards, but it is purely sports/competetiveness related.

I hate LA!!! The city is an actual poophole. Nothing of any significance besides a few rocks bands has come out of LA. I have spent time in LA and would never go back. The city is flat and spread out. There isn't a whole lot you can do without a car. The place really does suck. Therfore the lakers suck and their star is a felon.

I am really hoping your team finishes off the Pistons.....I want to see my lakers pound Boston to dust and listen to you cry about it.

And I already told you about the "felon" stuff......prove it or STFU

[Joyeuse]

You know, as for the 2-3-2, I'm not sure why the Celtics should be concerned about splitting the first two home games if the Lakers aren't concerned about dropping one of their three straight home games. I fully expect this series to come back to Boston for a game 6, and at that point Boston will either be up 3-2 and have the potential to close it out by winning just one of two games, or they will be down 2-3 and have to close out two straight games at home (hard, but not impossible by any stretch of the imagination). Why should we assume Boston will lose one at home in a two-game stretch and the Lakers won't in a three-game stretch? That seems counter-intuitive.

EDIT: Same applies to the Pistons if they make the finals.

[Fencer reregistered]

I hate LA!!! The city is an actual poophole. Nothing of any significance besides a few rocks bands has come out of LA. I have spent time in LA and would never go back. The city is flat and spread out. There isn't a whole lot you can do without a car. The place really does suck. Therfore the lakers suck and their star is a felon.

I grew up in Beverly Hills, which is surrounded on all sides by LA, so I'd be quite happy to see nonsense like the above toned down.

The part about needing a car is correct. Beyond that:

LA is a fairly young metropolitan area. Almost nothing of interest happened there until the 20th Century.

The movie/TV industry has been HUGE for the world. It has transformed leisure. It also has transformed society, and not always for the worse (e.g., it's regarded as instrumental in the fall of the Iron Curtain). And by the way, if you're a sports fan you should think kindly of the industry. And that's heavily centered in LA.

Cal Tech and UCLA are a pretty decent combo of important universities. They don't rival what's in the Boston area (of course) or even SF. But few other cities in the world if any outclass LA in that respect, and not all that many even surpass it.

[Big Bird]

Another Laker fan here. I'm from far away and am not into the whole rivalry thing since I've started watching the NBA in '93 or '94, so I feel no hate, resentment or whatever. The only thing I honestly feel is excitment. I'm completely stoked about the possible matchup against the Celtics. I mean who wouldn't be? The best team of the West vs. the best team of the East and the holder of the best regular season record. I wouldn't want it any other way. The three standout players on each of the teams alone should probably be enough for one of the most exciting Finals in a long time. Not to mention Garnett and Allen have been on my list of favourite players for a long time (that of course changes for the 7 game span, should we meet ).

I can hardly wait! I just hope that if this does happen, that it will live up to the hype and be a great series.

cheers

[dwestside]

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I am really hoping your team finishes off the Pistons.....I want to see my lakers pound Boston to dust and listen to you cry about it.

And I already told you about the "felon" stuff......prove it or STFU

Classy. A civil thread excited about the notion of a rivalry renewed and you have to come in here and lower the civil discourse to that of a 10 year old.

[15th overall]

Kudos to the classy Laker fans.

Boo bruno sundov and that one Laker fan flirting with him.

[Fencer reregistered]

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Classy. A civil thread excited about the notion of a rivalry renewed and you have to come in here and lower the civil discourse to that of a 10 year old.

If he's really from Hemet, don't take him as typical at all.

That said -- he wasn't the instigator. He was the retaliator.

[greenbeans]

the rivalry when it matters:
Bos 8-2

[DEEP3CL]

the rivalry when it matters:
Bos 8-2

Irrelevant 7 of those were before you were even born and you know it.

So since the 80's it 2-1 Lakers in the modern NBA, and Boston currently on a 22 year drought.

I look forward to debating with you greenbeans you seem like a cool guy to go at with.

[greenbeans]

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Irrelevant 7 of those were before you were even born and you know it.

So since the 80's it 2-1 Lakers in the modern NBA, and Boston currently on a 22 year drought.

I look forward to debating with you greenbeans you seem like a cool guy to go at with.

i look forward to rubbing the ownage of the celtics over the lakers in your face whenever you want

[John from Hemet]

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Classy. A civil thread excited about the notion of a rivalry renewed and you have to come in here and lower the civil discourse to that of a 10 year old.

I dont meant to ruffle the feathers of the regular fan base....but every time this guy refers to Kobe he calls him a felon or a rapist in nearly EVERY POST

Kobe Bryant was giulty of bad judgement. He was not found giulty of rape because the goldigging, institutionalized, crack whore he messed around with had to much semen on her body from different men to be even the smallest bit credible and didnt even have the courage to take the stand because she wanted to move on to the civil trial looking for money.

He is not a rapist or a felon (which you have to be convicted of something to be by definition) he is a guy who made a stupid mistake.

Sorry.....I just wanted to set that straight. Back to basketball and I apologize anybody I offended.

[DEEP3CL]

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i look forward to rubbing the ownage of the celtics over the lakers in your face whenever you want

Well in reality you are right man can't change history,so I'm not bitter about that. Just to let you know I'm not a sarcastic type dude I just like to debate the facts and talk ball.

I know from my end I'll always keep it civil because bottom line is I don't respond to stupid or ignorant posters just guys I know have some level of intelligence. Some times I'll rip the young buck who I know are fresh off the mommas nipple !

But like I said greenbeans.......................2-1 Lakers in modern NBA !!!