Mark Stein: Boston has clearly been the better team so far.

Gant · Post #1 » by **Gant** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:01 am

Fine article (via Celticsblog).

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2 ... Gm2-080609

A few paragraphs:

"The Celtics are repeatedly finding the open man (31 assists on 36 field goals on Sunday) and hitting their 3-pointers (clutch 9-for-14 accuracy from long range). They're also winning the physicality game on the front line as well as lots of individual battles, whether it's young Rajon Rondo (16 assists) playing beyond his years against the cagey Fisher or Sunday's Cinderella, Leon Powe, who dominated more experienced energy guys like Ronny Turiaf and Luke Walton to score 21 points in 15 minutes.

It likewise didn't hurt Boston that Paul Pierce -- although not quite at full speed after his Game 1 sprained knee scare -- was moving well enough to score a highly efficient 28 points and win his own duel with a certain reigning MVP named Kobe Bryant. Pierce's performance included 4-for-4 shooting from long distance, eight bonus assists and a game-saving block in crunch time. Kobe had to work a lot harder for his 30 points and eight dimes, then failed to even touch the ball on L.A.'s last-ditch possession with 15 seconds to go after Pierce's two free throws put Boston up by four.

Free throws were undeniably an all-night factor, but so was the Lakers' defense, largely because they haven't played much yet in this series. The Lakers are likewise guilty -- as in Game 1 -- of going long stretches without getting the ball inside to Gasol, which was particularly costly in Game 2 because Pau was so hot early. The Spaniard highlighted his 6-for-6 start from the floor with a gorgeous baseline spin and dunk on Kevin Garnett that the Lakers simply had to build on."

Post #2 » by **TMU** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:11 am

There's nothing new in this article really.
Didn't Stein say that the Lakers will win the series in 5? We'll see about that.

lkrdynsty · Post #3 » by **lkrdynsty** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:17 am

LAKER FAN HERE

YEAH THAT WAS SOME BS WITH THE FREETHROWS BUT GAMES OVER NOW AND C FANS WILL BE COMPLAINING ABOUT GAME 3 & 4 WHEN WE GET TO THE LINE MORE THAN YALL..UNFORTUNATLEY ITS ALL ABOUT $$$ AND EXTENDING THE SERIES...SERIES WONT BE LEGIT TILL GAME 5

WITH THAT SAID MY DAD IS A DIE HARD C'S FAN AND IM A DIE HARD LAKER FAN AND HE IS ONE OF THOSE OLD SCHOOL PAY IT BY THE BOOK KIND OF GUYS...HE IS UPSET BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS REF BIAS IN GAME 2 HE SAYS IS WANTS TO WIN FAIR AND SQUARE AND NOT HAVE THE REFS HAND THE C'S GAMES...ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY OF THIS EXPERIENCES WERE A CELTIC FAN IS MAD BECAUSE THE NBA WILL NOT LET THEM PLAY FAIR & SQAURE???

Post #4 » by **wetsthebed** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:20 am

Is typing in all caps really necessary?

3pt % · Post #5 » by **3pt %** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:28 am

FYI

Gomes3PC · Post #6 » by **Gomes3PC** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:33 am

I think this was my favorite part:

"We have to clean up some of the things we're doing," Fisher conceded.

It's a rather long list, actually -- a list far longer than pre-Finals forecasts (most of which heavily favored L.A.) would ever have suggested.

Kind of like your forecast Stein (Lakers in 5)??

Wonder if the Celtics take the title whether some of these guys will do a mea culpa for taking the Lakers in 4 or 5. I can see if you think Lakers in 6/7, but I swear you had to be crazy to think Lakers in 4/5.

bruno sundov · Post #7 » by **bruno sundov** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:35 pm

Mark,

Are you sure the celts are better team? They are only up 2-0. Are you sure you want to go out there and say that?

MyInsatiableOne · Post #8 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:25 pm

bruno sundov wrote:Mark,

Are you sure the celts are better team? They are only up 2-0. Are you sure you want to go out there and say that?

tombattor · Post #9 » by **tombattor** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:31 pm

Mark Stein is the same **** that's been ranking us #2~5 in the power ranking all year, while Hollinger's had us #1 most of the season.

**** his fat ass!

TommyPoints · Post #10 » by **TommyPoints** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:33 pm

Its nice that he is talking good about our team now, but I really dont respect much he has to say. The guy easily knows less than most people on this board.

Celtic Esquire · Post #11 » by **Celtic Esquire** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:48 pm

Stein can suck it.

He had the Lakers winning the series in five games. WTH!?!?!

MyInsatiableOne · Post #12 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:04 pm

Celtic Esquire wrote:Stein can suck it.

He had the Lakers winning the series in five games. WTH!?!?!

In his mind that could probably still happen!