Energy will be everything

[Fencer reregistered]

The best Laker blog I've seen so far is this post:

http://www.forumblueandgold.com/2008/06 ... l-tip-off/

(The rest of the blog is uneven from what I can tell.)

Highlights and inferences from same include:

1. The Lakers aren't good at transition defense. Therefore the Celtics have a big opportunity if they keep running (and rebounding cleanly to enable the fast break).
2. The Lakers are a very good passing team. Against the Celtics' help defense, that's strength against strength. Whoever is crisper is apt to win at that end of the floor -- and the tiebreak goes to the passers, because balls move faster than feet.
3. If Pierce and Garnett cause foul trouble, they're apt to be causing it against the Lakers' top offense players -- Bryant, Odom, Gasol. So aggression is key.
4. Even so, the Cs will have to make jump shots. But if you think about it, that takes energy too -- partly in the fresh legs sense, but even more in moving to good position without the ball the just in case there will be a need for you to shoot.

[SLCceltic]

the team showing the most energy and desire will win

Kobe has rings, Gasol just seems happy to have a chance to win, Odom has the heart and balls of 12 dancing princesses

KG/PP/Ray et. al. seem so much more hungry
after a weeks rest, it will be all out every game for the final series

the big 3 smell blood and the each wants his first ring

i still say we take it in 6 or 5

[Fencer reregistered]

I tend to be optimistic too, but I have some fears of "Happy just to be there" syndrome.

[SLCceltic]

Happy just to b there doesnt reflect this years team


**** up what ever is in front of you;;;;;we have that say




Piss Off

[SLCceltic]

I tend to be optimistic too, but I have some fears of "Happy just to be there" syndrome.

KG wants a title, so does paul, and also Rayray----
we are the better team plain & simple.......................we will win

[GuyClinch]

If the C's don't win I sure won't blame it on happy to be there syndrome. I think our guys know time is running out and now is the time to strike. PP alluded to it in the post game of the Detroit win. He knows he might not get back here again.

Let Kobe sit back and dream about his dynasty.. We should cement that idea in our post game press conferences - talk about how great the Lakers will be NEXT YEAR.

Pete

[Fencer reregistered]

I think it will be OK, especially with a bunch of ring-wearers around to explain the difference between a win and a near-miss.

Still, I'm hoping for a joint locker-room appearance by, say, Russell, White, Hondo, Heinsohn, Parish, and Ainge, to remind them just what a CHAMPIONSHIP is.

[Gomes3PC]

If the Lakers do not play good transition defense, Ray Allen will rain down shots from all over. He lives for the transition 3. Gasol is adept at running out on fastbreaks, but seems leadfooted when trying to run back on D.

Pierce HAS to become a force on offense and attack the rim. Get Odom/Vlad/Walton/whoever in foul trouble and force Kobe to come over and guard him. That takes the energy out of Mamba and also frees up Allen.

As for Garnett, he will get his. I doubt he will cause serious foul trouble, since he is more of a jump shooter than driver like an Amare or Howard. Nobody on that Lakers team will bother his shot or push him out of positions he wants to be at; there is no Varejao to play constant 200% energy defense against him, and Varejao was really the only one to consistently bother Garnett. No way do Odom or Gasol want to get in foul trouble, and if they do, there's nothing behind them to help out (sorry Lakers fans, Turiaf is nothing).

[John from Hemet]

I tend to be optimistic too, but I have some fears of "Happy just to be there" syndrome.

Those fears are real.....the celtics really had to expend a lot of energy to get to the finals and have not been there in a long long time.

I am not saying the celtics are going to lay down for us....but the fact is we are the fresher team and have the championship experience.

[IEcelticfan]

you have bryant + fish (and jax?) who has championship experience from what....4-5yrs ago? posey+house, yeah albeit they're role bench players have also won in miami. i feel that that detroit series was their real test, they survived that. we'll see.

from mindless debates with my co-workers, of course theyre faker lovers, it seems "lose-lose" for our boys. if la wins 1 of 2 in boston then "the series is over". if we sweep both @ hm, it's "we're supposed to win at home, we're supposed to take care of business." am i the only one that thinks we're capable of winning 2 out of the 3 in la?

[Fencer reregistered]

-= original quote snipped =-


Those fears are real.....the celtics really had to expend a lot of energy to get to the finals and have not been there in a long long time.

I am not saying the celtics are going to lay down for us....but the fact is we are the fresher team and have the championship experience.

Fresher by one day of recent rest, minus a plane ride to the first game, plus a few games several weeks ago. Not a big deal.

Championship experience advantage = one star + HC. Not that big a deal either.

The Lakers have faced a better set of preparatory opponents in the playoffs this year, but I doubt that amounts to a big difference either.

[eatyourchildren]

How come Celtics fans don't like to discuss the intangible known as "clutch"