Finals/Gm. 2 - Lakers @ Celtics/ 6:00 PT/ 9:00 ET

[milesfides]

When you have a soft team who does nothing but shoots jumpers all nite that goin to happen....

Soft, as in posterizing Kevin Garnett and getting fouled by him several times for the and-one - except without the whistle?

[Verbal]

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I don't really blame him. The clock was running down, and even if he hit a three, we need enough time to foul, then put up another shot. We needed to take a shot fairly early in the shot clock.

I'm just disappointed in the play that was called. We need a better inbounds play than that to get Kobe the ball.

That double screen Reggie Miller gets off-the-ball might work out for Kobe.

But we need a better facilitator than Farmar to execute the Mark Jackson role in that offensive set.

[LLcoleJ]

Honestly, I think you guys have ALOT of other stuff to worry about besides complaining and crying about the referees... How about not letting a Role player (Powe) go coast to coast right after a timeout...

Warned for trolling

[Minhee]

Good job Phil.

[Verbal]

[quote="milesfides"][/quote]

Kobe + Shooters. The easiest formula to use, but it sure is a gamble.

I mentioned it in years past, but we're better than that now.


Greatest comeback in NBA History?

Wouldn't have that been a treat.

I guess we'll have to settle for a 4-2 sweep?

[Mr.Monday Night]

Lol, So it was all the refs.. it wasn't the 50+ points our bench scored.. or the 17 assists rondo had with 1 TO(?) or the 20+ points Powe had.. Mostly off dunks and points in the paint,, in 15 minutes.. Or what about the wierd substitution Phil Jackson had which was Doc Rivers-like.. Putting all the subs in the game without a real scorer? Another thing,,,, every game is going to be reffed differently.. one game they might call everything, the next they might let them play.. It's up to the players to adjust..

[magic1fan]

Lol, So it was all the refs.. it wasn't the 50+ points our bench scored.. or the 17 assists rondo had with 1 TO(?) or the 20+ points Powe had.. Mostly off dunks and points in the paint,, in 15 minutes.. Or what about the wierd substitution Phil Jackson had which was Doc Rivers-like.. Putting all the subs in the game without a real scorer? Another thing,,,, every game is going to be reffed differently.. one game they might call everything, the next they might let them play.. It's up to the players to adjust..

lmao that's easy for boston fans to say the refs were on their team. we got a glimpse of how the game would have went if the refs didn't cheat. then to stick to the script,as soon as the lakers get close they call weak fake fouls again.

[Mike35]

Has the Lakers every lost a game the refs didnt take from them?

[shobe_81]

Thanks Miles,

How can we keep this guy playing a SF? I'd much rather him not play or come off the bench at the 4 spot. It's not like Luke freaking Walton is going to lock down Powe or hit 3's playing at the 4 spot like he did today! And Radman isn't even a consistent 3'pt shooter, he misses simple open 3's. I'd much rather him snowboard and fake an injury instead of play for the Lakers.

Move Kobe to SF and Put Sasha at 2! Take the freaking chances with Kobe guarding Pierce even if it tires out Kobe, it's not like Kobe is resting against Allen off all those screens and running! Kobe does a good job in denying the ball to Pierce. And Pierce won't be easily getting to the basket when Kobe guards him.

We've gotta make Pierce a jump-shooter, when he blows by Radman, he completely breaks down the defense and give easy dunks to other players!

And how about the 4th quarter at like the 4:30 mark, the ball bounced right off the rim and Radman just didn't even grab the ball and gave up a 2 point lay-up to Ray Allen. COME ON, it was a simple rebound, a very simple rebound he didn't even attempt to grab. The ball came right at him and flew over his head.

AND WHY do we keep going on top of the screens? Make Fisher go under the screen and give Rondo the jumper, cause Rando keeps driving and breaking down the defense when we try to go over the screen, and Gasol isn't quick enough to stay with him and if he does, Rondo give KG a wide open jumper!

And it seems apparent that Odom won't do anything on offense this series, nor will the triangle work well, our best bet is to run the high pick-n-roll with Kobe & Gasol or start Kobe at the low-post or Post Gasol up! Sadly on 3 plays.

[dockingsched]

any thoughts on ariza? i think he showed he's simply a step slow. he can't be expected to miss months and months and come into the nba finals and contribute. he got his shot and was never seen again. time to end the ariza hopes.

[LongLiveHinkie]

Sixers fan here. Quite frankly, I hate the Lakers as the rivalry goes back many years. But I hate Boston much more. So I am pulling for you guys big time in this series and I think you guys can and will still win.

Remember a few years ago, Miami went down 0-2 and won 3 straight. The Lakers are ballin at home, and I think they should be able to take all 3. But a few things need to happen. I think they need to work on attacking the glass better and spreading the floor better. The offense looks out of rhythm. Partly because of Boston's defense, but you guys need to pick it up on your end too.

The Lakers are definitely better than they are showing and hopefully the home stretch gets the team on a roll.

[Minhee]

Remember a few years ago, Miami went down 0-2 and won 3 straight.

That was then and this is now. That was Dallas and this is Boston. That was Dwyane Wade whom the refs were ordered to send to the line if the shot doesn't go in. This is Kobe Bryant where the refs do not believe in giving him any free throws.

[milesfides]

Has the Lakers every lost a game the refs didnt take from them?

Sure, all you have to do is go back Game One.

We settled for a lot of jumpers and didn't rebound.

Game Two? Rebounding was even, the Lakers made a concerted effort to attack the basket, I think we shot only 1 three pointer in the first quarter, 5 by the end of the first half.

Only 10 free throws. That's astounding.

You take away Leon Powe, that's still a 25-10 advantage for the Celtics. KG and Pierce took an awful lot of jump shots, and Perkins, the only consistent post player took 3.

That's a very big discrepancy, and more than that, 10 free throws is an astonishingly small number for the Lakers, especially considering how they played the game, and I can already count at least half a dozen clear fouls that weren't called - many which the ABC commentators, Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy duly noted when they occurred.

[Lakeshow2008]

I am still in shock.

First off, let me say, the refs were atrocious today. Absolutely gives credit to those conspiracy theorists who think the nba is fixed and the refs call games to stretch out a series. Those who are saying the nba wants this series to go seven games may get there wish.

The fact that Powe had MORE free throws than our whole damn team is a disgrace. Yes, refs are human and make mistakes, but this free throw disparity is disgusting. This team relies on a motion offense and boston got call after call and it was not allowing us to get puts off fast breaks.


Great heart shown by our team at the end and I think if we would have pulled that game out, the lakers win in 5. Now, best case scenario is we win in 6, we have to dig ourselves out of 0-2 hole which will be difficult but can happen as long as we win out in la.

Our Big Three grades for tonight:

Kobe: B. Did not drive enough and draw enough fouls. The refs of course put there whistles on break when we were on offense but still I felt in the first half especially, kobe settled for J's. He played fantastic in the 4th getting his offense and staying the facilator.

Gasol: A. His offense was great, he was aggresive, he facialized KG, and played decent D on him. Gasol needs to play like this every game here out.

Odom: D. If it was a regular season game, he would get a B. But this is the god damn finals. You cant play out of control and you must do your best to stay on the floor and not pick up fouls. 10 points and 7 boards is not going to cut it from your third option in the finals.

Other Lakers:

Radmonivic: Paul Pierce has made him his B-tch. We need someone else on Pierce. He made a couple clutch Defensive plays but he looks disinterested at times and that is no acceptable.

Farmar: Played well, made some quality shots and played rondo better than fisher tonight. Also, what I liked was when we were down 20+ in the fourth farmar played with confidence. Fish looked a step slow tonight.

I hope we win out at home. I believe we can.

[Anklebreaker702]

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lmao that's easy for boston fans to say the refs were on their team. we got a glimpse of how the game would have went if the refs didn't cheat. then to stick to the script,as soon as the lakers get close they call weak fake fouls again.

That's a true statement. That foul they called for Pierce was fitting to what happened all game. Nobody touched Pierce but without that call we steal that game more than likely

[LongLiveHinkie]

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That was then and this is now. That was Dallas and this is Boston. That was Dwyane Wade whom the refs were ordered to send to the line if the shot doesn't go in. This is Kobe Bryant where the refs do not believe in giving him any free throws.

Well this Lakers team is better than that Miami team, and that Mavs team was better than this Celtics team. But that is neither here nor there.

The point is, going down 0-2 doesn't make it over, and when the series ends, the Lakers are the better team and they will come out on top. You guys got robbed by the refs and still had a shot to win both games. That tells me that in LA when the refs favor the Lakers, you'll be fine. Then when you get momentum going, you can steal one in Boston.

[milesfides]

any thoughts on ariza? i think he showed he's simply a step slow. he can't be expected to miss months and months and come into the nba finals and contribute. he got his shot and was never seen again. time to end the ariza hopes.

Yeah, I'm glad Phil tried it though. Either Ariza is too rusty, or maybe too many people thought he was a defensive stopper. Probably something in between. He likes to play passing lanes and get out on the break. Pierce was getting by him awfully easily though.

I thought Ariza played great D on KG, though. Maybe try that! Lol.

[Anklebreaker702]

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Well this Lakers team is better than that Miami team, and that Mavs team was better than this Celtics team. But that is neither here nor there.

The point is, going down 0-2 doesn't make it over, and when the series ends, the Lakers are the better team and they will come out on top. You guys got robbed by the refs and still had a shot to win both games. That tells me that in LA when the refs favor the Lakers, you'll be fine. Then when you get momentum going, you can steal one in Boston.

Thanks for the encouragement Westbrook. Hopefully we go back to Boston up 3-2

[milesfides]

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That was then and this is now. That was Dallas and this is Boston. That was Dwyane Wade whom the refs were ordered to send to the line if the shot doesn't go in. This is Kobe Bryant where the refs do not believe in giving him any free throws.

I was a little surprised at the difference between how the refs call the game for Kobe and KG. KG is the defensive player of the year, but Kobe and KG both received just as many first team all-defense votes. However, the votes come from coaches, not the refs.

It was just a little unsettling, to see replays in which KG is hacking people's arms, without it getting called, while Kobe is called for ticky-tack contact.

But then again, Kobe's never really gotten that type of defensive respect from the refs. That one technical aside, I give him credit for controlling his temper, which seemed to get the better of him in the regular season.

It's strange though, since wing players like Jordan and Pippen were given a lot of latitude from the referees.

Kobe's just doesn't have the same level of respect from the referees on both ends of the floor, given his ability and reputation on offense and defense. It's a head-scratcher.

[Minhee]

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Well this Lakers team is better than that Miami team, and that Mavs team was better than this Celtics team. But that is neither here nor there.

The point is, going down 0-2 doesn't make it over, and when the series ends, the Lakers are the better team and they will come out on top. You guys got robbed by the refs and still had a shot to win both games. That tells me that in LA when the refs favor the Lakers, you'll be fine. Then when you get momentum going, you can steal one in Boston.

You do realize statistically we are pretty screwed right? Not to mention you are talking to the least optimistic person on earth.

I agree that this Lakers team is better than that Miami team, but I do not agree that Mavs team was better than this Celtics team. Not even close. Besides the entire league/refs and David Stern had an undying love for Dwyane Wade that year so if he was touched or once he missed a shot it was because the defender fouled him. There were times where Wade threw up and shot and the refs literally waited for the miss and then blew a whistle even though he wasn't touched.

Point is that Heat team did it because they had toughness on the inside (Shaq, Zo and Haslem while we have Gasol, Odom and Ronny). And the refs gave Wade 20 free pts every game, Kobe is only shooting 2 FT per game this series. HUGE DIFFERENCE.