OT- Biggest choke job in NBA history (Finals thread)

[Grang33r]

Anyone watch the game tonight? Unbelievable. Lakers dominated in the first half, had a 21 point lead after the first quarter and later in the 2nd quarter had a 24 point lead. After the 5 minute mark in the 3rd quarter, Celtics out scored the Lakers like 45-20. Unreal come back in the NBA and probably the greatest choke job in the history of the sport. I really want to hear what some of you thought, those who watched it, i'd prefer hearing your guys opinions since i can trust all you and don't know whos on the NBA general thread page.

Im stunned. Congrats to the Celtics for being the new NBA champions.

[joew8302]

I hope the Jordan/Kobe comparisons stop after this game. No way would Jordan let his team lose like this.

[cdash]

The Jordan/Kobe comparisons are a joke.

This series has kind of sucked. The games have been close at the end, but two of the games have only been close because the team with a big lead choked it away. I cant believe after that first half the Lakers let them come back. I strongly dislike both of these teams, so I dont really care either way. I was way off on this one...I called LA in 5. Ouch.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I told you Jackson wasn't one of the greatest coaches ever.

He can only win when he has 2 superstars on his team. I'm not saying hes a bad coach, but he is a very lucky coach put in very lucky situations. He hasn't done anything without 2 superstars on his team and until he does, hes an above average coach in my mind, nothing great.

I will say this though, he impressed me more this year than he has in any other year as a coach, but he didn't get it done now did he?

[cdash]

I dont think these four games in one NBA Finals where the opposite team has 3 superstars is enough to discredit nine rings.

Edit: Although I will say I, like many others, felt this was a really lopsided coaching matchup in the Finals...but Rivers has more than held his own so far. I like his decision to go small when Perkins went out. We'll see how Phil gets his guys ready to go in Game 5. If LA loses, I'll be extremely surprised.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I think the fact that he hasn't won with a team that doesn't have 2 superstars should discredit him a little. I'm not saying much, its a huge accomplishment, but I haven't seen him turn a decent team into a good team, I haven't seen him with with a good team, I've only seen him with with the best players in the NBA. Obviously you should win with the best players in the NBA, I just haven't seen him make a team significantly better is what I'm trying to say. I guess I kinda sound like I hate him by that argument, but I really don't. I just think he is overrated as a coach, thats all.

Boston does have 2 superstars, but not on the level of Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, or Kobe. I can't imagine anyone wanting KG, Pierce, and Allen over Jordan and Pippen or Shaq and Kobe...at least during their primes when Jackson was winning with them.

I sound really biased trying to explain it, but I don't know how to do it better. Scoot usually helps me out with that on the trade forums haha but I think he likes Jackson.

[cdash]

I agree, he has been more fortunate with star players than any coach in NBA history, but I still think even with that taken into consideration...9 rings is unbelievably hard to accomplish. The Lakers the past few years have been ordinary, and I'd like to see how he would do coaching a team without an all-time great, but I still think hes one of the best ever. Honestly though, I think Poppovich is just as good as Jackson.

[Grang33r]

The Jordan/Kobe comparisons are a joke.

This series has kind of sucked. The games have been close at the end, but two of the games have only been close because the team with a big lead choked it away. I cant believe after that first half the Lakers let them come back. I strongly dislike both of these teams, so I dont really care either way. I was way off on this one...I called LA in 5. Ouch.

I had the Lakers in 5 as well. And i agree, Kobe comparisons to Jordan need to end. Kobe has only won it with a stacked team, a great team full of role players, BS refs and Shaq.

I can't believe how well Ray Allen has played though. He was horrid all playoffs but now he's the Ray Allen of old. He smells the NBA title and he won't let anyone get in his way, esspicially not Sasha Vujacic.

Speaking of which, i read two articles (i kid you not) about Vujacic being a great player and probably demanding around $8-9 million per this summer because of his play and how underrated he is, i just thought it was funny tonight that i read 2 different articles on how he's gonna prove he's worth the money and tonight he was one of the worst games in the finals history i bet, defensivly he was horrible and 1-9 shooting, 1-5 from 3-point range. I like him alot but tonight he was garbage. I do think he's worth alot of money but no way $9 million per season.

[PR07]

Kobe is no MJ. There will only be one MJ.

In Kobe's defense, the rest of his supposed Big 3 has disappeared throughout this series. I haven't seen Gasol or Odom take over at all this series, and they go through stretches where they make no impact plays.

Also, the Lakers bench has been nowhere to be found outside of Vujacic in Game 3. Posey and Eddie House are giving the Celtics starter production off the bench and have been huge.

[Orlock78]

That game was unbelievable. Down the stretch Boston did a much better job on Kobe. Garnett actually showed up in the post, and all of the big 3 had a good game which is pretty much the formula for boston to win. But even with all that I say that without James Posey, the Celtics don't win that game. The dude hit 2 CLUTCH 3's towards the end. He doesn't hit even one of those and I think this game turns out different. Although I have never been a Celtics fan, I never hated them, and I positively DESPISE the Lakers so, for now I'm happy.

[mizzoupacers]

I ALWAYS watch the NBA finals, but I really hadn't had much of a chance to see the first three games, just caught a few minutes here and there. I was really looking forward to watching Game 4.

But when the Lakers had a 20-point lead at the end of the first quarter, I switched over to the Cardinals game. And after the Cardinals bullpen imploded, I decided it was time to read a good book.

So I missed the Celtics' big comeback, which reminds me once again that I am an idiot.

Sounds like the Celtics are going to get another banner, those greedy bastards. Couldn't they let the Pacers have just one?!?

[blaha112]

i really think posey is an awesome player. i love his **** talking. he comes off the bench cold and hes got good d and a nasty clutch shot.

for the game: C's came up with stops. they came out and played amazing defense. it all started with PP on Kobe (note that he did get some double help though). also DOC came up big. keeping house and posey out there was an awesome job. it allowed them to bang down low and get some nice open threes. good job C's! i hate the lakers and Kobe so i want the C's to win.

Side note: i saw they were down by 20 and almost didn't turn the game on. however i was tired and didnt feel like getting up and going to bed. so i turned it on and saw an amazing game

[PR07]

I only saw the last 5 minutes or so of this game, so I didn't get to see the comeback in full force either. Still glad I tuned in though.

[P4CERS]

But when the Lakers had a 20-point lead at the end of the first quarter, I switched over to the Cardinals game. And after the Cardinals bullpen imploded, I decided it was time to read a good book.

i know how you feel but it is sport and anything can happen.....

and did!!!! just watched full game, and normally i cant if i know the score but this was awesome.

the Phil Jackson slating elsewhere is very harsh, the Lakers are ths best of the West and just run into a very defensively good Celtics team. One of the most boring great teams ever but very effective. I hate both but prefer the Lakers and they blew it, and strangely the defensive kings found offense when they needed it.

personally i think the Lakers big 3 against the Celtics big 3 is a miss-match as the Lakers only have a big 2 despite Odom's best game yet. Its Kobe-Gasol v KG-Pierce-Allen. if only the Pacers could have Rondo or Farmar though, how good are these young PG's??

anyway time to go.......