Celtics just won their 18th Championship*

[Cep]

DRose4MVP, the Lakers won it. The Celtics had it tough with the officials, but don't take their credit away. I certainly don't, as I would not have liked Lakers fans to have done the same had my Celtics won the title. Kobe struggled a bit tonight, and still showed up to play. He certainly deserved his award.

On a side note, I don't agree one bit with the title of this thread. The Celtics, as azuresou1 said, were playing not to lose in the fourth it seemed, and their inability to capitalize when they had their chances to extend the lead led them what plagued the team the entire season, losing the lead late in the game at a point of no return.

[jsimon]

I'm just going to repost this for the third time because there really isn't much else to be said...
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They just couldn't do it could they? They just couldn't let the game play out on the court. So let's break this down...

After calling a fairly good game for three quarters, all of a sudden the whistles come flying left and right. Not for both teams mind you, just for the Lakers. And it's not just the continued absurdity of total FTA, in this game a comical 35-17 (adjusted for the intentional), but they almost all came in the fourth quarter. The Lakers shot something like 19-21 of their free throws to our 6 or so in the 4th. What??? Are you saying that all of a fuc*k*ing sudden the Celtics started fouling uncontrollably? But of course the Lakers just played shut down defense in the 4th. right? Just locked us up. They weren't shoving and grabbing and holding for the entire quarter...

For three quarters Gasol and Odom and Bynum were coming over our backs with no calls. In the 4th Gasol picks up a key foul on Wallace on a questionable over the back. Gasol then gets his usual throw the arms up flop call on KG who is defending him no differently than Artest was defending Pierce the whole quarter. Kobe gets the bogus three shot foul on Allen. Gasol goes up and down with the ball and scores, but of course no call.

The Lakers trailed this game for three quarters until the refs came to the rescue, like they've done all series. The worst part is I actually thought for a while there they were going to let them play, you know, make it seem like the refs haven't been carrying the Lakers all series long. But when the puss*y Lakers showed up for the 4th quarter trailing they couldn't hold back any longer. Kobe is well defended and cold all game, don't worry we'll put you on the line. Gasol can't score consistently all game, no problem here's a parade of free throws for you big fella.

Only a 16 year old fan boy would be proud of this win. If there are any Laker fans reading this post you should be embarrassed right now. Yes, you did out rebound us all game, but you shot like crap and jumped over the back on almost all of them. Yes, Ray Allen was ice cold, but so was Kobe. There is absolutely no way you win a 7 game series without the refs carrying your sad flopping puss*y asses all series long.

That fourth quarter was the final nail in the NBA coffin for me. And you know what's the worst thing? Even though they let 'em play for about 38 minutes, I fuc*k*ing knew it was coming...

Gawd Dam*n you to hell David Stern!

Final free throw tally adjusted for intentionals, 198-133 Lakers. 19-6 in the 4th quarter of game 7.

Total - Fuc*k*ing - Joke.

[jsimon]

I don't understand how anyone can be blaming the refs.

This was the best officiated game of the series by far.

Your 100% right. Right up until the 4th quarter when it was whistle city for the Lakers. For bullsh*it calls that they hadn't been calling all game.

[burgerplex]

Anyone saying the officials didn't hand this championship to LA needs to consider the following: in the 4th quarter, the Celtics outscored LA 17-12 from the field, while LA outscored the Celtics 16-5 from the line. They called the first two and a half quarters loosely, letting the two teams decide the outcome. And then BAM, they refs started calling a completely different game out of nowhere.

The Celtics shot higher FG%, 3PT%, and higher FT%, yet shot less 3's than LA did. Boston was driving to the basket all night and rarely got rewarded for it. Meanwhile, LA ends up +20 in FTAs. Makes no sense.

Call me bitter, or whatever, but the refs decided the outcome of this game. There is no other reasonable way to look at it.

[azuresou1]

Anyone saying the officials didn't hand this championship to LA needs to consider the following: in the 4th quarter, the Celtics outscored LA 17-12 from the field, while LA outscored the Celtics 16-5 from the line. They called the first two and a half quarters loosely, letting the two teams decide the outcome. And then BAM, they refs started calling a completely different game out of nowhere.

The Celtics shot higher FG%, 3PT%, and higher FT%, yet shot less 3's than LA did. Boston was driving to the basket all night and rarely got rewarded for it. Meanwhile, LA ends up +20 in FTAs. Makes no sense.

Call me bitter, or whatever, but the refs decided the outcome of this game. There is no other reasonable way to look at it.

You're bitter.

Rebounds:
LA - 53 (23 Offensive)
Boston - 40 (8 Offensive)

TO:
LA - 11
Boston - 14

FGA:
LA - 83
Boston - 71

I want a play-by-play, but I recall Boston getting into the penalty VERY early in the fourth, something like 3 minutes in. Naturally all the other fouls (loose ball fouls and whatnot) now turn into FTs. On the other hand, Boston didn't put LA into the penalty until something like 9 minutes into the quarter. But really, that 13 rebound margin should tell you all you need to know.

[burgerplex]

Anyone saying the officials didn't hand this championship to LA needs to consider the following: in the 4th quarter, the Celtics outscored LA 17-12 from the field, while LA outscored the Celtics 16-5 from the line. They called the first two and a half quarters loosely, letting the two teams decide the outcome. And then BAM, they refs started calling a completely different game out of nowhere.

The Celtics shot higher FG%, 3PT%, and higher FT%, yet shot less 3's than LA did. Boston was driving to the basket all night and rarely got rewarded for it. Meanwhile, LA ends up +20 in FTAs. Makes no sense.

Call me bitter, or whatever, but the refs decided the outcome of this game. There is no other reasonable way to look at it.

You're bitter.

Rebounds:
LA - 53 (23 Offensive)
Boston - 40 (8 Offensive)

TO:
LA - 11
Boston - 14

FGA:
LA - 83
Boston - 71

I want a play-by-play, but I recall Boston getting into the penalty VERY early in the fourth, something like 3 minutes in. Naturally all the other fouls (loose ball fouls and whatnot) now turn into FTs. On the other hand, Boston didn't put LA into the penalty until something like 9 minutes into the quarter. But really, that 13 rebound margin should tell you all you need to know.

No, that rebound differential doesn't tell us all we need to know. They Celtics weren't out-rebounded by 13 in the 4th quarter, that was from the entire game. Meanwhile, LA took 21 FTs in the 4th, more than the Celtics did the entire night.

You also damage your argument by saying that the Lakers were in the penalty early in the 4th, which gave the Celtics a trip to the line anytime they were fouled... Yet, all that time passed in the 4th and hardly any trips to the line. Doesn't make much sense, man.

I know the tendency is to call fans complaining about the refs a bunch of sore losers and whiners, but it really is legitimate tonight.

[Gek]

I'm not one to blame the officials for losses, especially when my team is ridiculously out-rebounded. However, the Lakers got every single 50/50 call down the stretch, and I do believe the crowd has a lot to do with that. They should have reviewed that Pau Gasol up and down; That KG and-1 would have been awarded the continuation in any other game, and that Artest and-1 was very similar.

What pissed me off tremendously, though, was that Pau Gasol "block" on KG, in which Kevin asked for a foul and no call was made. The ESPN announcers go insane over his defensive effort. They show the replay and Gasol CLEARLY hit him on the hand, only the hand, catching a decent amount of wrist and forearm, and Mark Jackson says; "Great block by Gasol; hits Garnett on the hand, and hand is part of the ball." I'm pretty sure that rule only applies if the hand is hit as a consequence of the basketball being hit initially. Honestly, I know singling out one play is an inefficient way of analyzing anything, but that showed me that the double standards were blatant all along, and that the Celtics did not only take on the Lakers squad, but, for a good period of time, the referees (or at least played without the benefit of the doubt given to the Lakers), the media, and the NBA. A couple of minutes later, Garnett blocks Gasol in a much cleaner effort than Gasol's rejection and the referees call the foul, with the support of ABC's broadcasting crew. Bravo.

Yup and those are just some of the bad calls I saw tonight. As bad as the officiating was, I find it more ridiculous the analysts are also one sided. Kobe is a great player but Mark Jackson doesn't need to be his promoter.

That being said the Lakers do still have a great team and are worthy champions.

To be fair when Tony Allen blocked Pau a few games back, he hit his hand...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-GZx1yE ... re=related

[Heyvoon24]

No. The better team won.

[azuresou1]

Anyone saying the officials didn't hand this championship to LA needs to consider the following: in the 4th quarter, the Celtics outscored LA 17-12 from the field, while LA outscored the Celtics 16-5 from the line. They called the first two and a half quarters loosely, letting the two teams decide the outcome. And then BAM, they refs started calling a completely different game out of nowhere.

The Celtics shot higher FG%, 3PT%, and higher FT%, yet shot less 3's than LA did. Boston was driving to the basket all night and rarely got rewarded for it. Meanwhile, LA ends up +20 in FTAs. Makes no sense.

Call me bitter, or whatever, but the refs decided the outcome of this game. There is no other reasonable way to look at it.

You're bitter.

Rebounds:
LA - 53 (23 Offensive)
Boston - 40 (8 Offensive)

TO:
LA - 11
Boston - 14

FGA:
LA - 83
Boston - 71

I want a play-by-play, but I recall Boston getting into the penalty VERY early in the fourth, something like 3 minutes in. Naturally all the other fouls (loose ball fouls and whatnot) now turn into FTs. On the other hand, Boston didn't put LA into the penalty until something like 9 minutes into the quarter. But really, that 13 rebound margin should tell you all you need to know.

No, that rebound differential doesn't tell us all we need to know. They Celtics weren't out-rebounded by 13 in the 4th quarter, that was from the entire game. Meanwhile, LA took 21 FTs in the 4th, more than the Celtics did the entire night.

You also damage your argument by saying that the Lakers were in the penalty early in the 4th, which gave the Celtics a trip to the line anytime they were fouled... Yet, all that time passed in the 4th and hardly any trips to the line. Doesn't make much sense, man.

I know the tendency is to call fans complaining about the refs a bunch of sore losers and whiners, but it really is legitimate tonight.

.... What? I bolded and enlarged the part so you can read more clearly.

LA was the one who got FTAs every time there was a foul called, not Boston.

[Gek]

.... What? I bolded and enlarged the part so you can read more clearly.

LA was the one who got FTAs every time there was a foul called, not Boston.

That's what I think he said - or I'm sure intended to say.

[Fencer reregistered]

Travels aren't called in this league any more unless they're REALLY egregrious. Dunkers on both teams traveled before dunks. Sheed wasn't called for tap-dancing in the post. And so on.

It's hardly new. In fact, it's been going on at least since Magic's palming and Jordan's dunks.

[jsimon]

Anyone saying the officials didn't hand this championship to LA needs to consider the following: in the 4th quarter, the Celtics outscored LA 17-12 from the field, while LA outscored the Celtics 16-5 from the line. They called the first two and a half quarters loosely, letting the two teams decide the outcome. And then BAM, they refs started calling a completely different game out of nowhere.

The Celtics shot higher FG%, 3PT%, and higher FT%, yet shot less 3's than LA did. Boston was driving to the basket all night and rarely got rewarded for it. Meanwhile, LA ends up +20 in FTAs. Makes no sense.

Call me bitter, or whatever, but the refs decided the outcome of this game. There is no other reasonable way to look at it.

The only thing keeping me from getting in my car and running down random people in the streets right now is the fact that there are people out there who saw what I saw. People like yourself who saw the obvious. And it wasn't just this game either. The refs carried the Lakers this whole series. This is my 30th., and sadly my last year watching the NBA. I'm 39 years old. I'll never be able to shake the feeling that what I'm watching is "not right," to put it as mildly as I can.

Like I said a day or two ago, after the Supreme Court elected the president 10 years ago I could never take them seriously again. I can now never take the NBA seriously again. At least not until David Stern is fired, and 5-10 years from now I read about how they've cleaned up the officiating.

Again, this isn't just sour grapes. I've been around for several dozen losing seasons, and many a playoff loss, but I never felt officiating cost my team the game/series. A bad call here and there, of course, but not a concerted effort to favor one team over another.

Until now.

[burgerplex]

.... What? I bolded and enlarged the part so you can read more clearly.

LA was the one who got FTAs every time there was a foul called, not Boston.

Right, I misread. So it wasn't worse than Lakers/Kings then. Not too far off, however.

That still doesn't dismiss the fact that the refs decided to call a different game in the 4th quarter. The two teams were allowed to play physically, without touch fouls and off-the-ball nonsense calls, and the Celtics built a 13 point lead. Then, the refs suddenly reversed course and so, too, did the course of the game.

Your rebounding argument still fails because the +13 in the Lakers favor didn't come in the 4th quarter alone. The 4th quarter, and the way it was called, decided this game.

[Gek]

I think the point with the rebounds is that it wasn't just in the fourth quarter. It's tough to win a game when you give up 23 offensive boards. That is 23 extra balls caught in excellent spots on the court by Lakers to score.

[azuresou1]

True, but the Lakers were still more aggressive on the boards in the fourth quarter. And it's not the fault of the refs that they called it tighter. They're allowed to do that, and it's up to the players to adjust. Paul Pierce didn't pick up on this, and put them in the penalty by trying to force a backcourt or take a charge from Pau Gasol at halfcourt. Dumb, dumb play.

Boston's defense was also embarrassing in the fourth. Kobe blew by Ray Allen on at least two plays, one for an almost-dunk. Sheed picked up his final foul by standing inside the restricted. Just a bunch of dumb plays that cost Boston the game.

[burgerplex]

I think the point with the rebounds is that it wasn't just in the fourth quarter. It's tough to win a game when you give up 23 offensive boards. That is 23 extra balls caught in excellent spots on the court by Lakers to score.

And yet it still didn't matter because LA shot terribly tonight, much worse than the Celtics. The 4th quarter FTAs decided everything.

I'll repeat: Celtics outscored the Lakers 17-12 from the field in the 4th. Meanwhile, the Lakers were given 21 FTAs (more than the Celtics shot the entire night) in the 4th and outscored the Celtics 16-5 from the line. That's the difference in the game. End. Of. Story.

[akula1488]

-there was only one obvious bad call. Gasol's block on KG was a foul because he got all hand.
-Gasol did not travel as the the replay in slow motion showed he got the ball off his finger tips before his land either of his feet.
-Ray Allen pushed off Kobe yet Kobe was called a blocking foul. Even the commentator agreed it should've been an offensive foul.
-There was no slow motion replay on the KG's dunk. From the live angle it did look like it could been an and 1. But you have to look at the replay to be sure.

Lakers just wanted it more and kept being aggressive and Celtics ran out of gas at the end.

[RaisingArizona]

I think you got hosed in the 4th. You have my condolences. stern needs to go.

- Suns fan.

[The Laker Kid]

F*** the Lakers. They won the game on FREE throws in the 4th.

-bulls fan

**** the bulls

[Cqc_Nastyn8]

so i guess you guys going up by 13 wasn't cuz of the refs? or the refs baby sitting kg and sheed in the first half? come on sheed should have left as soon as he tripped kobe... but u know what? its shoulda coulda woulda...its over good teams faced each other and it was epic!!