Game 5. 2010 NBA Finals

Lakers 86 - Celtics 92

I don't know how much sense i'm going to have after a game like that!

The first half the Celtics play amazing basketball, their D was suffocating. All time highs! Amazing. But in the other end the were committing turnovers left and right, specially Rondo. At the halftime they were up by 6 shooting like 60%. The Lakers were smiling. Believe me!

The third quarter was epic! Epic! Best quarter of basketball I've seen in years. Kobe got off, 19 points. 15 of them he got them in a hardest way possible . Then Pierce got hot too. They started coming back at each other for at least 4 possessions. Pierce was less effective. He scored 11. Still it was something to see, Kobe's show, Tony Allen block on Pau Gasol. KG played solid 12 minutes defensively . Just amazing basketball.

At this point I was really sure i was seeing a future classic, that until the 6 minute point. The Lakers totally went cold. They made 2 baskets in the final 6 minutes but somehow managed to cut a 11 point lead to 5 working they way into the score from the free throw line. Artest and Fissher took bad shots. Kobe had a couple of forced passes the ended up being lost possessions. The Cs decided to make the game interesting and shoot themselves in the foot having 4 straight empty trips and going 0 from 3 from the floor while the Lakers were taking free throws. Neither had that cold blooded clutch perfomance. Both teams missed free throws. Both teams made mental mistakes ( Fisher won a jump ball against KG, Artest went for the uncontested lay up but Piercer fouled him. He made the first one, he missed the second one which got rebounded by Kobe but Pierce snatched the ball right out of his hands). The Celtics just did enough to hold on the lead.

Three key aspects of this game that could easily affect game 6:

1. Artest is about to snap. He was on the verge the entire second half. He gave two crazy look in the fourth. One to the Celtics bench that yelled at him when he was about to shoot and another one to Pierce when he walk in front of him between free throws. He could easily go bananas in game 6 given the motivation needed....

2. Kobe is not going to trust no one in game 6 or 7. I have the feeling that if the Lakers get behind in the second half for more than 5 points he is going to start shooting anything in sight. I mean anything. The basketball, towels, Phil's table, Vujacic's head. My point: Bad news to the Lakers.

3. Ray has missed 16 straight three pointers. He is due. This is not a streaky shooter we are talking about. This is Ray Allen. Just saying...

Everything looks like crap for the Lakers. But...

4. KG is not getting shot illegal stuff in his body at L.A.

5.Odom and their bench tend to play much better at home.

Game 3. 2010 NBA Finals

Lakers 91, Celtics 84

If I had played that game in NBA Live or something I would had quit half way the fourth quarter.

Very chippy played, marquee players didn't played like they are scripted to play, officiating was terrible ( I know that doesn't apply to video games. Anyhow!). That game was odd. I wanna see some type of study out of it from basketball-reference.com.

The game was close from the the third quarter on, the Celtics kept shrinking the difference but never got over the hump. Ray Allen shot 0 from 13! ( 0 from 8 from downtown) Pierce had his second straight bad game ( 5 from 12) . The Celtics played a very bad game offensively, the TO's were pretty low though, their struggled running their sets. The looked and waited so much for Ray to get open that their offense never moved from second gear. Pierce got locked down again by Artest. KG was the only Celtic scoring. Look, Boston has 4 great players we all know that. In order for them to win either Ray Allen or Paul Pierce need to have a solid game. KG is a 15 ppg player at this point of his career. He is their inside presence they can do it without his production because of Rondo and the timely contributions of Big Baby. Rondo is not a scorer. They will struggle every game if their two wing player gives them crap. There is no rhythm in the offense and much less space to do anything. You combine that with LA's length and defensive activity and you can say the the Celtics were close at the end of the game.

It wasn't all luck thought, the Lakers won despite playing terrible. Kobe played like he was shooting the Lakers out of the game. He needed 29 shots to score 29 points. He was shooting anything withing 16 feet no matter what defender was him or how many. He took the same amount of shots that Gasol, Bynum, Artest and Odom combined. Just saying.

Gasol, he disappeared again in the fourth. I'm not putting this on Gasol at all. Kobe was just shooting anything that touched his hands. I'm putting it on Phil Jackson. The Lakers got lucky last night and Phil didn't do anything to push that luck. You know how lucky they were? Derek Fisher was the start of the game. He scored 11 points in the fourth. At some point he scored 6 straight points. It doesn't sound that impressive but the timing of those points were gold. It wasn't offense by accident he saw how Kobe was playing he knew he needed to take the ball out of his hands. He saw how Gasol wasn't being all man in the inside, he had a little bit of a regresion against 2008 GK, he couldn't be trusted. So yeah, he give it a shot and push his Lakers to a 1 game lead.

Good game Mr Fisher!

Oh...almost forgot to make emphasis on this: RAY ALLEN MISSSED 13 SHOTS. 8 FROM THREE. If Ray goes 4 -13( 2 - 8 on 3 pointers) Boston wins this game. The pull a comeback win and get their second straight victory against the Lakers. That's A LOT of momentum!

Game 2. 2010 NBA Finals

Celtics 103 - Lakers 94

Look at that boxscore.

KG was 2-5. Pierce was 2-11 and Big Baby managed to attempt 13 shots making 4 of them. And the Celtics won.

Gasol was 7 - 10, 11-13 from the free throw line. Bynum played 40 minutes. Kobe had a 20-5-5. And the Lakers lost.

A better game than game 1. A more physical game too courtesy of the Celtics. A better played game specially from the C's. Their defense was way more active and they needed it. Pierce still hasn't figure out how to shake off Artest. Expect better games from the Truth at Boston.

Garnett looked bad. Fuck it, Vujacic played better than him. Something is up with this guy that the C's are not telling us. He is jumping with one knee , he has no elevation, he's trying to rebound one handed. He's shooting bricks.He's getting torched by Gasol. Easily.

That was the bad, the good: Ray Allen. I'm so in love with his jump shot. He played a perfect first half. He didn't waste any opportunity and let it go the second he got the ball. The result was a 27 point, 7-8 from three first half. Pure beauty. Lakers D got to zero on him on the second half as he was running through screen the Lakers got to start switching once the premier defender got behind on one of those screens. That let the door open to what Rondo did , and that was make the Lakers D pay. They let him open and they let him roam around and he totally controlled the fourth quater. Wasn't only his rebounds or the jump shot from the left wing, he controlled the pace of the game doing a great job looking for other options rather than KG and Pierce. Defensively he sealed the game, the block on Fisher and the steal from Kobe that became Kobe's fifth and pretty much caged him for the rest of them game, were probably the plays of the game.

32 points and 8 threes by Allen and he still wasn't the best player in the court. Remember what I told you about Rondo figuring Lakers'D out. It happened sooner than I expected

The Lakers got the best game they are going to get out of Bynum. He played 40 minutes because they needed him. Odom hasn't arrived to the Finals yet and that creates 0 production from their bench ( Their bench is so thin without Lamar's production that Phil's orders for Farmar and Brown is just " attack the basket". They are not event trying to run any freaking triangle. He just need something out of his bench. He played Vujacic again for crying out loud). Bynum was a force at both ends. 7 rejections ( at least three on Rondo) and 21 points. Easily towered over the Celtics D for a lot of easy points. The Lakers cannot ask more of him. Gasol played as aggressive and fearless as I had see him played. He still a little "hesitant" against Sheed but against any other C he is straight up taking to their bodies. 25 points, 8 boards, 6 blocks. He faded somehow at the end of the game. He is not the closer.

That was the good, the bad: Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher and Ron Artest. They were 4-21 with 5 TO's. Nobody can win when your best man of the bench, your starting point guard and small forward play like that. With around 45 seconds to play Artest got the ball in the right wing, started dribbling, moved to the top of the key, twirled his way to the left side just in front of Doc Rivers, pick up the dribbled, pump faked twice and shot a brick. It took him 22 seconds. You just can't win like that.

The Celtics got their bounce back, the energy they showed was nothing like game 1. This was the fighting and scrappy team that won 6 straight games against Cleveland and Orlando - Big Baby got block like 6 times and while getting like 3 offensive rebounds in one sequence. Next play: Big Baby scored against Gasol. This are the Celtics that can win this series. The Lakers in the other hand played the first half in cruise control. One get the feeling they were just waiting for a run in the second half to take control of the game. These are not the Utah Jazz. These are not the Oklahoma City Thunder. They better snap the shit out of that mindset or we might be seeing a 5 game sweep

Game 1. 2010 NBA Finals

Celtics 89, Lakers 102

I wasn't expecting that. At all.

First surprise of the night was the play of Ron Artest. The guy played under control, with the offense, no crazy shots and more importantly play physical defense on Paul Pierce. That not only took Pierce out of the game ( still got 24 points and 9 rebs) but the entire Lakers team fed off of that energy. Kobe doesn't have that effect. Truly a great game by Ron Ron.

The KG- Gasol matchup we were all expecting was like watching bizarro Finals 2008. After halftime that is. Gasol still shit his calzones a little bit when he saw Garnett but after intermission ( I'm guessing Ron Ron or Phil pretty much told him "Stop crying and shivering you puto! He's playing in one leg. Fuck it, Bynum is in better shape!!" or something like that). The final two quarters Gasol just took it to KG, no contest. Gasol 2010 vs one legged KG is not a matchup, is like Lebron posting up Larry King in their little P-I-G game. Too bad Sheed can't be kept under control for entire quaters 'case Gasol looked waaaaay more hesitant against Sheed. He just doesn't like contact.

A lot of thing went wrong for the Celtics in the logic of " they didn't get beat, they lost the game".

Ray Allen foul trouble took him completely out of the game. Rondo didn't seem all there, Lakers are too long for him, we just need to give him some time. The main reason they lost , besides the Gasol schooling KG, was that they didn't play with the same intensity. No sense of urgency. No diving for loose balls. The second half -- minus some 6 solid minutes in the fourth quater where they almost seemed to start kicking it in -- all the Celtics were like expecting some sort of energy explosion from Rondo or Piercer that never happened.

Can't believe I'm saying these but the tougher, meaner team last night were the Lakers. If you think about it makes sense. The Lakers have one the more physical wing defenders in Artest ( which is good as long as he is under control) and the C's have their head "jackal" ( as Phil Jackson referred to Scottie Pippen in the 2000 Conference Finals) KG playing in less than half of what he is (was). This is up to Paul Pierce to pick up the slack not only being the vocal leader KG was supposed to be but also taking his aggressiveness against Artest another notch. He can't not allow Artest to treat him like he was Kevin Durant. You are a big boy PP, step up!

NBA Finals Preview

Its 2008 all over again!

We have reached the finals after a rather boring playoffs. I've never been more bored watching NBA since 1999 but that is not the point of this post.

Lets take a look at how the Lakers got here: They cruised-control better part of the second part of the season, never managed to jell Artest into the offense, Bynum look worn out and Kobe insisted to put up 30 shots a game to get his 25 points while Gasol complained that he could get those points in half the tries. Experts didn't gave them a shot at the tittle. Kobe and Co. gave those experts more fuel to add to the fire with their performance in the first 4 games against the Thunder in the first round ( They barely escaped with the win in game 2 and got blown out of the building in game 4) They finished with two straight wins but needed a timely tip in by Gasol to win game 6. Not what would you call championships performance against a 8 seed.

They were lucky enough to run into a small Utah team which they destroy with their length. Sweep.

At this point they had won 6 straight games, they stretched that run to 8 games after easily winning the first two games against their Western Conference Finals rivals the Phoenix Suns. Then the Suns threw a curve ball and started playing zone defense which throw off the Lakers so bad they forgot they to play defense. The result: They gave up 115 and 118 points in two loses at the desert. They won at home thanks to buzzer beater put back by Artest and after blowing a double digit lead in the final quarter they needed the best 2 minutes of Kobe Bryant to eliminate the Suns.

So, they get to the Finals for the third straight year with a shitload of luck and another truck full of the best stretch Kobe has had all year long.

The Celtics get to the Finals against all odds, Phil Collins would be proud. From game 1 in round 1 they started to fight. They dispatched a Heat that had very little, ok they had nothing ,besides DWade. "Experts" weren't that surprise but they already had wrote the C's tombstone by the buzzer of game 5 against the Heat. They were against Lebron James and the 61 win Cleveland Cavaliers. They were dead. That was it. Why bother? It was going to be a sweep , a 5 game sweep if they were lucky. And lucky they were, they managed to get a win in Cleveland but got manhandled in game 3 at home. After that it was all Boston and their defense. Jamison never figured out how to drive past the one legged Garnett that outplayed him all series long in both ends. Shaq was never a factor. Mo Williams played in small controlled spurts and was pretty much abused by Rondo. But the biggest problem was Lebron's elbow. He hurt his elbow at some point in the last month of the season and actually did some drama in the closing minutes of game 5 against the Bulls shooting a left handed free throw. In the final two games of the series Lebron wasn't there. My take is the elbow was really bothering him in game 5. This is the first injury that had produced real limitation in Lebron's game. He didn't actually knew how to play with it. I mean, have you seen this guy? It takes a lot to take down a guy built like that. In game 5 he was hurting and nobody on his team step up. He got all the blame and all the heat from the media. Nobody else. Game 6 , same history. Lebron seemed limited and outside the first half of Mo Williams, the Cavs never knew what to do. Not Shaq. Not Mike Brown. No Antawn Jamison. They just roll over and saw how the Celtics took control of the game ( and the franchise future). That's the biggest break of luck of this playoffs ( I know dealing with injuries is part of the game but if you are a C's fan you ought admit it was pretty cool having Lebron injured for the series)

Then it was the Magic at the Conference Finals. Those first three games, joined with the last three games of the Cleveland series, were a defensive clinic. The Celtics not only defeat those teams, they broke them. They pull out their spirit and their fighting chances right out of their chest. I was amazing. They won that series in 6. Luck was also involve in getting the Celtics back to the Finals but defense and intensity has been the trademark of this team the last 6 weeks. They would love to stretch that for another 3 weeks or so.

Can the result of this Finals be read in how the 2008 Finals played out? The Celtics are a very different team more so than the Lakers. Rondo is now the second best player behind PP. Perkins is a better defender. KG is half the player it was back then. The bench is thinner and they have Rasheed Wallace now ( you make the call if that is good or bad ). The Lakers are slightly different too. Kobe is playing better this post season. So is Gasol although he showed some of those "soft qualities" against the Suns. Their bench is terrible. They are slower. They are bigger now. This series is not going to be decided on matchups ( both teams have a good answer for every player of the other team ) or adjustments ( Are we really going to be surprised when Kobe starts defending Rondo? Or when Bynum see the entire final quater from the bench? I hope we get a comment from Phil referring to Gasol's testicular fortitude). This series is going to be about swing points. Bear with me here:

1.How soon does Rondo manage to figure out Lakers' D? I see him having some issues trying to navigate through the length of the Lakers but he'll crack it open eventually. If it happens too soon it might not have such a heavy effect since the Lakers are expecting that and preparing for it, if Rondo struggles to get inside the Lakers might relax ( even great teams do that) and give him opportunities to attack.

2. Artest vs Pierce. I've never considered Paul Pierce in my top 10 players.Never. He does have one quality as an scorer: He manages to get his points on his terms. You know what I mean? He is not Kevin Durant or Lebron James, players that can score in any ways you can imagine, he has a number of ways to score and he does not tries anything else. Ron Artest is not the great defender he once was but he is a physical defender and still quick enough to stay with Pierce. If Artest manages to shut down Pierce or at least force him into turnovers or bad shots, Lakers' chances improve dramatically. In the other hand if Pierce wiggles his way inside Artest head (As we speak Piercer is getting training from Sheed on how to achieve this in less thatn 2 games) that could potentially swing the series. If Artest have to be kept away from Pierce, Kobe has to defend him. That leaves Artest on Allen or Rondo and there is no way Artest can chase any of those guys without committing a minimum of 3 fouls per 12 minutes fighting of screens from the Celtics' bigs

3. Sheed and Odom: Two players whose focus drifts in and out of game like an Magnum condom on a small dick. Sheed has been way more consistent and productive since the Cleveland series and Boston doesn't need his scoring to win game. It needs his edge , his aggressiveness, his mojo. LA needs Odom to play some serious basketball or they don't get anything from their bench. Phil Jackson can't play his starters all 48 minutes. Kobe showed some signs of tiredness games 3, 4 and 5 against the Suns in the fourth quater. Bynum is not even playing 25 minutes. Fisher needs to be rested for the final 6 minutes. If Odom fails to get "lucky" at getting a double double - or something close - L.A. might be in trouble specially as the series goes on.

4. Perkins suspension: He is getting that T sooner or latter. Boston can only hope he gets it sooner but not in game 3. They cannot afford to loose the first game in they home floor, no matter what is the state of the series. Boston is loosing the game Perkins doesn't play. Lakers would love to be game 6 or 7 ( Believe the Basketball Gods, after game 5 the Lakers are really going to go after Perkins "tender demeanor")

Now this next on is the BIG ONE. This is THE swing point . I can't bold this enough.

5. Pau Gasol softness. This is as simple as it gets. If Pau Gasol still poop his calzones when he thinks of KG, this is going to be a very green summer! One of the reasons why the Lakers lost in 2008 was because Gasol was too intimidated by KG - and the other C's - intensity and physical play. After the Lakers won the title last year nobody was talking about Gasol's manhood. He was a champion. Everything was dandy!. During this season and the first two rounds of this playoffs Gasol emerged as perhaps the best big men in the league.

Facing a 0-2 hole in the Western finals while being abused in the inside Suns' coach Gentry made two adjustments. Play zone defense and show some tough love to Gasol. Phil Jackson eventually figured out how to beat the zone defense but once again Gasol softness popped out . We saw a different Pau in the last 4 games. He still got his numbers but his aggressiveness was nowhere to be found. If the Lakers get his soft and tender Gasol in the finals the C's are eating them alive. There is no meaner ( for good or for bad ) team in the league than the Boston Celtics. Even Big Baby is meaner than Gasol. This is the guy the really gives another dimension to the Lakers, a very efficient post presence which is very needed if Kobe is not shooting high percentages. Can the Lakers win with a scared Pau Gasol? No if the Celtics are healthy. Is that simple in my book. Can the Celtics win against an aggressive Gasol? Yes but they would need very strong contributions from the bench and play very very smart basketball.

If you take a look at this teams in paper you would give the advantage to the Lakers and nobody would say " You are crazy!", specially considering how good Kobe has been this past month. But the fact that the Lakers haven't seen a defense - an intensity- like the Celtics play in this playoffs is a major factor to consider forecasting this series. I'm feeling a 7 or 6 game. Lakers title. Kobe a well deserved MVP.

Playoff Preview: Celtics vs Heat

(3) Celtics vs (6) Heat

One more title run? This is it for the Celtics. Whatever happens this is going to be the last time we see this Celtics group winning 50 games, having home court advantage or being "favorites" in a playoff series. I still see one more push, one more explosion in the engine room, one more stretch of good basketball. Its all about defense and Bostons has the tools to be a lock down team, specially against a one man team like the Heat. If somehow they re-encounter themselves with the defense intensity that gave them a ring a couple of years ago they could really become a spoiler for the Cavs-Magics Conference Finals everybody is yapping about.

Could also be the last time we see Miami win more than 30 games in a season. If this is Wade's last season in Miami ( I think he is staying) and if you are a fan, please enjoy this few days. You are going to miss them.

Miami is going to need 2006 Wade ( and 2006 refs. They are still there. Don't worry) . Wade have been playing at that level this year. Is a given that Wade is going to have a big series. If Boston's defensive schemes ( Tom Thibodeau time!) make him a jump shooter and/or a passer, the Celtics are going to the next round. Is that simple. If he manages to attack the basket drive after drive, the Heat are going to the next round. Boston doesn't have the big basket protectors other teams have. Perkins is the only capable enforcer down there and he is not a shot blocker. Garnett can't jump. Wallace won't even try. Its going to be up to the Allens ( yeap the other one too) Rondo and Pierce to try to maintain Wade in check.

That and a few lucky bounces and Wade's crappy supporting cast is all Boston needs to be in the next round.

Basketball Gods prediction: Celtics in 7

Win Scale (From 1: "The refs gave them that game. Are they really this bad?" to 10: " This is the best team ever! Make me yours" ) 4.5

Drafts 1990-1995

1990

Very weak draft class this 1990 one. We get one of the best defensive point guards in league history in Gary Payton but very little after that. Another blow to the dynasty of the Bulls as Toni Kukoc is taken by the Nuggets. We have lots of dependable and reliable role players. Is that a good thing to say about a player?

Championship Builders: None

Biggest Jump: Cedric Ceballos from 48th to 7th

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Nets -- Gary Payton (2)

2. Sonics -- Derrick Coleman (1)

3. Nuggets -- Toni Kukoc (29)

4. Magic -- Kendal Gill (5)

5. Hornets -- Dennis Scott (4)

6. Twolves -- Antonio Davis (45)

7. Kings -- Cedric Ceballos (48)

8. Clippers -- Elden Campbell (27)

9. Heat -- Loy Vaught (13)

10. Hawks -- Bimbo Coles (40)

11.Warriors -- Tyrone Hill (11)

1991

Fourth straight weak year, in 4 years the biggest names selected have been Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Together they had like a 3 year window for the championship not exactly what would you call franchise names. In this class I’m torn between keeping Larry Johnson as the first choice and selecting Dikembe Mutombo first . LJ had a great run with the Hornets it was until he played with the Knicks that his production and value went down. His collection of injuries didn’t help him neither. In the other hand Dike was a helluva defender. He could easily be swatting a couple of shots per game right now at his 44 years old

Championship Builders: None

Biggest Jump: Rick Fox from 24^th to 7th.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Hornets -- Larry Johnson (1)

2. Nets -- Dikembe Mutombo (4)

3. Kings -- Steve Smith (5)

4. Nuggets -- Kenny Anderson (2)

5. Heat -- Terrell Brandon (11)

6. Mavs -- Billy Owens (3)

7. Twolves -- Rick Fox (24)

8. Nuggers -- Stacey Augmon (9)

9. Hawks -- Bison Dele (10)

10. Magic -- Dale Davis (13)

11. Cavs -- Greg Anthony (11)

12. Knicks -- Luc Longley (7)

1992

Best class in the last 5 years. Not exactly a deep one but gave us two franchise centers and that’s a hard thing to find (Right, Blazers?). This class was headed by one of the top five centers of all time, Mr. Shaquille O’Neal, and one of top defenders at the center position Mr. Alonzo Mourning. Robert Horry is also in this class but not selected by the Houston Rockets, does he turns into Big Shot Rob without winning 2 rings in his first three years?

Fun fact here: 5 of these 12 picks were the original ones.

Championship Builders: Magic, Heat

Biggest Jump: P.J. Brown from 29^th to 10th.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Magic -- Shaquille O’Neal (1)

2. Heat -- Alonzo Mourning (2)

3. Twolves -- Latrell Sprewell (24)

4. Mavs -- Jim Jackson (4)

5. Nuggets -- Robert Horry (11)

6. Bullets -- Tom Gugliotta (6)

7. Kings -- Laphonso Ellis (5)

8. Bucks -- Doug Christie (17)

9. Sixers -- Cleareance Weatherspoon (9)

10. Hawks -- P.J. Brown (29)

11. Rockets -- Anthony Peeler (15)

12. Heat -- Christian Laettner (3)

1993

For the third straight year the number one pick doesn’t change. CWebb is going to the Magic but Penny is headed to the city of brotherly love scratching the trade that got Penny in a Magic uniform. Now, who is a better fit to play alongside Shaq, Penny or CWebb? After that we got some players that had their share of 15 minutes of fame. Sam Cassell was drafted by the Mavs stripping the Rockets, for the second straight year, of a key component of their championship teams.

Championship Builders: Magic, Sixers

Biggest Jump: Nick Van Exel from 37th to 7th.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Magic -- Chris Webber (1)

2. Sixers -- Arfenee Hardaway (3)

3. Warriors -- Allan Houston (11)

4. Mavs -- Sam Cassell (24)

5. Twolves -- Jamal Mashburn (4)

6. Bullets -- Vin Baker (8)

7. Kings -- Nick Van Exel (37)

8. Bucks -- Shawn Bradley (2)

1994

We get one future Hall of Farmer ( Kidd) and one guy that should had have a Hall of Fame career. I’m talking about Grant Hill. If you don’t remember him with the Pistons, let me tell you this guy was good! Injuries really did a number on this guy. A healthy Grant Hill would have really shift the power in the early 2000s. If he had been healthy while playing with a TMac in Orlando would had give the Magic a couple of players in the Jordan-Pippen mold. Only the Basketball Gods know if that would have worked...again…

Championship Builders: Bucks, Mavs

Biggest Jump: Jalen Rose from 13th to 3rd.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Bucks -- Jason Kidd (2)

2. Mavs -- Grant Hill (3)

3. Pistons -- Jalen Rose (13)

4. Twolves -- Eddie Jones (10)

5. Bullets -- Glenn Robinson (1)

6. Sixers -- Juwan Howard (5)

7. Clippers --Briant Grant (8)

8. Kings -- Donyell Marshall (4)

1995

Deepest class since 1987. We have 4 quality players that could have been franchise players and two others that really had a chance (can u imagine the harm that Stoudamire would inflict on others playing with the current rules). I think at the end everything worked for the best as the selections went down in the real world. I rather had seen one good year of KG in Minessota than seeing him rotten away with the Warriors. I also have the gut feeling that Sheed enjoy being healthy in his early 20s unlike Blake Griffin, Antonio McDyess or Danny Manning. Just saying.

Championship Builders: Warriors

Biggest Jump: Michael Finley from 21^th to 3rd.

Pick Order. Picking Team --Player Selected ( Original position drafted)

1. Warriors -- Kevin Garnett (1)

2. Clippers -- Rasheed Wallace (4)

3. Sixers -- Michael Finley (21)

4. Bullets -- Antonio McDyess (2)

5. Twolves -- Jerry Stackhouse (3)

6. Grizzlies -- Damon Stoudamire (7)

7. Raptors -- Kurt Thomas (10)

8. Blazers -- Theo Ratliff (18)

9. Nets -- Joe Smith (1)

Finals Overview

Man oh man. We were way wrong. The Boston Celtics performed a defensive clinic for most of the series, specially on Kobe, and just rough the series up taking Lamar and Gasol out of their games. The rest of the Lakers were just too young to know how to react and the leadership coming from Phil Jakcson never get through to those guys.

Ray Allen was a total surprise. He struggle in all first three rounds shooting like crap in all of them. Paul Pierce became a defensive stopper and maybe the most deserving champion we have had in a long, long time. He has being a Celtic for 10 years. He has seen everything. He was up, he was down, he was stabbed, he was in the comeback wins againts the Nets and the Lakers. His career belongs to the city of Boston. And know he comes with a ring.

What to say about KG. Perhaps to the most clutch player in the court at any time but he came through with that performance at game 6. You won't remember this series for KG's perfomance but you will because this was KG's first title, maybe the only one, but this guy has killed himself on the court for more than 10 years to reach this point. He needed lost of help, this is not tennis, this is a team sport and when KG is given a true team he comes through.

The Celtics' bench was terrific. Big shot after big shot.And they always entered the game with a poice the comes from someone that knows his role and knows he will do that job. Doc? I never talked trash about Doc - mainly because I never had a chance - but when you lost 18 straight games one might think their coach is a little predictable but after this series Mr Doc Rivers has prove himself to be a very good coach. I won't go as far as saying that he outcoached Phil Jackson, if Lamar Odom and the bench play with some balls the history would have different, but his team won. Game 4 and 6 were brilliantly coached from my humble perspective.

The Celtics won the championship with defense, hunger, great leadership and a helluva of a bench. LA lost the championship because their inside players were afraid of contact, their second team couldn't defend (outside Farmar) and thei top player got involve in a web of brilliant defensive schemes executed by a stronger and waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay hungrier player and smarter team defenders.

Whose fault is it? Tom Thibaudeau. If all the talk is true. This guy is a effing genius.

NBA Finals Game 6

That was easy. The Celtics entered the game with determination and with that assasin mentality we have been praising Kobe for having. Plain and simple the Celtics never gave a chance to the Lakers in this game. The Lakers never gave themselves a chance. After a 10 -2 run in the middle of the second quater everybody but Gasol (probably because Big Baby was on him ) look defeatead.

After the first 3 minutes of the third quater and the lead was balloning Kobe and Co. called a night. The Celtics D was unbelievable. Really. Deflections, box outs, reading passing lines, taking balls straigh up from Lakers' hands. They did everything to win the game. The Lakers did nothing to win the game. The result: 131- 92.

I did the ref watch but outside a dubious call here and there, specially by Salvatore, there wasn't anything "fishy".

Just one final comment: Why on God's good earth was Lamar Odom pissed of in the final 5 minutes? Because the Celtics kept playing ? Because the Lakers never did? Because he wanted scare KG like KG has been scaring him all series long? Did he wanted to people to say: "Boy, did Lamar Odom played with passion tonight"? I don't know but Lamar, let me give you an advice, pushing and shoving is not your game. It's ok. There has been bunch of good players who are not too fond to contact and they have had great careers. Stick with what you got, ok? Thanks

State of the Finals

We are back to Boston. The Celtics achieve their goal stealing one in fron of Will Smith, Denzel and Jack. What can we expect for the rest of the series? The adjustements made by both coaches have worked for both of them. Jackson's decision to put Kobe on Rondo when he's on the floor and let him roam and screw Boston's offense has been the key to those opening huge leads. Last night he used Farmar to pressure House/Cassell when they are bringing up the ball. The result of that was Paul Pierce running the offense which takes a little bit more from their go to guy.

Rivers' adjustements aka Smallball has opened all kind of spaces for their big three. The diference last night: neither Allen nor Garnet sank those open jumpers they were going down in game 5. Specially Allen has we learned later that he have some family issues on his mind. (Good luck with that, Ray). House and Cassell were pretty effective last night.

The bad comes with the good. I think the Lakers failed to give a major role to Lamar Odom when he was guarded by Posey. I know he might be afraid of him but in the third quater - with KG in the bench - they went to him and good things happened for them. He's just to versatile to be roaming around without a north in the offense. What about Radmanovic's north? This guy can't defend nobody. He's a poor rebounder and his shot ain't falling. I know coaches can't start the game with their "adjustement line up" but playing him more than 5 minutes is just criminal. Mihm? Well, that was intersting. Who know, he could have been game 2's Leon Powe.

For my money, Rivers is playing Rondo too much.Unless he's driving to the basket at 250 mpg he's pretty much useless and apparently that ankle ain't allowing him that fifth gear. Again, I understand why he's seeing some minutes but when Kobe is running behind the ball like a 12 year old in a soccer match I think is time to put a shooter whose shot is not cheered by the Lakers. Another big issue that could have affected last night game: The Truth playing the entire game. I know this happens when you go down by 20 ( which happens when Kobe is everywhere where the ball is. Which happens when Rondo is in the game) but somehow u need to trust your bench and at least give him a minute off at the end of a quater or a couple of posetions after a TV time out.

This is also a players game. I've been saying all along that when Gasol and Odom stop shaking like little girls when KG is around them they can win any game (no matter state of the series) and that finally happened in game 5 (Actually it happened thanks to KG's foul trouble. By the time he got back to the game LO and PG where so pumped and their adrenaline were running so high that there was no fear ) Can they go back to that aggresiveness in Game 6? I really don't think but at least they saw what could happen when the play like big boys.

I can't believe I'm going to post this next paragrah: KG needs to cool down. Simmons wrote a piece some time ago about KG's lack of composure at crunch time. Totally truth. He has been playing subpar basketball this entire finals but somehow that lack of production hasn't directy affected any outcome so far.. until last night. He missed 3 free throws and two tip-ins inside two minutes to play with a 2 point game or 4 point game. He saids that he will play better but I ain't sure. For all the criticism that Gasol have received for being tissue soft he's not afraid of taking shots when the baskets matter the most. He came through last night (even when Kobe was looking in desbielf) . Sadly when can't expect that from Garnett. I can only hope and dream ( for history sake. I'm not cheering for the Celtics or the Lakers ) that KG comes with a huge 30 point, 17 rebound, 6 block game with the C's winning thanks to a KG's block shot or a couple of Garnett's free throws. Would that make 5 games of practically not showing up? Right away not. But in a couple of years the public will only remember that monster game . Take my word if happens but until it does I'm ashame to say that KG has become a reliability in crunch time.

Ps: What happend to Simmons' game 5 column? I hope his dad is ok. If something happened to his heart we should trial KG for murder.

NBA Finals Game 5

What set this two teams apart? It was another close game in which Boston came back to tie the game after letting LA getting a 19 and 14 point leads but this time couldn't get over the "hump". As Kobe said: "The series ain't over" and we are going back to Boston.

The diference for the Lakers this game was Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Easily. For the first time they were aggresive, they didn't back down to KG and they played like that -almost- the entire game. In the fourth quater the lack of poise of the Celtics cost them the game. I'm not taking anything here from the Lakers, they did a hell of a job going directly at Garnett and putting him in foul trouble early and often during the first half but when the game was on the line the Lakers didn't exactly went for the kill. They needed 2 missed put-backs and 3 missed free throws for KG to stay alive. There was also the Kobe "steal" as he reached from behind Pierce to poke the ball away but in that particualar point it should have been a tied game .

The Lakers again play like a desperate team. Like a team with nothing to loose and so far that mindset have worked for them twice at home. Can the bring the same intencity and desire outside to Boston? The question is not about the Lakers' psyque but about Odom and Gasol consistency because they might have found out that if they took it to the C's -without that fear of contact they have shown for most of the series- good things would happen. They know Kobe can't beat the C's by himself and they know they need to come through for their team. For all the talk about coaches and adjustements and strategy the major hole for the Lakers this Finals have been their inconsistency and lack for fire. This is the first series they need that ( Denver? Please. My dog has more fire when barking at fallen leaves. Utah? Outside DWill, Matt Harpring and Jerry Sloan they are softer than those fallen leaves my dog enjoys to roll over after awhile of barking at them mercylessly. The Spurs? They are not soft but they were more tired following the New Orleans series that my dog after a good half hour of rolling over a pile of fallen leaves). They don't need to magically create a defensive mindset. They just need some hustle.

This take us to the adjustement of the moment. The C's can't do anything if Gasol and Odom decide to be aggresive. They are not going to hack them every time they go to the rim that's just not Celtics' defense. The answer to that question might be scarier that most Celtics' fans think. The key is Mr Defensive Player of the Year. Garnett had another awful game and he - again - crumbled under pressure in the fourth quater. They are going to need a very smart and under control Garnett to control the paint ( specially if Perkins is out for the series) and keep both Odom and Gasol in check. He needs to make them pay for daring to attack him offensevely. He needs to make them work for every posetion without collecting fouls like the were trading cards. Despiste KG's offensive struggles the last couple of games he has gone more to his repertoire in the post. He needs to keep that trend but go up a notch or two or eleven and make them defend him and probably (given those two defensive "capabilites" ) put them in foul trouble.

This is Doc Rivers' graduation. Game 6 is all about Celtic pride. They can not afford to go to a game 7 and deal with the possibility of a 50 point game from Kobe Bryant. Their passion and desire can't be lesser that the Lakers'. The championship is one win again and Mr Auerbach is watching.

NBA Finals Game 3

It wasn't a pretty game , so if u missed it don't worry I'm sure your had better thing to do with your time. Good call. Anyway, the game was pretty boring, until the final 40 seconds any team had a chance. The key of that game was Vujacic as he scored 20 very efficient points and played great defense against Ray Allen - the only Celtic finding the bottom of the net - in the fourth quater.

The Celtics lost by 6 despite having no production from Garnett or Pierce. They lost by 6 despite Phil Jackson making the first adjustement that could swing the series to LA's side: Putting Kobe on Rondo the entire first half giving him the shot. Kobe roam defensevely and double team on KG or anybody on the post. Rondo never figured things out and then he twisted his ankle and his night pretty much was over.

The Lakers won despite no production from Odom or Pasol until the final minutes where Gasol had a couple of putbacks that were created by Odom drives against Garnett. LA won despite Kobe missing 7 free throws. LA still won without any production off the bench, outside Vujacic.

Neither team can feel happy after that game (Well, maybe LA 'cause they are not 0-3 ) neither team could get in a groove at any moment of the game. That little sequence when the Celtics were down 2 inside a minute to play and House missed a short jumper and Vujacic hit a three in the other end was the dager of the game. Kobe had those one on one against Ray Allen but one got the feeling Mr 81 was going to score even if a young Scottie Pippen was defending him.

Game 4 is going to have the same relevance that game 3 had. There is little diference between being down 0-3 and down 1-3. Now the ball is on Doc Rivers' side . Everybody said before the series began that Doc Rivers was going to get his butt seriously overcoached but through 3 games he has made all the right moves and if it wasn't for a bad night of KG/Pierce he might have the Celtics one win away from a swept.

NBA Finals Game 1

Pretty good game 1 for my perspective - as me not being an ultra fan of neither team - just because it wasn't a blowout and the teams fought pretty hard.

You can better insight from at Forum Blue and Gold or at Celtics' 17. This is my insight:

• Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol looked so different compare on how the performed againt Utah and San Antonio. That extra step and seemingly endless lenght wasn't there.
  
• Andrew Bynum is being sorely missed right now
• KG missed what it looked for Celtics' fans like 20 straight shots. Why KG game is based on 15 - 15 fadeway and turnaround contested jumpers? It was the same question I asked myself every time I see -or saw - Derrick Coleman, Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber play. They have the post moves and the body to live in the paint but they choose not to just because at some point the develop and mid range shot (Wich is not bad if the used as a way to confuse the defense or just some mix it up kinda of thing. Not as a first - and most times only - resource) This is why I love Duncan's game so much. He's 7'0 feet tall and he plays with his back to the basket controlling the game and creating offense with his post moves
• Cassell had a nice couple of post ups agains Fisher but outside that he looked like he was working for Donaghy.
• Kobe wasn't as agressive as everybody imagined it. Something happened there maybe he's just pacing himself.
• Ray Allen looked quick. I've never seen this guy dribble the ball that quick and being that active and aggresive since 2002. Maybe for the first time in his career he didn't rely on this jump shot to get him going. Nice!
• Paul Pierce injury and consequent return was a thing of beauty. I just hope the injury is not that bad so it becames an issue in this series for the C's.
• Doc Rivers need to learn fast. Very very fast. He showed some hope in the last couple of games against the Pistons but this is Phil Jackson looking for this 10th ring.

NBA Finals: Celtics vs Lakers

1. Celtics (66-16) vs 1. Lakers (57-25)
Regular Season Series: BOS 2-0
Point Differencial: BOS +16.0


Rusty was right all along. Somehow. The dream match up for NBA' PR people is here. The Lakers take their 14 championships to the new garden where The Celtics are waiting along with their 16 championships.

Besides the obvious rivalry and the stuff there are a lot of side histories right here. Kobe look for his first championship withot Shaq meanwhile KG looks to take his picture while crying and holding the ol' O'brien trophy. There's the Allen vs Kobe feud (that nobody where it comes from and as Bill Simmons said "its 100% possible that it is about a woman). There's Paul Pierce scratching the surface to be considered one of the C's all time greats. There's Phil Jackson looking to tie Red Auerbach' all time titles record ( Just a side note here: The biggest advantage the Celtics have is Red Auerbach. If you think Red's ghost is going to allow Phil to break his record AGAINST the Celtics then you don't know nothing)

Now to the series itself. I've been saying all alone that playoff series are win more by matchups than adjustments (adjustments create missmatchups and so on) and the Lakers have the better matchups sans two positions (Garnett vs Odom and Rondo vs Fisher) and they have Kobe who have been anything less than Jordanesque. Pierce can also dominate his matchup agains Radmanovic and Vujacic but he's not the cold blooded killer Kobe is and this is the finals. Where cold blooded killer happens. Now there's the passion and the fire factor. Who wants it more? KG? Kobe? The Truth? Gasol? My money is on KG. We all know he wants it more I don't think he's going to get it just because Kobe, wanting it like 2 grams less, is going to take from his hands at some point maybe as soon as Game 1.


X Factor: At the end I'm debating myself between Kobe and Red's ghost. Which factor is going to weight heavier in this series? Red is right now waiting for the start of the game at the Basketball Olympus and he seems happy to see his team back in the last dance. He's happy they are there but I don't think they are going to allow him to burn Kobe's left eye with his cigar. Too bad it would be something to see.

Basketball Gods' Prediction: LAL 4-2

Overview: Celtics vs Pistons

I give up. I don't know what to think about the Celtics. I don't know, I truly don't. Rusty saids one thing I think another and then Bill Simmons saids another completely different thing.

During two games in this series (Game 3 and 6) the Celtics looked like they were supposed to look. Defensively dominant. Good ball handlers - as long as they don't get pressured full court or somebody dares to trap them - and specially they didn't collapse in the fourth quater, au contraire, they actually played their best basketball of the season during those two fourth quaters.

Another conference finals appearence, another playoff run ended. That has been the life for Detroit Pistons and Pistons fans since 2004. Billups wasn't at 100% and most games Prince and Sheed' didn't quite looked there. Maybe the latest was the doom for this guys because Stuckey played great. There weren't matchups problems, there weren't bad officiating or questionable calls. This was a very close series and the final "X factor" was Pierce. He showed the ability - first of controlling himself - and then to take over a game. (Here we need to factor the Pistons as a group lowering their quality of defense over Pierce. He didn't mutated into Kobe Bryant). At least we can say the best Celtic team showed, hence, the best team won

Whose fault is it? It could be 'Sheed. Besides possibly game 2 he never matched up with KG and Garnett didn't played that great

NBA Playoffs Weekend 6

Celtics - Pistons

It is so cool to finally see KG playing and being a factor in a playoff game that I' ve renewed my seasong long desire of witnessing KG holding the Larry O'Brien trophy. I still believe the Pistons are going to take this series just 'cause the have a thicker skin. Unless you are John Hollinger you have to give some importance to experience. About the only thing that could derrail the Pistons - besides a KG going all MJ on them - is that little issue with Chauncey's hamstring, Stuckey did a marvellous job running the offense against the Magic but this Celtics team - with this Celtics' KG - is a different beast. Now, do you prefer Billups' leadership although he ain't 100% healthy or Stuckeys' energy and risk a turnover here and there that could cost them another home game. I'd ride Billups as long as I could, if he's hurting my team I'll pull him off. But you don't leave a guy like Billups off the game if he can't play. This is the Conference Finals, there's no tomorrow.

Spurs- Lakers

Let me get this straight. If Manu plays as he can play, the Spurs win. If Manu shoots 3/13 they lost. This is nothing new we already have know the effect that Manu's bad games have on Spurs' offense. They just can't generate enough offense without him. Plain and simple. The need him to be at least at threat -which he hasn't been the first two games - for the Spurs to have a "fluid" offense. That game 1 is REALLY REALLY going to hurt, the blew a golden oportunitie and they should have been up 2 -1 right now. This Lakers ain't the Hornets. They need tons and tons of Manu

Eastern Finals: Celtics vs Pistons

1. Celtics (66-16) vs 2. Pistons (59-23)
Regular Season Series: DET 2-1
Point Differencial: BOS +5.7

Here we are. The matchup everybody was expecting. I can't say everybody was waiting for this one unless you enjoy defensive basketball. We are going to see games under 80 points per team. Easily. If you are a fan of fast, athletic, run and gun basketball you might wanna look away I get back around november when the Warriors are playing again. Let's get back to the subject here.

The Celtics comes from two hard series that they weren't supposed to be that hard. Boston has shown holes offensevely and defensevely. Those are all fixable whith their due work but their lack of focus and possible desire through out streches of games ( specially on the road) is what might doom them at the end of this series. Which is ironic given that KG plays of them and they are allegably the hungriest team of the league.

Are this guys overrated? Ray Allen is a joke (12.7 ppg). Garnett haven't dominated anything when given the chance and their bench, not including Posey, is looking thinner by the minute. Cassell looks like 50 and Doc Rivers is about to get seriously outcoached. The talent ain't that strong if you take a good look at this team. Everybody outside Pierce ow us something


Is funny in this series performs the biggest dissapointment and the biggest surprise for me in this playoffs. I have come to enjoy Deeetroiiit Baaasketball. This guys are focus and determined to get back to the Finals .This is about their legacy as they need to prove that they were not a one hit wonder. Everybody is on the same page, their bench is doing a lot of harm and their big guys just shut down Howard.

Questions for you here. It would be harder to stop KG? How long it would take Pistons' D to read right throught Boston's offensive sets? Are we going to heard the laughing and clapping of Sheed when they take a 3 - 2 in Boston?

Basketball Gods' Prediction: DET 4-2. Just for the sake of watching KG in the Finals I'm hoping I'm wrong.