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.

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

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 4

Dear God, what a game! It was a tale of those halves. Amazing first half for the Lakers as Kobe made sure everybody from Radmanovic to Farmar get involve in the offense. Lamar Odom has his best half in years where he look like the Miami Heat version of him ( remember him? ). Great shooting, great passing, great basketball played by the Lakers.c

The second half was a defensive exhibition by the C's. Once again the adjustement war was win by Doc Rivers as he used Eddie House and James Posey instead of Rondo and Perkins (who got injured). With those matchups the C's created tons of space to operate and finally KG took his game inside and took it right to Gasol. I was really impressed with Boston' D. Really

Couple of sidenotes:

1. Why Kobe never took over? Celtics' D? I mean, he's better than that and we all know that he can get 40 any time (although that doesn't mean the Lakers are going to win )

2. The contribution that nobody saw coming is being a really factor in this series. Look back: Leon Powe, Sasha Vujacic, James Posey.

3. If KG continues to play inside like he did in the fourth quater the C's are winning in 5. Nobody can defend him there, nobody. She shouldn't be taking 17 footers all night long. Take it inside, school this guys. I want to see that.

4. What's up with Kobe? Seriously.

5. Is Phil Jackson really getting outcoached? Is that even possible?

NBA Finals Game 2

Adjustments are a thing of beauty, don't they? Phil Jackson did his thing and kinda work out until de refs started to call every single type of contact (I know that every type of contact is technically a foul but normally some contact is not called just because it is a contact sport). Both Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom started very aggresive and the Lakers made the effort to get in the key which resulted in 16 early inside points. The moment that Odom was called for his second foul his night was over. Gasol continued to attack the defense but never managed to have a dramatic effect in LA's offense.

The adjustments continued and after Radmanovic picked his own second personal ( This guy has nothing to do trying to defend Paul Pierce. I mean nothing. The Truth could raise an eyebrow and Radmanovic would go for the block shot) Ariza come into the game but wasn't really a factor on neither end. LA bench was awful. Vujacic did a better job chasing Ray Allen but that was about the only good thing I could say about them.

Doc Rivers continued with his thing and Perkins' foul trouble could have been Doc Rivers' greatest moment so far. That prompted him to put Leon Powe in and we all know what happened. Which takes me to the officiating. I have only saw three games where the referees took central stage: Game 5 of the Utah-LA series, in favor or LA. Game 3 of San Antonio - LA series, in favor of SA and now Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Neither of those game fall in the category of game 6 of the 2002 Western Finals between LA and Sacramento. (Which has been one of the worst refereed game I've ever seen)

Referees at those three game didn't giftwrapped no game to nobody but most of the close call and normall-no-calls went to the home team. That was what happened yesterday. The calls did get LA out of rhythm and indirectly forced them to take outside shots - which makes kinda hard to force the refs to blow their whistles - and cut some playing time of their main guys (specially Kobe and Odom in the first half). But I don't saw like the game was stolen from the Lakers. Follow me here:

1. Leon Powe. Totally and inexcusable lack of preparation here. Nobody know how to guard this guy. Walton, Turiaf, Ariza and Odom, they all fouled this guy while he was attacking the rim . He is no Tim Duncan. He is not Dwigth Howard. He's a strong guy with quick feet that can be hard to guard if given space. That's it
2. Kobe second foul was a foul. He did stick out his elbow against Ray Allen. Maybe a no call but still a foul.
3. Lots of reaching are going to produce that. The Lakers did reach a lot against Pierce and Allen.
4. The Celtics did look for this fouls. Pierce and Rondo drive to the heart of LA's defense any time they wanted it.
   
5. Why LA's defense allowed this? You don't need to reach of bang somebody to stop them . Front the guy, anticipate , footwork. You know what I'm saying? LA's one on one defense have sucked for two games right now (If you think about it they maybe had one good defensive game against the Spurs. The Spurs offensive crashed and burned more by itself than LA's defensive schemes) I could put here a list of guys just not playing defense at all (It would start with a name that rhymes with Rastamanovic) and when they see a guy in green passing them by their resort is to foul him and hope to not get caught.
6. Kendrick Perkins played 14 minutes.
7. There were some make up calls in the second half going LA's way. Mainly Odom bringing down PJ Brown and then hitting him with the ball in a effort to mainting posetion
   

Lakers fans need to keep something in mind. They are a young team. I know Kobe and Fisher are there, I know Phil is their coach but outside of those names they are an inexperience and young team. They get easily taken out of their game. All season long their bench have been turnover prone and that have been minimized by playing Kobe extended minutes, and after the Pau Gasol trade, having a scoring threat with them at all times.

The bottom line is the most close calls when to the Celtics at the start of the game but you can easily blame the Lakers for being discouraged by that and not forcing the refs to blow the whistle.

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 Playoffs Day 38. West Conference Finals Game 4

Bill Simmons once wrote "neve post while you are angry" I had to containg myselft last night 'cause that game was even difficult to swallow than game 1. After Sasha Vujacic 4 point play to end the third quater -that gave LA a 7 point cushion - I knew San Antonio still had a chance. They were right there without Manu making a single field goal. They were in striking distance despite being outhustled to the offensive rebound. In the other hand I was surprised LA had that lead while getting almost nill from Odom and Fisher. Kobe had 0 free throws. Neither LA o San Antonio had made enough to "deserve" a lead.

And then the fourth quater began. The Spurs went on their now characteristic offensive droughts. LA wasn't shooting the lights out neither but they were making just the necessary plays. Manu continued to struggle. Duncan looked tired all the way. Robert Horry and Udoka were still in the court while being scoreless and not offering suficient defensive resisten. I was getting angry because despite all that the game was right there. The Spurs needed just a explosion for Ginobili or a Robert Horry three to gain momentum and finish the game. Nothing of that happened. Kobe got his break and entered the game as fresh as 29 year old could be. Odom came to life and every Laker started to make the right play. Offensive rebounds, block shots, deflections, you name it. The Lakers where finally deserving to win the game

And then the final 60 seconds began. The Lakers got a brand new shinny offensive rebound and two free throws from Odom to make it a 7 poing game. A Manu's three and a Odom's goaltending - which was somehow fuzzy - on a Parker layup made it 2 point game with 28 seconds remaining. After the Lakers run the clock Fisher was forced to his left into a tough fadding away jumper that kissed the rim, hit Horry's knee and went out of bounds. The refs called that the ball never touched the rim so LA had 2 seconds on the 24 to make a shot. Kobe
verly airballed it. Duncan got the rebound.

And then the final play began. Their had two options: Manu and Barry. You got to trust your stars but Popovich went to the hot hand. Barry got the ball somewhere between half court and the the three point line, Fisher rushed and jump over Barry. Bumped him. Barry missed it. No call. Game over. As Duncan said

"You're not going to get that call. They're not going to make that call."

Why I was angry:

• They should have been up 2-1. Not down 2-1.

• Manu is clearly hurt. But he left his agresiveness somewhere in game 3

• Popovich never gave rest to Duncan. He had a chance around 8 minutes to play. Duncan really look exhausted.

• For more than 6 and a half minutes the Spurs scored 4 points ( a runner by Barry and a jumper by Manu)

• The Spurs made 9 total field goals in the fourth quater.Three of those where Barry's ( 8 points in that quater ).
  

• The Lakers only had 6 field goals - with 4 free throws by Odom - that pissed me off even more.
  

• As the game ended and the final play took place I yelled "WHAT?". Once my head cooled off I made peace just becuase that foul was not going to be called. Not against the Lakers. Not Joey Crawford. Not to Brent Barry.
  

At the end of day I was pissed off not because the final play or even any of those things I just wrote. I am angry because the Spurs are a better team but right now at this point the Lakers just had an extra step, an extra bounce and that cost the Spurs two games, a 1-3 hole and their season as the defending champions.