I love the way rondo plays, and you cab definitely build a team with him to maximize the areas where he excels, but the Best Point mantle that he's been awarded is ludicris until he can hit a jump shot.

Also, Kobe is trying to Kobe his team out of this ring. But with such artistry!

<insert deleted emoticon of cotton whiffing at stickball here>

I am hardly a fan of anything from New England, outside of my cousins in New Hampshire, or a nice hot bowl of clam chowder, but i am pulling hard for the celtics tomorrow night!

This is the kind of BS Harry and I were talking about. Never mind that the Lakers team D stunk yesterday and allowed the Celtics to shoot over 56%. Never mind that Andrew Bynum only managed 1 single rebound in 31 minutes. Never mind that Derek Fisher and Ron Artest shot 4-18 from the floor and that Pau Gasol with all his length had a bunch of shots blocked by Tony Allen and Glen Davis. Never mind that the Celtics seemed to win every hustle play. Never mind all the Fisher flops that gave Celts easy baskets. This loss was apparently all on Kobe. I call BS.

I didn't like the spacing of the Laker offense or some of the impossible shots Kobe took just looking for a foul call. Kobe was on fire though in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and he is the only reason it wasn't a complete blowout.

Sorry bill but the best player in the league keeps his team in the game by marching to the foul line or getting his teammates better shots. The reason the book on kobe is to let him jack up miracles and try to beat you himself is because he will continue to jack up terrible shots.

i loved seeing kobe get mad.

they're only terrible if they don't go in

I forced my dad to watch the game since we were camped out for the night at his beach house...I'm guessing he hasn't watched that much of an NBA game in 10 years but he really seemed to enjoy it.

Yeah Chase kinda misses the point that when Kobe was throwing up all those shots in the 3rd Quarter he was 7-9 shooting including a bunch of 3's. The problem wasn't Kobe's shooting, it was that they couldn't get any defensive stops.

if he's throwing up bombs, then his big men aren't getting touches and they're not getting to the line, and the team falls apart. Every team in the league tries to get Kobe to go for 50 against them, because if he takes enough shots to score that many then no one else is getting in rhythm. That's always been the knock on Kobe and it always will be- he makes enough miracles that he wants to make another one. you can argue with me, but you know I'm right because it's on the scoreboard, and you know that the Celtics know it too.

You're right only in the sense that playing 1 against 5 isn't going to work against a team as good as the Celtics and Kobe was their only offense for a big chunk of the game. You want to put all the blame on Kobe though where I think the rest of the team and Jackson deserve at least as much of the blame there. No one was hitting their shots other than Kobe and a lot of those bombs came as a result of the ball going back to Kobe with no time left on the shot clock. No one else seemed to want the shot and no one else seemed to be working to get open looks. Still, Kobe made a ton of tough shots and singlehandly keep the game within reach even if it had the feeling of a blowout. Garnett simply outplayed Gasol. Whether his knee was to blame or not, Bynum never got into any rhythm. Artest was terrible and Odom was mediocre although he apparently had the flu which probably affected his game. And the big men did get to the line down the stretch but Artest and Odom went 0-4 at the line late in the game. To me, its amazing that it was as close as it was. There was a lot not to like about the Lakers in game 5. Kobe is pretty low on that list.

I don't get the abject Kobe hatred or the nearly blind, rabid boosterism for him.

He's neither Jesus nor Judas. Just an exceptionally gifted player who doesn't always involve his teammates as much as he could/should.

Yeah, Chase totally demonstrates the irrational Kobe haters. If you've been watching the whole playoffs you've seen Kobe penetrate and pass... I don't have the stats in front of me, but he's put lots of assists on the board. The problem in the last four games is that the rest of the team is standing around on offense (Artest would you please get a grip) and on defense they've had lapses. Kobe almost got them back in to the game with some brilliant offense in the second half and his clogging up the lane while daring Rondo to shoot was fairly effective stopping Rondo's drive and dish game. But Gasol was asleep, and Fish couldn't get looks and Bynum is hurt and Odom is inconsistent and Artest plays pretty good D and looks like a deer in the headlights on O.

Credit Boston, they've played really well...

But back to the infantile Kobe hate.... would anyone mention Ray Allen going 0 for 16 or whatever it was... mostly long threes... no, he's a "great shooter" having a bad night....

Lakers in 7.... but if the Celts win tomorrow night it's because they deserve it. They've gutted it out, and their D really is a thing of beauty.

Well said Harry.

some other random points:

* Whatever complaints people have had about the playoffs (I'm looking at you Derris) this has been a great finals
* The Celtics have played really great D and at times great O
* Pierce was bound to break out of his slump. Now the Lakers have to adjust.
* I don't get why the Lakers didn't play more three guard alignments. Their spacing was awful, they were slow, and they need more shooters than Kobe to open up the inside game. Plus Artest is worthless if he isn't shutting down Pierce and Walton added nothing. I'd expect more three guard alignments with Kobe on Pierce if they end up with similar problems in game 6.
* Game 6 is going to be a monster game - Lakers back against the wall at home, Celts not wanting to play game 7 on the road
* I wouldn't say I'm confident but I'm still guessing that the Lakers pull it out.

I'd like to preface this by saying that I've pretty much talked myself out of really caring about these Finals and I fully realize this.

That said, has it? Or has it been "great" by comparison to a terrible playoffs? I think it's competitive in that both teams have actually won on the road. I mean, Game 1 was a total turd of a game. I honestly don't find this series as compelling as the 2008 series. There has been some GREAT defense played so far but that does nothing for the casual fan. Also, where is the hostility? Stern has neutered these guys to the point of blandness. They are all worried about that next Technical or talking too much trash in the media. That is something that could help I think. If I thought that any minute these guys could just lose their shit on each other Kurt Rambis style it'd make for better drama.



Agreed. For all my blathering, I will be watching for sure. I actually think if the Celts lose Game 6, the Lakers will win it all.

Not playoffs related, but I'm unreasonably elated at reports Tom Izzo has turned down the Cleveland Cavaliers and will announce tonight that he's staying at Michigan State. I couldn't have been mad at him if he'd taken that job and its included bag o' cash, but to have him back with a loaded team and the Final Four coming to Houston next year...

Yeah, we happy.

Yeah man. Good to know some folks aren't for sale.

I mean, he's Hall of Fame whether he goes pro or not.

this is ugly.

brown looks like he should be in nba jam.

because he's a rapist maybe?

also, LA halftime show.

Yeah, all those fags in LA. Ha ha.

Eat me. Lakers in 7 and there are prolly at least a couple fags on both teams and jerks like you and your small town small minded antiquated homophobia mean that they have to live lives carefully avoiding public exposure.

Lakers in 7. Did I say Lakers in 7?

jeez, settle down harry.

celtics halftime isn't much better.



and celtics in 7.

i'll bet bynum's seen a few up close (at once)

For the record, I'm pulling for the Celts, but I thought this was pretty impressive:

celtics looking much quick and decisive than the other night. look more rested.