NBA '08 Playoff Thread

Great that they're building off the momentum of the previous rounds by having a WEEK off before game 1. This drives me crazy. Why couldn't they have moved G1 up to Tuesday night?

 

Well, it starts tonight.

Who's winning Game 1? I'll take LA to steal.

 

I'll take the Celtics, who I'm picking to win the series.

 

I'm a Lakers dork. I don't hate the Celtics. I do think Red Auerbach was a loudmouth.

In any event, I don't see how the Lakers win a clinching game in Boston. I know what matchups and "on paper" say.

But this is about more than basketball. I keep hearing about that 1984 series, tied 2-2 when LA should have swept, and Boston won in seven. The ghosts of Boston Garden finally have another chance to manifest themselves, and they will. If Red himself has to do an Obi-Wan kenobi and show up to put a lid on the Lakers' basket, he will.

Hell, being in LA and hearing local radio idiots frothing about how the Lakers will sweep (??????!!!!!!!), I might at least get some small amusement from a loss and their subsequent whining.

Celtics in six or seven. And bostonbred acts informed, Kobe haters get their "He's a selfish JERK!!!!" stiffy up again.

And the city of Boston continues to be a friend to frontrunners, and an enemy to everyone else.

 

Kobe and Pierce are great players. They will get theirs. Kobe more so than Pierce.

Garnett will get his in the first 3 1/2 quarters. Odom will get his 50% of the time.

I honestly think the series will hinge Gasol and Allen.

If Gasol can force the Lakers to double team him in the low post, a lot will open up.

If Allen can score consistently, then it will be a large burden off of Garnett's shoulders late in the game.

Who am I kidding?
Phil coaches Doc into to a whimpering blob. That's the only matchup that will matter.

Lakers in five, maybe six.

Kobe is the first great (top 10-12 to ever play the game) player to go straight from high school.

 

Interesting about the Kobe being a great part. The other night I sat down and in fun/boredom ranked who I thought were the greatest players ever. (I know it's somewhat subjective.)

Anyway, that's about where I have Kobe, No. 13. Just behind Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. If he wins this title, he may pass them. Any thoughts on that?

 

OK, I may as well weigh in with my official predictions (I'll even go one step further and predict each game):

Game 1: Celtics 96, Lakers 88
Game 2: Lakers 101, Celtics 97
Game 3: Lakers 115, Celtics 105
Game 4: Celtics 89, Lakers 81
Game 5: Lakers 94, Celtics 92
Game 6: Lakers 97, Celtics 91

Predictions: Ray Allen tries to strangle Sasha Vujacic with his tiny headband toward the end of the Lakers' blowout win in Game 3; Shaq lobbies the league to allow the Suns to trade him to the Celtics to prevent Kobe from getting a fourth ring; Pau Gasol misses Game 4 due to a conflict with his Geico Caveman commercial shoots; Kobe Bryant earns NBA Finals MVP honors and then immediately starts bashing his teammates over the head with his trophy, laughing at their gullability that they actually believed he really liked them; Phil Jackson causes a riot in Boston with his smug post-game speech after passing Red Auerbach. "Boston, you hosted a great Final. Thank you!" as he lights up a cigar.

 

I have been grilled on this board for holding to the opinion that if Kobe wins this year he will significantly improve his place in history. Some people beleive his place is already established.

If he wins this one, I would almost place him above West and Baylor. Just above.

In front of Kobe if he wins this year would be Duncan, Bird, Jordan, Magic, Kareem, Wilt, Havlicek, Russell, Mikan, Cousy, Pettit and maybe Isiah.

Yep, that sticks him right at 12-13.

 

Interesting insight.

If he jumps Baylor and West on my board, he trails Russell, Chamberlain, Kareem, Jordan, Magic, Olajuwon, Duncan, Bird, O'Neal, and The Big O. I'd have him 11th.

 

That is not why you were grilled on this board and you know it.

 

This series spawned a fantastic Onion article: http://www.theonion.com/content/news/pau_gasol_googles_lakers_celtics

 

I love the Joe Montana part.