NBA '08 Playoff Thread

I wouldn't worry at all if I was were the Lakers. They had a lot of good looks down the strech. And Doc Rivers will eventually get outcoached by PJax.

 

No doubt this is going to be a long series. I just can't understand why Kobe was on the bench as long as he was in the fourth. Must have been part of Jackson's master plan...

 

Jackson, by far, is a better coach, but I wouldn't put down Doc so easily. Doc has himself a good team and they can play with anyone and Doc knows his sh**.

 

That's actually pretty normal for the Lakers. They always get him in right around the 7 minute mark during the 4th but I do agree with you that he left him out there too long. The thing is though, you could still tell that he was looking to dish the ball off. He should've came out the same way he did during the 4th quarters against the Spurs.
It was still an impressive game by the Celtics though. I don't want to take away anything from them. They played great D during some streches and Garnett seemed like he was being aggresive on the offensive side and tried to score the ball. Rondo had a solid game as well.

I dont know, I think Doc is a little overrated. Plus look at the coaches he's had to face during the playoffs. Mike Woodson(he's a newbie), Mike Brown(The worst coach in the history of coaches) and Flip Saunders(never comes through in the playoffs).

 

I'll agree with Chuck in saying that the Lakers did have a lot of great looks but couldn't come through with the shot. You know Kobe, Odom and company won't make that same mistake twice.

 

Fuck, the homers on this thread make it harder and harder to root for the Celtics.
I've been a fan all of my life, but shit. This is ridiculous.

 

I'm starting to think Mike Breen is the announcers' version of Ben Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, etc. (i.e. underrated for so long before everybody jumps on the bandwagon to the point they become overrated), especially since everybody has been falling all over themselves to say what a great broadcasting team Breen, Jackson and Van Gundy are together.

He was nauseating during the East Finals right from the opening tip of Game 1: "With all due respect to the rest of the Eastern Conference ... Boston and Detroit at THE GARDEN~! The way it SHOULD be!" ... Sorry we created such an inconvenience by having the audacity to play the first two rounds of the playoffs first, Mike.

And what was up with the cut over his left eye tonight? Did somebody punch him for trying to grow that weak-ass goatee?

 

All I know is, I heart Paul Pierce. Nice to see him step up after halftime. Great game, but the Celtics have to do that again Sunday night given that the next three are out west.

 

Man, is Kobe smug. Asked about the defense of the Celtics he says he missed some bunnies and some really good looks and doesn't give an ounce of credit to the C's. Not saying I'd expect (or want, if he was on my team) any different, but damn. Did you really miss 17 bunnies? And are we calling fadeaways or contested shots bunnies?

 

Thanks for clearing that up (the goatee). I couldn't tell if that was just the lighting. My biggest problem is when he starts throwing in his own analysis, although it is enjoyable when Jackson and JVG team up to shoot him down almost every time.

 

I don't think anyone would argue that the TNT show is by far the best in the biz, but here's one of the many differences between that show and others, like say, ESPN's. With the TNT guys they're actually talking to one another. With ESPN each guy just takes turns speaking. If they end up talking about similar things or playing off one another it's purely coincidence because each guy seems so scripted. Magic is never a great analyst, but he stood out more tonight on this vanilla show than when he can just fade into the background and let Chuck, Ernie and Kenny go back and forth.

 

Sweet. I've always wanted to quote myself.
I have good reason, too. This may be as close as I'll ever come to getting a prediction correct. I was off on Game 1 by two points. As a Lakers fan, I hope I'm this accurate all the way through the series.