NBA Playoff Thread

Lakers yet again fail to hold a playoff series lead. This is moving from a weakness to an illness. Getting beat by Glen Davis and Nate Robinson does not inspire confidence for the road ahead.

 

Indeed, those Lakers can't hold a series lead.

I've never seen an NBA playoff team lose more than one game per series, then go on to win the title. This truly doesn't bode well.

However, in their (ever-so-slight) defense: they've already made an impressive bit of history, apparently reaching the Finals after three consecutive losses in best-of-7 series.

 

Bingo. They get more comfortable with the slightest advantage than any other team in NBA history, it seems. So frustrating to watch.

I'm almost tempted to hope for a Lakers loss Sunday night. Seems like the only time they can play is when they don't have a lead.

 

Did you really expect them to win all 3 in Boston?

 

Last night was similar to the game in Phoenix that the Suns won with the bench. The number's worth trotting out again: Lakers have won 14 straight games when the series is tied. And winning when a series is tied is more crucial than winning when ahead. On the other hand, they have won five straight closeout games, dating back to the Denver series last year. So, if the trend continues, I see a win on Sunday, then finishing it off Tuesday night back in LA.

 

Boston should be winning this series. They look like the better team.
They are getting good shots consistently but are not hitting them with the frequency one expects. That has to change at some point.
If Allen hits two or three of those shots in Gam e 3, they win that one.

 

Apparently none of us are watching the NBA Finals.

 

We are. Just not mentally tough enough to post after a Lakers loss.

Hoping this is a repeat of 1988. Lakers lose Games 4 and 5 in Detroit to go down 3-2. In GAme 6, when they were down 3 with a minute left, I stood over my pregnant sister with an oversized, inflatable crayon that I'd won at the local carnival that day, ready to pelt it with her if the Lakers loss. Scott hit a jumper, Kareem made two free throws and they went on to win Game 7.

Hopefully they get it to 7.

 

That was 22 years ago. Is your sister still of child-bearing age?

 

This team infuriates me. Also, I think I hate Nate Robinson as much as any player in the NBA.

I wish Phil Jackson knew a spiritual guru who could fix the mental toughness miniscus tear in Bynum's knee. Sigh.

 

And do you still beat your crayon?

 

It's not as if the Celtics haven't had their own problems closing this year, so the Lakers have every opportunity to rally here. But with Bynum on one leg, I can't see them doing it. Buck was right. The Celtics have looked to be the better team so far. Not tougher -- better.