(via Andy Gray's SI Vault)
Oh, this is such a great time. NBA Finals Game 7 is tonight, and even if I get my heart broken, I can still look forward to both the rest of the weekend's coverage of the US Open at Pebble Beach, plus I'm going on vacation next week. When I tune into the game tonight, I'll be disappointed (as I always am) when I hear the generic as hell music ABC is using for its "ESPN on ABC" coverage of the NBA. I still naturally long for the NBA on NBC music (Otherwise known as proof that Hell has frozen over at least once in the past, since John Tesh wrote an amazing piece of music). I always got excited just from watching the brief 30 second intro to the game coverage, like this one from the '98 Finals. But at least we don't have to listen to this. (h/t Chris) Meanwhile, in another link passed along by Chris, ESPN's Page 2 is celebrating the end of professional basketball in Louisville, so now I'm just really emotionally confused.
NBA trade news: Dalembert is off to Sacramento. In exchange, the
Good news everyone! Here is your latest NBA Jam for Wii update: NBA Legends characters! Yes, you will be able to play this old school style game with some old school style players if you so desire. Though I'm not sure why you'd want to play as Kevin McHale. It's not like you can actually take advantage of his sweet post moves in this game.
As posted on Deadspin, you absolutely need to behold this piece of NBA apparel -- a chinchilla fur jacket covered with crocodile skin NBA logos. I'm not really sure exactly who is the target market for such an item, but considering it's size XXL, that sort of limits the choices. If it was available in XXXL, Shaq would totally wear one.
You may remember the Name of the Year brackets that started right around the same time as March Madness. As of this month, they have finally named the winner... and the final two choices were kind of a letdown in my opinion. The strongest names in the field got voted out by some remarkably dull ones. (I was rooting for Nohjay Nimpson, God's Power Offor, and Spontaneous Gordon.)
Some brief Footbawful: a Tim Tebow statue? Really? There aren't enough facepalm pictures on the Internet...
And finally, here's a random awful jersey.
Worst of Game 6 in Pictures:
NBA Finals - Game 7:
Celtics at Lakers - ABC, 9:00pm
Series tied 3-3
Can't type... Too nervous... Ugh... I will simply link my fellow Celtics fans to this reassuring post from Jonah Keri (which also features the McHale/Rambis clothesline picture I already had chosen to lead today's BAD post!) that gives us some historical proof that the Celtics still have a shot. ("So you're telling me there's a chance... Yeah!")
Labels: 2010 NBA Finals, Bawful After Dark, Boston Celtics, Kevin McHale, Los Angeles Lakers
139 Comments:
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The Worst of LeBron JamesWorst of Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals
Bawful After Dark: June 15, 2010
Game 5 Press Conference: Starring Kobe Bryant
Worst of Game 5 of the 2010 NBA Finals
Bawful After Dark: June 13, 2010
Worst of Game 4 of the 2010 NBA Finals
Bawful After Dark: June 10, 2010
The Game 3 Press Conference: Starring Everybody
Isiah Thomas Knows How to Waste Money
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I much prefer the 80's NBA on CBS theme, cheesy graphics and all.
I know its running over already heavily-trodden ground, but 13 mil for Samuel Dalembert? Isiah isn't the only one who knows how to waste money apparently.
Tony Allen looks like he could use the aura adjustment Farmar's getting.
Dear talent vacuum Dane Cook: Your second chin is developing its own chin. And the scruffiness only highlights the fact, tosser.
Allen photo: I can't if Kobe and KG are consoling him or yelling at him. Even Big Baby is confused.
combine the discussion of the NBA finals with the thrill of the World Cup:
http://www.vuvuzela-time.co.uk/basketbawful.com
You're right, they were in rebuilding mode last year. Rebuilding Brand's knee! C'mon, up top. Where's Scalabrine or Josh Powell for this high five opportunity?
Actually, I think last year, along with Iverson, they were in collapse mode.
Go Lakers.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5294446
Food for thought tonight. Vomit-inducing food for Celtics fans, but food nonetheless. Alhtough, this one might be close, depending on how everyone controls their nerves. I'm nervous and only I'm watching it.
To counter the awfulness of that chincilla jacket, I give you the Golden State Warriors new logo: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5298902.
Based off the popular "The City" logo(http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/64/b/AAAAAr-qUMkAAAAAAGS_DA.jpg). Why didn't they just use "The City" instead? So long, blueman-group-lightning-bolt-guy-thingy-ma-dude-with-a-"w"-on-your-chest man.
Intentional? Absolutely not. But let's just freakin call it what it was: Kobe collided with the side of Perkins' knee and wrecked it.
Kareem on Jimmy Kimmel just killed me. Fucking fantastic. That was beautiful.
Go Lakers.
...
AAAHAHAHA SCAL WINS! FATALITY
Come on refs, let them play!
Lakers shooting a bawful percentage but owning the Celtics on the offensive boards.
I totally cracked up when they sub in Scal.
Still can't get over it.
But i'm happy whith the lead, though
"Scalabrini's lock-down defense"
Whenever the Lakers shoot less than 35% in the first half they are never able to get their numbers up in the second half.
Congratulations Boston on that 18th Banner.
Career
On August 2, 2005, Scalabrine signed a five-year contract with the Boston Celtics worth 85 million dollars.[2] also the best player ever.
Beautiful for Lakers-haters, that is.
Wallace has 6 points on 8 shots, to go with 6 boards, 2 blocks, and only 2 fouls at this point. Aside from his shooting efficiency, he seems to be some sort of presence, at least.
That said, 53 points in three quarters for the Lakers? Really? Boston getting 57 is exactly the style they want. Yeah, Boston's got this.
Pau I've almost gone to fists with people that have called you soft. Fish, I would bet my life on your clutch shooting.
But right now, if within the next three minutes you don't give me any good reasons to keep the TV on I'll erase every Laker memory from my mind and promise no heir of mine will ever wear the purple and gold again.
05:38
[LAL 45-51] Odom Putback Layup Shot: Made (3 PTS)
3 point layup? How?
I can't watch this, my cable operator has 4 slots for sports channels. Depending on priority, different channels are juggled, usually the basketball one is left out. Like today.
Lakers totally conceding the game with missing 10 free throws
Totally! I'm not even drinking anymore. It isn't funny.
They're crapping all over the basket from the free throw line.
I'm switching my allegiances.
I'll be watching soccer from this point on.
Viva la Mexico!
But screw that now!
Seriously...
But the Lakers have gotten a couple of BIG breaks.
The first born thing is still in the air. All three guys "kinda" made up for all the crap they've thrown towards my beer.
I just hope my little heart doesn't get ripped off in the next 90 seconds.
totally drunk by now BTW.
But the Lakers have gotten a couple of BIG breaks.
The first born thing is still in the air. All three guys "kinda" made up for all the crap they've thrown towards my beer.
I just hope my little heart doesn't get ripped off in the next 90 seconds.
totally drunk by now.
BTW, the Ariza for Artest argument should be settled by now.
Can we start an Ariza for Kobe argument?
Bawful rebounding by the Lakers.
I haven't seen one...
I don't know what else to say, just bawful...
Lakers won despite Kobe.
Last run for these Celts, as currently constituted? Do they have cap room for a good free agent?
I think both teams were just completely gassed by now which would account for how absolutely terrible they both played. In a way that made the game even more dramatic between the short-lived runs and the close score the last quarter.
Lakers beat the Celtics despite Kobe being ice cold and the Lakers not being able to make a damn free throw before Vujachick's clutch free throws. Who'd of thunk it?
To all the Laker fans who want to give it to Karc, I say we just let his comments in this thread speak for themselves.
Enjoy the offseason, crazy as it's gonna be :)
And I loved that ad that just aired, a hearty plea from the Lakers reminding the fans to stay classy and not start a riot. Which doesn't apply to anyone actually watching the game at home, because they actually did stay classy by staying away.
And how self-serving was that Magic Johnson interview with him holding the trophy? Just disgusting. ESPN making no qualms that they are clearly in bed with the Lakers, as they have been all year long.
LA booing Bill Russell? I honestly did not see that coming.
Kobe winning the MVP? Despite having one of the worst playoff games of his career? I'm going let Bawful explain that one, because I sure as hell cannot. From what I can see, the best player in their four wins was Gasol (Game 1), Fisher (Game 3), Gasol again (Game 6), and Ron Artest (Game 7). I'm really close to giving their two "wins" an asterisk. How well would they have done last year if Garnett had played in the playoffs (that actually would have been a pretty good series)? Would they have won Game 6 or 7 if Byrant and Bynum hadn't crashed on Perkins knee? What ifs to be sure, that's the grind of the season. But still.
BTW, P-Jax and Fisher are coming back. A chance for a fourth three-peat? The temptation is too great.
And Doris Burke should wear glasses and skirts more often. Almost makes he hot in a MILF-way. Almost...
I remember you making the comment after game 1 that you would give the Lakers their due if they beat Boston at their game (gritty, tenacious D...) so I am expecting that in WotN tomorrow.
I am aware that Perkins' absence affected the game but the Lakers did in fact beat Boston in effort and grit.
They definitely ground out a tough one tonight. Kobe did his best to lose the game singlehandedly until the 4th.
I honestly think Artest should have been MVP, he was the key to winning game 6 and 7. In game 7 he cancelled out Kobe's suckitude with some great offensive plays.
I'd like to thank my psychiatrist for keeping me calm so I could write this post.
Mark Jackson is crazy. Kobe better than Magic? I like Kobe but jeeze, how can you say that especially after his performance in this game?
In any case I'd love to see a rematch in the Finals next year. These two teams were so evenly matched. Plus anything that keeps Lebron out of the Finals is good for me...
SUCK IT Celtics. Suck it long and hard.
I'm done, I promise. Might have had more of an impact if it wasn't so close for most of the game, but *shrugs*. Also, that Rondo three was pretty awesome.
Neither team deserved to be champions after how both of them played. So I don't feel bad for Boston about the foul disparity in the fourth quarter. If they handled their business they woulda won by double digits. But they didn't. And who knew Artest could play this well in such a big game? Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every so often.
Boston looked gassed in the second half. Is that possible? Game 7 of the finals and you're gassed? Come on now.
To the more civil Celtics fans, I doff my cap to you, you were a worthy foe and I will be shooting a 21 gun salute to the death of the Celtics offense in the 4th. On an upside for the Celtics, someone will probably burn down a building in LA tonight, its tradition.
Sadly the current Celtic crew will probably be disbanded. But what I said earlier in the series came true, the Celtics do not have a guy they can lean on come crunch time. The Lakers have Kobe, the Celtics supposedly have Pierce but that's just crap.
All in all another good season of bawfulness. I am however saddened that the following things did not happen:
1) No wheelchair for pierce after he got tangled up with Ron.
2) Lebron James didn't interrupt the finals to give an interview where he lists every existing NBA team as a possible place where he'll go.
3) Ron didn't strangle Pierce with piano wire while wearing a chicken outfit prior to the game.
They booed Bill Russell while he handed Kobe Bryant the MVP award. And Lakers fans wonder why everyone hates those them.
Awesome blog, enjoyed it, glad I found it this season.
This game by Kobe showed why he will never be michael or magic. no matter what. sorry.
Go Suns.
Artest's interview was hilarious.
are there any good two-guards available in free agency?
Kobe played terribly on the offense but he did have 15 rebounds and scored 10 in the 4th. Plus prior to tonight he was the most consistent player on the Lakers. He definatly earned that MVP. But then again why am I explaining this to you? The Celtics could score 200 and the Lakers could score 1 and you would whine about how the Lakers were given that 1 point. So my response is nah nah nah naaaah youuuu looooose, same goes to the rest of the Celtics fans that are bitching about Kobe.
Y'all lost, be men and do what men do when they lose, get drunk, get a hand gun and threaten to kill yourself while sobbing uncontrollably.
I doubt Kobe gives a rats ass what "true" basketball fans say about him.
You're wrong. He does care. He admitted so after 2009, when he said that it bothered him that all people said about him that he had never won a title without Shaq.
So try again.
Hmm, I'll have to look him up...
(just like his mama should have looked up how to spell his name)
Yeah I'm sure they would have applauded Magic in Boston. Fans suck everywhere.
Tim Duncan. 2005.
A series very much like this one with an outcome very much like this one. With a subplot very much like this one. Duncan was rebounding well but was absolutely brutal in 3 out of 7 games. People don't remember how bad his Game 7 was until he turned it on down the stretch and gave them just enough to win. In a mystifying decision he was given MVP for the series even though the defining player of the series was Robert Horry (his game 5 essentially won the series and Rasheed leaving him open was probably the worst decision I can remember from Sheed in a career full of awful decisions) and Ginobili was the best player in Game 7. Look back at the articles from the national press, and read some of Simmons' articles from that time. The tone of it after Game 3 and 4 was "wait a minute, Duncan's about to blow this..."
At the time people thought his MVP was a joke and that someone else deserved it more. But he got the ring, got the MVP and people just assume that he must have played great and carried his team to victory. Right now I guarantee that there are multiple commenters looking up the box scores to remember how bad he was on offense. It was only 5 years ago and you already forgot about it didn't you.
Same thing will happen with Kobe. 5 years from now, only a few people will remember Kobe almost blew Game 7 singlehandedly (more than Duncan though, because Kobe's anti-fan club is humongous). 10 years from now, people will remember that there was something weird with his 2010 title, but won't care that much. 15 years from now, it'll just be a footnote when he takes his (rightful) place in the pantheon of the game.
The Lakers won the title in spite of Kobe Byrant's shooting, not because of it. Pierce had one breakout game, thanks to Artest playing great defense. Rondo averaged close to triple-double, and had one legit. Gasol averaged something like 23 and 14. Other guys did other things. Kobe takes five less shots a game and creates for others, yeah, give him the MVP, because the series would been over in 5 or 6.
As for the interview, yes, I am saying that Kobe Bryant should not have won the MVP. Can you imagine what would happen if Ron Artest got it? What would he say? That 2-minute teaser with Doris Burke won my vote. (I'm convinced now that they dolled her up as a "FU" to Erin Andrews and her expiring contract)
I wish there was some way to measure how "terrible" various fan bases are, but as far as I know there isn't.
L.A. is usually one of the more frequently cited ones, (and god, the KOBE IS TEH BEST videos and comments all over youtube are some of the most inane scribblings I've ever seen, even pretty low for youtube) but down here in New Orleans, I've got say the Celtics fans at my local bar tonight were pretty terrible -- more or less unanimously banding together in the late 4th and saying "LAKERS CHEATED!"
Also have to say, being from Indiana, every game at Conseco Fieldhouse I've gone to has ended with me rooting against the Pacers because the Pacers fans were so horrendous. (Though to be fair I've usually just gone to see a visiting team I like dole out a guaranteed thrashing).
Really looked down on Detroit fans after the Palace incident pouring soft drinks on the same Indiana staff that tried to break up many of the fights as they went down the breezeway. Personally thought Detroit shouldn't have been allowed another home game that season.
Anyway, along the topic of bad sportsmanship, or more accurately bad fans-man-ship. I've never understood is blaming a loss on bad officiating, aside from the occasional dubious call on a game winning play. Absolutely some games one team will get a bigger portion of dubious calls in their favor, but if my team loses I suck it up, shake the hand of the drunk asshole sitting on the stool next to me, and say "good game."
Blaming an outcome on bad officiating lost its luster for me after... oh... I'd say.. elementary school?
I love that I found this blog this season, and I love that I can generally come to this forum and read fans of both teams more or less rationally analyzing the game. (Game six comments were a bit dicey). Frankly I was stunned after something as big as tonight's game to log on and not see a single Celts fan (at least thus far) bitching about bad calls. Props to Mr. Bawful, and props to all of his readers. Looking forward to his write-up on the game.
Not looking forward to summer of Lebron, but without a doubt looking forward to summer of Wade, Amare, Bosh and Nowitzki.
Predictions: Lebron moves, Wade moves, Amare I'm 50/50 - if he does Suns make a push for Nowitzki, but Cuban is a p.o.s. and won't let him go outside to play with his friends, Pierce stays (hell, what does he have left after tonight?), Bosh stays.
GOODNIGHT.
P.S. my "word verification" phrase was "figoo." Win?
You're right to a certain extent. However people at ESPN have under evaluated Duncan's career, while over evaluated Kobe's. Secondly, more ppl hate Kobe than hate Duncan. So people are going to remember Kobe's dud in game 7 more so than Duncan's relative dud, since people judge Kobe on the Michael Jordan scale. Duncan's a PF, he IS the class to measure PF's by. There's no Jordan-type of player at the PF position in history. So Duncan gets more of a pass than Kobe will, even many years from now.
I seriously doubt he actually gives a fuck unless the guy saying shit has a microphone. I can see him now eagerly looking through the countless pro celtics forums throwing up his hands in despair at the anti kobe sentiments, screaming "Why??!?!??!" to the high heavens.
I doubt any NBA player cares what people that don't like him say about him. I don't think they'd last very long. People simply hate players that are against their team and a lot of times for some weird/abstract reasons. I hate Dwight Howard because he's a goofy fuck but I don't think he'll agonize over it if I told him so. Saying you give a shit about what fans think is just some bullshit you feed the media. If players truly cared they'd actually change. You think Lebron is going to stop being a douche because a ton of people hate the fact that he's a douche? fuck no, he'll douche it up to millions of dollars and maybe a championship. I get you may have been taken in by the slogans, but trust me, the NBA doesn't care.
You're forgetting that Pau was a no show in a couple of games and kobe plus co bailed him out. Pau didn't get robbed, he's simply not the best player on the team. My personal vote was for Adam Morrison
You're giving players more credit than they deserve. Most of them do care, but very few of them are stupid enough to let us know that. I just gave you proof from Kobe after they won in 2009. He said it BOTHERED him and it DROVE HIM CRAZY what people were saying about him not winning a title without Shaq. How much proof do you need to realize that?
We saw what happens when Kobe plays the facilitator too often. The other guys tend fuck it up time and time again. So instead of kobe taking poor shots, its guys like artest and odom. Call me crazy but I prefer Kobe taking the difficult shots. Its happened time and time again. You also neglect the fact that most of the time kobe is "Gun slinging" is when the shot clock is running out and the other lakers are looking at him to bail them out of a poor offensive set. I get that he sucked offensively tonight but he averaged almost 30 points a game since the playoffs started while other guys were struggling. The guy isn't going to change his game, nor should he. They won back to back championships because of kobe not in spite of him. I'm sure Gasol would have led them to a 30 point blow out if kobe was not in the game (that was sarcasm right there). With the exception of Fisher no one can lead the charge like Kobe. Everyone with the exception of Artest was struggling tonight(probably due to no one on the Celtics expecting him to make an impact offensively) this was due to bostons good defense and being wound up for game 7. But like they say, defense wins championships, the lakers executed extremely well on the defensive end and won.
If Kobe was making 80% of his shots and he had scored 60 points and it was still a close game, the argument would be "Oh if kobe had passed more instead of creating offense for himself they would have blown out the celtics". Happens every fucking time. Its a bullshit argument. The only thing that tells is winning. Lakers won so they made the points when it counted and the stops when it counted. End of story. Oh wait the refs gave the lakers the game right?
They booed Bill Russell while he handed Kobe Bryant the MVP award. And Lakers fans wonder why everyone hates those them.
Maybe they were booing Kobe. The main scorer puts up 6-24 in a Finals Game 7?
Not really, its like the LA chapter of the KKK chanting racial epithets and you saying "My god, the LA chapter of the KKK is terrible!". They're the KKK they're all terrible. Same with fans, they're all terrible (myself included).
Second, man that was an awful, awful game. The first one of the series I got to see live (due to the time difference the games start at 2.00am) and what a disappointment!
Pierce and Allen went Kobe on the Celtics, especially in the second half, and are pretty much to blame for this loss. During a pivotal offensive play in the second half I saw Pierce going to the rim against 3/4 players and ignoring a wide open baby in the paint! That kind of logic just goes beyond me ...
Really, really, really loved seeing Kobe fail as he did tonight. No matter what anyone says, I will remember him always for this signature performance.
Pau was the true finals MVP and season MVP for the Lakers. No matter how soft he is and how riduculous he looks when he gets pumped up. Stern just loves to piss basketball fans off I guess.
Anyways, loved the blog this season and I'm all for some sort of "Livin' Large" series this summer!
The "people" he was talking about were the guys with mics (Radio, TV etc). Not forum posters and so called "true" fans. The guys that he hears are the commentators that actually matter in the sports world, the writers for serious sports mags, TV and radio personalities, etc. If you actually believe that Bryant gives a crap about what the average enraged/drunk forum poster aka "true" basketball fan thinks then you probably think that Obama cares what the pygmies in new guinea think about his health care policies, they simply don't matter. Bryant has the most popular jersey in the NBA, that is an indicator that more people like him than hate him so I think he sleeps soundly at night instead pacing around freaking out about what "Leetballer22" said about his shooting in game 7.
And from the foul line (1st half): Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank! Clank!
At the press conference and award ceremony, at least Kobe admitted to rushing shoots and trying to do too much to win. He gave credit where it was due: Gasol and Artest.
I kind of wanted Artest to win Finals MVP. Think of his defense on Pierce for nearly the whole series, his big games in 6 and 7, he set the tone defensively, and his three pointer to put the Lakers up 6 will be etched in my memory for this Finals. Oh, and it would have been great to see Commandant Stern hand him the MVP trophy.
When the Lakers run the offense correctly (that includes Byrant), nobody should get a bad shot. Artest did well tonight because he was patient, he did not immediately jack it up or dribble around for 8 seconds (and when he did, it was an open look or in the paint). I actually wonder why Odom doesn't take more shots given his ability to move around the floor given his size (he was over 50 percent from 3-point distance last season in the playoffs, it's not like he can't shoot the ball). But when Byrant holds the ball for 10 seconds before getting to the post, then giving it up to Bynum or Gasol, that gives Gasol no time to set up, then he has to fling it back out, and the Lakers are rushing the clock. So they naturally turn to Kobe to shoot. Because he hits bad shots. This was one of the main reasons the Celtics decided to double team him. It wasn't because they weren't afraid of anyone else getting a good look (believe me, they were, especially after Games 1 and 2 despite the split). It's because they knew if they suckered Byrant long enough in isolation, he would compel himself to shoot a bad shot. Which he did, for most of the series. The Celtics defense in 2008 was different. They were deathly afraid of the triangle offense, and they knew that Kobe was the guy running it (back when they had the best offense in the league). So they used the wall strategy to cut off all of the passing lanes. They would not allow Gasol to setup. Anyone tries an offensive board (namely Gasol and Odom), it would be ripped away from them. Again, this is why Artest was certainly the MVP of this game. At least twice, Celtics looked to have a rebound, only to have Artest rip it away and create another good shot at the basket.
Your sarcasm is lost on me. I never said Kobe Byrant shouldn't have been in the game. The game, however, did not turn until he stopped shooting the ball and ran the offense, which meant that he was not always the guy with the best shot. When it was, he drove to the hole and got fouled. Fisher hits a three on a kickout, Artest gets an and-one in the paint off a Gasol feed. Gasol gets under the basket and gets a layup (even though his feet were down and it should have been an up-and-down). They run the offense, they start scoring points that were bricks off the backboard and turnovers in the first half. That's what won them the title. Like I said, his "shooting" (shot selection) nearly did them in. The rest of his game was very good, especially in the 4th when he started running the offense. 30 points against a championship level defense. A lot of that was the refs. But if they had started this in say, the third quarter, then that's not even an excuse. They would have scored enough points.
I counted four wide-open shots for Pau that he just bricked (he was 3-13 in the first half), and he missed many, although contested, lay-ups. Bynum looked ready, so did Fisher (early foul trouble), and when Artest settled down, he played great, but Odom and Pau, the second and third best offensive options, didn't play well until the late third and the fourth quarters.
Artest for Ariza worked!
Tonight is one of those nights I regret becoming a fan of the goofiest major sport. And sadly, there is nothing one can do to erase history.
Feh.
To say that failed to work is like stating that the Betamax failed to dominate home video recording in the United States.
Gasol should have been the series MVP, even if he looks like a camel.
"I got one more than Shaq." The press laughed. We all know better.
Another good quote from Kobe: "I was running on E." I had to think for a minute before I realized that he was talking about an empty tank, and not ecstasy, the drug. See, if he didn't have somewhat questionable "thearputic" treatment in the newest addition to the Pac-10 (despite Colorado being in the Mountain time zone, how dumb is that?), I wouldn't make such a leap.
@Sorbo, I stopped counting at 34, that was near the end of the half. Had to be 35 or something. And Kobe had bonked 11 on his own. I'm singling him out because he shot just as badly in the second half (3-10), but at least he started getting the free throws.
@chris - C'mon, man it's 2010. Everyone knows that the Betamax reference to make here is HD-DVD. Or, in the spirit of E3 (which wisely ended before the game started), the Virtual Boy. Which actually fits Ron Artest. Lives in his own world, surrounded by a bunch of red from wooden table legs.
Can we get a WotN for Jack avoiding the charge from KG early in the game? I wonder if the Lakers would have given him 50 bucks. Similarly, 'Sheed did the same thing on the other side late in the game. However, since they were no one important, they actually got taken out.
Oh, and Jon Barry: Useless commentator.
Intentionally dirty-quote machine Breene: "Bang! Puts it in!"
@Sorbo - I long for the day that Mike Breen goes all Jim Lampley with the "Bangs." I think it would have come if Ray Allen had that three-point barrage in Boston.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199606160CHI.html
1996 Finals. Game 6, Bulls vs Sonics.
Jordan - 22 points (5/19), 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers
2010 Finals. Game 7, Lakers vs. Celtics
Bryant - 23 points (6/24), 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers
then for the series:
1996 Finals : Michael jordan (33 years old)
.415 fg %, 27.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.2 assists
2010 Finals : Kobe bryant (32 years old)
0.405 fg %, 28.6 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.9 assists
Terrible game though. I would loooove (*sarcasm) to get into the debate about Kobe's Finals MVP award and their terrible first shooting, but I feel these will be circular debates where everyone will be firm in their opinions about so it's not worth discussing. I will say that the Lakers were definitely far from flawless, but as a fan, I still have to relish this win.
Some things that were definitely commendable were both their defenses. Lakers put in the stops at the end when they needed it (you gotta admit, regardless of your camp, that some of those defensive stops were great compared to the other tepid Laker defensive plays). Celtics really put a lid on the Lakers too, add that with the tight choke-like shots, the W would've swung their way if they grabbed some more boards. Hell, the defense was so tight even Scalabrine got into it with his brief tenure in the game.
And HUGE props to Artest and Wallace, the last two people I expected to show up today. It's time for an Artest jersey. Hell, I'd probably buy it just for that awesome post-game interview.
Commentators weren't the ones saying "Kobe isn't nothing cuz he hasn't won one without Shaq." Those were the fans/people posting on message boards that were saying that. Commentators were the ones sucking off Kobe and saying "I can't believe all these people are questioning Kobe just because he hasn't won one without Shaq."
So yes heretic, you're wrong again. Kobe does care what us "nobodies" think of him. Why is that so hard for you to accept? Most people are sensitive and care what others think. Nothing wrong with that, its normal.
To all the Kobe-haters:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199606160CHI.html
1996 Finals. Game 6, Bulls vs Sonics.
Jordan - 22 points (5/19), 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 turnovers
2010 Finals. Game 7, Lakers vs. Celtics
Bryant - 23 points (6/24), 15 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 turnovers
then for the series:
1996 Finals : Michael jordan (33 years old)
.415 fg %, 27.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 4.2 assists
2010 Finals : Kobe bryant (32 years old)
0.405 fg %, 28.6 ppg, 8 rpg, 3.9 assists
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Where do I start? First of all, Kobe is 31. Second of all, that 96 team was the greatest team of all time. Third of all, notice how Jordan only took 19 shots in game 6. Jordan shot poorly but he didn't play Hero ball or hog the ball like Kobe does. Fourth of all, Jordan defeated a 64 win Sonics team in 6 games, while stepping on their throats early to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Kobe needed 7 games to defeat a 50 win old Celtics team, with the series in the balance the entire time. And fifth of all, this was Jordan's worst finals performance by far. Final conclusion? Jordan >>>>>>>> Kobe
Consider yourself owned.
The Lakers couldn't hit a damn thing in the first half tonight, but were you guys watching the same game I was? Boston's defense was fucking smothering in the first half! It wasn't like the Lakers were missing tons of layups and wide open shots or something. The Celtics brought it on the defensive end like absolute madmen. Then on the other end of the floor, the Lakers' defensive effort wasn't far behind. For a bit there in the second half I almost thought that 70 points might win the damn thing.
In the second half the Lakers were able to ratchet their defense up from the already rather high level they had it at in the first half (though their first half D wasn't as good as Boston's), and Boston looked like they just weren't able to keep up the insanely high level of defense as the game wore on.
Couldn't you guys see how totally exhausted every player out there looked by the end? Have you ever seen Kobe look that tired before? I haven't. KG looked gassed in the middle of the third quarter, but he kept after it, making play after play.
Maybe I just viewed these games differently, but I happen to think that was one of the most intense games I've ever seen in my life. Those two teams were flat out killing each other out there tonight. If I was a Celtic fan I'd be upset that my team lost, but you can't be disappointed with their effort. Maybe everyone who played didn't always play that smart (Kobe's first half and parts of the second half, for instance), but I've never seen two teams trade body blows with each other like that before (though I don't have the basketball memory that Mr. Bawful does). That game tonight reminded me of the final fight between Ali and Frasier.
I do have one final question to pose, but I don't want to be branded as a shit-stirrer for asking this, so don't get bent out of shape over it. I saw a lot in the last few days that people were wondering if the Lakers lost this series would it taint their championship from last year, in effect saying that Boston probably would have won last year if KG had been healthy. I'm just curious, if you were one of the people who were thinking that, do you maybe also now wonder if Bynum and Ariza had been healthy in 2008 if maybe the Lakers could have won that year as well? I'm not saying that I believe that, but then again, I wouldn't have thought that if the Celtics had won tonight that it would have tainted LA's title a year ago.
Lakers played fantastic defense. But I felt the Celtics lost this game more than the Lakers won it. And the Lakers got a bit of a nudge from the refs in the fourth. That's what leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth about this game. If the Celtics played well the whole game and they still lost, I can accept that easier, because the Lakers are very talented. But for the Celtics to choke it away like they did made me sick. Its going to be a hard loss to get over for a while, especially since the Celtics are probably rebuilding this offseason. Don't see Ray Allen, Doc, or Sheed (possible retirement) coming back, while Pierce could opt out as well (even though that's unlikely).
Huge props to Artest tho. Didn't see that type of game from him coming. I thought it was appropriate that Simmons compared that Artest 3 late in the 4th to the David Tyree helmet catch in the Super Bowl lol.
The defense tonight was certainly helped by the fact the officials let both teams get away with murder for 3 quarters. I liked that, I'm a Celtics fan and I think that's advantage Celtics. And you're right, those teams were killing themselves the whole game. Lakers won that game on the glass, and a little bit of home cookin in the 4th.
As far as your hypothetical about 2008 goes, Bynum wasn't nearly the player in 2008 as he is now, and Ariza was not ready to be a factor in 2008. They might have pushed it to 7 games, but I don't think LA wins in 2008 even with those 2, unless LA gets homecourt. Bynum would have took Boston out of their go-to lineup of the Big 3, Posey, and House/Rondo somewhat though.
I think that 2009 with KG wouldn't have been enough for the Celtics to beat LA that year. Boston's bench was too weak. I think it was House, Big Baby, Tony Allen, Scal, and Mikki Moore. Along with Rondo not being as good as he is today.
I love when people are so happy with their own posts they say stuff like this. You just made 500 excuses for the greatest player of all time but turn around and kill kobe fans for making excuses for kobe. All you sounded like was a bitter hypocrite.
To be honest, i feel there has been so many great players that have played in this league in so many different eras that we will NEVER know who was better than who. Id rather just sit back and enjoy the greatness while im alive instead of bickering over something that cant ever be proven. If becoming a 5 time champion is a hit to someones legacy, regardless of how he played in one game, then we need to reevaluate how we determine legacies.
That's just how Finals Game 7s work. There have been 4 in my lifetime and the 3 I've been old enough to actually understand were just miserable games. I'm told that the 84 game was sloppy as well and featured Magic crapping the bed down the stretch. As noted above, Duncan coughed up a 10 for 27 performance in his Game 7 in 05 (and trust me stat watchers, he was considerably worse than that) and walked away with an MVP just because that series was more mud wrestling than basketball.
The same thing happened in this game and this series as a whole. The story of the series is defense and both teams improved their defense in each game. Lakers scores by game: 102, 94, 91, 89, 86, 89, 83. Game 6 screws up the trend because the Celtics waved the white flag midway through the 3rd quarter but this trend is fairly obvious. Boston's defense improved game by game, taking new things away from the Lakers every game until by the end there was very little left. The Celtics scoring trend isn't the same, but the overall message is. When the Lakers actually gave an effort on defense, they kept improving their efficiency and started slowly strangling the Celtics offense. Early in the series they got abused by the 3-4 pick and roll, but by Game 7 that play stopped working. Ray Allen exploded in Game 2, then fell off the face of the Earth apparently. Rondo did well early, but his game was figured out by the end of the series. Kobe was not buying any of his ball fakes and the Lakers as a whole figured out that if Rondo isn't going to try and beat you off the dribble, don't make it easier on him by opening up a lane.
So I agree with you that defense is the real story, but it's very hard to quantify defense and have a rational conversation about it. Like, I personally believe that Artest was playing great defense on Pierce for 6 of 7 games, but I have a hard time proving it because Pierce was probably the Celtics best player this series. Offense is much easier to discuss especially in message board format. Not even the biggest Kobe homer can convince himself that Kobe had a great game tonight with 6 for 24 staring at them. Having said that though, I will now point out to all the "Gasol for MVP" people that when picking a finals MVP, Games 3, 4 and 5 also count.
As per the final point, I think Bynum/Ariza in 2008 would be a valid point if Bynum ever was healthy. Yes, theoretically if Bynum was healthy Gasol wouldn't have been eviscerated in the post that year since Boston apparently wrote the book on how to limit Lamar Odom since by my unofficial scorecard he is now .5 for 13 in "good playoff games vs. Boston". But until Bynum plays a full 100 game season, that hypothetical doesn't carry much water with me. As far as I'm concerned the Celtics earned theirs in 2008 regardless of any extenuating circumstances. The Lakers earned the next two regardless of the circumstances. If we want a REAL rubber match, let's hope the Celtics re-sign Ray Allen and we'll see them next year.
You can also make the argument that a healthy Kobe and Bynum in 2010 would have meant an easier time in the Finals, but again, it's a long season and besides Perk being out for Game 7, Sheed and Rondo were banged up the whole series.
Kobe obviously won't play in the Worlds. The only question is does he have surgery on his finger and knee simultaneously, or does he get the surgeries done one after the other? I'd like to see him get them done at the same time, which would lessen the amount of total rehab time.
As for Bynum, I wonder if the theory about baseball pitchers' elbow tendons and ligaments completely maturing in their mid-20s also applies to 7-footers' knee joints. If so, there's no way they should trade him for Bosh. I just want him to be healthy for one postseason, just to see what he can do.
Many will say that since LA won it again that they wouldn't trade Bynum, and will want to bring back the same team that won it all; and if you're someone who says that I have two words for you:
Trevor Ariza.
As a die-hard Celtics fan, this was a tough one to swallow, but this whole playoffs felt like playing with house money, so what should I complain about? It was a hell of a run.
Yes, I sports-hate the Lakers, but why should I get worked up about it? This is supposed to be fun, not life-altering. The millionaires go back to their mansions and six-figure paychecks for playing a kid's game, while I'm still trying to find a job after 8 months of unemployment (with an advanced, professional degree, no less), so I'm trying to keep things in perspective. Maybe I just don't care to the same degree I did when I was a kid (I'm 29 now), but it's like, ehh, they lost. Big deal.
Love this site, love the commentators; I don't comment often, but I always read everything. Bawful, Dan B., Wild Yams, Karc, AnacondaHL, everyone whose names I'm not gonna type b/c it would make this comment even longer, you guys crack me up! Keep it up and I'll keep checking back.
Sorry dude, SI was the first to run a story laced with innuendos about kobe not winning without shaq before it was what everyone was talking about, guys like Hollinger and Sherriden were the ones that were babbling on about him not really being a great laker until he beat the celtics, again before anyone gave a shit. I know you really really want him to give a shit what internet pplz say about him but he just doesn't. I agree he cares what reporters and sports commentators say about him but to think that he really cares what joe nobody says borders on gullibility. No player that high up in the game gives a rats ass.
@ Karc
Bryant passes the ball when people are scoring and the offense is flowing. In the first half nobody was scoring. I noticed that you still didn't mention that a ton of his shots was him with the clock running down and celtics all over him. What's he supposed to do let the clock expire and turn it over? If the clock is running out the laker game plan is kobe jacking up a shot from anywhere. It makes sense because he's the kind of the that may make that kind of shot. He's certainly made plenty of them over his career. I'm not saying he was great offensively, the guy was terrible but if he was great offensively you guys would be bitching about that too (your own quotes from the phoenix series seem to back that up). Again with the refs eh? Sad.
Btw lol at doc rivers for saying the "original" starting line still hasn't lost. Thats like phil jackson saying in 2008 "we didn't really lose because bynum and Ariza were out".
Bynum may get traded. He gets hurt way too often and most of the times its at the tail end of the season where they really need him. Dunno about Bosh though, he seems to be one of those players whose move will be dictated by Lebron's.
And Trevor Ariza, despite being an LA guy from UCLA and being the reason they won at least 3 playoff games in 2009, ultimately went to the lowly Rockets for one reason, money. Don't kid yourself here. NBA players are incredibly greedy, until their careers are washed and they realize that taking a huge paycut to ride someone's gravy train to a title is really the only to go. Shaq bounced around four different teams because each team was fooled into paying him 20 million dollars a year, thinking that he was going to deliver them a ring. James Posey bolted Miami for Boston for a bigger payday after that title run, then bolted Boston for New Orleans after that title run for a bigger payday. Amar'e can get a max deal in Phoenix, had a pretty decent showing in the West Finals, and everybody in the world knows he's gone. Players will always follow the money.
I am very curious to see where Ray Allem winds up. He somewhat redeemed his stock value in Game 7 by smothering Byrant, but outside of his shooting in the Games 2 and 6, he was not all that good. And he has a ring. Does he stick with Boston and go for one more? Or does he bail to a team that can pay him.
@Heretic - Obviously you haven't read a thing I've said. I said that a lot of his bad shots happened because he waited too long to set up the offense or dribbles too much, and that once he got double teamed, he should have been looking to pass, since someone was open. The Laker offense, when run correctly, has very little dribbling, more passing. Dribbling for eight seconds is a symptom of trying to one-up the defender which doesn't work all that well in the playoffs. And I never complained about Kobe's offense in the Phoenix series, because he was making most of his shots. It was his defense (and the Lakers' defense as a whole), that was the big issue. Game 4 was the only time I had a small issue, since they had seen the zone in Game 3 and just did not make the adjustment to go back to getting cuts in the paint. Gasol and Bynum were not getting any shorter, so throw it over the defenders if they want to surround the paint. They had made those adjustments by Game 5 and started playing defense, until they nearly choked.
This was definitely a defensive series. The only problem I have with it is that basketball fans everywhere constantly slam on the 2005 finals (comments like "We don't want to see another Spurs/Pistons travesty) when this series was just as offensively inept. I love watching defense and this is one of the few reasons I watched any part of this series.
All this series did was make me more bitter towards the larger market teams because they're praised for doing something that my Spurs have been doing since Duncan was drafted while the Spurs get eviscerated for doing the same thing.
Congrats to the Lakers. Well done to the Celtics for at least making this a semi-dramatic series.
Apparently you don't read what I wrote either. Much like your hilarious predictions most your points are misguided, biased and some times flat out wrong. But instead of just rephrasing my earlier points and you coming back and saying the same thing you said before, let me end this vicious cycle by pulling the trump card every laker fan will probably be using until next season. Lakers won, Celtics lost, Bryant won the finals MVP despite protestations from people that don't count...suck it up and move on. You can keep trying to diminish the Lakers and Bryant in particular but it simply won't change the facts, hopefully next year you'll have better luck.
Anyone know if there's a list of allowed spouses that can be on the stage during the trophy ceremony? Didn't see Odom's wife taking the opportunity to plaster her ugly mug all over TV.
Who decides the Finals MVP anyway? Maybe we need to take a look at those people.
uh dude I hate to break it to you "we" did win and "you" did lose. I'm just trying to end a back and forth that is obviously not going anywhere. Ghost Hunters have a better chance of convincing me ghosts exist in my lawn mower than you convincing me of your version of the game. You have your opinions, I have mine, lets leave it at that.
Before Game 7, Kobe was so far ahead of the pack statistically that Hollinger (who has essentially made a living saying that Kobe is not that great) wrote an article saying he was MVP win or lose.
So even though Kobe laid an egg in Game 7, his overall body of work is enough for MVP.