CanadianChris 0 Report post Posted May 22, 2008 The problem with this Lakers win is that it hinged on Manu having a horrible game and Toni Parker not hitting his midrange shot. I don't think you can count on both. But the Lakers also got terrible nights out of Fisher and Odom, and still won. It works both ways. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 22, 2008 Not to point out the obvious, but I am sure that Toni Parker and Manu having bad games factor into the Spurs wins and losses a fuck of alot more than Derek Fisher and Lamar having bad games. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PUT THAT DICK IN MY MOUTH! 0 Report post Posted May 22, 2008 The problem with this Lakers win is that it hinged on Manu having a horrible game and Toni Parker not hitting his midrange shot. I don't think you can count on both. The Lakers seem to defend Ginobli better than just about any team in the league (I think he's averaged like 29% shooting against them this year). I don't doubt that he'll have better games than last night, but I wouldn't count on him going off for 25+ at any point in this series. That no call when Duncan got hacked and they knocked the ball out of bounds and gave the Lakers another possession was HUGE. That was one of the single worse calls possible there. Either it had to be out on the lakers for slapping the ball (which they didn't) or a foul for slapping Duncans arm(which they did). No way it couldn't be either. It was a really terrible call, yeah, but it didn't really affect the game at all. The Lakers didn't score and the refs immediately made up for it when Ginobli fouled Gasol and knocked the ball out of bounds and they called it out on Pau. Not to point out the obvious, but I am sure that Toni Parker and Manu having bad games factor into the Spurs wins and losses a fuck of alot more than Derek Fisher and Lamar having bad games. Fisher's not that vital, but one of the main reasons that they were able to beat Utah semi-handily was Odom playing out of his mind. When his head's actually in the game and he's not blowing easy layups or tripping over his own feet out of bounds he can be an absolute nightmare matchup, especially for a team like the Spurs whose front-line guys don't really have the quickness to stick with him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted May 22, 2008 Can a game be both a great comeback and a colossal chokejob? Because this game was both. I've heard people on the radio today debating that the Spurs should feel good because even though they collapsed they were able to be up 20 in LA when they were so tired. It sounds a little screwy, but also makes sense. Then again if that makes the Spurs feel good then the Lakers should feel great since they were down 20 and playing like shit and then basically flipped a switch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 22, 2008 Can a game be both a great comeback and a colossal chokejob? Because this game was both. I've heard people on the radio today debating that the Spurs should feel good because even though they collapsed they were able to be up 20 in LA when they were so tired. It sounds a little screwy, but also makes sense. Then again if that makes the Spurs feel good then the Lakers should feel great since they were down 20 and playing like shit and then basically flipped a switch. Both teams took turns playing like shit. The Lakers played like shit when it didn't matter, the Spurs played like shit when it did. PGOAT, you are right, thinking back, that play didn't matter and they made the "make up call" when Ginobli obviously knocked the ball out. But if you have to count on Lamar Odom playing out of his mind to win, you have a problem. He beat the shit out of Utah because mehmet Okur is fucking horrible defensively. The Spurs front line might have a issue, but the spurs are great at funneling guys to Duncan which is why he struggled. Don't get me wrong, I think its going to be a close series and all, I just think the Spurs going up 20 and the Lakers being able to put together a game where they could come back from 20 down were both things I just don't see happening in the the series often. Or at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 RAY FUCKING ALLEN has decided to join us in the playoffs. I got to tell yah, there are few guys that I will cheer forever, despite what team they are on, but Ray Allen is one of them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Great job weathering the storm by Detroit, and Allen now has 5 fouls with 3 minutes left in the third. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Young 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 I want a gif of Sheed's reaction to that foul. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 What I don't understand is the complete and total lack of Jarvis Hayes so far. the guy was very valuable to them in the regular season. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingPK 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Is Rajon Rondo even going to try and shoot tonight? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Young 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Is Rajon Rondo even going to try and shoot tonight? Considering he blew a layup on a fast break (though Allen got the board and put it in afterwards) maybe he shouldn't. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PUT THAT DICK IN MY MOUTH! 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 What I don't understand is the complete and total lack of Jarvis Hayes so far. the guy was very valuable to them in the regular season. This and the fact that Flip continues to give all of Amir Johnson's minutes to the decrepit Theo Ratliff (who's contributed absolutely nothing in this game) are both pretty inexplicable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingPK 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 (edited) Man, the Celtics are running around like headless chickens on defense these last few minutes. You don't have to go tight on a guy at halfcourt with 3 seconds left on the shot clock so he can blow by you to the hoop. EDIT: Jesus. Detroit's making clear that they are the more experienced playoff team here. Edited May 23, 2008 by KingPK Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alfdogg 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 There's that great Celtic defense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Precious Roy 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 There's that great Celtic defense. I was just about to say, what the hell is going on with them on defense? And Allen for 3. Again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KingPK 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 What...the...fuck...was....that? Great, back on the road. This should be fun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Niggardly King 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 If the Celtics weren't playing a Flip Saunders coached team, then I'd say you're done after tonight's game... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. S£im Citrus 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Man... maybe Walter Ray's suckitude was the key to Boston's home magic? He finally shows up and they lose? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 What I don't understand is the complete and total lack of Jarvis Hayes so far. the guy was very valuable to them in the regular season. He's a defensive black hole, and he was in a slump, and he was publicly complaining about his minutes. He was valuable earlier in the season, back when he was "hot", but now that he's "cold" he's useless. He's a chucker. Not playing him is the best thing Saunders has done. on that note, there is no excuse, Rodney Stuckey should never play any less than 25 minutes a game from now on, even if they have to jump him back and forth in the 1 and 2 spots all game long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Good game for the Pistons, but if Allen shows up for the rest of the series...man. Yeah, I am starting to figure out the real reason that the Celtics are losing on the road. It has nothing to do with home and away, they seem to just play like crap in close games. They had a blessing in the last series where they only had to stop one guy and they would win. Against Atlanta, they lost every close game. Its the execution that is killing them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PUT THAT DICK IN MY MOUTH! 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Good win, but I still don't understand the relative lack of Maxiell and Amir. I mean, one of the biggest reasons that Atlanta was able to take Boston to seven games was that their freakishly athletic forwards created all kinds of matchup problems for the Celtics. Why Saunders chooses to let his similarly freakishly athletic forwards rot on the bench while Theo Ratliff lumbers around doing nothing is beyond me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edwin MacPhisto 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Pretty amusing that Boston and Detroit made the same amount of baskets and the same percentage of free throws tonight. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a close box score. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rendclaw 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Thank goodness that the Pistons weathered that storm. I would have punched a wall if they gave that game back to the Celtics, AND I had to go back to work with like 10.7 left in the fourth. After I got done I ran to one of the computers at work to make sure the Pistons didn't give that game back. Talk about sigh of relief. And yes, Ray Allen finally showed tonight. I have always been behind Shuttlesworth ever since his UConn days. Loved him as a Husky. Its just a pity that Seattle never really went anywhere during the prime of his career, and to me its obvious he is on the downswing. And Kobe in Game 1 was more of the mind games between him and Phil. He has pulled it before in the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MFer 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 If the Celtics weren't playing a Flip Saunders coached team, then I'd say you're done after tonight's game... That, and the Pistons in general being a Jekyll & Hyde type team. I've never been one to assume things based on past events (i.e., if Boston can't win in Atlanta and Cleveland, surely they can't win in Detroit). Boston is good enough to win a road game, they just haven't done it. Of course I think Detroit will still win the series, but they could still screw it up ("Bad 'Sheed" could make a reappearance, Chauncey's hammy could flare up again, Rip could have one of those nights where he focuses more on drawing fouls than making shots, etc...). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnnyBlaze 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 too many ifs in that boston series to make any predictions after two games....however i think the western series...one is barkleys favorite guy on every broadcast...GINOBILI...however another lynchpin is lamar odoms impact on the game...when hes on the lakers absolutely will not lose...but hes a typical 3rd banana...prone to not show up when you need him...also as kenny said post game, lakers defense isnt that good...wont be that good tonight either... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Good win, but I still don't understand the relative lack of Maxiell and Amir. I mean, one of the biggest reasons that Atlanta was able to take Boston to seven games was that their freakishly athletic forwards created all kinds of matchup problems for the Celtics. Why Saunders chooses to let his similarly freakishly athletic forwards rot on the bench while Theo Ratliff lumbers around doing nothing is beyond me. Yeah, Theo Ratliff seeing a single moment of time baffles me. its not like he is a experienced playoff guy that is producing. Just because Doc is playing 98 year old PJ Brown over Leon Powe doesn't mean you have to play 98 year old Theo Ratliff over more productive players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobobrazil1984 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2008 Boston's early 4th quarter comeback was almost a direct result of Theo Ratliff. He was leaving people open, fumbling balls out of bounds, committing fouls.. then there was a timeout an I thought for sure he was gonna be yanked. He wasn't, and his man scored another point and he missed another defensive assignment. Flip's not a horrible coach but his substitutions are always ass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 Just want to throw this out there. you know that comeback by the Lakers in game one. Yeah...its going to happen again tonight only it won't be the Lakers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ripper 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 The spurs just did everything possible to make sure that I was wrong including bricking open shot after open shot and not taking advantage of the laker jumpshot happiness and sloppy play towards the end of the quarter. What should be around a 7 point Laker lead is...well...more than that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naiwf 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2008 The Spurs have either looked like they could easily repeat or a team that has no business being on the court with their opponents. There's not a whole lot of middle ground with their performances. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
