NBA 2009-10 Regular Season Discussion Thread - Page 2

Another good win by the Celtics last night.  When they were trailing 91-90 with around 3:00 left, I felt very good about their chances of going up 2-0 against Orlando.  This team is hitting on all cylinders at the moment.  I really am hoping that they meet the Lakers in the NBA Finals.  It could be a Finals for the ages.  And if Boston should lose to Los Angeles, then maybe the 'Big Four' would stay around one more year to play the rubber series of the match. ;)

I've been following the Celtics for more than forty years.  I didn't realize that until last night, Boston had never won the opening two playoff games of any series on the road before.  They are playing very well on the road.  They have thus far eliminated the no. 1 seed (Cleveland), and may eliminate the no. 2 seed (Orlando).  And if they get that far, they would have to defeat the no. 3 seed (Los Angeles) in the Finals.  Their road to the Finals is easily the toughest of any team thus far, and that is as it should be.  And having five consecutive wins against Cleveland and Orlando combined is quite a feat by any team.

Go Celtics!

^^^

I think it would be a wonderful Finals, and I hope it happens.  And seeing as I have been making comparisons with the 2010 Celtics team to the 1969 Celtics team, it's particularly appropriate that such a series would open in Los Angeles.

"As much as I love the NBA, my one complaint is that the post-season drags on forever."

I agree.  This dragging on seems to permeate just about all of the major sports these days.

Mike Brown's dismissal is official:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5213917

^^^

I think that Orlando will win tonight, and that the Celtics will close the series out in Boston.  I picked the Celtics in six games before the series started, although I thought Boston would split in Orlando and take care of business (rather than split) at home.  Still, a 3-1 lead is quite good.  Boston could close it out tonight, which would be fine with me, obviously.  They could do it.  When the Celtics lose a game these days, it seems to motivate them all the more in the next game.  They haven't dropped consecutive games thus far in the playoffs (Miami, Cleveland, or Orlando).

BTW, I can't envision a Phoenix - Boston NBA Finals.  But, there must be some NBA fans here who remember the 1976 Finals quite well.  I have much of that series on DVD, including game five, one of the greatest --if not the greatest -- games ever played in an NBA finals.  I was graduating from High School the year the Celtics won that game in triple overtime.  Such a great memory for me.  {BTW, I had forgotten that on their way to the Finals that year, the Celtics also defeated the Cavaliers, four games to two.}

http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1976.html

Go Celtics!

Has anyone here who loves the NBA thought that Phoenix could possibly win the next two games against the Lakers?

That was an impressive game one win by the Lakers last night.  They made it look quite easy against Boston.  I think the Celtics will play a bit better in game two.  The Celtics cannot win (or rarely win) when they give up that many points (102).  Truth be told, the score in the early going was looking like it was going in Boston's favor (88 ppg. for the Lakers).  But that mini-run at the end of the first quarter, and the excellent play of Brown and Gasol (and to some extent, Artest) in the second quarter really gave the Lakers the boost they needed to secure the win.

This is a difficult series for me to gauge.  In 2008, it was a tad easier.  If Boston held home court and won one in L.A., the series was all but over, and as it turns out, it was.  But this year, with the Lakers holding home court, that may make all the difference.  I don't know who will win it, even though most experts that I have read are picking Los Angeles.  I picked Boston to win it in six games before the series started, and I will stick with that. :)

If this series is anything like 1969, then Boston will find itself in an 0-2 hole after Sunday's game. ;)

Go Celtics!

That was a good win for Boston last night.  As wonderful as Allen's NBA record is, Rondo's triple-double was at least as equally great.  And what is becoming something not all that rare in this year's playoffs, Rondo again led all players in rebounding.  His block of Fisher's shot, and his steal of Bryant (I don't think Bryant had any idea that Rondo was even there) were both timely and game-saving, IMO.  And Garnett had a key basket in the closing minutes as well.  That's two games in which foul trouble has created huge difficulties for both teams.

The Celtics hit some key jumpers (including the one by Rondo when Boston maintained possession of the ball three times instead of one during one trip down the court) and really took care of the ball in the second half (two turnovers).  The Lakers, on the other hand, had eight missed shots and three turnovers with under 5:00 remaining.  And I can't recall the last time Bryant missed two shots in succession, much less an eight-foot shot when it mattered.  But I do remember Allen missing a shot in the waning seconds during the regular season contest in Boston that (had he not missed) would have given Boston the win.  Now it's on to Boston.  It should be quite interesting.

Go Celtics!

I'm obviously quite pleased with the result of yesterday's game.  Whenever the Celtics hold their opponent under 90 points, I'm fairly confident that they are going to win the game.  Thus far in this year's playoffs, the Celtics have won three straight games against each of their first three opponents (Miami, Cleveland, and Orlando).  I'm hoping that this trend continues on Tuesday evening.  I would rather not see a game seven, since I can't resurrect the ghosts of 1969 (although I would if I could). ;)

As good as Kobe Bryant is, I would take Paul Pierce over him (for a variety of reasons) in a heartbeat.  To Bryant's credit, he isn't putting any of the blame on his teammates, although he probably could do this given how some of them have performed recently.  As for Pierce, he really does step it up when it seems to be needed most by the Celtics.

My dream ending?  The Lakers are up in game six by two points with about five seconds remaining, and Ray Allen makes the game-winning (and NBA Championship-winning) three-point shot. :)

^^^

Hey, that's as good a reason as any to root for the Green. ;)

What an impressive win by the Lakers last night.  They were firing on all cylinders.  Each time the team that has had the rebounding edge has won the game.  I don't see how game seven will be any different.  I hope Perk can play, but it's not looking good by all accounts.

The two teams have played a game seven four times in their storied history.  I only remember two of them (1969 and 1984).  Three of the four were in Boston.  This one could be a great game.  If game seven is close, I see an exciting, electrifying ending that will be remembered for quite some time.  Kobe?  Pierce?  Allen?  Artest?

Go Celtics!

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers fans on this Board, and to the Los Angeles Lakers on their 11th Championship. ;)

The Lakers played very well, and deserve the title. :)

I think he will remain in Cleveland as well.  But wouldn't it be interesting if he went to the Heat?

Well, I am surprised by this move of LeBron.  But I am even more surprised at the reaction of some of the Cleveland fans, and especially at the letter written by the owner of the Cavaliers.  Wow.  I never saw that coming, even when I was speculating that James might move on.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5365793

I'm guessing that Tom Izzo is quite pleased with the decision he made recently.  I wonder too about Byron Scott in this (now very different) scenario.  I thought he (Scott) would bring a lot more energy to the Cavaliers team.  I think his job just got a lot more difficult.  But I suppose one could look at this a few ways.  Maybe a fresh start is what the Cavaliers need.

Here is an interesting viewpoint on the response of Gilbert to James leaving Cleveland.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=broussard_chris&page=gilbertlbj-100709