Lakers vs. Celtics prediction thread

Originally Posted by docicu3

In 208 playoff series of the modern NBA era where a team won the first 2 games of a 7 game series 202 of those teams won the series........draw your own conclusions about this one.

This very year that trend was not followed.
This is a very homer year for whatever reason.

[docicu3]

Originally Posted by pgardn

This very year that trend was not followed.
This is a very homer year for whatever reason.

Doesn't the team with home court get the first 2 games of every series and thus the stat holds.

Originally Posted by docicu3

Doesn't the team with home court get the first 2 games of every series and thus the stat holds.

San Antonio lost the first two to New Orleans this playoff year
and won the series. I may have misunderstood you stat.

I think it is highly possible for LA to go back and win two.
Then we are back to a 3 game series essentially.

Vulvachic for 3? Really, Phil?

[IrishofNDMan]

Minus the refs and the Lakers win this game, I can handle when they get outplayed and lose, but the way they came back and had to overcome that huge free throw margin pisses you off. Kobe had atleast 4 shots he made and got fouled on that were not called. That was a pathetic officiated game.

[ateamstupid]

That was ****ing embarrassing. Props to the Lakers for forging that comeback, but this team has had problems closing out games all season, and it reared its head again, almost turning into the most humiliating loss in Finals history. The foul call that let Pierce hit those two free throws was bullshit too. Terrible fourth quarter after a great finish to the third.

With all of that said, 2-0. POWE!

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I agree that we've gotten a bunch of calls tonight

Ateam I thought you were a Timberwolves fan?
Way back? Maybe I mistake you for someone else.

[IrishofNDMan]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

That was ****ing embarrassing. Props to the Lakers for forging that comeback, but this team has had problems closing out games all season, and it reared its head again, almost turning into the most humiliating loss in Finals history. The foul call that let Pierce hit those two free throws was bullshit too. Terrible fourth quarter after a great finish to the third.

With all of that said, 2-0. POWE!

Pierce got bailed out all night, and Kobe didn't get ONE call.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by pgardn

Ateam I thought you were a Timberwolves fan?
Way back? Maybe I mistake you for someone else.

Long story, but after a while, I couldn't bring myself to support idiots like Taylor and McHale anymore. It was something I hated doing, but being about as close to Minneapolis as I am to Mars made it a little easier. Still wish the fans the best though.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

Pierce got bailed out all night, and Kobe didn't get ONE call.

It's cool, you know that the refs will give the Lakers a game in L.A. this week.

[IrishofNDMan]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

It's cool, you know that the refs will give the Lakers a game in L.A. this week.

Lets look at a few plays Ateam. Kobe drives to the basket at the end, it's obvious he is getting his fricken arm pulled off, and the refs apparently don't see it. Yet, these same refs see Fisher tap Pierce at the end? I know you admitted to that being a whack call, but how does a guy like Powe go to the line 13 times and the whole Laker team 10???? Gasol not at the line once?? This is mind boggling.........

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

Lets look at a few plays Ateam. Kobe drives to the basket at the end, it's obvious he is getting his fricken arm pulled off, and the refs apparently don't see it. Yet, these same refs see Fisher tap Pierce at the end? I know you admitted to that being a whack call, but how does a guy like Powe go to the line 13 times and the whole Laker team 10???? Gasol not at the line once?? This is mind boggling.........

Powe isn't good at very many things, but two of them are getting to the line and rebounding. He shoots a lot of free throws in general.

Like I said, I'm not denying that the Celtics got a lot of calls, but if you don't think the Lakers will be getting the same treatment on Tuesday, you're lying to yourself. I wish it wasn't that way, but home teams get gifts in the NBA way more than in any other league.

In Game 6 against Atlanta, the Hawks shot 47 freaking free throws. And I'm sure you saw the absurd charge call on Pierce in Game 6 against Cleveland.

[IrishofNDMan]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

Powe isn't good at very many things, but two of them are getting to the line and rebounding. He shoots a lot of free throws in general.

Like I said, I'm not denying that the Celtics got a lot of calls, but if you don't think the Lakers will be getting the same treatment on Tuesday, you're lying to yourself. I wish it wasn't that way, but home teams get gifts in the NBA way more than in any other league.

In Game 6 against Atlanta, the Hawks shot 47 freaking free throws. And I'm sure you saw the absurd charge call on Pierce in Game 6 against Cleveland.

If the Lakers get these same calls and a free throw margin of 38-10 it looks like the Lakers will be back in Boston up 3-2. That is when the refs in Boston somehow outdue themselves again and the Lakers shoot 1 free throw to Bostons 50.

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

If the Lakers get these same calls and a free throw margin of 38-10 it looks like the Lakers will be back in Boston up 3-2. That is when the refs in Boston somehow outdue themselves again and the Lakers shoot 1 free throw to Bostons 50.

I wouldn't be surprised. You think it's a coincidence that home teams have been doing so well in these playoffs? Stern does not want this series ending in L.A.

[King Glorious]

I always find it particularly funny when Laker fans blame the referees. It seems that's the only way they ever lose is when the refs cheat them. The funny part is that I think Laker fans totally overlook how the refs helped them to those three straight titles in the first part of the decade.

Go back to the series with Portland in the 2000 West Finals. The Lakers won game seven of that series 89-84. During the first six games of that series, both teams had shot 188 free throws. In fact, after going down 3-1 in the series, Portland had outshot the Lakers 68-57 in games five and six. So how did game seven play out? The Lakers ended up shooting 37 free throws to 16 for Portland. Yes, 37-16.

Go back to game six of the 2002 West Finals against Sacramento. Sacramento was up 3-2 in the series and up to that point, had outshot the Lakers 149-112 from the line. So what happens in game six? The Lakers get 40 free throws to 25 for Sac. If that's not bad enough, the Lakers shot 27 free throws in the fourth quarter alone. They won that game 106-102.

What do both games have in common? Both were played at Staples with the Lakers on the brink of elimination. So it's always funny when I hear Laker fans complaining about the calls when it's probably the calls that gave them two of their titles in the first place. It's called taking the good with the bad. It all evens out.

[IrishofNDMan]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I always find it particularly funny when Laker fans blame the referees. It seems that's the only way they ever lose is when the refs cheat them. The funny part is that I think Laker fans totally overlook how the refs helped them to those three straight titles in the first part of the decade.

Go back to the series with Portland in the 2000 West Finals. The Lakers won game seven of that series 89-84. During the first six games of that series, both teams had shot 188 free throws. In fact, after going down 3-1 in the series, Portland had outshot the Lakers 68-57 in games five and six. So how did game seven play out? The Lakers ended up shooting 37 free throws to 16 for Portland. Yes, 37-16.

Go back to game six of the 2002 West Finals against Sacramento. Sacramento was up 3-2 in the series and up to that point, had outshot the Lakers 149-112 from the line. So what happens in game six? The Lakers get 40 free throws to 25 for Sac. If that's not bad enough, the Lakers shot 27 free throws in the fourth quarter alone. They won that game 106-102.

What do both games have in common? Both were played at Staples with the Lakers on the brink of elimination. So it's always funny when I hear Laker fans complaining about the calls when it's probably the calls that gave them two of their titles in the first place. It's called taking the good with the bad. It all evens out.

Does that have something to do with having Shaq you MORON!

[Scav]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

I wouldn't be surprised. You think it's a coincidence that home teams have been doing so well in these playoffs? Stern does not want this series ending in L.A.

Wants at least 6 games, and would love to have 7....

Lakers look very tired

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by IrishofNDMan

Does that have something to do with having Shaq you MORON!

Well, I may indeed be a moron but if I'm not mistaken, in both of those series', Shaq played all games. So it's not like he was missing and the Lakers got outshot and then he returned and that's what the difference was. So, no, I don't think it had much to do with Shaq.

[IrishofNDMan]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Well, I may indeed be a moron but if I'm not mistaken, in both of those series', Shaq played all games. So it's not like he was missing and the Lakers got outshot and then he returned and that's what the difference was. So, no, I don't think it had much to do with Shaq.

you are right though, it will all even out once they go back to Staples. I am willing to bet that Powe doesn't shoot more free throws than Kobe.

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I always find it particularly funny when Laker fans blame the referees. It seems that's the only way they ever lose is when the refs cheat them. The funny part is that I think Laker fans totally overlook how the refs helped them to those three straight titles in the first part of the decade.

Add that to the ever whining Phil Jackson.
Complaining that Kobe was not getting the line
in the SA series... dont matter that he was
not even going to the basket, just raining jumpers.

If Brent Barry had been a Laker and got fouled
at the end of the game... no end.
Popovich needs to go kick Jackson in his hip
(This is an intentional foul... Phil)

Rivers is a fairly good whiner himself.
D'Antoni learned his whining at Italian Operas.