Kevin Garnett (photo. Land)Somewhere, David Stern and anyone else with a stake in the NBA’s bottom line is having a party. The much-anticipated and much-prayed-for Lakers/Celtics championship series is a reality after Boston knocked off the Pistons on the road in last night’s Game 6. It definitely wasn’t pretty or easy for the C’s; when a defensive breakdown left Chauncey Billups wide-open for a three that brought Detroit within one point midway through the third quarter, it just seemed like Boston was destined to lose. Tayshaun Prince temporarily found his shooting stroke after that, Detroit grabbed the lead, and they were up by 10 early in the fourth quarter. Then all of a sudden they collapsed over the next three minutes, and the Celtics stepped up with a 19-4 run, taking the lead back and maintaining it for the W … Give all the credit in the world to Paul Pierce. Like we said in yesterday’s Smack, close-out and elimination games ultimately come down to how your best player performs. The thing with Boston and Detroit is that both teams have enough stars to make it hard to definitively say who that “best player” is on a given night, but at gunpoint you’d go with Pierce and Billups. As good as Billups was (29 pts, 6 rebs, 6 asts, 0 turnovers), Pierce was better. He struggled in the first half and then took over in the second, finishing with 27 points and coming up with huge buckets down the stretch. He also shut down Prince (3-for-10 FG’s) defensively to the point where Jed e-mailed, “Tayshaun may have ‘The Thing.’” … The Celtics’ role players were huge in the win. Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and James Posey were all over the place — scoring, getting steals, blocking shots and pulling down rebounds in crucial spots. Detroit, meanwhile, didn’t get much of anything from Rodney Stuckey or Antonio McDyess. Jason Maxiell did his thing when he was on the court, but he didn’t get enough PT … The back-and-forth between Ray Allen (17 pts) and Rip Hamilton (21 pts) was intriguing, but Ray really faded in the second half when he only scored 4 points … As jaded as we can get from covering so many players and so many teams over the years and seeing so much of the ugly side of the basketball business, we can’t help but smile right along with Pierce and Kobe Bryant watching their pure happiness over the last two days. Pierce’s post-game quote was great: “I could write a whole book on my emotions right now.” … We also learned during this postseason why Kevin Garnett (16 pts) shouldn’t have finished as high as he did in the MVP voting. Defensive Player of the Year? Sure. Most Inspirational Player? Fine. But you can’t convince us that an MVP is someone who ends up being, at best, his team’s second offensive option and someone who can be downright passive on a regular basis, especially in the fourth quarter. Everyone’s been rooting for KG to get to this point, though, and everyone said he would have multiple rings if he had the right talent around him, so now it’s on him to deliver … Where do the Pistons go from here? They were allegedly finished last year when they lost in the conference finals, but they re-signed Chauncey in the offseason, dumped C-Webb, picked up Stuckey, brought the whole crew back and made it back. So while we don’t want to write them off — they took what was supposed to be a super-team to the limit and gave them all they could handle — you have to wonder if the Pistons have the energy and the will to come back for another deep playoff run, especially with teams like Orlando on the rise and LeBron only getting better. Not that it’s all his fault, but Flip Saunders shouldn’t get too comfortable … Or maybe it’s time to close the door on the Rasheed Wallace era. Seriously, dude just needs to stop all the yapping and play ball. Once again he disappeared in a big game (2-for-12 FG’s, 0-for-6 3PA) and made his biggest impact by yelling at the refs constantly, even in a game where it seemed the Pistons were getting a ton of calls. Are his teammates growing tired of his act? We know we are … Reports out of the visiting Celtics locker room said the team was complaining about the temperature being too high, but Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy were having none of it. Both brought up Red Auerbach, whom Van Gundy called the “Master of shenanigans,” and the stuff he used to pull when teams came to the old Boston Garden … We had a brief Leon Powe sighting. With KG in foul trouble, he came in and did some positive things. It seems like forever ago, but Powe was arguably the second-best player behind LeBron in the 2003 high school class. Who would have thought he’d be a fringe NBA player? Not saying he can’t be an impact guy down the road, but that’s where he is right now … Good call by the League to not give the Celtics the trophy on the Pistons’ floor. We all know what’s gone down in that building … We’re out like the B-B-B-B-Billups …
Related posts:
May 31st, 2008 at 12:46 am
Dip Set City says:
This finals matchup makes me want to shoot myself in the face. Happy Birthday David Stern. I’ll watch between breaks in GTA IV.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:47 am
Kobe says:
first!
May 31st, 2008 at 12:47 am
Kobe says:
errr third
May 31st, 2008 at 12:48 am
Kobe says:
and fourth
May 31st, 2008 at 12:54 am
Chosen says:
i cant wait to watch this series. KG finally gets his chance to play in the big show too bad he’s going to run over spaghetti gasol. but i think the most exciting part is pierce/allen versus kobe#8(scoring champ)/kobe#24(MVP). added pressure on kobe now having to go head to head with both rivals at once may prove to be the deciding factor. i think good coaching and team execution down the stretch will be super crucial because of all the superstar and big egos on both teams. and yeah KG is too hyped up (for this season only), which might just be something he put in his publicity contracts to do just that for him mentally.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:59 am
Chosen says:
ill watch the game and will be smoking it during commercial breaks…hope you guys got first class tickets too!
May 31st, 2008 at 12:59 am
Celticsdada says:
YO FAG !!!! i mean FED…where u at son ???? where’s game 7 that ya’ll bad boys talked about ?? yeaa that’s right…CELTICS IN THE FINALS !!!!!!!!!
May 31st, 2008 at 1:00 am
Big Freeze says:
Damn, Rasheed played like a bitch tonight. Granted he was in foul trouble, but he still didn’t even look like he was tryin when he was in the game. He is the reason they lost this series and last year as well. Dude is talented, but he dissappeared once again and is a cancer to the team. they gotta trade him if they ever wanna win another chip.
seriously tho, how many years in a row will Rasheed have a meltdown in the Conf Finals before the Pistons realize that he is killin thier team? Ship him off for a decent center and let Maxiel play the 4
May 31st, 2008 at 1:04 am
Lady Luck says:
I think this will be a good series, should be entertaining. Lakers in 6.
Pistons have a lot of good pieces to keep competing at the highest level. Avery is still available….. Bring in a good center, and a backup for the 2 and 3 spot, and you are good to go. They have some good trade bait if something comes up. Still have to wonder how the Pistons would’ve turned out if they had chosen Melo, Wade, or Bosh. I know I shouldn’t bring it up but damn…thinking about Bosh on this team is scary. He wouldn’t have to be THE GUY on this team either because they have so much talent.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:07 am
Remy Nguyen says:
Lakers in 6.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:07 am
Celticsdada says:
PAUL PIERCE is the mothafukking TRUTH !!! Can people finally give him more respect now ?? Regardless What Happens In The Finals…Paul Pierce will and should Go Down As 1 Of The Best SF In The Game !! What ya’ll say ?
May 31st, 2008 at 1:10 am
Remy Nguyen says:
We’re out like the B-B-B-B-Billups … That’s wrong.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:15 am
catdaddywhack says:
Kobe should have said “errr second” coz that’s where your gonna finish…. C’s in six!!!
May 31st, 2008 at 1:27 am
Tim says:
I like bringing in fiery Avery to the mix…What Center is available for Sheed? They need a stud of one though….
May 31st, 2008 at 1:29 am
Tim says:
Lakers are gonna mop the Celtics…Fisher is better than Rondo, and Who is perkins gonna cover? Gasol will eat him up. Odom Garnett should be fun to watch though.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:33 am
Tim says:
I don’t like the Celtics because all they do is this:
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8194992_36_3.jpg
May 31st, 2008 at 1:48 am
celticsdada says:
you hate that because we are the most storied franchise in the league.! We have pride!!! Celtic pride from back in the day with cooz, Russell , heinhshon to now
May 31st, 2008 at 2:03 am
fallinup says:
Boston in 6. So nah nah nah boo boo.
May 31st, 2008 at 2:33 am
Korady says:
Powe being a role player = injuries. didn’t he have 2 surgeries at Cal? I remember watching him locally when he was in high school beasting EVERYBODY
May 31st, 2008 at 2:37 am
Marcus says:
Seen the feature on the Lopez twins at nba.com?
Robin Lopez = Andy Varejao + Scot Pollard
May 31st, 2008 at 2:39 am
marcus says:
man, stern is definetely the GODFATHER!
nuff said…
lakers in 6, sunny cali’s gonna get their gold back for good…
May 31st, 2008 at 2:49 am
Nora says:
KG at best the second option? Had 33 points the previous game and hit the clutch free throws. There is more to the game them offense. Of course some people can’t see that their is another side of the floor besides offense. Defense wins championsips and he is the defensive player of the year. Enough said.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:07 am
Rafa23 says:
For the third year in a row, the pistons just choked in the eastern conference finals. to only get to the finals once in that east over the last 6 years is weak.
BTW, can we please stop this shit about wallace being able to dominate if his mind…, I’m sure he REALLY wanted to win this series but he just isn’t as good as everybody thinks.
When we had that Hall of fame discssuion, there were even guys calling him a winner, and he deserves to get in more than KG. this guy just was a borderline allstar(that berth this year was a joke)who is talented, but nothing special.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:33 am
kb24! says:
Lets go Lakers Lets go!
May 31st, 2008 at 3:36 am
MaMba says:
Lakers in 6….all the Celtic fans are nothing but bandwagon…..calling Kobe MVP in the Garden the past seasons and now all this shit…Lakers will destroy the Celtics who had a hard time with the damn hawks and the Cavs
May 31st, 2008 at 3:40 am
kb24! says:
Good post MaMba!
May 31st, 2008 at 4:05 am
kb24! says:
Man..Ya’ll see Fat ass Paul Pierce chant BEAT LA? Better back them worlds up fatty!
May 31st, 2008 at 4:37 am
Nora says:
Don’t worry he will! LOL
May 31st, 2008 at 6:14 am
YOUNGFED says:
@Celticsdada
Hows does your team have pride all they do is cry and ain’t done nothing since 88. Yall a bunch of dik ridin’ bandwagon fans whose stadium was empty before this year. Eat a Dik Cocksucker!!! Don’t matter cause yall drunk ass hobo city ain’t gettin’ a parade noway. While your lifeless city is cring about the Celtics Final Exodus I’ll be at the Red Wings parade. “Ha Ha” - Nelson from the Simpsons. LAME
Eventhough Stern has tried his best this will be the most under watched Finals in history because he Debo’d it. I might be done with basketball cheatin ass for a while.
GO WINGS!!!
Lions in 2050, lol
May 31st, 2008 at 6:16 am
YOUNGFED says:
BTW Celticsdada WTF tpye of guy rushes to his computer right after the game. “Get up Get Out and Do Something” -OutKast. While you at home playing on the computer after the game I was drowning my sorrows in the badest chick. Get a Life Chump. lmao
May 31st, 2008 at 7:15 am
QQ says:
As good as KG has been his entire career, there’s something bout his performance in this playoffs that leaves you wanting more. Is this the guy that actually finished 3rd in mvp voting? He is full of emotion and drive (things I love bout Da Kid), but come on, missing two free throws and passing up shots in the last minutes of a crucial game? Still love ya Kid, but PP is the best Cetic right now.
And lol at the Detroit Fans leaving the arena with a few minutes to go. HAHAHA. Wouldn’t ya’ll at least give credit the what your team has done and stayed until the buzzer sounds? So much for being ‘the greatest fans in the league’ HAHA.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:21 am
sans says:
Fed, your team is the fattest bridesmaid on Earth. Sure, yall been brides once (out of six), and stood up like the ugly ho your team is once, but four times they couldn’t step up at the key point of the season. The difference? Larry Brown scares you into playing hard. Sheed had his best four months of his life when LB was calling the shots, rebounding, beasting, and, occasionally, stroking a timely three. Flip is afraid Roscoe is gonna beat him with a chair or something, unable to make his guy play in a manner that is productive for the Pistons as a squad. “I know–I know–so young–so talented” (riley escobar) and so overdrawn with petty, ticktacky emotion that he can’t even take (or hit) that eight foot turnaround j that should be his bread-n-butter move. It’s cool though, at least you got the 185lbs of pure heart and determination that is Rip Hamilton, playing with a busted elbow and taking on RayRay for a shooting challenge.
I have gained an enormous amount of respect for Truth during this postseason. So clutch. Pierce was so grimey these last two series that I bet his wife makes him shower twice before coming to bed. On the same note, which is sad considering that he is one of my alltime favorite players, Ticket is nothing but an illusion in pivotal games. Remember him against the Lakers in 2004? Nope, neither did I. Troy Hudson was cold-blooded back then, outscoring KG off the bench for a gamein that series. ticket is so ordinary in fourth quarters it makes me hate myself for pumping him up so much. He’s better when computer generated on 2k8, because there, he attacks relentlessly, jumping over other pixels with ease, all damn day. Lakers in 5, because Kobe is going to be merciless, and KG will dis-a-fucking-pear. Oh, and what happened to Ray after the 1st? 13 in 14minutes…4 in 34?
Rondo was ill, though. Remember his 3rd quarter step back that sent Rip running past him? Clutch. He looked like Kobe for a second.
Congratulations Boston fans.
Oh, about flopping, as an official I look closely at if a player starts falling before contact to call a foul on him for faking a foul (which is a rule book technical) but too often I just call it on the defensive player, then tell the coach to shut up before I T him for teaching his kid too do that. Also, the refs should be able to tell when there is an obvious flop out there, hence the large portion of no-calls that appear to be serious fouls. After games, in upper division officiating, you have reviewers (not their actual title) that question you over every call that you make, why you did/did not make a certain call, you know, a basic “here’s what you did right or wrong”. How they perform and grow as officials determines how many games that they’re able to get assigned to. Furthermore, I can’t wait for the fines to start rolling. Hopefully it will generate enough positive change to erase the image of Vlade on Shaq for eternity.
Have a good Saturday. Peace.
May 31st, 2008 at 8:08 am
rangerjohn says:
i think the name of the post should be changed, while it is the matchup some fans wanted, not all. it should be named “giveg the sterns what they wanted”
May 31st, 2008 at 8:16 am
Smitty313 says:
Kobe is going to murder whoever the Celtics put on him. Lakers will win in 5 games. Rondo is going to have problems with Fisher. Paul Pierce will get his no matter what, and I don’t think KG is going to dominate Gasol like alot of people think he will.
May 31st, 2008 at 8:39 am
rangerjohn says:
kobe and pierce will be working each other. gasol will out play perkins and he will be the key but if he fades any farther the lakers are done, odom and kg will be fun but kg will own odom. fisher cant keep up with rondo, and rondo plays decent defense, role players are the key.
GO CELTICS (honestly i would rather have seen detroit but hey celts will do.)
May 31st, 2008 at 8:55 am
Lee says:
Just checked, it’s 21 years (22 this year .. GO LAKERS !!) with just 6 different coaches winning the championship.
May 31st, 2008 at 9:07 am
YOUNGFED says:
Celtics are the UGLIEST STARTING 5 IN HISTORY
1.) Ken Perkins (Jolly Green Giant)
2.) KG (Black Rasin Face) aka (Skinny for Minny)
3.) Paul Pierce (Looks like Dude from Texas Chainsaw Masacre)
4.) Ray Allen (Donatelloooooo!!!) “Tenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”
5. Rondo (The Human Alien) or (The Ant from the Ant Movie) take your pick.
It’s in good fun but seriously name a uglier starting 5
Honarable Mention: Sam Cassell (Clay Face) aka (Sharktagon) aka (Ughhhh!!!)
@RangerJ aka My Arch Nemesis (lol)
Perfect analogy fo R.I.P. dude might be my favorite player after last nite. Naw it’s still K-HOVA.
It’s Hovie Baby!!
May 31st, 2008 at 9:10 am
YOUNGFED says:
My bad my Rip Comment was towards Sans but Ranger J your still my Arch Nemesis aka The Obama Hater
May 31st, 2008 at 9:17 am
BigRaj says:
For some reason, the Dime people harp on KG passing up shots WHERE HE WAS COVERED to pass to WIDE OPEN role players like Rondo. The reason why role players like Rondo decided to get open when KG gets the ball is because they know that he is going to get a lot of attention and, if they get open, he will find them. Thats the difference between the Lakers role players, who leave Kobe “on an island” while they stand around and watch, and the Celtics role players, who find open spots knowing (not just hoping) that KG will find them if they have a better shot than he does.
Also, Luol Deng was the second best player in the 2003 HS class. Powe was just bigger than everyone else. Also, Deng shined on his HS team where their second best player, Villanueva, ended up being a solidified player in the league.
May 31st, 2008 at 9:36 am
celticsdada says:
hey Fag! U ever heard of something called iPhone??? Son I was at the bar watching the game as was everyone else. Right after the whistle I thought how foolish and classles you and your city are so I had to expressed it right away. For you to say Boston is lifeless… I just have to laugh….. Are You MAaaD??? Let’s compare which city draw more tourists and such…..also the Patriots,Red So, Bruins and hell even the fukking Revolutions are always one of the best team in their league, always in the playoff. You right, last year was a horrible year for us ans thas why none of you even noticed us fans when we wete here sxreaming fire doc and ainge It don’t matter to me if yall think we badnwagon or whatever…we’re In the Finals!!!!!! What are sheeed and do- doing today??? I’m out like the whole Deee-troit Pistons gone fishing
May 31st, 2008 at 9:36 am
rod says:
This matchup is wanted by:
The NBA, with Mr Stern at the head,
Celtics and Lakers fans, being sad and mellow about Bird vs Magic eras. And thats it.
I think the true finals were West Conference, where the best teams met, well coached and a little Laker biased referees.
As regards flop fines, I think the officers should make the right calls and punish the players on the floor, with offensive fouls or defensive depending where the flop took place. I don´t know why this was not proposed. If referees are not good enough to determine if a flop truly is a flop why let them call fouls??? Lets fine fouls and send them all home!!!
Peace
May 31st, 2008 at 9:45 am
celticsdada says:
Lmao u can’t beat us on the court, now you try to compete in a beauty peagant…sorry we’re not interested. Were are basketball players!!!!! We still have to practice for the finals. And please do yourself a favor and look at the mirror before you talk. This just proved my point of how much foolish and class deetroit are. LOOSER!!!!
May 31st, 2008 at 10:01 am
YOUNGFED says:
Youbeing at a bar doesn’t suprise being your from Boston son, drunk ass Irishman. Yall probably started fighting there too. lol. When I said your city was lifeless I didn’t mean your sports I meant your lame ass city dude. And look in the mirror come on we on the internet I don’t even know what nobody look like on here….TRY AGAIN.
BTW Paul Pierce ain’t Ish but a Fat Slob that got calls all the way to the Finals but now that Sterny got what he wanted ain’t no helping yall bum azz city. HOLLA
May 31st, 2008 at 10:22 am
QQ says:
Come fucking on. Who cares what you look like when you’re playing on the court? Why you fools (ehem, fool) need to bring that weak ass UGLIEST STARTING 5 shit into a BASKETBALL forum? Come fucking on.
May 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am
Rafa23 says:
even if the nba wanted those finals, those teams are in the finals because they are the best in their conference.
C’mon fed, pierce gets calls, but also do rip and chauncey for little contact. the refs weren’t the reason your team lost. It was just their fault.
Same goes for the lakers, just being the best team.
this non-call in game 4 was questionable, but everybody was torn about it, it wasn’t the deciding factor.
just look at kobe’s free throws, he got calls to get to the finals?
pleeeeaassse stop that shit and enjoy
the BIGGEST STAGE OF BASKETBALL
May 31st, 2008 at 10:43 am
YOUNGFED says:
It’s just Comedy QQ it really bothers you that much, you weekend cats are really lame. I see why yall not on here during the week. Wanna Be Basketball Purest. Liten up dude and have some fun.
Remember: It’s Juuuussst Coommmeedddyyy. Geesh?
Retarded azz Forum Police.
May 31st, 2008 at 10:50 am
the_don_mega says:
these cats are really on to you, FED…LOL
May 31st, 2008 at 11:04 am
doc says:
Boston lucky they got The Truth,but I think Kobe gonna hand them they ass.Sheed getting old man he look like he dont even give a fuck no more.I still dont trust KFlea scary ass so I’m going with the Lake Show in 6.Stern need to give the Sixers a good conspiracy prize thats all we missing.Then it would be like the 80’s for real if we had a star or two.
May 31st, 2008 at 11:14 am
YOUNGFED says:
Don’t quite get myself Mega but forget it I guess they upset cause I’m still in good spirits and my teams out. Sorry to disapoint the haters.
May 31st, 2008 at 11:28 am
the_don_mega says:
guess ur right,FED…
it really is better during weekdays…
its kinda more fun…
not that much hatin’…
May 31st, 2008 at 11:39 am
SAS Sizzle says:
Post #1 you nailed it. OH BOY I can’t wait to NOT watch the “marquee” matchup of the L. I didn’t watch Titanic, didn’t watch Lord of the Rings, didn’t watch the new Star Wars, and now I ain’t gonna watch this Summer’s blockbuster either. When is the draft? Training camp only 5 months away…
May 31st, 2008 at 11:48 am
hkp says:
Yo, this KG hatred is outta control. Y’all have some selective memory. Do you even remember what he did in the previous game? KG has been BY FAR the most consistently great Celtics player in the playoffs–all three series. I love Pierce, and he’s come up big in spots, but if you watched the games and don’t have selective memory (Pierce had some BAD nights), you’ll know it’s not even close. If KG doesn’t produce his consistently excellent performances, Pierce doesn’t even get the opportunity to shine. That’s the problem, I guess. KG does it all the time, so it’s easy to overlook.
Dime gives credit to Pierce for shutting down Tayshaun, but you think maybe Rasheed’s offensive problems might have something to do with KG? Garnett dominated Sheed, and basically shut him down inside. BTW, Garnett outscored Sheed in every game this series, usually by a decisive margin.
As for KG disappearing in the fourth quarter, quick, guess who scored more field goals in the 4th quarter of game 6, Pierce or KG? That’s right, KG. And I’ll give credit to Pierce for driving and getting fouled, but if not for the intentional fouls at the end of the game, Garnett also outscored Pierce in the fourth overall (hated those 2 missed FT by KG, one by Pierce). While we’re at it, here’s a breakdown of the Detroit series by who scored more in the fourth quarter, Pierce or KG:
game 6: Pierce (KG had more if you don’t count intentional fouls)
game 5: KG (Pierce scores only one point as Detroit makes big run, almost tying game; KG scores 10)
game 4: KG
game 3: tie
game 2: KG
game 1: tie
But all you hear is how “KG is passive.” Perception creates reality, I guess.
May 31st, 2008 at 11:49 am
K Dizzle says:
Fed, you gotta stay up, playa. Least you still got the Wings and the Tigers can maybe turn it on. This is Kobe’s year. It just makes sense that we hadda go thru the Spurs.
One more blast to the VC story from yesterday - Rip playin thru that elbow injury is why Vince is soft lol
Ranger - are u just tryin to get a rise with the DFish can’t keep up with Rondo theory? My man hadda go thru AI, D-Will and T Parker and now you think Rondo’s too much? Doubt it. If Chauncey was healthy, Raj woulda got his,
Chauncey playin thru a shredded hamstring is also why Vince is soft
Heads need to stop hatin on the Lakers - Celts and appreciate the fact that we about to get some good ball. I don’t remember cryin when San An and Detroit or SA and Cleveland were in the finals. All I know is the ratings were junk, but I didn’t miss a game. Your squad can’t be there every year
Peace
May 31st, 2008 at 11:55 am
YOUNGFED says:
lol at that Vince comment K-Dizzle was that a direct shot at Austin B.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
QQ says:
Just wan to see you mad, bruh. HAHA. But I feel you, Fed.
And yeah, props to KDizz for stating the real: This will be one of the most intriguing and enjoyable matchups in the Finals in years, conspiracy or not. Just enjoy it, haters.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Tim says:
Hey guys, lets top taking shots at people’s cities…is that really necessary? Lets just stick to taking shots at the teams themselves. lol.
Its pretty apparent Boston was a better team over these 7 games, but I know Joe D will reload the Pistons for a 7th straight conference finals.
Buh Bye Flip, Sheed, Jarvis Hayes. Nice knowing ya.
This series proved to me, after some evening reflection, that Billups and Hamilton are staying. McDyess, Sheed, and Tay are the ones at risk…Mostly Sheed, since McDyess will hang em up I feel. Get a nice low post player somehow and you’re good.
May 31st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
doc says:
Tell KG take his ass in the post 1 time they got Ray Allen for jumpshots.Beside that he good.People hate because what they see.He still 2nd best PF right now though so I’ll take him just not without a superstar scorer.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
word says:
Seriously, dude just needs to stop all the yapping and play ball.
^^ I agree with that Sheed has too much antics sometimes when he should be focused… go celts !!
and Posey might just get another ring this year!
the east better take it this year
May 31st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
YOUNGFED says:
All of these Piston haters wondering why the Fed ain’t mad is because although alot of people thinks its nothing to go to the conference finals 6 TIMES, but it is. That mean for 6 years you get to watch good basketball team dominate, even if they didn’t take it all the way. They still got one ring and thats more than most teams in the league can say (uh hem BOSTON and their decade layoff). So yes I proud of my Pistons still however this will lead to change (exit stage left: Sheed, flip, hayes, dixon, theo). But this is only for the better, however I would like to keep Sheed and bring him off the bench but that ain’t happennin’. So in conclusions I say……BIG UPS TO ALL OUR HATERRRRSSSS!!!LOL
PRINT THAT DIME..HOLLA!!
BTW it’s still “HOVIE BABY” - K-HOVA 2008 Finals MVP
May 31st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Phileus says:
This won’t be an addition to the Celts-Lakers rivalry history, it will be a massacre. I say the Celts take the first game, ala Philly versus Lakers, then lose the next four straight. This is Kobe’s year.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Tim says:
Sheed and Prince to Denver for Melo and Camby.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Tim says:
yes i know the above probably won’t work.
May 31st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Big Freeze says:
yo fuck the NBA finals, i’m watchin the softball college world series so Go Gators!
May 31st, 2008 at 2:51 pm
kb24! says:
@SAS Sizzle
Bro your just mad cause your BORING Spurs aren’t in the Finals this year cause they got murdered by Kobe.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Jeffrey says:
… and everybody’s happy now
May 31st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Celts Fan says:
Great series. KG does need to get his ass down in the post more though. I have no problem with him passing to open teammates when he’s covered (that’s good basketball) but he passes up open looks to pass to someone else (and if it’s not Pierce or Ray or a layup for someone else, he needs to shoot that.) I also don’t mind when the jumper’s falling, but when everyone watching can tell he’s just not on with the jumper - he missed about 5 straight at one point - he stays out there too long. Doc needs to recognize that and get him in the post sometimes. I love KG and we’re winning, but just saying what I see…
Youngfed, what do you think about your team for next year? Break them up or just give it another run hoping that Maxiell and Stuckey can contribute even more? I think you could give Maxiell more of McDyess’s minutes when he’s not hitting the jumper and give Stuckey a ton of backup minutes, Amir Johnson and Aaron Afflalo are another year older and hopefully ready to contribute something, and whoever you draft should be solid (Dumars has a really good track record other than Darko) and you’re still in great shape next year. I’d just fire Flip and get a disciplinarian like an Avery Johnson who the players will respect but will still listen to (let’s be real, Avery’s got a much better chance of getting ‘Sheed’s respect than Flip’s retarded ass.) Take away the Chauncey injury that hampered him early on, we might be seeing highlights of the ‘88 Finals instead of ‘85 and ‘87…
Youngfed, you also missed a great shot too. If you’re gonna list Pierce as ugly, you absolutely have to take a shot at that facial hair. It looks like he glued pubes all over his face…
I have 2 big concerns with the Finals:
1. Doc’s been arguably out-coached by Mike Woodson, Mike Brown, and Flip Saunders. Now he’s up against Phil Jackson.
2. At the end of games, we tend to just hold onto leads and get tight. They have Kobe.
We’re going in as underdogs. KG, Pierce, and Ray Allen all have a chance to cement their respective places in history in their first real chances at a title (other than the 1 year McHale wasn’t completely retarded and got KG a team.) Those kind of stakes with these kind of players can do wonders for you. Unfortunately, Kobe has almost as much on the line. Will the best player in the NBA prevail over the best collection of HOFers to come together at this point in their careers since Hakeem and Clyde? (and a year later Barkley, which didn’t work out quite as well.) I can’t wait for Thursday…
May 31st, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Chuck says:
@YoungFed
Don’t worry about the haters, they never stop man! LOL!!!
The off season should prove to be interesting?
Contracts in the last year
Sheed - Pistons
Steph - knicks
andre miller - philly
Drew Gooden- chicago
and I know you are saying, “who cares?” the point is, they are all expiring contracts, and expiring contracts acquired are cap space for later. TRADE BAIT, a team can suck for a year by acquiring those bad contracts, and then be clear for free agency the next year.
See everyone thought the Gasol trade was robbery, but Memphis dodn’t want equal talent because equal talent means equal talent contracts, and who on the bulls or lakers roster is worth trying to negotiate for besides Kobe or Deng? NOBODY, so they acquired an expiring contract in Kwame, 9 mil clear next season to get someone to play alongside Gay and Mike Miller, Memphis already has Jason Collins and a few other bust for contracts, why get more? Next year will be interesting Because there are so many expiring contracts for teams to open up cap space for next year it’s not funny.
Then you got these up and coming rookies? Rose, Beasley, Greene, Jordan.
Should be an interesting off-season with lots of trades.
May 31st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Chuck says:
@celts
I say trade Rasheed, he’s in the last year of his contract, and pick up an all star if possible. Rasheed has 13.6 on the books, Mcdyess is a free agent after this year I believe? I wouldn’t break up the entire group. I would just eliminate sheed, his antics are getting old.
May 31st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Celts Fan says:
unless Philly can get a really good trade or a good, young PG, they should keep Miller. He’s been VITAL to them this year. Having said that, he’s too old to fit in long-term for Philly who’s obviously really young, but would be a perfect fit on a team that needs a PG and can win now…
May 31st, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Chuck says:
I say they pick up a young pg in the draft, they have the 16th pick.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Big Freeze says:
If I had to watch the Spurs in the Finals, I don’t know how much liquor and weed it would take to make the shit entertaining. Thankfully Kobe and friends took care of business. It’s gonna be a fun series to watch, and that’s what it’s all about people: entertainment
May 31st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
doc says:
We’ll take sheed for Cal Booth and willie Green.Yall dont want him anyway.Mo Cheeks will get that respect.
June 16th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
HKP says:
Okay, so I think a lot of people are on the right track when they say that KG isn’t soft, though he’s not necessarily “clutch.” My question is, can a player ever be considered clutch without being a natural scorer?
Garnett is my favorite player, but the fact of the matter is, he’s not a natural scorer (a combination of being “too unselfish” and not having a go-to low post game). That should be clear to people at this point. If this means he can’t be considered clutch, then people need to be clear on that point.
As for him disappearing in the fourth quarter, would people ever suggest that Paul Pierce disappears in the fourth quarter? Most wouldn’t. And yet, do people realize that game 5 (which wasn’t KG’s best, partly due to fouls) was the FIRST TIME in the Lakers series that Pierce outscored KG in the fourth quarter??? Would it surprise you to know that Pierce outscored Garnett ONLY ONCE during the entire Pistons series (game 6; and KG actually had more points until Detroit started intentionally fouling at the very end of the game). Here’s a breakdown of 4th quarter scoring between KG and Pierce for the last two series:
vs. Lakers
game 1 - tie
game 2 - KG
game 3 - tie
game 4 - KG
game 5 - Pierce
vs. Pistons
game 1: tie
game 2: KG
game 3: tie
game 4: KG
game 5: KG (Pierce scores only one point as Detroit makes big run, almost tying game; KG scores 10. Can you imagine what people would have said if the roles were reversed?)
game 6: Pierce (KG had more if you don’t count intentional fouls)
So KG consistently outscores Pierce in the fourth, yet he’s the one “disappearing”? And we’re only talking about scoring here. KG never disappears when it comes to defense, rebounding, etc. Last game, KG had two big steals late when the Lakers were pushing and had numbers, a bunch of deflections, 14 rebounds in 33 minutes, and covered Pau Gasol admirably in Perkins’ absence (say what you want, but Pau can score in the post).
No. KG is not soft. And he’s only “not clutch” in the sense that he’s not a natural scorer (also, he hurts himself in that he doesn’t try to draw cheap fouls to get to the line). Then again, he IS clutch in that he always finds ways to help his team, and he brings it every game, for 4 quarters. It’s great that Pierce and Alen have stepped it up in the finals, but KG has been clearly the best Celtic through the whole of the finals, and the other two wouldn’t be in the position to step up if KG hadn’t brought it all playoffs long.
http://arbitrarian.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/the-road-to-the-nba-finals/