Celtics v. Lakers

[nuzzy62]

Did I say that I hate Kobe?

[nuzzy62]

I love the Lakers though

[koolzach1]

Weird...

[gRYFYN1]

I stopped watching basketball when I felt that the refs allowed stars to get away with too much (traveling on the way to a dunk, fouls based on the star power of the players involved, etc.), so my vote is for I don't care. Shame too, as I once enjoyed it (even watched the finals back in the '70s when they weren't shown until after the 11pm newscast).

Kinda like Umps giving star pitchers borderline strike calls? Or borderline walks to star hitters who a know to "have a good eye".

Sadly that kinda stuff happens in all sports.

[Arctic Blast]

It does happen a lot in hoops, though. Jordan was undoubtedly a great player, but good LORD did he get away with a lot of traveling!

[RickD]

I picked Neither! Go Yankees!

[SirKodiak]

Kinda like Umps giving star pitchers borderline strike calls? Or borderline walks to star hitters who a know to "have a good eye".

Sadly that kinda stuff happens in all sports.

Kinda. But to me, basketball was at a level more like giving Maddux a strike for any pitch that was within a foot of the strike zone.

[filihok]

I don't understand the question. The Celtics are better than the Lakers...

[koolzach1]

The Celtics really are better than the Lakers, so I don't understand why everyone is so surprised they are up 3-2. Celtics have 3 superstars as compared to 1 superstar for the Lakers. Though, with Kobe, anything is possible.

[belial]

I don't feel the Celtics is the better team. Sadly in a short series, and yes 7 games is short, the poorer team can often snatch victory.

[Arctic Blast]

koolzach " At this point in his career, I question Ray Allen being a superstar. Actually, though he's been a great SHOOTER, was he ever a guy who sold tickets? That's my definition of a superstar player in ANY sport.

[belial]

I would say Pau Gasol's skills are better than Ray Allen's and Fisher is equal to Allen at this point in time, making the 'superstars' actually work out to be around 2 to 2.

[gRYFYN1]

Fisher is equal to Allen at this point in time, making the 'superstars' actually work out to be around 2 to 2.

Allen may not be a "superstar" player anymore but he is alot better than fisher. Fisher would never be asked to guard the other teams best scorer (as allen did the entire Detroit series), he isn't a player that his team can rely on, and only averages 28 mpg, and 11 PPG.

I wouldn't consider Gasol a superstar either, he has a tendancy to vanish for most of games, and while he can dominate at times he doesn't do it consistently , nor to you EXPECT him to. (actually i think Gasol and Allen are a closer comparison)

But I'm not sure why people are surpised either, after all the team with more wins (66-57) better head-to-head record (2-0) better scoring differential (10.3-7.3/game) and better rebounding diff (3.1-1.4/game) is leading.

[koolzach1]

Ray Allen used to be a superstar. He has worn down a little bit, but still a star. He has one of the best strokes in the NBA, and he is a good defender. Allen has been on video game titles, and up there with the league leaders in ppg; I would classify him as at the very least, a star.

Derek Fisher is NOT even close to a star. I like Fisher, and I think he is a good PG, but he doesn't have very good numbers; he and Rondo are about equal.

Even so, when you got 3 players in a lineup who score around 20 ppg or more, and are veterans with some playoff experience, who are hungry for a ring - The team will be awesome, which is the case with the Celtics.

I still predict that the Lakers will win in 7, though. Might just be that I am a huge Lakers fan, and a huge Kobe fan, but we shall see. As TO says... get the popcorn ready.

[Arctic Blast]

Okay, you make some points regarding Allen...I'm willing to concede a bit on that front. I do agree, also, that Fisher was NEVER a star. Nice player, nice piece of a team, but never a star player.

One reason I was favoring the Lakers was that, yes, Boston racked up a ton of wins...but against who? There weren't exactly a lot of good-very good teams out East that presented a big challenge. Teams in the West play a much more competitive schedule right now, because it's a deeper conference. And Boston hadn't impressed me in any playoff round prior to this one.