Lakers cap comeback in 'amazing game 7'

damientheomen3 · 06-18-2010, 01:14 AM

And somewhere in the US a young child is sleeping. I mean seriously, could the NBA be even more predictable? I haven't found one person who cared about this series or got into it at all. Of course, the media is gonna be all over it, as if 99% of people and sportscasters alike didn't predict 'Lakers in 7' and try to make us care a la what I now call the Brett Favre effect (extremely overreporting on a subject that almost no one cares about in an effort to make us care). Time for more insane media love of the overrated Kobe Bryant. Looks like I'm going to have to go my whole summer without watching ESPN.

Left-handed Badger · 06-18-2010, 01:21 AM

They probably will want to compare Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach until mid-August.

I was hoping anybody but the Lakers would win. But, I knew the price that would be paid for me pulling against the "Los Suns" stunt.

kenyan_cheena · 06-18-2010, 01:51 AM

Celtics really choked it away. They were leading 49-36 with 8:23 remaining in the 3rd and were then outscored 34-15 during the next 16:27 of game time. Yep they scored just 15 points in 16 minutes and 27 seconds. That is disgraceful.

Goody · 06-18-2010, 02:07 AM

Kobe just lunges his torso at the defenders to make contact and then shoots. So he'll either make it or not but there will always be a lot of chance for a foul and he'll get the free throws.

Its pretty sad how the foul calling has become so random and unstructured. They no longer really play real defense (with good position) but instead just use their hands and arms to tangle up the other player's body.

I watched it because I was at work and there was nothing else to do. First game I've watched in years. I used to love basketball...grew up playing it.

Skipaway · 06-18-2010, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

I haven't found one person who cared about this series or got into it at all.

TV ratings for this final are actually better than past few years. Maybe you just don't know anybody who ever cared about NBA.

CD1083 · 06-18-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Celtics really choked it away. They were leading 49-36 with 8:23 remaining in the 3rd and were then outscored 34-15 during the next 16:27 of game time. Yep they scored just 15 points in 16 minutes and 27 seconds. That is disgraceful.

On top of that they couldn't keep their hands at check, every time I looked Pau was at the line. Make them at least make shots to win the game, ESPN is going to have a difficult time finding any highlights of this game to show in 5-10 years.

Splitter24 · 06-18-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chase Davis

On top of that they couldn't keep their hands at check, every time I looked Pau was at the line regardless of whether he was fouled or not. Make them at least make shots to win the game, ESPN is going to have a difficult time finding any highlights of this game to show in 5-10 years.

Fixed.

It was a dang shame that what was shaping up to be the best officiated game of the series turned blatantly lopsided at the end. Lakers had more FT attempts for the game (deservedly). But fouls that weren't called on either team the whole game were suddenly called on Boston in the 4th, while the Lakers were clearly guilty of many fouls that went uncalled. In a 4-point game, it was a huge factor. Boston was doing a good enough job on their own in frittering away the lead. The Lakers didn't have to have the extra help. Such is the sad state of the NBA.

And, no, despite living most of the time in the Boston area, I'm not a Celtics fan.

damientheomen3 · 06-18-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipaway

TV ratings for this final are actually better than past few years. Maybe you just don't know anybody who ever cared about NBA.

Actually, I know plenty of huge basketball fans, all of which said they weren't watching this finals series because they knew it was gonna be the Lakers in 7.

Eckstein 4 Prez · 06-18-2010, 12:58 PM

Great series. That's how the NBA season should always end - a Game 7 between the Lakers and Celtics. I think the refs should have called it a little tighter in the first quarter (when they were letting both teams get mugged) so that they wouldn't have so many fouls in the fourth quarter. It ended up getting pretty ugly toward the end.

Still, great game and one hell of a performance on the offensive glass by the Lakers. Even though the Celtics are the Evil Empire, I have to mention that they had one hell of a season for a team everyone figured was over the hill. They showed everyone in the postseason who the real best team in the east was, and let's face it - Lakers-Celtics is just a hell of a lot better than Lakers-Cavs or Lakers-Magic.

Couldn't have been a better series, or a better ending. This was the first time in years I closely followed the NBA playoffs and NBA finals.

Skipaway · 06-18-2010, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

Actually, I know plenty of huge basketball fans, all of which said they weren't watching this finals series because they knew it was gonna be the Lakers in 7.

Still, they must in the minority, when you consider the ratings. Or they are simply huge basketball fans that haven't been watching NBA finals for years, therefore not making a difference.

Erik W. · 06-18-2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

Actually, I know plenty of huge basketball fans, all of which said they weren't watching this finals series because they knew it was gonna be the Lakers in 7.

That's what you get for hanging out with psychics.

BaseballMan · 06-18-2010, 04:32 PM

I wouldnt say it was fixed but maybe the next thing to it. Sure seems funny how the media darlings seem to win lately. Patriots, then Saints. Im sure there are others. Phil Jackson seems to be the poster child for media frenzy.
The fouls just seemed to be a lot more lopsided the last 2 games. I didnt really care if the celtics or lakers won but im begining to wonder if the game is even legit anymore. After all other sports have players betting on teams but the NBA had that ref fixing games. I doubt if a ref was fixing the last 2 games but maybe it the back of their mind they was making the wrong call or not making a call. They probably should take a closer look at the foul calling but i doubt if they will.

damientheomen3 · 06-18-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

I wouldnt say it was fixed but maybe the next thing to it. Sure seems funny how the media darlings seem to win lately. Patriots, then Saints. Im sure there are others. Phil Jackson seems to be the poster child for media frenzy.
The fouls just seemed to be a lot more lopsided the last 2 games. I didnt really care if the celtics or lakers won but im begining to wonder if the game is even legit anymore. After all other sports have players betting on teams but the NBA had that ref fixing games. I doubt if a ref was fixing the last 2 games but maybe it the back of their mind they was making the wrong call or not making a call. They probably should take a closer look at the foul calling but i doubt if they will.

I remember someone posting in another thread (I think it was Stevebydac) saying that he thinks the NBA uses specific officiating crews for games (as in a crew that calls a lot of fouls if they want to screw the Celtics) and I am a believer in that now.

TheRaven · 06-19-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

Actually, I know plenty of huge basketball fans, all of which said they weren't watching this finals series because they knew it was gonna be the Lakers in 7.

Then they aren't huge basketball fans..

They also have no idea what they are talking about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaseballMan

I wouldnt say it was fixed but maybe the next thing to it. Sure seems funny how the media darlings seem to win lately. Patriots, then Saints. Im sure there are others. Phil Jackson seems to be the poster child for media frenzy.

Winners typically are media darlings, especially in larger markets. The Patriots weren't media darlings before they started winning. The Saints were not media darlings when they were terrible. Funny how winning changes the perception from the media. But make no mistake, it is the winning that comes first.

TheRaven · 06-19-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

I remember someone posting in another thread (I think it was Stevebydac) saying that he thinks the NBA uses specific officiating crews for games (as in a crew that calls a lot of fouls if they want to screw the Celtics) and I am a believer in that now.

I do think this could happen, though perhaps not with the exact same intent as is being accused here.

Bottom line, no one got screwed. Boston proved through their play that they were the best team in the East in the playoffs and the Lakers showed the same in the West. Nothing in the Finals makes me believe that the Celtics should have won the series anymore than the Lakers. If the screwjob was in, then it would have been apparent by the play on the court that the Celtics were just that much more deserving than LA. But it wasn't.

I am a Celtics fan too, but no way am I crying foul over LA's win. They deserved it. The best team in the NBA won the title this year and all you can talk about is how it was fixed? Give me a break.

BaseballMan · 06-19-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRaven

Winners typically are media darlings, especially in larger markets. The Patriots weren't media darlings before they started winning. The Saints were not media darlings when they were terrible. Funny how winning changes the perception from the media. But make no mistake, it is the winning that comes first.

I will have to disagree a little bit. Its a little bit strange that the Patriots went from laughingstocks to winners right after 9/11? Or that the Saints started winning after Katrina? Sure they had a bad season but im not sure the Saints would be in the SB if not for Katrina.

Im not saying those teams didnt become good but i do think they got a lot more favorable calls because of the sympathy factor. I still have a hard time beleiving the Pats 2001 season to be legit. I think the media picked up on the Patriotic notion of the team name and influenced some calls. No way would the tuck call have even been called. If it had been any other team besides the Patriots that day it would have been inconclusive evidence to overturn regardless if that team was on offense or defense during that play.

damientheomen3 · 06-19-2010, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRaven

I am a Celtics fan too, but no way am I crying foul over LA's win. They deserved it. The best team in the NBA won the title this year and all you can talk about is how it was fixed? Give me a break.

Actually, I'm a Nets fan who hates the Celtics, but I'm sick and tired of all of this Lakers BS, so I decided to root for the Celtics for the first time in my life.

damientheomen3 · 06-19-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRaven

Then they aren't huge basketball fans..

They also have no idea what they are talking about.

There are plenty of users on this board who are baseball fans but don't watch MLB baseball anymore because of what it's become, so they aren't huge fans?

And how can you automatically say they have no idea what they're talking about without even knowing them? They obviously do know what they're talking about if they can correctly predict the obvious, seeing as how ESPN makes it seem so difficult...

rudel.dietrich · 06-19-2010, 02:11 PM

I turned into a NBA fan this season after playing NBA 2k10 and following up on the sport. I picked a favorite team and rode them through the first round of the playoffs.
I am not sure if anyone really honestly believes that the NBA is fixed but if they do then I think that is on the same level of believing 9/11 was an inside government job to go after Middle Eastern oil.
A major North American sport being fixed just blows the mind in its implausibility.

As for Kobe and his one major skill of 'throwing himself at defenders for the foul'
Yeah....that does not even really warrant a serious response so I am just going to say the phrase money rodeo to end my post.

Bryan Swartz · 06-19-2010, 02:13 PM

There were a lot of people I know who could care less about basketball in general who were really interested in this series. My experience is the polar opposite of the OP(and as Skip mentioned, the ratings bear that out).

06-18-2010, 01:21 AM	#2
Left-handed Badger Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: at the altar of the baseball god praying for middle infield that can catch the ball Posts: 2,036	They probably will want to compare Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach until mid-August. I was hoping anybody but the Lakers would win. But, I knew the price that would be paid for me pulling against the "Los Suns" stunt. __________________ -Left-handed groundball specialist -Strikeouts are for wimps

06-18-2010, 12:58 PM	#9
Eckstein 4 Prez Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 6,358	Great series. That's how the NBA season should always end - a Game 7 between the Lakers and Celtics. I think the refs should have called it a little tighter in the first quarter (when they were letting both teams get mugged) so that they wouldn't have so many fouls in the fourth quarter. It ended up getting pretty ugly toward the end. Still, great game and one hell of a performance on the offensive glass by the Lakers. Even though the Celtics are the Evil Empire, I have to mention that they had one hell of a season for a team everyone figured was over the hill. They showed everyone in the postseason who the real best team in the east was, and let's face it - Lakers-Celtics is just a hell of a lot better than Lakers-Cavs or Lakers-Magic. Couldn't have been a better series, or a better ending. This was the first time in years I closely followed the NBA playoffs and NBA finals. __________________ Looking for an insomnia cure? Check out my dynasty thread, The Dawn of American Professional Base Ball, 1871.

06-18-2010, 01:51 AM	#3
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	Celtics really choked it away. They were leading 49-36 with 8:23 remaining in the 3rd and were then outscored 34-15 during the next 16:27 of game time. Yep they scored just 15 points in 16 minutes and 27 seconds. That is disgraceful.

06-18-2010, 02:07 AM	#4
Goody Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Korea Posts: 3,530	Kobe just lunges his torso at the defenders to make contact and then shoots. So he'll either make it or not but there will always be a lot of chance for a foul and he'll get the free throws. Its pretty sad how the foul calling has become so random and unstructured. They no longer really play real defense (with good position) but instead just use their hands and arms to tangle up the other player's body. I watched it because I was at work and there was nothing else to do. First game I've watched in years. I used to love basketball...grew up playing it.

06-18-2010, 04:32 PM	#12
BaseballMan Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6,522	I wouldnt say it was fixed but maybe the next thing to it. Sure seems funny how the media darlings seem to win lately. Patriots, then Saints. Im sure there are others. Phil Jackson seems to be the poster child for media frenzy. The fouls just seemed to be a lot more lopsided the last 2 games. I didnt really care if the celtics or lakers won but im begining to wonder if the game is even legit anymore. After all other sports have players betting on teams but the NBA had that ref fixing games. I doubt if a ref was fixing the last 2 games but maybe it the back of their mind they was making the wrong call or not making a call. They probably should take a closer look at the foul calling but i doubt if they will.

06-19-2010, 02:11 PM	#19
rudel.dietrich Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Zürich, Switzerland Posts: 8,608	I turned into a NBA fan this season after playing NBA 2k10 and following up on the sport. I picked a favorite team and rode them through the first round of the playoffs. I am not sure if anyone really honestly believes that the NBA is fixed but if they do then I think that is on the same level of believing 9/11 was an inside government job to go after Middle Eastern oil. A major North American sport being fixed just blows the mind in its implausibility. As for Kobe and his one major skill of 'throwing himself at defenders for the foul' Yeah....that does not even really warrant a serious response so I am just going to say the phrase money rodeo to end my post.

06-19-2010, 02:13 PM	#20
Bryan Swartz Major Leagues Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 457	There were a lot of people I know who could care less about basketball in general who were really interested in this series. My experience is the polar opposite of the OP(and as Skip mentioned, the ratings bear that out).