The Los Angeles Lakers took Game 3 of the NBA Finals from the Boston Celtics 87-81. The Lakers cut the series lead to 2-1 and Paul Pierce magically didn’t have to be carried from the floor with an afro split-end (which I hear is excruciatingly painful). But, Pierce did manage to shoot an atrocious 2 for 14 and come-back to this planet I like to refer to as Earth.
Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson knew whom to credit for the win.
“I think undoubtedly it’s the leadership of Kobe Bryant,” he said. “He was aggressive right from the start, put the defense on its heels.”
Los Angeles is trying to become the fourth team to come back from an 0-2 deficit, and with two more games at home, they’ve got a chance to turn this renewed rivalry around.
And the Yugo Machine, Sasha Vujacic, got off in Game 3 scoring 20 points in 27 minutes, including playing critical minutes in the 4th quarter…
Vujacic, the self-proclaimed “Machine,” made three 3-pointers, including a crucial one from the left corner with 1:53 left that gave the Lakers an 81-76 lead. Pau Gasol finally flexed his muscles with two inside baskets in the fourth quarter and Derek Fisher, who took an $8 million pay cut to come back and play for the Lakers, made two free throws with 1:33 remaining as the Lakers held on.
And I can raise my head now, take deep breathes, get off the heart monitor for those palpitations, and look forward to the Lakers taking Game 4 at the Fabulous Forum…umm, I mean, Staples Center. Did I ever mention I’m a long-time Laker fan?
Lest we forget that last time the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in the NBA finals! It was 1987 and full of memorable moments, plays, and nut sacks protruding from respective dolphin shorts. And we do know what was the Numero Uno play of the series, right? Come on, now! Here’s a hint….it begins with “junior, junior” and ends with “sky hook”….You tell me!! And Chick Hearn making the call to boot!!!
Have I recently grown a mullet? Am I typing on my Commodore 64? Did I just get home from playing Frogger and Donkey Kong at the arcade? Is that sleestakKareem Abdul Jabbar lumbering down the court? Is this the late 1980’s?
The answer to all of those questions above is NO. But…if there was a question about the Lakers being in contention for an NBA Championship in 2008 I’d say an emphatic YES! The team is now 22-11 with an SI power ranking of 5.
The Lakers are playing some serious ball and look like a legitimate contender in 2008. They’re getting help from all over the place….and may be the deepest team in the league. Andrew Bynum is shaping into a powerhouse in the middle, they’ve got a stable point guard presence in Derek Fisher, and Kobe Bryant seems to have his meds in check and is content….for now (crosses fingers).
Let’s hope for no meltdowns….that Lamar Odom can stay healthy, on the court, minus the cross-checks…and that we set-up an All-1980’s match-up in the finals with those fags from Boston in June.
This one was from New Year’s Day…but, since I sat on my ass yesterday, sucked my thumb, and contemplated the meaning of life-after-20 vodka redbulls, I didn’t have a chance to marvel at Lamar Odom’s beautiful cross-check of Ray Allen.
Oh, Ray Allen just happens to play for that gay team in Boston which gets me especially giddy about the check. However, even though I may not be particularly fond of Allen and the Celtic perimeter game, I do appreciate their steller baseline game…as demonstrated HERE.
The Boston Celtics matched last season’s victory total last night by beating the somewhat surging as of late Seattle Sonics 104-96, despite a valiant 25-point effort by college sophomore Kevin Durant.
Win #24 came before the ringing of the new year, which may be indicative of the kind of monster year the Celts are having in ‘07-’08…or maybe a reminder of the dismal ‘06-’07 campaign…
“That means we were really bad,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “That doesn’t mean we’re good this year. We’ve done nothing in our minds. We’ve proven we can play 27 games. That’s it.”
Paul Pierce chimed in with the rhetoric we’ve heard for three months now….
“We’ve got so many players capable,” Pierce said. “It could be me one night, and we recognize that. Nights that (Garnett) or Ray has it going we recognize that and try to get it to them as much as we can.”
Blah, blah, blah. Are the Celtics better this year? Yes, of course. But…can it be something besides ”any guy on any given night” talk? Please…how ’bout another sound bite already?!
Speaking of biting….personally, I’m waiting for #254 pictured above to show me some activity along the boards. Her baseline presence is to be commended, but I’ve been disappointed by her general lackluster timeout enthusiasm. At last month’s Wizard’s game, her choreography to Kelis’ Milkshake was…how should I say this….dismal. Her milkshake wasn’t bringing me to the yard….and damned if she was gonna charge for that effort.
Anyway….I’ve done my Celtics bashing for the day! It was tough, but damned if I don’t feel better.
As originally advertised, the Boston Celtics are looking tough and off to a sizzling 3-0 start with their dynamic trio — Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce — getting all palsy walsy with each other. Talk of team play, unselfishness, and sleepovers enjoying each others person are the theme nowadays. So much love and admiration for each other, that Coach Doc Rivers’ isn’t having to do much,
“They’re playing together,” said Rivers, “There’s no doubt about that. They like each other. If I had to simplify it, I really think it comes down to that. They like each other and they’ve decided that they don’t need anything for them individually.
“It’s nothing I’m doing or any of our coaches. It’s more they want to win, they want to play together. They know the only way they’re going to win is if they play together.” [LINK TO STORY]
