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?
The Los Angeles Lakers had their chance on Tuesday night to take a commanding series lead (given the series format) if they could have held on and stole Game 1 of the NBA Finals from the Boston Celtics in Boston. But Willis Reed decided to make an appearance Paul Pierce played Mr. Dramatic Knee Injury and Kobe Bryant decided to play like the 19-year old college freshman/NBA rookie of yore. The Celtics pulled away in the second-half for a 98-88 victory
Apparently, getting carried off the court…ballin’ like a baby…then being gently placed on a wheelchair…is motivation for Paul Pierce to miraciously strap on a piece of black elastic, jog back on to the court, and drop 11 points (including a couple of big three’s) and somehow stomach what appeared to be a devastating/season ending knee injury? This is the guy who was knifed in the face a couple of years back and now he can’t stomach a lil’ itsy bitsy knee sprain without being carried from the floor. What a farce of an “elite” player…
I’m still sticking with Lakers in 5. Unless…Drama Pierce stubs his big-toe in Game 2, is helicoptered to Massachusetts General, goes through 5 minutes of intense evaluation and PT….and then amazingly is able to jog back to the arena to drop 15 in the 3rd quarter. Or…something like that.
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!!!
Who da thunk? After incessantly trying to whine his way out of Los Angeles this past off-season – as documented HERE, HERE, and HERE– who da thunk Kobe Bryant would be awarded the NBA MVP award for 2008? Still in a purple and gold LA Laker uniform, no less? Certainly not me. I would love to see those Vegas pre-season odds for a Kobe MVP. He had all but backed up the U-Haul to his mansion, loaded the kids, a drove east before the season began….but here we are….with Bryant being announced the winner at a Tuesday press conference:
Bryant received 82-first-place votes and 1,105 points in the media vote. He was followed by New Orleans’ Chris Paul (28 and 889), Boston’s Kevin Garnett (15 and 670) and Cleveland’s LeBron James (1 and 438).
Bryant will receive the trophy Wednesday night from commissioner David Stern before the Lakers face Utah in Game 2 of their conference semifinal. The Lakers won the opener 109-98.
Word leaked last Friday night that Bryant had won the award.
“I didn’t know if it was going to come in my career, but to have the moment come now is special, especially to share it with the group of guys we have here,” he said the following day. [link]
All is good in L.A. Kobe has teammates that are friends. The Lake Show seems poised to make another championship appearance…I’m ready to pound 18 Coors Lights during Laker playoff games to honor championship teams of yore…this could a real nice summer!
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]
