Play-By-Play-offs

Before we get started I just want to address something from the previous post.  A handful of people have assumed that I would be hedging my bet for the Finals by wagering on the Celtics to create a ‘win-win’ scenario.  Let me make this as simple as possible to understand.  Here are two things you will never hear Chris Heller say (yes I just used the 3rd person-I have a blog now so I figure its ok):

1.”Stop sucking my dick or I’ll call the police”

2.”I’ll take the Celtics over the Lakers for $x”

I can barely contain myself at the moment so there will be no organization to this post, just thoughts about the series as they enter my mind.

Is it just me being a Laker fan or does this series feel larger than life?  I mean, we grew up on this rivalry.  It’s a big part of the reason I love the NBA as much as I do.  After this series, these two franchises will have combined to win half of the championships in the league’s history.  Lakers/Celtics; Magic, Bird, Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Cousy, Worthy, Havlicek, West, Baylor…what a joke.

The Celtics seem more caught up in the rivalry and the fact that they’re playing the Lakers.  Right off the bat, after the series clincher in Detroit, the Celtics’ players went into the “Beat LA’ chant in the locker room.  I think they may be a little to ‘happy to be here’.  The Lakers are acting more professional.  They are here on a business trip.  There is a job to get done and it doesn’t matter who the opponent is.

Game 1 is so big.  Neither team has trailed in a playoff series this season.  Playing from behind in a series requires a completely different mindset than playing in front.  After game 1, one of these teams will be in uncharted territory and how they respond to this pressure will be at the forefront as to how the match up progresses.  If the Celtics lose game 1 at home, with their less than stellar play on the road, this series may be over before it even begins.  Also remember, Phil Jackson coached teams are 41-0 in series’ when they win game 1.

The 3rd banana battle between Ray Allen and Lamar Odom will be key.  Both teams are extremely difficult to beat when their 3rd guy is playing at a high level.  Ray has been inconsistent throughout these playoffs but may have got his mojo back at the right time, finishing off the Detroit series being the effective scorer we all know he can be.  Odom has been great more often than not thus far in the playoffs, and the Lakers seem to always excel as a group when he is on his game.

The Celtics had the best team defense in the league this year, and continued to play well during the playoffs.  They haven’t seen an offense close to what the Lakers will bring to the floor.  LA is one of the best passing teams the league has seen in a long time.  As great as the Celtics team defense may be, the ball moves faster than the man, and the Lakers spacing and precision passing will be tough to handle.

I think the two teams the Lakers just beat, the Spurs and the Jazz, are better than the Celtics.

Phil Jackson vs. Doc Rivers…I mean c’mon.

The Celtics have a problem scoring the ball, especially is one of the “big 3” is having an off night.  The Lakers 2nd unit brings energy and offensive firepower that Boston cannot match.  I expect the Laker bench to outscore the Celtic bench by a wide margin, possibly doubling their output throughout the series.

KG has more to gain than anyone in this series.  A championship would place him in that 2nd tier of all-time greats, in the discussion with Barkley, Malone, Frazier, and many others.  He will be effective, but the Laker big men, namely Odom and Gasol, will pose problems for Garnett on both ends of the floor (and even bigger problems for whoever is guarding the one that KG doesn’t).  They will be able to match his length and athleticism, and can pull him away from the hoop making it difficult to help his teammates when Kobe drives to the basket.  If there ever was a time when a player may be too fired up for his own good, KG in game 1 will be it.

What are the Celtics going to do with Mr. Bryant?  The Spurs, known as the best defensive team this decade, had a plan that they executed perfectly, and look what happened to them.  Kobe’s like Tom Brady was last year, picking apart defenses no matter what look they show.  Cover 2? Take it to the rim and dunk on your head.  Blitz?  Pass to Pau in the high post where he either nails a 15fter or passes down low to Lamar for a dunk.  Prevent? Ok, how about a picture perfect 20ft jumper that hits nothing but the bottom of the net.  The best brain surgeon in the world couldn’t execute his craft with more precision than what Kobe Bryant is doing on the basketball court right now.

There is no answer.

This season is all about Kobe.  He’s one step away from the top of the mountain.  He’s ready.  He has his team ready.  He will not let them lose.

Lakers win 4-1