Comments on: Game 5 – Boston on the Verge

By: cliff

cliff — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:15:30 +0000

Boston have 9 guys playing with play-off intensity. The Lakers only had 1 in game 4.

Hands down the worst game I’ve seen Pau play all year. His help defense was non existent. Time and again the C’s would drive to the basket and he would inexplicably stick to Perk like glue – 10 feet from the basket on the weak side… Compare that with the whole Boston team collapsing to the paint every time a Laker even faked a drive.

Not to mention he got manhandled and beaten off the block routinely on Offense. Kobe tried to get it to him, he called and ran multiple plays after his explosion in the 3rd and the 4th. Pau just failed to present a target.

Laker’s D was an abomination. You simply can’t win a game of finals ball if your opponent shoots above 45%. 56% is a guaranteed loss every time.

Artest has gone back to his MFP game (most fucked player), Odom needs to get his balls out of his wife’s handbag, and my god they’ve gotta get something out of their bench.

I’d love to see a game 7, irrespective of which side wins. But I have a feeling the Celts might get it done tomorrow.

By: miki

miki — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:27:55 +0000

It’s quite amazing. The last 2 games are two of the worst games I’ve seen the Lakers play all season.

I agree Rob. I think they’re in a mental funk. Kobe is the only guy playing with any heart and passion, where as the Celtics have 7-8 guys playing with that level of heart.

By: f

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:11:59 +0000

Their offense was definitely bad; 40% shooting is inexcusable.

Allowing the Celtics to go for 56% is even worse. Allowing the Celtics to go for 66% for a little over one half should be punishable by death.

By: Sherman Douglas

Sherman Douglas — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:23:18 +0000

I tell you what i’m lovin the way this series has turned out so far. if the celtics lose from here when they are all over the top of the lakers they will be the biggest chokers since lebron(have a cry) and the cavs.
My reasoning for going for the celtics are many. The old fellas deserve another championship after their long careers. garnett, pierce, allen and wallace with two each would be a worthy sendoff.
Kobe, while amazing, just doesn’t cut it for me. doesn’t have the humility or sportsmanship that the great champs had. and also ron artest deserves to never win a championship after going into the crowd and hitting fans.(hes lucky he didn’t get a life ban).
Phil jackson has more than enough titles for himself.
Pau gasol has to toughen up. while very talented he has to become more dominant.
SO GO BOSTON!!!

By: robd

robd — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:36:35 +0000

@f, I agree the Lakers couldn’t get stops. But even Phil Jackson after the game said he was happy with the amount of points Boston scored. It was their offense that was disappointing.

No one looked like scoring in the fourth. The Lakers even held Boston without a field goal for 5 minutes and still couldn’t get close.

By: f

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:37:41 +0000

“When he’s in the zone like he was in the third, he operates in a complete vacuum. It meant for six minutes not one other Laker could get in rhythm offensively, and it ultimately killed them in the fourth quarter.”

Wrong. The defense, or lack of defense, killed the Lakers. Even with the poor offensive effort of every Laker not named Kobe Bryant, they had brought the deficit to 5 with a few minutes left. Nevermind that Artest missed two crucial FTs and the refs didn’t call a 24 second on Boston; the lack of defense and rebounding on the Lakers end lost them the game.

They’re not even utilising their length because the backcourt has forgotten how to get rebounds.

“You would think the Lakers would learn to consistently feed Gasol. When he plays well, it makes life easy for everyone. But its hard for him to play well when he takes 11 shots or whatever it was.”

Yeah, maybe 3 games ago. He needs to HTFU before he deserves more touches, and not allow himself to get blocked 3 times.

By: Dylan Murphy

Dylan Murphy — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:35:45 +0000

I agree that the first six minutes was an accurate representation of the series. But Kobe wasn’t even bringing the team back as you noted. He was keeping them in the game. Doc said that they would have to win a game where Kobe went off, and this was the one. You would think the Lakers would learn to consistently feed Gasol. When he plays well, it makes life easy for everyone. But its hard for him to play well when he takes 11 shots or whatever it was.