Real Deal

Nah...not that at all. Basically, it's this...Kobe sits for the Lakers during the most crucial parts of the game, foul trouble, while Pierce and Davis receive two bad calls. What team is getting the worst part of the deal? And that wouldn't be something that I would ever complain about if those fouls were legit, but they weren't. Three weren't, at least. Because three weren't, it's a big deal. The referees should've been on top of their game. If it was Rondo that had three bad calls like that, and it put him on the bench, that's also a problem. Or Perkins. Doesn't even have to be a superstar, just a major piece to the puzzle. Unfortunately for the Lakers, Kobe is the most significant piece we have, and when he picks up another two bad calls that keep him in and out of the third and fourth quarters (when he attacks the most), we're toast.

They shouldn't have called them. Not because he's Kobe...but because three of them were bad calls (as you pointed out as well).

Why did you post those if you're just going to say it wasn't favoring one team over the other? By posting those, you're showing us that the Lakers were called for twice as many fouls in those quarters, both games. And the key is the one that gave Bryant his fifth foul, Game 2...which put him on the bench and helped Boston win the quarter, 31-22 (their best quarter, by the way). Ironically, Boston won that Game 1 fourth quarter also, 25-18...their best quarter as well.

Kobe was on Rondo, tight, for the first half...but not all of it. Bryant lost him once due to help defense, left him open for a jumper that Rajon hit twice, that I can remember, the entire game. Once Kobe jumped to Ray, Rondo was relieved. Ray hit a three on Bryant that was due to a screen (Ron didn't react to it well), and after that, Ray stopped scoring for the most part. Kobe kept an eye on him, made it tough for him to catch the ball. Rondo took over the second half, mostly when Bryant was sitting. With Kobe in the game, Rondo's best stuff came on the break, with Farmar chasing him. Had James Harden started going nuts in Games 4 or 5 in that OKC/LAL series, this would've been a similar problem. Kobe locked Westbrook up, BIG TIME, in those last two games...but he had all of his attention to give to Russell. With Allen dropping bombs, Kobe in foul trouble, and Fisher and Farmar getting lit by Rondo...we were destined to lose this game.

Yeah, but you're taking it the wrong way. We aren't saying that the referees should swallow their whistles because he's Kobe Bryant, we're simply saying that him having three very early fouls...then five very early fouls...hurts us way, way much more than a couple of bad calls on Boston's end hurts the Celtics.

The gap isn't that significant, attempts and fouls, but the fouls that have been called are crucial when they happen at the worst parts of the game, and it also depends on the players involved. Ron Artest and Kobe Bryant are the two best defensive players on the court, out of every single player in the NBA Finals. Both were in foul trouble all game long, and Boston dropped over 100 tonight. Lack of aggressiveness by Kobe (due to three early fouls, and five fouls to start the fourth) led to lack of dribble penetration, the main ingredient that led to a 20-point lead in Game 1 over the Celtics. Bryant wasn't going to drive to the rim with two or three early fouls hanging over his head. It turned him into a jumpshooter. On the other hand, Garnett picking up his early fouls actually helped Boston win the game. Garnett's garbage play was the reason for Boston's near collapse to end the game, after they built that 14-15 point lead.

The Lakers players stepping out onto the floor...that didn't cause a turnover, and players do that from both sides all game long. Rivers jumped onto the court to call a timeout with basically a half a second to spare, right before a turnover. Big, big difference. You're right about Pierce and Davis. Kobe had three fouls that were completely clean. Why that's bad for us? Because it's Kobe Bryant. Boston can live with Davis in foul trouble. Pierce had three called on him in 40 minutes. However, three of Bryant's fouls weren't warranted, and when it sticks him on the bench and forces us to watch Ray Allen light up Fisher, Brown and Farmar...it creates a massive hole we have to dig ourselves out of. As far as the replay goes, everyone on the air thought it was conclusive. Gasol's hand was behind Garnett's, and the no-call that Garnett got away with (should've been over-the-back, as Mark Jackson pointed out) was more gasoline on the fire. The loose ball foul on Artest, pushing Rajon's arm aside on that dash to the ball...I can provide plenty of loose ball clips that show similar instances of it happening, no calls. Pushing an arm off to the side is a foul when the player has the ball in a natural position. Otherwise, you shouldn't be called for it establishing or defending the post, chasing after loose balls, or pushing through screens or chasing the opposition off the ball. All within the last minute or two of the game as well, after we took the lead. Crucial mistakes by the stripes.

Just looking around at other forums (not going to give out the links, of course)...I notice a huge amount of Boston fans were talking about how the refs were handing Game 1 to the Lakers, and that it would all happen again in the second game of the series, since it was in Los Angeles. Now that the Celtics won, I don't see any of that being discussed. Don't see any of them wondering why Kobe had five fouls with a full quarter of basketball left, something they were freaking out about when Ray Allen had his five the other night, saying the NBA was rigged and they were never watching another game after this series was over.

No link or anything, but it was the post game press conference. He stated he thought coaches weren't allowed to run out onto the court to call a timeout (should've been a technical), and he called some of Kobe's fouls "unusual" (and you can expect him to be fined for that, I'm sure).

Haha, that's funny. According to our local news, he has made a few trips to the Gulf already...and the proof was in the videos during the news report. Of course, I'm sure that was all fake, because Obama is Satan.

Artest did a great job on Pierce, just as he did on Durant. Ariza was a liability against both Hedo and Melo. I'll stick with Ron.

Trolls are out...probably a record for a gameday topic this season. Super fantastic call at the end of the game, when it was clearly off Garnett. No big deal, though...we lost the game ourselves. On to Game 3.

Down six, not much Kobe other than facilitating, 27 out of Ray? I'll definitely take it. Please, let it be Kobe time. Off-topic: I hate spiders. Just found a spider bite on my leg. I'm going to stomp them all to death for the rest of my life.

I think it would be sick for him to go to Chicago, and in that prediction topic I made, I stuck him on the Bulls. I just have this feeling... As far as the mix goes, I don't know...I've seen a lot of mixes that blow it out of the water. Pretty good, though.

Three all-stars, and the rest are minimum salaries? I'm sure the talent level in the trio pushes them into the ECF's, but I can't see them winning it all...not with the worst bench in the last decade (it would have to be) and two other starters similar to Pavel Podkolzine and Omar Cook.

TIME: 8:00 PM EST TV: ABC

Arenas was supposed to be more passive, and a better teammate, last season. I distinctly remember him saying it, taking less shots and becoming more of a passive point guard. He took over 19 FGA per game, which was second highest of his career. Will he take a backseat? Haha, no. Hell of a buyout, though. We know he's not getting traded.

As long as Chris Mihm isn't shooting 15 threes in our scrimmages, I'm good.

Because Bosh, Amare and Dirk are at least 10 times the player Beasley will ever be, and it's not even close.

For one, Miami only has two players on their roster. They have two team options to pick up (Chalmers and James Jones). With just two players signed, they have around $50 million to spend. I don't think I have to finish my post...

Speaking of bringing the ball up and shooting it each time he does, maybe he should take a look at that Phoenix game Kobe dropped a playoff career high in assists in. Basketball isn't that simple. There's a reason why this guy is on Youtube and not spreading his amazing knowledge to professional players.

LOL. "When Kobe brings the ball up the court, he's just gonna shoot it." Are any of you seriously going to listen to this ridiculous [expletive]? Ever heard of Tom Thibodeau? That's the guy coaching the Celtics' defense. But I'm assuming this guy is "so smart" (as he claims, he just can't believe how smart he is) that he probably needs to be the one coaching, instead of a great defensive mind like Tom. Please.

Correct. The 2008 Celtics had a younger Garnett, PJ Brown, and James Posey. They would never allow this much dribble penetration. Tony Allen, and Paul Pierce, aren't key to holding Bryant. The Thunder probably had the numbers to prove that Durant was key, until he started getting lit up. He defended Kobe well in one game, had no chance the next. Same went with LeBron a couple of years back, when Brown stated that LeBron would be best defending him, and the numbers showed it. Kobe kept shooting over him, and suddenly, it didn't look so true. Tony, Ray, Paul...the least of my worries. I know Kobe will get his against anyone in green, no matter what. Numbers don't account for help defense, which is what Boston had to use excessively against Bryant all game.

More reason for LeBron to bolt to Chicago. That's all this is about...bigger picture.

They support how well (or bad) Kobe did against each in Game 1. Doesn't mean much outside of that one game, though. Every fan knows Bryant can take anyone in the league, one on one, even to this day. Stick Pierce on Bryant the entire game, and Pierce probably doesn't retain the energy to get to his 20 points (or whatever he had in Game 1), and Kobe still gets his 30, one way or another. The key to defending Bryant? The Jordan Rules. Throw as many different defenders on him, force him to adjust to more than just one or two guys, and box him up, a modified zone set just for Bryant. Everything AND the kitchen sink. I praised LeBron and said he was a deserving MVP this season. I stated that he was a better overall player. Many did (even Magic). I was dead wrong. If you're going to do your best to stop Bryant, you make him use every single offensive skillset he has, from post work to perimeter shooting, mid-range and slashing, facilitating, whatever...and to do that, you use multiple defenders. The Jordan Rules.