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I started watching "Nurse Jackie" also on SHOWTIME..... WEEDS, ENTOURAGE, and CURB are worth watching.... and Great MOVIES......otherwise...... IT'S SPORTS and SPORTS only.....Comment -
and..... if it's a sitcom on a major network..... .... I'd rather watch paint dry....
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guys guys baskets please
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I'm on the Lake show tonight, good luck all
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bynum might be out http://lakersblog.latimes.com/lakers...y-tonight.html did you see the way he was limping im game 3 I watched the replay and he looked bad..... From this I think the game will be much faster and KG and the celtics will score a lot more points than last game, refs are also on the over. Any other updates before I throw in lakers ML bet?Comment -
I'm liking the over 190 here, but a LOT of ppl on the forum are as well... finding it tough to call a side tonight, game could unfold in many different ways I thinkComment -
COME ON LB LETS JUST SAY WHAT WE WANT TO SAY..... LAKERS +4 lakers ml
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THE NBA FINALS -- Game 4 (Thursday, 9:05 p.m. ET, ABC)
Game 3: LOS ANGELES LAKERS 91, BOSTON 84 -- Lakers lead series, 2-1
One thing about the Lakers' get-back-the-home-court win on Tuesday night:
It proved a big point that LA doesn't necessarily need Bryant (a sloppy 10-of-29 field-goal shooting for a game-high 29 points) to drive home all the big baskets in tight road games as Fisher (16 points) poured in 10 of his points in the final frame and was every bit the on-court assassin that Kobe normally is at crunch time. Fisher proved to be more of a drive-to-the-hoop guy than the Celtics probably figured he would be - yes, the element of surprise worked well for the lefty guard - but count us among the folks who believed here that Boston actually did more to lose this Game 3 than the Lakers did to win it.
Just follow along here, folks:
The Lakers played solid defense - not great - as there were plenty of open looks for the Celtics and it wasn't just Allen (2 points) who missed as he clanged all eight of his three-point shots just one game after drilling an NBA Finals-record 8 trifectas.
The Celtics - who wound up a dreadful 4-of-18 from beyond the three-point arc - never did get into any real rhythm on offense with anyone but Kevin Garnett (team-high 25 points) who started fast with an array of lay-ups/alley-oops. Forward Paul Pierce (15 points but just 5-of-12 FGs) and point guard Rajon Rondo (11 points but 3-of-4 misses from the FT line) both appeared out of sync for major portions of this game but here's two keys in particular that the TV commentators (and the post-game crowd at ESPN) didn't pick apart nearly enough:
The aforementioned first-half FT follies by the Celtics really seemed to suck the life out of Doc Rivers' gang for a major part of this game - consider that the Lakers outscored Boston 32-8 at one stage in the first half and the home folks were busy missing lots of foul shots and lots of chippy FG tries during this time span;
Secondly, the Lakers' bench - namely Lamar Odom (5-of-5 FG shooting for 12 points, 5 rebounds and only 1 turnover in 28 minutes) - really played wonderfully here and so that defies the conventional wisdom that says a playoff team's bench always plays better at home. The fact is Boston's bench was superb in a Game 2 win last Sunday in Los Angeles and now here were the Lakers "flipping the script" with Odom, Shannon Brown and Luke Walton all contributing sound/heady minutes for Phil Jackson's team in Game 3.
What's ahead now for Game 4?
Suffice to say, the Celtics won't be able to handle any oh-fer night from the floor by any of its starters not named Kendrick Perkins and someone is gonna likely have to come off the bench and give Boston a real energy boost - might fossil-like shooter Michael Finley have a few downtown daggers left in his duffel bag? We'll see.
The Celtics need to step up the pace of Game 4 or else they get another sub-100 point game and that could spell disaster for the guys in the white-and green uniforms. Right now the Lakers are comfortable playing rough-and-tumble in the post - the Celtics scored just 89 and 84 points in their two losses in this NBA Finals and we say they can't win without getting at least 96 points in Game 4.
Here's a game-by-game look at this year's NBA Finals (note all home teams are in CAPS):
DATE
FAV
SPREAD
DOG
RESULT
6-3
LAKERS
-6
Celtics
LAKERS 102-89
6-6
LAKERS
-5½
Celtics
Celtics 103-94
6-8
CELTICS
-3
Lakers
Lakers 91-84
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Lakers MLComment -
lakerboy u think kobe gets a game winner 2nite?Comment -
BOSTON WAS IN COMMAND...NOW THEY'RE ON THE BRINK!So much can change in one game!
After winning Game Two outright in Los Angeles as a six-point underdog, the Boston Celtics looked to be in command of their NBA Championship series with the Lakers. They seemed to think so anyway. Paul Pierce told everyone the series wouldn't even get back to LA. That could turn out to be right if Boston doesn't get its act together. But, not the way Pierce meant!
Heading into Game Three, Boston had home court advantage for the series, knowing they could just win their home games before hoisting another trophy. After losing Tuesday Night 91-84 to the Lakers, it's now literally do or die time. Boston must win three of the next four games to celebrate...and at least one of those will have to come on the road.
It's hard enough beating the Lakers once in a series at Staples Center. Can Boston do it twice? Three times?
Our key indicator stats show it's going to be difficult. Boston's only victory came when:- They shot lights out from long range
- Kobe Bryant was taken out of the game by the refs
- The Lakers were flat defensively for a half
- Rajon Rondo was moving very well despite a balky back
- Boston was 5 of 28 from long range
- Kobe Bryant has played well, but not great
- The Lakers have been aggressive defensively (allowing 89 and 84 points)
- Rondo was battling through back woes and unable to thrive
- Boston has to shoot lights out THREE times in four!
- Kobe Bryant has to stay under wraps or get into more foul trouble. If he has two "vintage Kobe" efforts, then the Lakers are home free.
- Boston has to hope the Lakers fall back to sleep defensively from overconfidence. That's likely to happen again at some point, but probably not three times in the next four games.
- Rondo's back is going to have to magically cure itself...and we all know that rest is the only thing that cures a bad back.
Let's see what the betting markets think of the matchup...
GAME FOUR: LOS ANGELES AT BOSTON
LOS ANGELES leads 2-1
Vegas Line: Boston by 3, total of 191
Oddsmakers know that people like betting the bounce back in the NBA Playoffs...and that they also like backing a "must win" team on its home floor. That's kept this line at Boston -3, even though the Lakers won outright at +2.5 back on Tuesday Night. Lakers fans can't believe their good fortune to be getting points with what they consider to be the superior team. Boston faithful has seen several one-sided home victories this year from their perspective. They have no problem laying three. If Ray Allen is making his shots, the line isn't going to matter.
In Vegas, this is going to be a VERY heavily bet game, as fans of both teams can make a good case for their side.
The total of 191 is down a bit from the 192 we saw on Tuesday. That game landed on 175, but saw horrible shooting from both teams beyond the arc, and a big decrease in free throw attempts from the earlier games. Oddsmakers know there's likely to be more points in those categories this time around, so the adjustment has been minimal.
Let's take a closer look at the scoring breakdown...
LA LAKERS 91, BOSTON 84
Three-Point Scoring: Lakers 6, Boston 12
Two-Point Scoring: Lakers 64, Boston 56
Free Throw Scoring: Lakers 21, Boston 16
Only 18 combined points on treys, after seeing 48 in Game Two! Boston has to be discouraged that they won that category but still couldn't win the game. The Lakers are actually long overdue to hit some treys after going just 4-5-2 in the first three games. They're capable of 6, 8, even 10 or more on their best nights. The Lakers are up two games to one and still have ways to improve their production.
Free throws were down to 37 combined points after 54 and 51 in the first two games. Referees called fewer fouls, and the offenses seemed satisfied to settle for jumpers rather than trying to blow through people. Both defenses are so good at drawing charges that discretion may be the better part of valor in that regard.
The most important factor we want to discuss here is "Inside Scoring." We've shown you all throughout the playoffs that the teams who win "one's and two's" are generally the better squad, with opponents needing to make a bunch of treys to counter-act that. Boston isn't used to being the team that has to make three's. But that's clearly the case in this matchup because the Lakers have done such a good job of improving their inside game.
INSIDE SCORING (one's and two's)
Game One: Lakers 90, Boston 86
Game Two: Lakers 79, Boston 70
Game Three: Lakers 85, Boston 72
That's a front line of Gasol, Bynum, Artest, Odom (off the bench), then more strong stuff inside the arc from Kobe on drives and jumpers. Boston can't stop them ALL without getting into serious foul trouble based on what we've seen so far.
If three-point shooting had evened out, the Lakers would be up 3-0 and looking a sweep right in the eye. Boston won long range scoring in Game Two thinks to Ray Allen. That's there only hope based on what you see above. They've lost "Inside Scoring" by 4, 9, and 13 points...which is an average of almost nine per game with a midpoint of nine. That means Boston needs to be +3 or better in made treys (for plus nine points) just to get back to even on the scoreboard.
Even though individual performances have been all over the place (has anybody played three good games in a row?), this is still the fundamental of the series. The Lakers are better inside, and Boston needs to make up for that deficit from behind the arc.
That's true if Artest plays great or not...Odom is invisible or not...Gasol is a scoring machine or a guy standing and watching Kobe shoot...Fisher is hitting jumpers or not. Ray Allen has to score big...and Rajon Rondo has to move freely and contribute in all facets of play. You figure out how those elements work themselves out, and you're going to have the side and total winners (assuming Boston will go Over when they hit their treys, and Under when they won't).Comment -
Boston will look to stay out of half court offense. Game will be played in the high 90's. Should go over.Comment -
I can see a higher scoring game as well but it scares me that so many are on it
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I'm looking to go on the over on this game. IMO, it will undoubtedly be close. The Celtics will not flutter twice in consecutive games at home. The Lakers will score, as they pretty much always do. I feel the Celtics will score around 100-105. The Lakers should make it at least a close enough game to cover.
Not sure who to pick though, I am leaning Lakers+4, but I feel that if they Lakers aren't attempting a last shot to tie/win (which I have to try and predict the possibility, obviously) they will foul and Boston will win by 6-7-8.
That being said,
O 190 (-110) 5 units
BOL everyoneComment -
Lakers +4.5 (-105) (6x)
total still undecided.Comment -
That's what I like to see pacoComment -
Goat, how about sharing your opinion? Of course it's risky. They always are...Comment -
Goat you gonna post your pick on lakers game... LB you have a official play yet on lakers game?Comment -
I will have a play later.Comment -
Lakers +10.5 (-300) (10x)Comment -
Lakers will win 1 of the next two games but the thing is the last 4 times they played in the finals, game 5 has been won by the lakers. So Boston might be the play today.Comment -
This is a very difficult game. Most difficult of all playoff games so far.Comment -
O yeah paco, thats what I am talkin boutComment -
lakers win 101-95Comment -
LAKESHOW with the points. Celtics ML. OVERComment -
bynum is likely out for tonightComment -
everywhere I keep reading says that Bynum is probable for tonight. Espn has Bynum quoted saying that he doesn't want to miss the show and will endure the pain.Comment -
Ty for the points jr007:dComment
LMAO!
Exactly, bro, such a smart, well-written show. And I agree, completely hooks you in after the first couple of episodes. Five awesome seasons, I miss it!!!!
