Lakers in game 4 - why not?

[SparJMU]

Why do you think the Lakers won't win the next two games (and the series, 4-1)?

From what I've seen, Allen got hot from 3-point land and that is the only reason the Celtics won a game in this series.

Boston did not win because Ray Allen got hot in 1 game. Ray Allen did nothing in the second half, the Lakers held a 3 point lead with 5 minutes to play in the game, and Boston went on a great run lead by Rajon Rondo to win that game decisively.

Not only that, your entire logic is flawed. Using that argument I can say "The Lakers only won game 3 because Derek Fisher got hot, this series should be 2-1 Boston."

Here is the bottom line from an objective person.......these two teams are very evenly matched. On any given night either team can win and I bet if they played 100 games on a neutral court they would be damn near close to splitting those games 50/50.

Either team can win tonight. There is so much luck involved in 48 minutes of basketball.

[PAULYPOKER]

That's pretty funny.

So are clowns aren't they Shari?

[Dirty Bay Player]

Boston did not win because Ray Allen got hot in 1 game. Ray Allen did nothing in the second half, the Lakers held a 3 point lead with 5 minutes to play in the game, and Boston went on a great run lead by Rajon Rondo to win that game decisively.

Not only that, your entire logic is flawed. Using that argument I can say "The Lakers only won game 3 because Derek Fisher got hot, this series should be 2-1 Boston."

Here is the bottom line from an objective person.......these two teams are very evenly matched. On any given night either team can win and I bet if they played 100 games on a neutral court they would be damn near close to splitting those games 50/50.

Either team can win tonight. There is so much luck involved in 48 minutes of basketball.

True. Poor reasoning on that point. That game came down to the last five minutes (like they all do). Allen was one of the reasons they won that game - not THE reason.

But assuming the game comes down to the last few possessions, I think the Lakers have a big advantage. Kobe can get to the line at will. In their game two loss he only shot three free throws. In game one win he was 9-10 and 8-8 in the game three win. I guarantee that he gets to the line 10 times in game four, and that he is on the free throw line at least once in the final minute knocking down free throws.

Rondo is 4-13 FT's in the series. How can you feel confident about the final minutes in a tight game when the best driving player can't make free throws? Who's going to hit the big shot for the Celtics down the stretch tonight, when the defense is clamped down?

Speaking of Derek Fisher, what are the odds AGAINST him making a couple more huge shots in the final minutes? The guy does it 75% of the time in the final quarter during the playoffs it seems. Who's that clutch on the Celtics?

I'm not a Lakers fan. But assuming a tight game, it's a hell of a lot easier for me to imagine them shutting down the Celtics in their final possessions than vice versa.

[atval]

celtic's will win this game.

[will2survive]

it can go either way--any game in this series

[will2survive]

Boston won't lie down---don't underestimate the heart of a champion

[SparJMU]

True. Poor reasoning on that point. That game came down to the last five minutes (like they all do). Allen was one of the reasons they won that game - not THE reason.

But assuming the game comes down to the last few possessions, I think the Lakers have a big advantage. Kobe can get to the line at will. In their game two loss he only shot three free throws. In game one win he was 9-10 and 8-8 in the game three win. I guarantee that he gets to the line 10 times in game four, and that he is on the free throw line at least once in the final minute knocking down free throws.

Rondo is 4-13 FT's in the series. How can you feel confident about the final minutes in a tight game when the best driving player can't make free throws? Who's going to hit the big shot for the Celtics down the stretch tonight, when the defense is clamped down?

Speaking of Derek Fisher, what are the odds AGAINST him making a couple more huge shots in the final minutes? The guy does it 75% of the time in the final quarter during the playoffs it seems. Who's that clutch on the Celtics?

I'm not a Lakers fan. But assuming a tight game, it's a hell of a lot easier for me to imagine them shutting down the Celtics in their final possessions than vice versa.

I like this post a lot. When I started out analyzing this series my biggest advantage for LA was Playoff Experience/Closing out Pressure Packed games. I don't want to take anything away from Pierce because he is a great competitor, but the Lakers as a whole versus the Celtics as a whole, LA gets the advantage for all the reasons quoted above.

This doesn't mean they are invincible as evidenced by their 4th quarter choke job in game 2. I will stand by my comment that these teams are dead even, and this game is too close to call.

[Weber]

Yeah, Lakers are taking the game.

[jmush]

doesnt matter how the refs call it if ray and paul dont hit open looks they are in trouble

[Snowball]

Really like Boston -2 in the first half. Then perhaps hit them again in 2h
that's two winning bets instead of one.

Rush, Foster and Willard ref combo the best yet for Celtics.

[Chi_archie]

think it depends upon Ray Allen's ability to get open looks and to actually make em

[d2bets]

Lakers = zig
Celtics = zag

zig-zag-zig-?

[Hybris]

Lakers = zig
Celtics = zag

zig-zag-zig-?

If only it was that easy

[constrictor]

yeah too close to bet

[Goat Milk]

Make Money!

Take the Rockets tonght!!!

[bigdaddyjames]

i think boston celtecs should win this one ....