# NBA Playoffs! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 21, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937 "2010-04-21T23:50:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/221 "2010-06-16T17:48:58Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Except the players don’t care about the ratings, and only one of the teams would have had a so-called incentive to play poorly. True, but then there’s that whole illegal gambling thingy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/222 "2010-06-16T17:52:33Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > True, but then there’s that whole illegal gambling thingy. This shit again? The foul calls were about equal. Boston lost their starting center and played like crap. There’s no reason to bring in garbage about gambling, game fixing, or Boston losing on purpose. For that matter it looks like you said L.A. played poorly on purpose, which makes even less sense. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/223 "2010-06-16T18:26:40Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > This shit again? The foul calls were about equal. Boston lost their starting center and played like crap. There’s no reason to bring in garbage about gambling, game fixing, or Boston losing on purpose. For that matter it looks like you said L.A. played poorly on purpose, which makes even less sense. A bit testy, aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/224 "2010-06-16T21:03:30Z")
Fuck yeah! That’s what I’m talking about Lakers! Just one more game!! I was so nervous last night that I didn’t even watch most of it live, I taped it in the hopes that they would win so I could watch it later. But a 22 pounding was completely unexpected, and it filled me with relief. The Lakers have that in them. They’ve had it in them ever since they traded for Artest and Pau got healthy. They absolutely can play like this tomorrow. Problem is, so can the Celtics. I’m too young to remember game 7 in 1984, but that one lives on as a classic. This game 7 will too, even if it’s a blowout. More stories will be written about this series than any series in the last 10 years. It’s LA, it’s Boston, it’s NBA history, and it’s a game 7. I’m still nervous as hell, but glad that they were able to bounce back from two tough losses in Boston Good teams always say that the key to winning is simply to “play their game”, as if there wasn’t another team out there. Usually, the team saying that is more talented of the bunch. But the Celtics are equally tough. To win, the Lakers have to disrupt the Celtics game. Forget playing the Lakers game, do what you did in games 1, 3, and 6. Play harder than you’ve ever played. Ratchet up the defense to stratospheric levels. Disrupt Boston’s game because Boston isn’t a high scoring team. That’s the way you beat them. If the defenses are equal, I trust that Kobe, Pau, Odom, Fisher, Bynum, and Artest will outscore KG, Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Perkins, and Davis. Above all, don’t lose the first quarter. Crash the boards. Bynum, suck up that knee for 25-35 more minutes. Take care of business ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/225 "2010-06-18T01:19:17Z")
It is _amazing_ how abandoned downtown LA became early on today. Emails went out to the big buildings earlier today about street closures and such around Staples Center. Between the people who wanted to get home in time to see the game and those who wanted to avoid the traffic jam, it seemed like a mass exodus. Fortunately, I live 5 minutes from my office. I left at 5:50, and the streets were practically empty. I really wouldn’t have thought one basketball game could make that much of a difference, but there you go. Good stuff! And I still got home in time to catch tipoff. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/226 "2010-06-18T01:23:46Z")
Celts are playing very tough. Lakers better step it up. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/227 "2010-06-18T01:45:28Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > It is _amazing_ how abandoned downtown LA became early on today. I’m really shocked how LA can’t support a football team, but California has 3 basketball teams and like 4 baseball teams. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/228 "2010-06-18T01:52:59Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I’m really shocked how LA can’t support a football team, but California has 3 basketball teams and like 4 baseball teams. Five baseball teams and three football teams. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/229 "2010-06-18T02:46:04Z")
L.A. could support a football team, I just don’t think they’re willing to finance a new stadium. And they shouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/230 "2010-06-18T04:01:32Z")
I can’t believe that the Lakers pulled that one off. Such horrible shooting. Great defense on both sides. YES!! ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/231 "2010-06-18T04:11:30Z")
Wooo! As it should be. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/232 "2010-06-18T04:13:12Z")
Anybody else tiring of seeing Kobe’s wife in frame? We get it, all is forgiven, family values, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/233 "2010-06-18T04:17:23Z")
Hell of a comeback for the Lakers. The Celtics didn’t make it easy. They really had to grind that out. Kobe got the MVP, but Ron Artest was an unsung hero in this game. He really kept them in it when Kobe wasn’t hitting. Congratulations to Big Chief Triangle too. Eleven rings. That’s fucking ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/234 "2010-06-18T04:27:47Z")
Lakers “lose” in shooting percentage ( 40.8% to 32.5%), free throw percentage ( 88.2% to 67.6%), defensive rebounds 32 to 30 and 3 pointer percentage ( 37.5% to 20%) and win the game. Gotta be a first! ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/235 "2010-06-18T04:44:41Z")
> [@Hippy\_Hollow](#): > > Anybody else tiring of seeing Kobe’s wife in frame? We get it, all is forgiven, family values, etc. I think it’s more like “enough diamonds have been purchased, all is forgiven.” ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/236 "2010-06-18T16:39:19Z")
> [@KSO](#): > > I think it’s more like “enough diamonds have been purchased, all is forgiven.” I doubt that, unless he spent half of his money on diamonds a divorce would have been more profitable for her. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/237 "2010-06-18T21:04:52Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I doubt that, unless he spent half of his money on diamonds a divorce would have been more profitable for her. Or maybe he just knew he f\*\*\*ed up, took the opportunity to mature and began respecting the woman he loves. In the transcripts when he was questioned about the Colorado assault (you know, the one where told the cops Shaq has a bunch of different women in different cities) he said, “[Vanessa] can’t find out about this, she’s my everything.” So just maybe it’s legit – at least he’s got Michael Jordan beat there! Horribly sloppy game last night and the Lakers were hugely affected by the pressure. But they were bigger and stronger and eventually wore Boston out. It’s gotten little reporting, but Odom had the flu up until Game 6. Him being at full strength was huge. Yes, the Celts missed Perkins some – Rasheed was clearly gassed (wouldn’t have been a bad idea to get in shape at some point during the season, 'Sheed), but Bynum would have been a terror if he had been at full strength throughout the series. When Ron Ron first signed with the Lakers I posted on my FB page: I hate Ron Artest. I thought letting Ariza goes was a colossal mistake – and still do to some respect. But only in this Finals would the Lakers crap the bed in Game 7 and get saved by the biggest head case in the league. GO LAKERS!!! ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/238 "2010-06-18T23:35:03Z")
Laaaaaaaaaaaaakeeeeeeeeeeeeeeersssssssss!!! ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/239 "2010-06-19T00:32:51Z")
I didn’t get to see the entire game, but it seemed like the ref’s were trying to give the game to the lakers at the end. I’m not accusing the refs of being crooked, but the lakers got way more calls towards the end than the celtics. However, I don’t think the refs won the game for the lakers. The lakers hit key shots (particularly the ones by Artest) and the Celtics didn’t. The celts pretty much bricked their chances of winning this game. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937/240 "2010-06-21T04:27:49Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I didn’t get to see the entire game, but it seemed like the ref’s were trying to give the game to the lakers at the end. I’m not accusing the refs of being crooked, but the lakers got way more calls towards the end than the celtics. However, I don’t think the refs won the game for the lakers. The lakers hit key shots (particularly the ones by Artest) and the Celtics didn’t. The celts pretty much bricked their chances of winning this game. Yeah, it does look bad, but the Celtics had nothing left in the tank. They are an old team and it was showing when they gave it their all. According to Doc, Wallace was cramping and his back started hurting, and Garnett’s minutes were extended to his detriment. You could see it, the Celtics were just taking outside shots while Kobe just kept attacking. There’s the free throw differential and the game It’s soooooooooooooooo gratifying to watch the Celtics fail and the Lakers win. This was an especially great win as the Celtics had the game in hand in the 3rd but the Lakers stomped on them, punched them in the stomach and stole their lunch money and the title. I will never forget this win. I’ve pretty much been partying the last few days and watching the Celtics postgame interviews. Cry more Celtics! I love their tears! I hope they keep crying and crying for the whole summer! Cry when Doc leaves, cry when Wallace retires, cry when Allen signs with Miami or some other team, and cry when Ainge goes to Phoenix. I hope they don’t win another championship for 20 years again! 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nba-playoffs/536937.md?page=13)