Assuming that not EVERYONE on Baseball Toaster is a Lakers fan (although Dodger Thoughts people would want you to believe that), I'm putting up a thread about the NBA Finals.
Question of the day: Why does the NHL end its season with the Stanley Cup Final and the NBA ends with the Finals?
So what, we have a game today, a game on Father's Day, two over Fourth of July week, and the thing closes out sometime between Bastille Day and the Moon Landing?
Last time these two met in the finals I had just begun spending a summer on the west coast, in Isla Vista, CA, surrounded by Lakers fans. After the stinging loss, I spent a lot of the summer playing pickup hoops over by the UCSB campus with my Celtics "Go Right At 'Em" T-Shirt. I was laughed at. Laughed at I tell you! This one's for the derisive laughter and the baby hook and for Red. Cue the bagpipes! Cue John Cougar Mellancamp's "Small Town"! Cue the gravelly death-rattle of Johnny Most calling 'em as he sees 'em (i.e., as a battle between good and evil). Evil's got Kobe, but to quote that awful slickhaired Tony Robbins acolyte Pat Riley, "Rebounds = Rings."
6 : Much of the pivotal game 4 of '84 is on youtube (Color commentator Tommy Heinsohn after the McHale clothesline of Rambis: "That's just part of the game."). I know what you mean about restocking the hate inventory: I consider Kareem possibly the greatest center who ever played, and in some ways by now probably the most underrated (no one ever ranks him ahead of Russell, who he was of course far superior to as an offensive force, or Wilt, who wasn't the focused comepetitor or all-around player he was) and I love his game, especially his incredible passing. But watching that game I remembered how much I used to loathe that big elbow-swinging crybaby.
The NBA Finals are scripted. Here is how the (leaked) script will play out. vr, Xei
Game 1: Boston
Game 2: Los Angeles
Game 3: Los Angeles
Game 4: Boston
Game 5: Los Angeles
Game 6: Boston
Game 7: Tied up with 4-5 minutes left and the refs let the players decide.
In a nutshell the whole thing is scripted except for the last 4 or 5 minutes of the last game.
10 : The most rousing "Beat L.A." moment was in '82, when Celtics fans sent the Sixers into battle with the chant in the waning moments of a game 7 conference finals loss to Dr. J and crew.
I know this isn't a Red Sox thread by any means, but I feel compelled to pass on the info that Manny and Youk just had to be separated in the dugout (and this after a bench-clearing brawl with the Rays earlier in the game).
12
That was the origin of "Beat LA" right? I actually thought that was incredibly cool. Not at the time, mind you (I was 6 and didn't even know about it), but still.
I wonder if Bill Simmons, reportedly in attendance this evening, will be wearing the white shirts handed out in Boston tonight, especially given his hatred of them.
I would like to thank Time Warner for having ABC HD crap out at the WORST POSSIBLE TIME. As you might have guessed, every other channel I have works just fine.
42 - The first one is usually the easiest to steal. Lakers with younger legs and a better bench and the Celtics a little deflated after all the build up to find that it is just a basketball game, and a tough one at that.
In Boston news, my friend Dustin found TWO four-leaf clovers today. So my cheering efforts will be devoted to the smilin' eyes of those talented micks Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.
I am watching the game on digital cable that has a DVR attached to it and I'm about 5 seconds behind the actual game action. So my neighbors cheer or moan before whatever actually happens.
I feel empty after watching this game. Great 2nd half by the Celtics, especially Paul Pierce. That the Lakers failed to capitalize on a Celtics lineup that at times featured Cassell, Brown, and Allen is disheartening to say the least.
I hope the Lakers are up near the 5 minute mark of Game 7, so they can capitalize on Xeifrank's projection.
Also, thanks to Time Warner, I watched the first 3 quarters of the game in non-HD. When the HD was finally working in the 4th quarter, it was like switching from black & white to color. Just ridiculous. What did we do before HD? We were savages!!!
74. I would love to say it was my prediction, but it came from the leak at NBA headquarters. Stearn has already scripted out the first 6 games and first 40+ minutes of game 7. I was just passing the info along. I already knew the outcome of tonight's game, so I just watched for amusement. vr, Xei
Good planning!
I don't like agreeing with Plaschke. So I'll change my pick to LA in 6.
Losing years are even more flammable.
I don't own those on DVD. However, I did watch parts of Game 7 of the 1984 Finals to restock my hate inventory.
Game 1: Boston
Game 2: Los Angeles
Game 3: Los Angeles
Game 4: Boston
Game 5: Los Angeles
Game 6: Boston
Game 7: Tied up with 4-5 minutes left and the refs let the players decide.
In a nutshell the whole thing is scripted except for the last 4 or 5 minutes of the last game.
vr, Xeifrank
Similarly, I used to hate Larry Bird with a passion, but over the last few years I have come to appreciate his greatness.
I actually don't hate much about these Celtics, but their "Beat LA" chant when receiving the Eastern Conference trophy really stirred me up.
I know this isn't a Red Sox thread by any means, but I feel compelled to pass on the info that Manny and Youk just had to be separated in the dugout (and this after a bench-clearing brawl with the Rays earlier in the game).
That was the origin of "Beat LA" right? I actually thought that was incredibly cool. Not at the time, mind you (I was 6 and didn't even know about it), but still.
Also a preview of the commercial with Magic & Larry, to debut at halftime.
Classy.
His left eye is squinty. Maybe I will call him Lisa.
No.
Glad they're only down one. It's a long series.
Because with the NHL it could be the last one ever?
Or at least Jeff Van Gundy does.
Because just for once us Canucks decided to conserve on extraneous letters. You know, for colour. And honour.
That just means they both have thin skin under their eyes. And they probably get allergies too. Both of these lead to dark circles on your eyes.
You have to swear allegiance to the Leprechaun and worship Red Auerbach as the greatest pro basketball coach ever to be a Celtics fan.
It's disturbing.
I hope the Lakers are up near the 5 minute mark of Game 7, so they can capitalize on Xeifrank's projection.
Also, thanks to Time Warner, I watched the first 3 quarters of the game in non-HD. When the HD was finally working in the 4th quarter, it was like switching from black & white to color. Just ridiculous. What did we do before HD? We were savages!!!
Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.