Worthy of Your Attention
In reality, only five days have passed since the last NBA Playoff game was played. But it feels like so much longer. And it doesn’t help that ESPN Classic and NBA TV have been running classic Lakers/Celtics games non-stop for the last week; the nostalgia has been suffocating to say the least.
Tonight can’t get here soon enough.
Finally, it is here. Game 1 of the Finals. In Boston is where things tip off, a building in which the Celtics have been nearly invincible for most of the year. The best that LA can hope for, is to head back home with a split. And tonight - with all of the hoopla, the nerves, and the rust on both sides - is their best chance to steal a game.
Since both teams have been coy about the matchups, we’ll get our first true taste of which battles to keep an eye on as the series progresses.
Can Ray Allen give Kobe problems, and make him work on the defensive end? How big a nightmare will KG be for the Lakers’ frontline? Can Rondo handle the pressure of the Finals, and will Derek Fisher take advantage of his opponent’s inexperience? Will the Doc Rivers/Phil Jackson “matchup” determine things?
This evening, some of those questions will be answered.
And so, at last, it begins. Lakers vs. Celtics, in the NBA Finals. Again. Getcha popcorn ready.
49 Responses to “Worthy of Your Attention”
Jun.5 at 3:05 pm
beantown's Finest says:
1st
Jun.5 at 3:06 pm
Myles Brown says:
I almost forgot about this.
Jun.5 at 3:07 pm
beantown's Finest says:
the match up i’ll be watching is pierce vs. kobe. ray allen has been getting burned on the defensive end throughout the playoffs. if he’s guarding kobe, it’ll be january 22, 2006 all over again (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=260122013).
Jun.5 at 3:24 pm
Jukai says:
…. I am going to miss it =/
Jun.5 at 3:36 pm
Hursty says:
lets get it on. Lakers in 7.
Jun.5 at 3:50 pm
Jackie Moon says:
I didn’t even know the NBA was already in the Final round.
Jun.5 at 4:03 pm
nothin personal says:
F3ck the finals. If Portlaand can sign Calderon, it’s over.
Jun.5 at 4:04 pm
Co Co says:
Lakers in 5.
Jun.5 at 4:06 pm
H to the izzo says:
Celts in 7……maybe.
Jun.5 at 4:07 pm
People's Princess says:
Finals?? Already?? Are we done fellating the 80’s then????
Jun.5 at 4:08 pm
The Last Kings Fan says:
About time.
Lakers in six.
Jun.5 at 4:08 pm
blackjack says:
If the Celtics keep pounding it down low to KG and Perk there is nothing the Lakers can do to stop it. If KG stands out on the perimeter as usual it will be tough to win games. Celtics in 6.
Jun.5 at 4:08 pm
DP says:
nervous as hell. How will Kobe do? Will Lamar show up for the game? will the bench gang suffer on the road? Will Fisher’s shot go in tonight? Will Pau stop playing like Paula and will KG be his new master? Will Luke Walton shoot the damn ball? Will Vlad Rad hit a three? Will Ray Allen be Jesus or just regular Ray? Will Paul Pierce be unguardable? Will KG win the finals MVP? Will Kobe win in the Finals MVP. Will Jimmey Kimmel’s pre-show Finals show be good at all? Will…..I’m done, just nervous as hell.
Jun.5 at 4:09 pm
DP says:
Will KG just shoot jump shots?
Jun.5 at 4:12 pm
Hursty says:
DP- sent it. Did you get it? whats good PP.
Jun.5 at 4:13 pm
People's Princess says:
As a Laker fan,all I want is that Doc coaches by feel.That is all.
Jun.5 at 4:14 pm
Hursty says:
KG will get all emotional first game and do his screaming and $hit, Kobe and Fish will rally their team and Odom will either play outstanding or awful. Ray will hit a few open jumpers and there will be a hard foul to set the tone of the series in the first quarter.
Jun.5 at 4:15 pm
People's Princess says:
What up Hurst?? Gametime’s 5.30 a.m here.So I’m pullin an all-nighter.Callin sick to work tomo.What up down unda??
Jun.5 at 4:16 pm
Hursty says:
haha PP. I think Doc will be ok the first game then totally punished by Phil on game by game adjustments.
Jun.5 at 4:17 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
lakers in six but its not inconceivable that the celtics could win. i just feel like an extra motivated kobe is a bit much for anyone to handle. i fully expect him to have 2 40 point games in this series and to dominate the 4th quarters of all the games.
Jun.5 at 4:19 pm
Hursty says:
Aus. vs. USA vs. Russia in August, thats gonna be fu(king insane. Go Lakers.
not much. Might have to wag school to see the game.
Jun.5 at 4:20 pm
Hursty says:
Will he get all the foul calls like D-Wade now hes the MVP?
Jun.5 at 4:21 pm
Rico says:
@PP….the Doc always coaches by feel….it’s his natural killer instincts. He doesn’t have to think or plan, just react - straight Chuck Norris style.
Jun.5 at 4:21 pm
DP says:
yes sir, Hursty. We are in the game man. I got yo e-mail.
Jun.5 at 4:26 pm
People's Princess says:
Btw anyone catch the Kobe as Batman vid??
Jun.5 at 4:27 pm
tealish says:
Rooting against the Lakers, I hope Kobe gets his 40-point games. He’s not AI; 40 points don’t come with 10 dimes. When Kobe has 10 assists or more, the Lakers are actually unstoppable. There has to be a stat somewhere that can back that up…
And I sure hope Ray Allen shows up tonight.
Jun.5 at 4:28 pm
People's Princess says:
A head coach who doesn’t think or react.Yeah,that pretty much sums up Doc,Rico.
Jun.5 at 4:29 pm
People's Princess says:
*plan
Jun.5 at 4:31 pm
GDiesel says:
I’m gonna miss it. Stuck in Norway!
Jun.5 at 4:32 pm
Hursty says:
Go lakers. I say this purely because 1. Ray Allen is dope, 2. Eddie House played for the suns. 3. Pierce usually has battles with Gilbert Arenas. 4. My mate goes for the C’s which means I, morally cant support them. Thus, I go for the Lakers. Normally the Rockets though. 5. I dont need to make sense.
Jun.5 at 4:38 pm
Hursty says:
PP-hows the job going dude? also, does anyone watch b’ball in India?
Jun.5 at 4:39 pm
B. Long says:
It’s about time. Lakers in 5. Bet on it.
Jun.5 at 4:41 pm
People's Princess says:
Sucks hurst.Low pay,long hours,crappy food.The works.B’ball’s pretty low-key here,except in the 15-20 demographic,especially in the urban areas.Btw,Turiaf and Korver are comin down to India as part of NBA Cares.
Jun.5 at 4:43 pm
Co Co says:
Ya’ll better go to work and school!
Jun.5 at 4:45 pm
Hursty says:
Thats cool they coming down, Bogut dont even come to Aus so its kinda a let down. You playing over there?. Also, why the name PP?
Jun.5 at 4:47 pm
Hursty says:
I’ll go to school but im in the city so it shouldnt be too hard to find a place thats got espn.
Thanks for the guiding hand Co Co.
Jun.5 at 4:48 pm
warr says:
Which superstar will lead their team and which all star will step up. Got say it Kobe big game tonight but celtics win big tonight.
Jun.5 at 4:54 pm
Hursty says:
Lakers might steal game 1. Ok, peoples Im out have an awesome game 1.
Jun.5 at 4:55 pm
Rico says:
@Kobe will be the star to will their team to victories….Kobe doesn’t sleep, he waits…Kobe see things before they happen… Kobe goes to Burger King and orders a Big Mac, and gets one… Kobe CAN beleive it’s butter…
Jun.5 at 4:56 pm
Rico says:
See ya later Hursty
Jun.5 at 4:58 pm
Hursty says:
Rico- has anyone ever called you eccentric before?
Jun.5 at 4:59 pm
vtrobot says:
who knows what’s gonna happen. this will be fun. no one’s ever seen pierce, jesus, KG in the Finals and this should be interesting. i’m just excited to see a great Finals and am hoping the refs don’t F anything up.
Jun.5 at 5:07 pm
Rico says:
@Hursty…all 7 of my ex-wives
Jun.5 at 6:25 pm
Bigi says:
Kobe Bryant.
Jun.5 at 7:43 pm
Jackie Moon says:
Kobe Bean Bryant.
Jun.5 at 10:39 pm
Chukaz says:
Kobe is settling in the first half. He should have attacked the basket/post up instead of shooting all those fadeaways.
Jun.6 at 12:56 am
Bubba Chuck says:
BOSTON CELTICS!
Jun.6 at 1:15 am
Nashty says:
No way Kobe letting the Lakers lose this one…..Lakers in 6!
Jun.6 at 7:30 pm
Money Bill Williams says:
hurst. bogut built himself a massive stadium in melbourne with a full court, gym, pool & spa to train in the offseason. If i was him i would be there everyday aswell!