Daily Links - 2/6 (BSMW)

by Jeff Clark on Feb 6, 2009 9:51 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

We can blame the officials, who once again made a number of curious calls that influenced the outcome of a big NBA game, but really, the Celtics can only blame themselves for their 110-109 overtime defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers, who have now swept the season series from the defending champs. You also have to give the Lakers credit. They never backed down and turtled last night like they did in the finals last June.

Kevin Henkin has another series of rolling observations on the Celtics/Lakers tilt, live from the Garden.

Frank Dell’Apa says so much for home court advantage. Steve Bulpett has the heat from the Garden last night enough to warm a cold winter night. Jessica Camerato says that this wasn’t just another game. Robert Lee has the Lakers with plenty of swagger before and after last night’s game. Scott Souza looks at a reversal of fortune between the two clubs. Bill Doyle has the Lakers ending another long Boston winning streak. Lynn Worthy has Lamar Odom and the Lakers getting some revenge.

Bob Ryan wonders why a game of this magnitude was placed in the hands of third-tier officials. Mike Fine says that there will be no “Beat LA” for the Celtics this season. Couper Moorhead has things getting chippy between the two clubs last night. Paul Flannery says that the Lakers now have the edge in the matchups between the two teams. Bill Burt has a physical Pau Gasol proving to be the difference for the Lakers. Lenny Megliola says that this was a game worthy of the buzz.

Marc J. Spears has a flu-ridden Kevin Garnett sickened at the outcome and having to watch the end of the game after fouling out on an acting job by Derek Fisher. Steve Buckley has more from Garnett, who would welcome the chance to play the Lakers again. Jeff Howe has Phil Jackson still upset at the Celtics celebrations last June. Jennifer Toland has the Lakers making a “statement” with the victory. Gary Fitz says that it will be interesting to see how the Celtics respond to this loss.

Rich Thompson has Ray Allen being named an All Star replacement. Jeff Howe also has Allen joining KG and Pierce for the All Star game. Tim Weisberg has more on Allen’s honor. Lee has history repeating itself for Ray Allen. Jim Fenton also writes about Allen’s selection.

Get more stories and coverage, including from the LA papers, over at CelticsLinks.com.

The Globe notebook has Ray Allen heading back to the All Star Game. Bulpett’s notebook has Doc Rivers steamed over the officiating last night. Lee’s notebook has Brian Scalabrine with a target return date. Souza’s notebook has more on the All Star nod for Allen.

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It wasn't the refs

Was this game poorly officiated? Yes. I think Bob Ryan made a good point in his column this morning, why assign a second rate crew to such a big game? That said, and I am a die hard c’s fan obv, there were curious calls that went BOTH ways. I’m not sure that the Lakers didn’t get the worst of it, but it wasn’t particularly one sided at all.

The real problem was the play of Paul Pierce. He’s not been right for quite some time in my opinion. I have no idea what’s wrong with him but he’s not the guy we had last year. Did he play great D on Kobe toward the end of the game? Yes. Absolutely. But he also made some disturbingly stupid turnovers down the stretch. Offensively, he’s not as reliable as he was in the playoffs last year. I’m hoping that he’ll just ‘turn it on’ come May/June but that’s a dangerous game to play.

The Lakers are the better team right now. No question about it.

by lovethecees on Feb 6, 2009 10:16 AM EST reply actions

Laker’s made what statement? That they play better in reg. season games against the Celtics then in the playoffs? LOL Had to say it after reading the title of one of the links.

Lakers are not the better team based on a one point game with KG not even in the final moments of the game. No way.

by NoraG1 on Feb 6, 2009 10:22 AM EST reply actions

I’m not saying Celtics are better but to say Lakers are better no question is not correct imo.

by NoraG1 on Feb 6, 2009 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

it is not so much the calls that could conceivably go either way but were called in one teams favor to the chagrin of the other team; it is the call that is so obviously absurd, so inconceivable so as to defy all logic and reason, that it has the effect of dispiriting a player or team (or foul KG out of the game). It is the latter I have a problem with, and Lakers fans – those who continue to insist on participating on this blog in bad faith – will need to point to the utterly absurd call that was called in favor of the Celtics (I dont want to hear -oh, that should have been a block instead of a charge; I want to hear – remember that play when that Celtic tomahawk chopped the Laker’s arm and the Laker was called for the foul – something like that).

by jurrasicearl on Feb 6, 2009 11:00 AM EST reply actions

And the Lakers fans never complain? Why is it ok for the Lakers to complain during the finals because they did not have Bynum then? You also did not watch the game closely if you think Allen did not get fouled. This probably won’t last long because baiting Laker trolls are getting banned. You are clearly a troll.

by NoraG1 on Feb 6, 2009 11:28 AM EST reply actions

KG was out of the game on a bogu foul call. None of the fouls you can come up with could have a greater impact then that.

by NoraG1 on Feb 6, 2009 11:30 AM EST reply actions

ZLake – you are referring to no foul calls. Those dont count – they are a dime a dozen. I am still waiting for the utterly absurd call that was called against the Lakers. I am looking for something like – a Celtic butchers the ball away from the Lakers’ most valuable player, and when he fights to get the loose ball back, he is called for the foul and is out of the game – something like that.

by jurrasicearl on Feb 6, 2009 11:33 AM EST reply actions

See the problem with this though

Is that the Lakers didn’t have anyone with 5 fouls so there was no one to foul out of the game like that. I didn’t tape the game so I have no way of going back to see what happened again. All I can say is that there were numerous times during the game when I was outraged at the calls the Celtics got (see numerous Celtic hacks), and I thought the calls had been in the Celtics favor. Then in the endgame the Lakers got a couple of breaks (like the KG foul out) that made the game pretty even. I think there were quite a few bad calls on both sides.

by Brendan Scolari on Feb 6, 2009 12:38 PM EST up reply actions

How to defend your arguement the Laker’s got jobbed — by pointing out that none of your players ended up with 5 fouls..

by D Dub on Feb 6, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions

Huh?

by Brendan Scolari on Feb 7, 2009 1:32 AM EST up reply actions

Laker fans have used excuses before. Finals anyone? Enough said

by NoraG1 on Feb 6, 2009 12:46 PM EST reply actions

I also think had the Laker’s lost we would be hearing excuses as well, I have no doubt.

by NoraG1 on Feb 6, 2009 12:48 PM EST up reply actions

The fact that the Lakers fans complained is irrelevant. They’re absolute mulletheads and totally uneducated basketball fans in general. That’s not the standard we should hold ourselves up to.

I am not a troll, but the Celtics did not deserve to win last night. They are not as good as last year. Posey in the closing minutes DID make that big of a difference, as did PJ.

Bottom Line – The C’s are not as good as the Lakers right now.

by lovethecees on Feb 6, 2009 1:39 PM EST reply actions