A Worthy Rival
by Jeff Clark on Jun 15, 2009 7:02 AM EDT
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It pains me to say this, but what can you do but tip your hat to them? The Lakers have almost as many championships as the Celtics. Phil now has more titles than Red (albeit with 2 teams). Kobe now has to be considered among the best ever. Since the 80's ended, the Lakers have maintained their dominance better than the Celtics have. They are a worthy rival.
I'll say this though: It makes our crushing victory over them last year that much more sweet. It makes me want the next title that much more. And really that's what rivals are for. I hate the Lakers but I have to respect them. See you next year.
Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.!
Update: In somewhat related news, the Shaq to Cleveland rumors are heating up.
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I think
The CELTICS will be Hungrier than Last year and the Drive for 18 begins
by Pipboy on Jun 15, 2009 7:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Congrats to the Lakers
As much as it hurts me to see Vujabrick (didn’t score a single point in the Finals), Gasol, Bynum and other becoming champions, I must give credit to this Lakers team. They responded when they had to and their performance in game 5 last night was impressive, they took the life off the Magic on their own floor.
I was disappointed to see the Magic season end that way but Kobe, Fisher, Ariza and Odom deserve this title, congrats to them.
Now I can’t wait to see a healthy Celtics team win #18 next year. :
by Drucci on Jun 15, 2009 7:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
lakers got lucky they didn't have to
face a healthy celtics team in the finals
by celticinorlando on Jun 15, 2009 8:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
lucky Lakers but respect to Kobe
Yeah with Kobe they finally have improved their defense and his leadership has grown up over the years but thats not enough for the celts – we hopefully see them next year and will be prepared for them (if there are no injuries – this is why we should pray)
I asked god and he said: L.A. will lose again next year!! ^_°
by greenmech on Jun 15, 2009 8:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
lakers have a lot of
guys that could be gone…odom, ariza…fischer is old…and it is always harder to repeat….i don’t think they win the west next season
by celticinorlando on Jun 15, 2009 8:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
take it from a laker fan ...
there’s nothing more that i want than to face the C’s again in the Finals. I was hoping y’all would make it this year, but it didn’t work out … the best we could do was beat the team that beat you. Not the same …
PS, KG may have been injured this year, but Ariza and Bynum were injured for us last year, and we still made it to the Finals. Ariza would have been a much better defender against Pierce and it could have changed the series. No excuses with KG, please. Even without Bynum for one of the games in the regular season, we beat you twice. Hopefully, each team will be 100% next year so we don’t have to do “what if?” stuff.
PPS, did it piss you guys off when Orlando took the “Beat LA” chant? From my point of view, only the C’s (and maybe Portland since they’re a conference rival) can use that!
by ATLakers on Jun 15, 2009 8:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
nope
we love when other people use the Beat LA chant, especially since we originally got it from the Philly fans
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
by Jeff Clark on Jun 15, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are you comparing KG...
… to last year’s Ariza and Bynum?
From my perspective, the Powe injury is the equivalent of the Ariza injury last season, maybe. However, KG getting hurt had a much, much, much larger impact than losing Andrew Bynum did for you guys last year, especially when you were able to acquire Pau Gasol without losing anybody of value.
All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino
by Roy_Hobbs on Jun 15, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Name the most important player in the Lakers? Do you think the Lakers can do what the Celtics have done this season without him?
by 33-32-00 on Jun 15, 2009 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the Lakers would have been fine without Adam Morrison…
….
by ATLakers on Jun 15, 2009 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bah, hum bug...
The Magic choked. The Lakers stink!
All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino
by Roy_Hobbs on Jun 15, 2009 8:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Congrats to the Lakers for being so LUCKY!
—KG gets injured
—Powe gets injured
—McGrady gets injured
—Houston upsets Portland to benefit Lakers
—Yao Ming gets injured against Lakers
—Cavs upset by Orlando
—Non goal-tending call against Gasol at end of Game 2 vs. Magic
by Title 18 on Jun 15, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
everything fell into place for LA
with that said, the same could be said for us last year (good health, great chemistry, etc.)
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
by Jeff Clark on Jun 15, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
another take on the same story
by lakersbluedevil on Jun 15, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
bad choice of article
no one around these parts cares what John Hollinger thinks about anything.
by threats13 on Jun 15, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you just lost all cred bring
anything here by hollinger
by celticinorlando on Jun 15, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
kobe had a great year and gets his place in the pantheon. from the olympics on. the lakers with buss will always spend the money to make them good. wyc has to know that just like the red sox owners know to spend money for talent. phil breaks red’s win record but is not close to red in anything. it’s a different era. barry bonds has the most homers but never was a babe ruth.
by nazzbo on Jun 15, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...
Kobe has performed like a superstar in 20% of the Finals he has appeared in. Kudos to him.
All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino
by Roy_Hobbs on Jun 15, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
by Jeff Clark on Jun 15, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Terrible numbers
2000
36.7% FGA, 15.6 PPG, 4.2 APG
2001
41.5% FGA, 24.6 PPG, 5.8 APG
2002
51.4% FGA, 26.8 PPG, 5.3 APG
2004
38.1% FGA, 22.6 PPG, 4.4 APG
2008
40.5% FGA, 25.7 PPG, 5.0 APG
2009
43.0% FGA, 32.4 PPG, 7.4 APG
by Prozac Efron on Jun 15, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
and he's won more championships...
than the Celtics have in the past 30 years. I guess he must be doing something right.
by Blizzard on Jun 15, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can’t congratulate a team in which Sasha holds a roster spot. Sorry. Hope this drives the Celtics to dominate next year.
by BOSPORTS on Jun 15, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Congrats to the Lakers
Sure, they had some luck (calls that went their way, key injuries on other teams, etc.) but I think every Finals team needs some luck along with good team play.
Kobe was unreal in spots. The rest of the team showed up occasionally.
by LuckyNumber07 on Jun 15, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Has to be kind of...
A hollow victory for the Lakers, knowing they didn’t play the best team available out of the east.
by Tradetime on Jun 15, 2009 3:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
They'll take it...
cause Kobe knows he wouldn’t beat a healthy Boston team.
by Rebounder on Jun 15, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kobe was asked post-game if he would "guarantee" next year's title...
…a la “shaq. pat riley, etc”… and you could see Chuck Barkley mouthing “KG” at kobe as he was asked…
After looking uncomfortable for a moment, Kobe said “nah, that aint me, hey it was tough for us to get out of the west this year” and everybody laughed…
I think he knows We’re coming back next year…
by jyrecelts on Jun 16, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think the Lakers would have won this year
without last year’s beating suffered at the hands of Boston serving as sufficient motivation. That was a huge factor.
If Boston just squeaks by last year, instead of dominating Lakers, would the Lakers have come out intent on improving themselves and driven to redeem themselves?
"I've hacked into your brain. You're throwing a party and no one's showing up."
by ignign*kt on Jun 15, 2009 5:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No. Which is why that huge margin of victory was a blessing in disguise. Thanks!
PS — way to lose in the 2nd round this year. Lakers were rebuilding last year and made it to the finals.
by ATLakers on Jun 15, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Luck was on your side..
Lakers didn’t really beat the Magic, Magic beat themselves. This could easily have been 3-1 up for the Magic, if no goaltending/missed lay up what ever on game 2, and howard getting at least one free throw on the time where they were leading by 3 and getting the defensive job done with fisher on game 4. Not really a dominating performance like they had last year before getting into the NBA finals..
Oh.. and Gasol should have been the finals MVP..
by thatswhatshesaid23 on Jun 16, 2009 6:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Keep drinking your hater-ade Boston.......
Lakers did what they were supposed to do. And they played the best team from the East because it’s not a single elimination game like in March Madness college. Best of 7 guarantees the better team will win. Lakers handled business. Keep hanging on to the “we have more championships” than you debate. Cuz you ain’t gonna have it for long.
by pharoah on Jun 28, 2009 8:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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