Posted on 06/12/2008 10:21:02 PM PDT by Libertarian444
LOS ANGELES – After 72 hours of having the game’s showcase event consumed by talk of conspiracy, the Lakers brought another ugly word to the NBA Finals.
Collapse.
As Kobe Bryant and his LA teammates watched helplessly, the Celtics came from 20 points down in the third quarter to take an improbable, amazing 97-91 win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night at the Staples Center.
Boston leads 3-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 5 is Sunday night as the Celtics will have a chance to win the 17th championship in franchise history. For the Lakers, the task is now daunting. No team has ever rallied from a 3-1 hole to win in the Finals.
I live in Hollywood, and everyone here is quiet. Stunned.
As a Lakers fan, we deserved to lose. Period.
Dang, I forgot to watch the game today. Thanks for the ping.
:-)
Never fear Lakers fans, training camp for the next NBA season is only a month and a half away!
Red Auerbach has a lit cigar somewhere...
I turned that game off after it was like 24 to 6 a few minutes into the game. Bummer that I missed it.
I guess you didn’t read the articles of the last few days. The refs could still make sure the Lakers win.
PGA beats KB.... and I am happy! Three wins don’t mean anything though - you gotta win four!
John Kerry will take credit for this any moment now.
(”Lovey, are “Larry Havlicek” and “Bill Bird” still with
the team? They’re right up there with “Manny Ortez” of
the Red Sox!”)
I think I read somewhere the Celts have the Lakers playbook. Could be just a rumor but we are talking about a New England team here.
I am so sorry I missed the stunning end, went to bed thinking the Lakers had it in the bag, when I have heard the Celtics pulled off a win, I was suprised and happy. As a Celtics fan, this championship will bring glory back to Boston.
As a Connecticut Huskies fan, happy that a former Huskies player Ray Allen has helped Pierce and Garnett to pull this off.
Had watched the game until a little while into the 3rd quarter, not sure that the Celts could pull it off. Kick myself now.
Being a die-hard Big Green Machine guy for over fifty years, I should have known better.
:O(
I loved watching the celebrating Laker fans at the end of the 2nd quarter change to demoralized schlumps at the end.
LA folks have too much fun for their own good, anyway.
But, unless I’m deaf, the Fat Lady hasn’t sung yet!
What a difference this game made for each team. Could have been 2-2, a toss-up. Now it’s 3-1, and, IMHO, with the possibility of two home games, Boston now has a huge advantage. Go Celtics!
Kobe choke? Only 19 points? Game fixed?
I could not believe how that unfolded (NOR did an arena full of Laker fans). I am pretty neutral here, just enjoy the NBA games. Never had seen that type of surge except in Iraq
Sunday Night - what is your best guess-timate?
Connecticut Huskies?
Oooohhh.. I’m skeered!! Not.
If you really want to strike fear into people, call them Connecticut Accountants!
But you do get a Gold star for spelling Connecticut right!
Now try: Ski-Neck-tiddy!
(I lived in Albany for ten years...)
;-)
Simply amazing!
Too bad they didn't show all the Hollyweird actors long faces at the end.
“Kobe choke? Only 19 points?”
Make that 17 points. It was the biggest comeback in NBA history...or the biggest choke.
PGA were their usual fine selves, but Boston won because of the stellar bench production of Posey and House when it counted. The Lakers’ bench stunk, with a total of six points.
I'm from L.A., but I'm not attached to these Lakers. Gausson is a great add, but Kobe is too arrogant (but a great player). I'm pullin' for the Celts. Can't get Bird, Chief, McHale, Ainge or Red outta my brain. What a dynasty. May the best team win. I think this year it's the Celts.
Let’s not get too confident.The Yankees did that with the Red Sox a few years ago and look what it got them.
Jack Nichelson hung himself in the parking lot.
All of the yapping was would Kobe get as many rings a Michael.
The real question is will he ever get a ring without Shaq?
BTW: Do you think the basketball gods would let Phil beat Red’s championship record by beating the Celtics?
I don’t think so.
Ray Allen played for the UConn or Connecticut Huskies men’s team. At least twice in its history it has won two NCAA mem’s basketball championships, 1999 and 2004. UConn has given to both the NBA and WNBA a number of talented players. Ray Allen is one of them. :)
ESPN this morning must be eating humble pie for breakfeast because they were from the time just before the start of the Finals, when they just about crowned the Lakers even before the first basket of game 1 was made to be the champs. I stuck to my position that it would be the Celtics. I could end up being right. Plus it seems Kobe carries too much of the burden of the team unto him. That hurts the Lakers bigtime.
I second it!
CT has given to the NBA 13 players. Ray Allen is in his 12th year for the NBA.
I pretty much quit watching the games in the eraly 90’s. The Bias death ended the Celtics as a dynasty and having Reggie Lewis die was just plain sad. The game devolved into ghetto ball and thung life. The Celtics had a great fan base and rewarded that loyalty with bad drafts and bad management.
I cannot get attached to this team since it was assembled in the offseason and even had a few parts added. That said I like the fact that the lunchpail guys are making a huge impact on the playoffs. Powe taking it straight down the floor for a power jam in game 2 was priceless.
Kobe Bryant is an amazing talent but he will never, ever by MJ.
Celtic fans rejoice..
I just hope in a few years we don’t hear that another NBA official had tainted the outcome of this chapionship too. After that scandal, the Pats deal, the gambling scandal in the NHL and roids in MLB, professional sports are becoming unwatchable.
Just remember that with better managment, a great trade last year, we have seen the creation of what would become the Boston trio of the “PGA”, Pierce, Garnett, and Allen.
Second it.
This is a rare breath of fresh air. Used to be a BIG pro sports fan, but with all these scandels, I have become more of an NCAA college sports fan. At least they go by their rules books.
It’ll be interesting to see if the Lakers show up mentally for Game 5.
To borrow a Hollywood phrase for a moment, the back story of this series is intriguing.
First you have Jackson trying to beat Auerbach’s coaching record, by trying to beat the Celtics. Kurt Rambis is an Assistant Coach, he was a member of the Lakers team that engaged in the Boston Massacre, back at the original garden which severely demoralized Celtics fans worldwide...The Celtics are GM’d by Danny Ainge, a member of that last great Celtics Team...
Paul Pierce is from LA, grew up a die hard Laker fan and hated the Celtics. He played for a high school whose colors were— you guessed...Green and White...and has said multiple times that he hated donning that uniform.
The Celts are also coached by Doc Rivers...who as a Hawk, was defeated in the Eastern Conf Finals by the Celtics, in the early 80’s. He was, also, I believe a member of the Knicks, back 14 years ago when they were in the finals, the same finals that were interrupted by the OJ Simpson chase....which took place on the freeways of Los Angeles...
None of this means anything...its just interesting synergy...
That is an interesting question, will the Lakers Sunday come to the game mentally knowing THEIR BACKS are up against the walls of the Staples Center, will the fans?
I can’t begin to express how happy I am about what this really represents...the end of basketball season!
Funny, I was thinking that last night's comeback/choke ranks up there with the '04 LCS. I was waiting to see if they showed Nicholson's face at the end of the game, but maybe the Joker beat feet to avoid the anguish.
I'm now REALLY annoyed that the Pats secondary choked in the last minute of SB 42. Had they played to normal, Boston could be staring at an unprecented Triple Crown in a week or so.
With any luck, in November the press will make it 2 for 2 in early predictions!
Let’s not forget about Game 2 when the Lakers managed to close a 23 point lead down to 2 in the last minute or so. They hit 3 pointer after 3 pointer to do it which is why they also didn’t get to the foul line as much.
That’s two games with huge late comebacks.
I think the Celtics are a better roster than the Lakers but not by much and they have been known to take games off or go into funks. Neither of these teams would beat the mid-80s versions of one another either.
That game had to be fixed. We all know how great Kobe is, supposed heir to MJ, how can he throw down a lackluster 17 points in such a big game? MJ would’ve never let something like that happen. Wonder how much the payoff was?
The Democrats are still claiming that the Lakers routed the Celtics.
I almost turned it off when they were down 20 in the 3rd. I was FReeping at the same time on my laptop (so, what else is new?), and was sorely tempted to shut it down. I’m very glad I didn’t - it was the greatest comeback I’ve seen in a long time.
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