Hello, WORLD!!!! Well after tonight, NBA fans wont have to much to look forward to, unless you're really interested in the NBA Draft next week (well, I know I gotta pay attention to it to get MY NBA fix!) but other than that, this has been a HELL of an NBA season and the NBA Finals hasn't been much different. Here are a few observations I had and a few predications I have on the Finals so far and the conluding Game 7 tonight:
*There has not been 1 game in the whole series up to this point that the Boston CELTICS Big 3 (or Big 4 if you count Rondo which is almost mandatory now) have ALL came to play at there best. Earlier in the series KG struggled but has since steadily improved except for that last outing in Game 6. Ray Allen, aka Mr Shuttlesworth (act like you dont know!), played peek-a-boo with a now you don't see me in Game 1, now you see me with his record setting performance in Game 2, then the disappearing act again in game 3. Since that time Ray has not been as spectacular as he was but then again he did hit a few big shots. Paul Pierce though would have to be the biggest disappointment, having had bad games the first 3 games and showing up looking like the same guy that took MVP of the '08 Championship series for games 3 & 4. Game 5, not so much...
*I didn't mention Rondo up in the first observation because he has played with the most intensity of all the CELTICS. As far as I'm concerned, IF the CELTICS win the Championship, he should win his first finals MVP even though it would actually be his second. I think Pierce would not have won the MVP that first time if not for his memorable return to the court in Walt Frasier fashion performance in that first game.
*The most surprising out of the CELTICS team has been the bench, in particular Nate Robinson. I am really impressed with the energy and the grit he has provided in each of his stints on the floor. Tony Allen gets an honorable S/O too (What Up CHICAGO!).
*Kobe has NOT been close to his usual greatness, but that never stops him from putting up numbers. I will say this, if he scores more than 40 points today, the LAKERS are not gonna repeat. If he can get his teammates involved.....
*3 of the biggest differences of this whole series versus the series in '08 actually favor the LAKERS:
1)KG is no longer an intimidating force that Gasol couldn't deal with. Gasol was green in the Playoffs, not mention he made it to the big stage w/a lil case of stage fright. He's more confident and not scared of KG anymore.
2)I seriously believe that it could have been a whole different outcome to the series in '08 HAD ANDREW BYNUM played! It shows in his performance in last year's & this year's Finals.
3)Ron Artest. Hands down, besides being able to put up numbers if he wants to, he is the Lakers best defender and probably one of the toughest players in the league, PERIOD. I was mad when my BULLS traded him just for that fact. Well, I guess it was the fact that he could be a lil off, at least he was when he was working at Walmart AT THE SAME TIME HE PLAYED FOR THE BULLS!!! Apparently, Phil Jackson can work miracles.
Bottom line: LAKERS will when if Kobe gets EVERYBODY involved. CELTICS will when if @ least 2 of the big 4 show up AND they contain everybody but Kobe. Sidenote:KENDRIK PERKINS is NOT playing and that could be a factor...but I doubt it. Well time to go watch the game. Who yall got anyway?
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