Since 1985, when a finals series is tied 1-1 heading into game #3, the winner of game 3 has wound ended up winning the Championship 10 out of 10 times.

[This message has been edited by Gradin (edited 6/8/2010 1:38p).]

Past "in this scenario" statistics are fairly meaningless to me.

More important is the fact that 1) LA has no answer for Rajon Rondo, 2) Boston has better interior defense, 3) Ray Allen porked Kobe's mom or something and 4) Boston has more of an offensive identity.

Boston has come together at just the right time and is playing better ball. I expect them to win game #3 and win the series.

1.) No
2.) No
3.) No
4.) No

What you meant to say : Ray Allen got unbelievably hot and No Way that happens again. If that didn't happen LA is up 2-0.

LA wins tonight and the series in 6.

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What you meant to say : Ray Allen got unbelievably hot and No Way that happens again. If that didn't happen LA is up 2-0.

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Are you sure he just got "hot"? LA's point guards were having to chase him around screens rather than having a true 2 do it. He got A LOT of open looks he normally doesn't.

So if you are the Lakers, are you going to have Kobe move to take Allen in game 3, preventing as many looks for Allen but at the same time most likely making Kobe more tired and allowing Rondo to face one of your mediocre PG's?

Ray Allen scored like 5 points in the 2nd half. Just like he's not going to go 7-7 from range in game 3, Paul Pierce isn't going to go 2-11 and KG isn't going to be shackled to the pine with fouls.

C's won game 2 because they stepped up when they needed to in the final 5 minutes (on the road) while the Lakers dropped a deuce.

1. Rondo is basically unstoppable as a player. Don't confuse that with being unstoppable as a scorer.

2. Celtics have better inside defense based solely on depth. Bynum is the best post defender in the series, but after him and Gasol the Lakers have nothing while the C's are 4 deep (5 if you want to count Sheldon the Alien).

3. Kobe is Kobe. Nobody gets in his head, not even Chris Rock.

4. Rondo is what gives the C's the advantage here. Lakers don't have any facilitator that can be mentioned in the same breath.

what's the line on tonight's game?

C's -2.5?

Yes...2.5. The Lakers are still favorites to win the series as well.

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Are you sure he just got "hot"?

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YES. I believe setting a new NBA Finals record for 3-pointers in a game justifies this...



[This message has been edited by AgLandMan (edited 6/8/2010 6:45p).]

Ray Allen has been up and down all playoffs. He's scored 25 or more 5 times including Sunday & 9 or less 5 times.

He was hot all series against Miami, but they were a bad team.

He was hot in 1 game in each of the Cleveland & Orlando series & had 1 game of 25 or more in each as well.

He's been that way most of the year. He scored 20 or more 21 times & 10 or less 18 times.

It's pretty reasonable to assume that was his one game for this series.

Sunday was also the 7th time this post-season that Pierce has made 4 or less FG's in a game as well, so Sunday wasn't really that big of an anomaly for him either. He scored 14 or less in 5 games against Cleveland alone.

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What Barrett said

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As far as I'm concerned that is why the Celtics are in the Finals.

They don't force any one person to be a hero every game. Whoever is popping in a particular game, that's what they stick with. They execute in the half-court, they execute on the break, and they play defense. The model works for them, as evidenced by the fact that they beat two of the best teams in the NBA as the road team in consecutive 7 game series.

Individuals on a team like the Celtics can have games where their scoring is absent as long as 1)someone else steps up and, 2)each person plays defense.

Wow, what do you know Allen goes 0-8 from 3 & Pierce has yet another insignificant game in these playoffs. What a complete shocker!

The problem for the Celtics is beating the Lakers is a whole other problem than Cleveland & Orlando. They can't count on getting a big game from just 1 of the "3" each game and winning the series. They are ****ed unless at least 2 of them play well.

Hell, Fisher kicked Rondo's arse down the stretch. That was funny.

If you didn't hate Fisher already.....Crying after game three with a series that's 2-1? What a tool.


[This message has been edited by ItalAggie (edited 6/8/2010 10:56p).]

Uncalled for. The guy has been out-talented in every round and is the weak link in the lineup yet he was the key guy in an incredibly important game. You need to learn to respect how hard many of these players work and how much the whole thing truly means to them.

Will the Lakers make it 11 out of 11?

Derek Fisher a weak link? You're kidding me right? He's probably LA's most consistent player if you take both ends of the court into account. He's solid game after game after game.

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You need to learn to respect how hard many of these players work and how much the whole thing truly means to them.

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Give me a break. Sure they love the game, but to cry after a game three when you put up 16. The series is far from over and he's already starting with the water works.

By weak link I mean would you rather have him over Westbrook, Deron Williams, Nash, or Rondo? Hell no.

The guy takes a beating in the media in every game in which he DOESN'T do what he did last night. Last night was an enormous game considering the circumstances and he delivered when his team needed it most. It SHOULD mean a ton to him. Calling him out for being incredibly passionate about his job is a ***** move.

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By weak link I mean would you rather have him over Westbrook, Deron Williams, Nash, or Rondo? Hell no.

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This is an NBA franchise, not an all-star team. Fisher is one of the greatest role players EVER.

Sorry, I'm going to make fun of a guy if I don't like him. It's sports, don't take it personal, guy.

[This message has been edited by ItalAggie (edited 6/9/2010 6:25p).]

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I really don't understand how anybody thinks the Celtics can win this series.

Lakers in 6.

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I guess Paul Pierce, Rondo and Kobe didn't get the memo. C's in 6!