Weird game and weirder ending. Especially after Odom blew the layup. I mean if he makes the foul shots, go for a end-to-end 3 pointer then see what happens. If he misses, game on.

Certainly does nothing for the "NBA is fixed" arguments.

Besides not fouling, not double-teaming Kobe was an odd decision the Celtics made. I think they can only be upset with themselves and know they easily could have taken that game.

Both teams were horrible. Here's Mark Heisler in today's LA Times:

QUOTE:
On the bright side for the NBA, if it got through this night with this series still going and ABC hasn't canceled the contract, there's still hope.

How bad was it?

Veteran NBA writers -- Jack McCallum of Sports Illustrated and I -- ruled it the worst NBA Finals game in history.

However, McCallum did think there may have been some others that were close.

"Those games last spring between the Cavaliers and the Spurs weren't any classics," he said. "Of course, I don't remember much of what went on."

This was like a 100-yard dash between two caterpillars.

I'm compiling a list as we speak, so if anyone's interested email me (as this PM thing here is quite dodgy, if not completely dodged.)
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Must have been quite a game.
Anybody seen it?

Congrats, Kurt. The Celtics are a much better team than the guys that could barely get past the Hawks and the Cavs. They got slapped around, and they didn't give up. Wish I could say the same for the Lakers.

I've never been as devastated after a loss as I was last night and still am this morning. I feel like I've been kicked in the gut. To have the biggest lead after the first quarter in Finals history, to blow it all on your home court...nice work, guys. That's really an accomplishment that will be talked about for ages.

My head tells me that at the start of the season, Kobe wanted out, the Lakers had Kwame Brown starting at center, and hardly anyone expected the team to make the playoffs. I should be ecstatic with what they did. But that doesn't mean that I still don't feel like my heart's been broken.

What game ? Seen what ?

What game ? Seen what ? What is this "basketball" ?

I will not congratulate the Celtics, I will not congratulate the city of Boston, I will congratulate adebi and Vernon Pools (for dealing with 6-7 years worth of taunts from yours truly,) and I will congratulate Kevin Garnett. I just wish he could've done it with the T-Wolves.

And thankfully I have a Kansas Paul Pierce jersey that I have up for auction, that I bought for $5 and is already up to $16.75 on eBay.

Not much else to say, other than never, EVER trust "Lakers in 5" predictions.

I stayed away from this thread - mainly because I am real busy with fiscal year end - plus I didn't want to shout my mouth off and Jinx the Celtics. But here we go.





and to everyone who thinks Kobe Bryant is really the League MVP - when we all know it was Kevin Garnett - here's one for you.



I can't believe so many of the media were picking the Lakers to win. The Celtics had the best Record in 2007/8 - the swept the Texas roadtrip, unheard of in the modern NBA, they beat the Lakers twice in the regular season including pissing on them in LA. I guess they needed to piss all over the Lakers last night to prove that they ARE the best team in the NBA now. And last night was a true piss take. Where was Kobe last night ? Who cares !

What a time to be living in BOSTON. SPORTS CAPITAL OF THE USA.

I am quietly enjoying all this and awaiting a well formulated reaction by our resident Anti Boston Commando.

[Polite applause for Boston]

I wrote a huge post that was eaten. Basically, how does the rest of the league respond? Go all defense? Rush to find their stat geniuses like the Celtics have in Mike Zarren? What happens to the Celtics? Are the Big 3 going to stay together for more than one more season, or now that they have their rings, do KG and Allen lose their drive? The Lakers? Is Odom gone? Do they go out and get a scorer to take some pressure off of Kobe, or a defender since they sure as hell couldn't do that, or do they assume that a healthy Andrew Bynum takes care of the latter and allows others to solve the former?

Is Kevin McHale going to get a ring for his part in the title?

I somehow knew that Vernons would find a way to show up after not posting at all during the playoffs. Your prediction came true, I have egg on my face.

You wear egg well, Inca.

Inca wrote:

QUOTE:

Is Kevin McHale going to get a ring for his part in the title?

I somehow knew that Vernons would find a way to show up after not posting at all during the playoffs. Your prediction came true, I have egg on my face.

Sorry Inca you bear your dissapointment well. I basically have not been reading OTF for at least 4 weeks maybe more. It's Fiscal Year end - and I am swamped and must not let myself be distracted - excepting today. So, this post today makes me look like a bandwaggoner, I can see that. Except I said the Celtics could or would ? win it all back in November. In fact I collected a bet today (via PayPal) that I made with a friend back in October when I was in LA (you and I didn't meet up during those Santa Ana's) - up at the speedway in Victorville. I bet him $50 that the Sox would beat the Angels and win the Series and that the Celtics would win the title. I also wanted to have the Patriots in the bet for $100 but he agreed that the Pats would win - so we excluded them - lucky for me.

As I walked past City Hall this morning there was a long line of people waiting to buy t-shirts fromn all the vendors who had set up stalls all over the place. Lots of people wearing new t-shirts over their work gear this morning on the 'T'. As I said - it's a(nother) great day to be a Boston sports fan. And as I have lived here since 1988 - I count myself a local. Now if only the Bruins could jettison the current ownership and get someone in here willing to spend a few bucks on somone who could lead them beyond round 1 of the playoffs.... and did I mention that Boston College won the NCAA Hockey Championship this year ?

QUOTE:
And as I have lived here since 1988 - I count myself a local.

Congrats on seeing your first Celtics title. I'm sure everyone else that's lived in Boston longer have forgotten what one feels like.