[Tyreke JohnsonParticipant]

Let me just say I am a Kobe/Lakers fan and I really want him to get his 5th ring this season. After watching tonight’s game I couldn’t help but think if the Celtics go up 3-2 in this series do the Lakers still have a chance? Well they did go up 3-2 and the next two games are in LA. Now other then Kobe and Gasol nobody has really produced consistently for the Lakers (yes I know Pau was awful tonight). It seems the Celtics every night have something whether it is Rondo’s triple double, the bench doing well or Ray Allen hitting eight threes, they always have someone or something doing something to put them on top. Tonight all the Celtics starters except for Perkins were in double figures, they outplayed the Lakers in almost every aspect of the game and Kobe almost put up 40 and the Lakers lost anyway. It is like the 2008 Finals all over again except now Rondo is even better. I have just really studied the loses for the Lakers and now that they are down 3-2 I wonder, is there anything left they can do? Can they actually beat Boston twice in a row? I am very optimistic but I can’t help but ask.

[ZeroParticipant]

They can, but that’s only if Kobe’s teammates show up. The Celtics get a lot of momentum going into game 6 winning the last 2 and I think the Celtics will win.

[HotSnotParticipant]

If the lakers stop flopping all the time and trying to manipulate the refs… and they get back to focusing on making real basketball plays, they still have a good chance to get 2 wins at home. Bynums injury is hurting them but I’m not seeing nearly as many team plays out of the lakers as I am out of the boston celtics. Its really odd because the Lakers run the triangle, an offense designed to get effective shots.

With that said… Boston wins the series, likely in six.

[NYK2010Participant]

Bynum is basically done, he had 2 days off and he comes out with 1 reb in 31 mins.

If the Lakers were smart they’d foul Rondo some becaz his free throw shooting is awful rite now.
Need to attack his weaknesses instead they never foul him off the ball either, Van Gundy mentioned the Hack a Rondo.

Lakers need to have Kobe slow down Pierce or Rondo significantly, rite now I’d say it would be easier to slow down Pierce since stopping Rondo off the dribble is extremely tough. Phil Jax maybe should play Vujacic some on Ray Allen go with 3 guards since Ron Artest isn’t doing much on offense and Pierce is figuring out his D too. Odom needs more minutes and plays run for him as does Gasol obviously.
Time to use Kobe as a passer and why don’t they play Josh Powell a few mins at least he’s a decent jump shooter.

I liked the Celtics to win the series in 6 and am sticking with that prediction.
Especially now when KG and Pierce have been playing better and Rivers has come to realize that Nate Robinson is an asset off the bench. He should actually get more mins he’s a play maker and can score on offense by driving the ball and is an underrated shooter.

[Tyreke JohnsonParticipant]

Yea I just really want the Lakers to force a game seven, it could be interesting. I want the Lakers to step it up but if they haven’t yet already I am not sure they even can now. Boston has played extremely well and I give them a lot of credit but other then Ray Allen I cannot stand any of the Celtics.

[memphisgriz731Participant]

The way I see it the Celtics need to close this thing out in 6. If it goes to 7 i think the Lakers win because of 2 things:

1. Homecourt Advantage – the Lakers play very well at home and can you imagine a game 7 at Staples Center? CRAZY! it would be a huge advantage for the Lakers

2. Kobe – he is the best closer in the game today. i dont care who you put on him he will get his no matter what. if you try to double team him late he can find teammates

i’ve been for the celtics this whole series but if they dont win in 6 i think they’re in serious trouble

[stanford hoops]

laker fan as well and as much as i like how kobe scored alot that hurt the lakers in away. when hes shooting that much the other lakers get iced out and stand around. we were down 4 when he had about 5 points int he second quarter but in the third when he had 19 we were down 10. other players cant step up on offense when they arent getting the ball. you see how boston passes the ball around and tries to find the open man just like the lakers did in game one or in the utah series. thats how they are gonna win by running the offense. i dont like how kobe seems to disappear early in the fourth quarter every game. thats when he should be scoring all those points. we give it to gasol he scores twice then he doesnt see the ball for a quarter…why is that?..if you have the best big man int he game dont you get him the ball more then that?…we should be working inside out not outside in. id also like kobe to post more and go to the whole more not settle for jumpers because when those jumpers come off long then boston is out on the fast break which isnt good for bynum or the lakers since we cant seem to run back on defense

[Tyreke JohnsonParticipant]

Your right with all the points you made, I really think Odom and Artest need to step up too, Odom cannot keep settling for threes and Artest needs to do the same, Odom is more effective when he is effective on the glass and attacking the basket while Artest needs to get easy shots to get rhythm before he starts hitting more then one three, they are not playing well with the offense, and Kobe does need to let his teammates establish themselves in the game before he starts shooting the ball all the time, he makes them but when it comes down to other players down the stretch scoring, they really can’t because they haven’t been in a rhythm nor shooting the ball. When Artest has those two foul shots those were his first pair of the game, you can’t have your first foul shots in the fourth quarter as a player especially against the Celtics. We need Bynum to play more too, him missing Game 4 and not being a major factor in Games 3 or Game 5 really has hurt the Lakers.

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