Suddenly-Tough Lakers Leave Celtics Crying Foul
NBA February 6th. 2009, 12:00pm
So maybe the Lakers are tough after all?
The third quarter was chippy and fun. Doc Rivers said the refs lost control – we’d say the Lakers didn’t feel like getting pushed around on the road. Kobe’s not taking junk from Rondo; Lamar Odom (20 points) isn’t backing down from KG (who fouled out in the fourth, right before Kobe went nuts from deep). The result: a rather exciting 110-109 overtime win to sweep the season series.
Oh, and Boston’s 12-game winning streak was snapped. LA ended Boston’s 19-game winning streak on Christmas Day. Not surprisingly, the Boston media is blaming the refs – bloggers, too! – but that’s a weak cop-out.
Total fouls: Lakers 24, Boston 28.
125 Responses to “Suddenly-Tough Lakers Leave Celtics Crying Foul”
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February 6th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Good thing the Lakers got the “W” in Boston, because they’re getting an ass-whipping in Cleveland on Sunday.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Don’t you know that the only reason the celtics ever lose is because of the refs?!?!?!? EVAR!!
February 6th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I don’t know about the rest of you guys but I would love a BJ from that lady who had those octuplets.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Tampa: Agreed.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
The 6th foul on KG was pretty ridiculous. I thought they called a foul on the other guy at first.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
The refs “lost control” because that dickface KG was being a moron and getting up in people faces for no reason, and now Perkins is starting to do the same thing.
Kobe really showed me something in overtime.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Amazing how fast my feelings toward the Celtics changed, I went from feeling bad for them before all the trades, to hating them now. Meh, falls in line with my feelings for the rest of the New England teams.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Didn’t Pierce get FTs to take the lead with like 20 seconds left in regulation? I seem to remember this while trying not stare at the girl in front of me at the gym
February 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
KG foul call was weak but all in all, a good regular-season win for the Lakers. Those three’s Kobe hit were daggers. Nice Pierce-Kobe defensive battles at end of regulation and through OT.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
DJ Augustin [a ROOKIE, for the BOBCATS,(and a former Longhorn, but this comment isn't about me being a homer)] gave a quote after they beat the celtics saying something about (paraphrasing here) how the celtics put on this tough front, all the chest-beating and screaming, but if you get physical and step up to them, they’ll back down.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
he and fisher were jostling and then KG blatantly shoved fisher and took the ball.
i believe he went 1-for-2 with like 17 seconds left in a tie game. odom then hit 2, ballgame
February 6th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Definitely a good win for the lakers. Kobe was hitting threes with Pierce’s hand in his face.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
DJ Augustin is full of ish. I don’t think the C’s have to prove their toughness to a Bobcat player. They proved it where it counts… In the NBA Playoffs.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
why did they have kobe guarding rondo most of overtime and luke “lockdown” walton on pp. I am guessing so that kobe can double or something but it just seemed strange.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
“he and fisher were jostling and then KG blatantly shoved fisher and took the ball.”
/after Gasol blatantly slapped KG’s arm to get the ball loose. That’s a case where the refs just gotta let it go.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
So who needs sunday’s game more, celtics or spurs?
February 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
great game last night. Kobe was $$$ in the 4th
February 6th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
“So who needs sunday’s game more, celtics or spurs?”
Neither. They are both fine. It’s February.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
@ walfredo: So I shouldn’t feel bad if I miss it?
February 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
oh my isla fisher
wow
http://jezebel.com/5147995/letterman-intrigued-by-isla-fishers-crotch-shot
February 6th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
yup, celtics proved the toughness last year when it won the title.
cavs take it this year.
and my favorite CNBC chick is back today!
February 6th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Good thing the Lakers got the “W†in Boston, because they’re getting an ass-whipping in Cleveland on Sunday
an ass-whipping? i doubt that
February 6th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
LBL: Sure, I suppose. It should be an entertaining game, but again the Spurs don’t strike me as a team too overly concerned about playoff seeding, and I guess the C’s need to keep pace w/ Cavs and lakers for seeding/homecourt, but again I don’t think ethier team NEEDS it.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
cavs take it this year
I’ll take that bet
February 6th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
“I’ll take that bet”
Who ya got Irish?
February 6th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Love that photo of Kobe’s finger in geyh-looking Rondo’s face. Did anyone read Rondo’s lips? “Man fuck you (derogatory term for a black person). Fuck you.”
February 6th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
It’s always the quiet ones. Spurs.
/ NOW I’m being a homer
February 6th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I actually thought that neither team played particularly well last night. However, the last 6 minutes of the 4th and overtime were pretty badass. I would still take the Celtics in a 7 game series though. If Bynam comes back (which I wouldn’t bet on) maybe the Lakers would take a slight advantage but I still think Boston is a more complete team.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
If he said that, Rondo’s even more the man.
/Should be on the All-Star team ahead of Ray
February 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Kobe was on Rondo, but also allowed him to roam around like a free safety. For some reason, they kept leaving House open for big threes.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
both those teams suck…boston’s still better tho. they both just sucked ass last night.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Come on Spencer, take the homer glasses off for a second. Both the C’s and Lakers are slighly ahead of Cleveland.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
@walfredo- before the season started, i picked Boston and LA in the finals.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Kobe played awful in a big game as usual. Lucky for him Gasol and Odom bailed him out. Used to be Shaq doing that.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
in the regular season, MAYBE…lebron can play 48 minutes in the playoffs because that’s when you use him. neither team has anyone who can match up, especially not paul pierce after pierce’s de-pantsing a few weeks ago. and now that the cavs have some decent players who know what’s going on? homer glasses or not, the cavs are better than em both.
and kobe, and the lakers, are overrated as hell.
it’s a shame jameer got hurt because orlando was looking like a juggarnaut. if he was still around, id take the magic over either the celts or lakers too.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Kobe played awful in a big game as usual
real awful hitting three after three with Paul Pierce in his grill
February 6th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Bold prediction Irish!!
I still think east winner wins it all. No idea who wins east though.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
The Cavs have the best point diff in the league and have been hit the most by injuries.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
three after three? maybe for a short stretch in the 4th.
dude went 10-29…that’s fucking terrible.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
10-29, is that good for Kobe? Maybe I’m giving him too much credit.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
three after three? maybe for a short stretch in the 4th
that is what i was talking about Spencer.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
The guy you want with the ball when the game is on the line missed a game winner in regulation, and another potential game winner in OT. Lamar Odom saved the day…
But yeah, Kobe never comes up short in the clutch.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
“after pierce’s de-pantsing a few weeks ago”
Spence it’s a given PP is no LeBron. But last time it counted Pierce went to-to-toe w/ leBron for 7 games and more than held his own.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
What Cav’s fans are failing to realize is that LA will have a fairly easy road to the finals whereas Cleveland will have to go through 2 or 3 pretty strong teams simply to get there. Yes, Lebron can play 60 minutes a game if he has to but who else can? Mo Williams? Maybe, but most likely not. The Cavs still have one freak and 10 role players and no NBA team has ever won a title with only one superstar (don’t give me Detroit because they played with a team concept like no other and had 4 all stars). I like the Cav’s a lot and if they win homecourt advantage I would take them over the C’s but if they have to go on the road I wouldn’t.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Nick…don’t forget the olé D he played on PP when it mattered in the 4th. but yea, he’s such a GREAT defender.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Holy crap. Kobe can never do anything right. He’s like the worst player to ever step foot in the NBA. Everything he ever did was fake. The guy is a fraud.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Reminds me of Icon stepping up his game in the NBA Finals.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
and kobe, and the lakers, are overrated as hell
cmon spencer. At least Nick P makes sound arguments
February 6th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
fairly easy…until they meet the spurs, who will have an equally easy road to the WCF…and pau vs. duncan? yeesh.
true story…much to my chagrin.
but that cavs team from last year isn’t the team from this year (no mo, no boobie…those are some important shooters). and boston is less deep this year than they were last year.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Except for the team that did it, no one did? Ok. If the example of a team that did it doesn’t count, then I guess you win.
And anyway, what is different from that Pistons team and the current Cavs?
Most of the roster has been together for a long, long time with a defense-first focus, and we go add one piece (Mo), much like what they did with Rasheed.
If anything, you’re arguing for the Cavs.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Yeah, spence, Kobe is obviously not a top 3 player in this league, but that Lakers roster 1-12 is as sick as it gets, when fully healthy.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
irish…no need for rehashing. my stance pretty much goes hand in hand with nick’s on kobe (tho i think kobe’s good, just not anyhwere near as good as the media portrays him)…i’ll let him do the talking because he’s better at it.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
“and boston is less deep this year than they were last year.”
Til they get Starbury!!!!!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
The exception proves the rule does it not? There have been, what, 50 teams that have won NBA rings and only one was devoid of the 2 superstar rule…does this not point to the 2 superstar rule holding water?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
it’s not that at all…kobe’s a great player.
he’s just not nearly as good as lebron (or d-wade for that matter) and isn’t ANYTHING near as good as what the media says he is.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
So you’re already eliminating Cleveland as the #1 seed? Cause I know you’re not considering anyone below the 3 seed as tough.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I guess TBL isnt that confident the Cavs will win the title. no bet
February 6th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
The Heat did it with a sub-par Shaq. He was no star at that point. The spurs in 2002-03 also did it. I don’t think Ginobili and Parker were stars yet, though I could be wrong.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
depends on your definition of superstar…last year the celts won it and KG was the only legit superstar in my mind (if you say pierce is…pistols, dawn).
February 6th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Find me the second superstar on this roster.
And once you’re done there, find me the second superstar on this roster.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
spurs in ‘01 only had duncan.
who were the other “superstars” on houston other than hakeem?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
That Sub-par Shaq ate up 2 defenders all post season making it pretty damn easy for Wade to get to the lane. I would also say that Parker and Manu were stars to go along with the greatest PF of all time.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
beat me to it, nick.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
@nick- Tim Duncan and the Admiral
February 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Wasn’t Drexel on the team? I can’t remember that team other than Horry, Cassel and Maxwell.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
two heat superstars in ‘06: d-wade and the refs.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
@spence: The second time they had Clyde, but that first title team was pretty weak.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
My roomate in college from Dallas agrees with this statement.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Yeah, that was a great “role” for Shaq to play, freeing up space for the one superstar on the team.
They were, at the time, great role players for their superstar power forward.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
The ghost of MJ.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
@irish: 37 year old, 8 point, 7 rebound D-Rob was not a superstar.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
fixed to indicated duncan’s REAL position.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Cleveland does not have 2 players outside of Lebron that are as good as Parker and Manu form that ‘01 team. Also, go back and look at Miami’s record with Wade only and with Shaq only and I think you’ll change your tune. Shaq was doubled all day because teams knew if he wasn’t he would destroy them. The Heat were a sub-.500 team when Shaq was out and it was up to Wade alone.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Not to keep bringing up Kobe, but you have to give the guy some credit for being in the conversation as the best player in the league for almost a decade. He was in the whole discussion of “the next Jordan” during the T-Mac, Vinsanity, AI, Kobe era from earlier this decade. He came out on top, and the argument looks stupid now in retrospect.
Now he’s right in the mix with this new generation of superstars. The guy is not overrated.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
fixed to indicated duncan’s REAL position
who is playing center for the Spurs this year?
Matt Bonner!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
If Manu and his 8 points per game is a star, then the Cavs have about 5 stars on the roster.
Same with Tony Parker. 15 PPG on 46% shooting? Sounds like Mo Williams (except worse).
February 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Cavs are gonna win it.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
C’mon man. Give up. That’s about as illogical as it gets.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
tim duncan.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Cleveland does not have 2 players outside of Lebron that are as good as Parker and Manu form that ‘01 team
Mo Williams is better than Parker was at that point in his career. SWAMPTHANG is better than Manu was at that point.
nick has a point on that one
February 6th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Other than Mo Williams who is even in the conversation? Delonte West? Wally? Big Z? Big Ben? Gibson?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
tim duncan
greatest center of all time or greatest power forward of all time?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
yes. maybe. yes. no. maybe.
everyone underestimates Big Z here.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Soooo, based on this conversation, if the Cavs win the title this year, LeBron can thus be annointed the greatest?
/Absurd discussion
February 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
No one from Cleveland scares the Lakers or Celtics (or Spurs) other than Lebron.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
greatest center = bill russell
greatest PF = no idea
you got me there tho. if you consider him a PF, he’s the GOAT. if you consider him a center, he’s behind bill, shaq, wilt, and kareem.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I think you’re confusing Ginobili and Parker for what they’ve become since then. That was Ginobili’s first year, and he was a solid role player. Same for Parker, who really didn’t blow up until like 2005.
I still think Shaq is debatable though.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
everyone underestimates Big Z here.
dude sucks a huge cock
February 6th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
He’s softer than Pau and that says a lot.
I think Lebron will go down as the greatest of his era and that is all that can be determined. Comparing players from different eras is impossible.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
so what?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I think Tim Duncan is a PF who played out of postion a lot due to the Spurs having guys like Oberto on their team.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
that’s not even remotely accurate. NOBODY’S softer than pau.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
id love to stick around and argue, but work calls.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
The fact that the LA enjoyed a 29-20 FT advantage on the road should tell any objective fan which team benefited the most from last nights shit show. And how is it that Fisher gets away with so much crap at the end of games? KG’s last foul should have gone the other way, to say nothing of the non-whistle on Ray Allen’s final shot (for the record, Allen RARELY complains). The Celtics aren’t the only ones bitching; San Antonio got screwed over on the most egregious non-call in association history during last year’s West Finals (Fisher’s diving on Brent Berry).
February 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
So they will do what the C’s did last year and let Lebron go for 50 and win in 7 games. If Williams can give the Cavs a consistent 20+ points than I would change my opinion but what has he ever done in the playoffs?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
NOBODY’S softer than pau
chris bosh is
February 6th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Yep, the Lakers are just full of All-stars..at every position. (checking…checking..) Oh wait, Paul Gasol has been to two. That’s it. Same amount as Big Z.
Yep, it’s an all-star cast around Kobe.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I don’t buy the “Lakers are all of a sudden tough” argument. They have zero shot blocking inside and the Celtics got whatever shot they want for three quarters. Lakers have some good individual defenders, but no interior shot blocking w/o Bynum.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
It’s an all star cast around Lebron?
February 6th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
And while the Lakers have an excellent bench, Luke Walton and Derek Fisher would both not start on the Cavs.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Irish, I’m not saying it is. I’m saying supporting casts are pretty darn similar.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
they sure are cursed. Pau blocks the same amount of shots as Big Z does. they average 1 a game
February 6th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
But teams were staying up at night worried about what fury Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili might bring?
I’m not saying the Cavs have superstars save for Lebron. I’m saying San Antonio 2003 sure as fuck didn’t, either.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
http://www.sporcle.com/games/nba50greatest.php
weak showing, only 28!
February 6th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I don’t like this argument at all. All-Star games are based on team performances and/or position scarcity.
Great team & good season? You’re an all-star; or Ray Allen.
Very weak position & decent season? You’re an All-Star; or Z (twice)
Shitty team & great season? You’re fucked; or Al Jefferson.
The fact remains that Pau Gasol is a legit stud, regardless of how long he was mired in suck in Memphis.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Only 35.
February 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
this thread is re-god-damn-diculous, are you ohioites really trying to degrade kobe? name three players who are better than kobe right now. your lebron shaded glasses are crazy.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
imo, it’s lebron and then kobe and then cp3/dwight.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Lebron, Dwight, CP3. I’ll leave Wade out since he hasn’t shown the ability to stay healthy. But he’s better when 100%.
Also, Duncan, but maybe not much longer. He’s getting up there.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Big man > point guard
February 6th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Irish, I really do have mad respect for Z. He was a big time talent before the foot injuries. The guy could really move, no joke.
I also think he’s the best 7-foot jump shooter in the history of the game. Seriously.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Wow NickP…not even in your top 5? Wow.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
i know cursed. i lived in Cleveland at the time the Cavs drafted Big Z. He hasnt been the same since 2005
February 6th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Wade doesn’t stay healthy, Ruck, so I don’t count him.
@cursed: You know I love Z, but Dirk takes that jump shooting contest in a walk.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Lebron, Kobe, CP3, Duncan, Wade (Not yet Dwight)
February 6th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Good one. It’s Dirk.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Duncan over Dwight? at least you didnt put any Celtics on that list
February 6th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I love how it’s always “not yet” for Dwight and occasionally CP3.
The list of players who’ve averaged 20, 14, and 55+% in the history of the NBA. 6 guys. Dwight is one.
The list of players who’ve done 21, 10.5 assists, and 49% shooting: 3 guys. Paul is one.
What these two guys are doing is fucking insane (especially Paul).
This “not yet” stuff has to stop.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Duncan is on the down-side, but he’s still been the best player of this decade, so I just can’t yet drop him off the top 5 list. Dwight will be on list soon, but he’s still got some things to learn.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I’ll admit I haven’t ssen too much Dwight this year (except when he struggles against the C’s). It’s just all those other guys can guaranteed get their team a basket in crunch time, where Dwight’s game is still raw.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
The list of players who’ve averaged 20, 14, and 55+% in the history of the NBA. 6 guys. Dwight is one
+ infinity Nick P
February 6th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
my rationale for duncan over dwight…
duncan’s simply the smarter player right now because of experience and style of game and it shows in the way he sets up his teammates and in his passing. and the fact he’s had pretty much the same stat line for a decade now.
dwight’s right up there tho. the man is a beast.
February 6th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
where Dwight’s game is still raw
Isnt that scary?
February 6th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
“Isnt that scary?”
Yes it is. Which is why you have nothing to worry about (unless he’s 2nd coming of Amare). Except he’s still not top-5.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Some guy named Joey Graham (or maybe Stephen Graham—whichever plays for the Raptors) on LeBron vs. Kobe:
“To me, Kobe’s the better basketball player. We kind of almost know what we’re going to do against LeBron—we’re going to throw bodies at him, make him try to shoot jumpers. But Kobe, you can’t leave him open. And if you throw bodies at him, he’s going to get fouled.€