Celtics Get Saved by Refs Again
Please excuse me while I engage in some serious hyperbole. "Did the Celtics save the NBA last nighttime?" That sounds like the worst, most obvious knee-jerk reaction in history.
The sort of stuff that gets tossed around on that satirical sports testify from 30 Stone, "Sports Shouting." Travel with me to a sports purgatory, where this testify runs on continuous loop...
Question: Did the Celtics salve the NBA by winning Game 2 of the NBA Finals?
Shouting columnist #1: THEY DID!
Shouting columnist #2: THEY DIDN'T!
Shouting columnist #3: Information technology ALL COMES DOWN TO INTANGIBLES.
Shouting columnist #4: MY JOB IS TO Be ZANY AND CONTROVERSIAL. Subsequently Final Dark'S EFFORT, THE LAKERS SHOULD FORFEIT THE SERIES, AND PHIL SHOULD PAY Back HIS Salary TO THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
Moderator: Whoa, there. Seriously? +2 for that point. Guys, should the Lakers forfeit the NBA Finals? Does Phil Jackson owe the metropolis of Los Angeles $8 one thousand thousand?
Everybody else: How can one squad, and one game, salve an entire league? And how could a league that makes billions in acquirement possibly demand to be "saved"?
Merely retrieve about it for a second. Imagine if the Celtics didn't win Sunday night in L.A.
Equally the game got close in the fourth quarter, that was my biggest fear. If the Celtics didn't win Game two, we'd have been looking at a much-anticipated series that'due south essentially over later on 2 games with horrendous officiating, with only an offseason of LeBron James stories in our future. Atrocious.
On newspaper, the NBA'southward got more superstars than just most whatsoever league in pro sports, and yet, the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs have produced more drama, the NFL continues to reign supreme, and the World Cup is looming in a calendar week equally the nearly captivating sporting result in the entire world. Nobody's saying the NBA'southward not great, but... in that location are some definite bug to consider.
First, the playoffs have sucked this year. Nosotros know this, as basketball fans. Nosotros don't want to acknowledge it, just it's truthful. Two weeks ago, midway through the Conference Finals in the East and West, I wrote this: "Through 79 NBA playoff games, but 8 have been decided by three points or less, which means that, in 2010, the chances of getting a playoff game decided on one of the final possessions has been somewhere around 10 pct. Maybe that's an unfair way to approximate the competitive residual of a given season, only it's indicative of what we've seen so far. Xc percent of the time, there's been very little suspense to what's transpired."
"... the margin of victory in the Western Conference playoffs has been 8.1 points, with a whopping x.eight signal-differential dorsum East. So, basically, teams are averaging double-digit victories in the 2010 postseason. Beyond that, we've had four sweeps—including three in the conference semifinals—and there'southward a skillful chance that the East could air current up a sweep, with the West catastrophe in five games. And for all the valor of the Celtics' sudden resurgence, there accept as well been completely inexplicable disappearing acts from the likes of Cleveland, Orlando, Dallas, San Antonio, Atlanta, Utah, and more."
Tin we really say that a whole lot changed through the rest of the Conference Finals? Phoenix battled back to make things slightly interesting out West, just not many people ever gave them a real chance at chirapsia the Lakers. And equally for the Boston-Orlando series, Boston took a 3-0 series lead, no-showed for two games, and then blew out Orlando in the decisive Game 6. How riveting!
It's not a crunch, or even something that the NBA can command, simply it'south certainly something that undermines the mystique the NBA has used to market itself the past few years. This year, "Where Amazing Happens" has been "Where Stuff That You Knew Was Going Happen Happens." All the melodramatic pianoforte in the world tin can't make that sound glamorous.
Then at that place'due south the announcing... I like Mark Jackson, and really, as a basketball mind, I'grand sure he'due south one of the best guys out at that place. But as an announcer, the guy is merely a disaster, and it's embarrassing. Particularly with the NBA, where the ebb and flow of the game tends to lull coincidental fans to sleep, announcers accept on a pretty huge part in shaping the viewing experience.
And when you air current up spending one-half the game asking yourself, "what the hell did he just say?" information technology'southward not a skilful sign. It'south getting bad. After one play Sunday dark, a gorgeous up-and-nether reverse lay-up from Pau Gasol, Jackson exclaimed, "In the streets, they telephone call this deliverin' pizza!" And... That tin can't possibly true. Nobody would ever dethrone such a beautiful move with such a corny-donkey proper name. They simply wouldn't. Deplorable, Marker.
Half the time, his analysis is just complete nonsense. Stuff that you hear and say, how could this guy maybe be the only "expert" ABC could find? SB Nation's Clippers web log, Clips Nation, doesn't fifty-fifty have vested interest in the Finals, but Steve Perrin had to bluster later Game i:
Midway through the second quarter of Game 1 of the Finals last night, Nate Robinson tied up Pau Gasol and a spring ball was whistled. Pau controlled the tip to Kobe Bryant, who made a tough jump shot to requite the Lakers a three bespeak atomic number 82 in what had to that betoken been a very shut competition.
Mark Jackson proceeded to spend most of Boston'southward next possession, every bit well as the replays shown during a subsequent Andrew Bynum free throw, to effuse about how the play demonstrated Kobe'southward off the charts basketball game IQ. According to Jackson, Kobe's awareness of the 24 second clock in that situation was worthy of undying admiration and praise.
Excuse me?
The spring ball occurred with v seconds showing on the shot clock. The shot clock is of class part of every NBA possession, and sensation of information technology is hardly limited to Mensa members. But during a jump ball, there's a stoppage in play and pretty much everyone on the court has plenty of time to take a quick gander to a higher place the basket and, you know, cheque it out. That, plus a rudimentary understanding of the dominion book, enough to understand that the clock does not reset on a jump ball if the original team retains possession, is pretty much all you need to know. Yet somehow to Jackson, this was completely uncanny, an human action of pure genius.
At that place was also this, equally we airtight in on crunch time terminal night: "I similar what both coaches are doing correct now. Closing out the ball game with their closers." If this was football, that might be passable, but ideally, the NBA should appeal to an audience that's less... brain-dead, I guess? And fair or not, Jackson seems brain-expressionless half the time.
It's hilarious, certain, only the NBA and ABC should exercise better.
"Endmost out the game with their closers." ... Assay!
And let'south not forget the officiating. If you think the NBA doesn't have a trouble with its current officiating model, you either don't spotter the games, or you piece of work for the NBA.
It's non a matter of the NBA fixing games or anything, but through the first two games of the NBA Finals, the refs take just been bad. Too many fouls, fouls on the wrong people, blowing piece of cake calls, and terminal night, in a particularly dreadful sequence, blowing the replay on a phone call tardily in the game Sunday night. It hurt the Celtics, like this "foul" on Kendrick Perkins. And it happened to L.A., as well. From SB Nation's Lakers blog:
What's a chip harder to stomach was an out-of-bounds call that awarded possession to Boston with 1:59 to play and the Lakers downward three. Replays showed unambiguously that Garnett last touched the brawl, but the refs failed to opposite the initial call despite consulting those exact replays. I honestly have no idea what they thought they were seeing.
And they're right. It was almost surreal. Like, "Don't the refs look at the aforementioned replays as us?"
(Yeah. Yeah they practise.)
"How could they possibly miss that call and then?"
(Well information technology happens, you lot know? Part of the game.)
"..."
That's where we are with the NBA officiating right at present. Information technology'due south just assumed that virtually 30% of the time, the refs will go it wrong. Part of the game, yous know? Simply it shouldn't be part of the game.
This is the NBA Finals. Nosotros're watching the all-time refs the NBA has to offering. I hateful, imagine if the Super Basin had a blown call every five minutes. Imagine if the Stanley Loving cup refs reviewed a goal late in the game, and just flat out got it wrong. This tin't keep happening if the NBA expects to exist taken seriously. It's probably requires a longer discussion if we're going to set up it, merely come on.
Anytime both teams can brand legitimate claims that the refs screwed them throughout the game, it's a problem. And in Game 2, the Lakers and Celtics got screwed over and over again by the refs.
And there'southward more than. If the Lakers had won last dark, they're up 2-0, and for yet another series, we pretty much know what's going to happen by the second game of the series. That'due south nobody's mistake, just it wouldn't be great for the league. Throw in the increasingly unsavory underpinnings of the LeBron free agency sweepstakes, and between the New York Yankees Los Angles Lakers running through the NBA with ease and LeBron's whole sideshow, we could have been looking at a solid three months of storylines that make the NBA look similar one, big mess—a league full of greed and backroom deals, where the favorites always win, and a bunch of billion dollar sports franchises are playing favorites based on the whims of a 25-twelvemonth-quondam kid.
To review, here's what we'd be talking about if the Lakers won Lord's day dark:
- A disappointing playoffs.
- Impaired announcing.
- Dreadful officiating.
- The Lakers mini-dynasty, and whether they tin sweep Boston.
- LeBron James, and the chaos accompanying his impending free bureau.
Instead, the Celtics won.
Now, we can ignore all that other stuff for at least the next week. Not considering those other problems don't matter, but considering, when the games are good, all that other drama recedes to the background. What are yous going to remember about last night? Rajon Rondo calmly stepping into a 20-foot jumpshot to put the Celtics up five and requite them command of the game, or the crappy out-of-premises call referenced above, that set upward the Rondo shot after in the possession?
Y'all'll remember Rondo. Because he made the shot. And because, with the Celtics on the brink of becoming irrelevant in these NBA Finals, he and Ray Allen stepped up and fabricated things interesting. For the beginning fourth dimension since 2004, the NBA Finals is tied at 1-ane. Subsequently a dorsum-and-forth second half last night that really could have either style, the Celtics stepped up, and now nosotros get to marvel at this serial for the side by side ten days, rather than focus on what nosotros're NOT getting from the NBA.
The league needed this series to exist great afterward the terminal few months of hollow drama—and before the next few months of free agency hysteria. And it looks like this dream series might live up to the billing. Thank God.
Instead of talking near the NBA's horrid officiating or focusing on the crappy announcers. Instead of talking nigh this year'south terrible playoffs or watching James' every move. We can just talk about basketball game. For the fans that love the game, the Celtics gave united states of america a gift Dominicus dark.
Now, over the adjacent few days, it'due south all nearly whether the Lakers can find a way to terminate Ray Allen. Whether the Lakers' large men will continue dominating the Celtics inside. Whether Kobe's going to come up dorsum to brand a statement in Game 3. Whether Kevin Garnett tin come up dorsum to make one last stand as a great thespian.
Just most important, we tin can talk about basketball.
We're excited about the NBA, not worried most it.
We still need to bargain with the officiating crisis, someone needs to fire Jackson, and James is a complete ass, but hey, relax. Life is good. The Celtics and Lakers are putting on a show, and we might exist in for i of the better NBA Finals in a long time. Zero else matters right now.
With that in mind, some other quick notes from Game 2 of the Finals...
What The Hell Happened To Lamar Odom?
He scored iii points on Sunday night and played just xv minutes. I know that "disappearing in big games" is sort of his schtick these days, but he simply played 20 minutes in Game one, scoring just six points. Mind you, this from a guy that signed $32 million contract this season, and is widely considered a member of the Lakers' "Big Four," and the anchor of their second unit.
When he's good, he makes everyone else on the bench look more attractive. When he's non around to anchor things, who'due south going to be the star? Shannon Brown? With Odom struggling, the Lakers bench, uh... leaves something to be desired:
Information technology'south still early and Odom has time to turn things around, but if the Lakers lose, "not having a bench" could exist a large reason. Something to keep in heed as we head to Boston.
Stats Don't Tell The Whole Story: Paul Pierce Edition
And then in Game 1, Paul Pierce had 24 points and nine rebounds in a thirteen-point Celtics loss. Not Paul'due south error, correct? Incorrect. Pierce racked up a bunch of free throws late in the game, but Ron Artest pretty much shut him down when information technology mattered. Denied him the ball, forced him into tough shots, and by and large threw the Celtics law-breaking completely out of whack.
Then, last night, Pierce came back in a big style had simply 10 points on 2-for-xi shooting. So he'southward officially "struggling" at present, correct? Once more, not that elementary. Last night, Pierce was able to get a number of cardinal Lakers into foul trouble, starting with Odom, higher up. Why did Lamar Odom play merely 15 minutes? Well, it didn't aid that Pierce drew 3 fouls from him in the first quarter.
4 of Ron Artest'southward six fouls came against Pierce, and fifty-fifty though he didn't score much and had an atrocious night shooting the brawl, information technology was Pierce's guile that freed up the court for the balance of the Celtics. People always talk virtually "intangibles" with veteran teams, merely last night, Pierce'south presence was completely tangible, and it's a big reason that Celtics offense was able to roll all nighttime long.
Luke Walton'southward Yellow H2 Hummer
For real, if you're non reading Physician Funk'southward Finals captions, you lot should be.
LeBron James Decided Not To Sit down Courtside? Too Bad.
Apparently, LeBron James was supposed to exist sitting courtside on Sunday Night -- adjacent to the Lakers bench, no less -- just decided against it at the terminal minute. On behalf of everyone that would have been forced to sit through 8,000 cutaways to James during last dark'south classic finals game, give thanks y'all, LeBron.
On the other hand, wouldn't information technology take been perfect for him to be at that place?
Because yous know he wanted to exist there. It would have made him expect terrible, but then, this is who he is, and he'due south fabricated it clear that he doesn't sympathize why other people look poorly upon these impulses. He wanted to go to the NBA Finals and be part of the show, not realizing that you accept to win to exist featured on this stage. Obviously, someone talked him out of information technology at the last minute, but God, it just would have been such a perfect juxtaposition of him and Kobe, and how far he has to go.
The more I recall about it, the more than bummed I get.
It's So Cute How Chris Bosh Carries Himself Similar A Superstar.
Sort of similar LeBron, don't yous go the sense that Chris Bosh is milking this gratis agency thing for all it'south worth? Last night, he made an appearance at Game ii.
Blackness-on-black? Yessir.
Sunglasses and spotter to match? Cold.
Dreadlocks? Indeed.
The Raptors won 40 games this twelvemonth? Oh.
He'due south made the playoffs twice in seven years? Damn. Nothing to see here...
ANDY GARCIA'S MUSTACHE
What will I remember from Game 2 of the Lakers-Celtics series? Allen's ridiculous commencement half, for ane. Rondo's fourth quarter, peculiarly his jumpshot to seal it for the Celtics. Gasol's early dominance of a Celtics forepart line that came out determined to stop him. The crappy officiating. Merely most of all, or at least equally much equally Ray, I'll call back that mustache. It looks like a thin swatch of perfectly manicured ratskin. Paired with the glasses, he legitimately looks similar a graphic symbol from Clue.
The gauntlet has been thrown downwards to Boston's smattering of drunk, over-the-colina, C-list Celebrities: Can anybody top Garcia's ratskin 'stache? (Lookin' at you, Donnie Wahlberg).
Having a mustache is all about pride, and not apologizing to anyone for looking ridiculous. To that end, Andy Garcia grades out with flying colors here. Any mustache is a good mustache, but that?
That?
That's a great goddamn mustache. Andy Garcia apologizes to no one. Awesome.
Source: https://www.sbnation.com/2010/6/7/1505049/nba-finals-lakers-celtics-game-2-recap
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