Mainly because of the disgusting fans I've seen lately.

I'm used to Lakers fans, because I live in Phoenix, but these new Celtics bandwagoners are HORRID.

That was horrible 4th q from Pistons. If they *lose* Flip after this, they're in luck. Never was a fan of him as a Pistons coach.

All in all, season to forget with disgusting finals!

I think it'll go a bit like the San Antonio series, where it was competitive for a while, but the Lakers were so fast and athletic that by the 4th quarter the Spurs just ran out of gas. Boston seemed to struggle against athletic teams all year (i.e. the Hawks). I think playing 20 out of a possible 21 games might catch up to the Cs. And Kobe seems undeniable.

I haven't seen much of them but they didn't impressive me as a complete team - as all were streaky at best.

On the Celts - Pierce has been amazing through most of the first 2 rounds - probably saving the Celts from loses. Garnett came in at the end with some great games when they were watching Pierce too closly. And Allen finally had a few good game. Plus some of the supposting types.

One other thing about the Celts, they just rebounded the hell out of the ball.

and again on the refs, whenever the camera was up close on garnett, he was fouling and Pirece too but they never called the Celts for as many touch fouls as the Pistons.

All I am really saying is that the Celts didn't get there fair share of fouls. Think at the end, it was decided by the NBA or the refs that they wanted Celts - Lakers.

That's why these six days off are coming at the best possible time.

I've also never been a fan of Flip. I feel bad for him as he seems like a decent guy and has been *so* close so many times, but never can get over the hump. But, I think Detroit needs a coaching change. I'd personally like to see Bill Laimbeer, but doubt that will happen.

I watched a few older playoff games from 2005 recently, and the Pistons definitely had a different swagger/confidence about them. There is a definite difference between watching that team and this year's team. A little of it might be the coach (Larry Brown was more defensive minded and had a confident air), but I think a big part of it was Ben Wallace. They did right to get rid of Wallace, but they sorely miss that big inside presence... McDyess can't fill those shoes.

I was extremely upset with Flip last night.

I mean... Sheed made 2 shots all night, and was in foul trouble... and he's in the game, defending important Celtics and shooting important shots.

Yeah. I was actually just saying to my dad last night that it doesn't matter if Detroit wins or loses, they can't get past the Lakers. The deciding factor in 2004 was Ben. He's not the same player now as he was then, but they just don't have a player to replace him yet.

Sheed didn't play well last night, but you can't blame him anymore than you can Tayshaun Prince or Chauncey, who both were sporadic, at best (Prince was particularly HORRIBLE the last few games). Rip was probably the only Piston starter that was consistantly very good.

Flip's biggest error that I saw was playing Ratliff over Maxiel. Maxiel was playing VERY good and VERY aggresively, but he barely played him and kept sticking in Ratliff who was a foul machine. He was constantly making odd moves like that.

Maxiel and Stuckey played phenomenal and not enough.

Stuckey could well be the best player on the Pistons by next year. He's 6'5" but has the speed and ball handling ability as a 6' guard. It should create an interesting dilemma as he should be getting starters minutes, but who do you sit down? Billups? Hamilton? Maxiel is easier... I think you move him in to the starter spot right away and sit McDyess down (if he returns).

Put me down for Lakers in 7.

Lakers in 5.

I think they steal one of the first 2 in Boston, and then sweep at home.

That's right. It's a freaking 2-3-2 series.

I didn't think Flip was as bad this year as he was against Cleveland (the lack of any double teams on Lebron in game 5 was atrocious, and in this case I think Boston was just better, while there was NO WAY Detroit should've lost to the shite ass Cavs last year), but yeah, he doesn't seem to bring "it". I think Ben Wallace is more missed as a figure of energy and enthusiasm than what he does on the scoresheet. Detroit over the last couple years has felt like the lazy unemployed 40 year old stoner guy of the NBA. They just feel like they care as much as a Boston or LA.

Flip is out in Detroit, replaced by Michael Curry.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3423956

I thought that was where Avery would go.

Flip was a decent guy, but it is a good move getting rid of him. Losing 3 straight times in the ECF (4 straight Finals losses for Saunders, including Minn), you've got to switch gears, if only for psychological reasons.

But, I'm still very curious which players go, as it seems very obvious that Joe D is going to break up the core. Odds on favorite is Rasheed going to Charlotte to be back with Larry Brown, but Detroit media is also suggesting Rip Hamilton to go as he is highly tradable and then you can start Stuckey in his place. Either way, I think Detroit's team is going to be very different next year.

I guess I'll wait and see, but I do like the current team, and it'll be odd to see them broken apart. I think it'd be rather foolish to blow up the whole team after 6 ECF appearances in a row. Most teams would kill for that.

what a game what a game!!

Fisher was the only Laker that showed up to play. Terrible game by the Lakers. Kobe's ball hogging lost it for us. Why does he insist on taking every shot when he is shooting 9/26? Fisher and Sasha can knock down far more 3s that he can but that doesn't stop him. Here's to hoping game 2 is different.

It's weird. That was about as good a Game 1 as you could ask for since it had pretty much everything. And yet both teams are capable of playing much better games. There were a few times during the game where the Celtics defense let the Lakers have some wide open shots in the first half. Thankfully the Lakers weren't hitting many of them. The C's defense though clamped down in the second half. 37 points against this Lakers offense in the second half was just outstanding. If they can somehow keep that up for both halves, they'll be in great shape.

And what's there to say about Paul Pierce. Talk about being scared shitless when he went down. If he had gone down, there was just no way the Celtics were winning. When he came back though, he gave the crowd and the Celtics a second life. He just re-energized the entire place. And the back-to-back three's were probably the dagger. After those three's, the C's defense just clamped down on the Lakers.

Hopefully the Celtics will put forth a similar effort in Game 2......just without the heartattack moment. And these two days of rest are coming at the perfect time.

Good game, and just what I wanted to see. I was so tired of hearing how great the Western Conference is compared to the Eastern, that I'd love to see the Celts whip the Lakers! Just 3 more games...

And how does Pierce go from crushing pain and in a wheelchair to playing 3 minutes later? Acting!

Dude for real; I legit jumped up and screamed...that was realllly scary; though those shots of him walking back out onto the court were iconic

Terry Porter has been hired as the Suns coach.

Great officiating in that first half

And by great, I mean horribly, horribly disgusting

Exemplified by that Rondo "steal" at the end of it...

Whoa, impressive work by Boston

It'll be interesting to see the shift to LA, so far the biggest difference in this series (reffing aside) seems to be that since Pierce's "injury", the Celtics have been more pumped up than KG having an orgasm.

Even though he's shooting like ass, Garnett is still probably the most valuable player for them right now, if only because his mentality is making everyone else play equally intense, as it has all year. Boston seems to want it more at this point.

They've kind of won me over actually, a week ago I was siding with the Lakers because of the whole divisional rivarly thing and the fact that I hate the media orgasm over the Celtics this year, but if they keep playing like this I think they deserve it. I've also decided Rondo is one of my favorite players.

1. The Celtics wanted to give me a heartattack
2. If the Lakers don't have an answer for Powe, they're done.