Lakers

[Surfah]

The Lakers looked pretty damn good. I liked how physical they were. They outworked the Celtics in pretty much every facet of the game. Rondo was a non-factor for the most part. Kobe was brilliant again. Pau made KG his bitch. Bynum played big in his minutes. Fisher even played decent. But Ron Ron was the man. Tough defense. Got the crowd going. And made Pierce pay knocking down shots and threes. The Lakers dominated the Celtics.

The only thing that sucked was the officiating and LO. They called that thing so tight it was ridiculous and killed the pace of that game. The Celtics were fortunate that the game was slowed down so much or it could have been much worse.

[Surfah]

Well, about what I expected tonight. I expect Sunday to be a much tougher game. I loved the way Artest played tonight...Pierce was a non-factor until it was way too late and TruWarrior knocked down his 3s. LO was the only Laker who played a bad game but he was getting quick whistles from the get go. Funny to see Boston whine about so many calls with all the phantom calls they get themselves. Pau v. KG is a total mismatch in 2010.

Pau owned KG. Two of my favorite plays of the game involved KG. The first was the FTs by Perkins. He missed the second one with Pau in the bottom position boxing out KG. KG bangs with Pau. They called a lane violation (on Kobe I believe - when was the last time they called that on someone outside the 3 pt line?) so Perkins got another attempt. This time, Artest goes to Pau switches. What does KG do? Nothing. He doesn't want any piece of Artest. Perkins misses and I think Walton grabs an uncontested rebound.

The other play was KG not getting above the rim on his putback all alone under the hoop. Not once, but twice. If the Kid hadn't turned into such an asshole with the Celtics I would have actually felt bad seeing his diminished athletic ability. But that actually made me laugh. And I loved Artest's hustle in that play poking the offensive board to the sideline and recovering it before going out of bounds.

[Surfah]

Typical TJ doesn't pull any punches. Ouch.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basket...lumn?track=rss

Everyone was saying this was going to be a great series, but Game 1 ends up being a bore, with the Celtics so bad they make the Lakers look like champions already.

They say the NBA is an expert at fixing things, well let's see it make The Finals interesting.

For the last few days we've been inundated with hogwash, the Celtics and Lakers, the greatest series one might imagine about to begin, no one mentioning what a bore it might be.

Rondo?

How about Rajon Floppo? All that hype for this guy, someone who plays it so casual it's like he's trying to fit into Southern California -- Jordan Farmar stealing the ball from him at the end of the first quarter because Floppo just isn't into the game.

The Celtics play in slow motion. Garnett is old, his team missing 38 shots, the Lakers 39 and he could manage only four rebounds.

Kendrick Perkins is one tantrum away from being suspended, like anyone would miss him, Tony Allen is so bad he should never be seen in The Finals unless buying a ticket, the Celtics so bad they made the Lakers look like champions already.

If you're a Celtics' honk, just what do you hang your hopes on now? Nate Robinson growing a foot by Sunday.

How did these guys beat Orlando and Cleveland? Or is it just an indication of how weak the NBA is these days, the Lakers having to only beat Oklahoma City, Utah and Phoenix to get here.

This just isn't interesting, the Lakers up by 20 after three quarters in a series that is supposed to be compelling, meaning everything to these so-called tough Celtics -- everyone forgetting they just aren't any good.

I've got to believe the people of Boston are smarter than they look and act, admitting right now, "This is the team we watched all year."

As for everyone else, The Finals are not just played for NBA fans, but television viewers across the land -- the championship for any sport an opportunity to showcase the best it has to offer.

Well, you watched Game 1 and maybe the NBA for the first time all year, probably coming away expecting to see Big Baby Davis later this summer on "The Biggest Loser."

When ABC's Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy are talking about Scrabble in the fourth quarter of the first game of The Finals, the best thing that can happen for America is a Lakers sweep.

"Isn't this supposed to be more interesting?" I asked Phil Jackson. "It's The Finals."

"It's Game 1," said Jackson, as if we need to be reminded how long this might drag on.

"Were you bored by what was going on?" I asked.

"No," he said. "It was long, though. It was a long game."

It was so long the Lakers lost interest in Game 1, the only way Boston could outscore them in the fourth quarter. I worry the biggest problem confronting the Lakers, is the same one every else has now, staying interested in The Finals.

[Surfah]

Bynum doing work. He gave the Lakers good minutes, especially with LO in foul trouble. Big Baby didn't cry, but he came close after getting dropped by a pick set by Pau. Bill Simmons reported that he did play with ear plugs though because he was tired of getting heckled on the bench. LOL.



TruWarier doing his thing. This was the double tech play right off the bat. The Lakers set an early tone.



Story of the night. Pau had as many offensive boards (8) himself as did the entire Celtics team. The Lakers killed the 'ics on the glass, in the paint, and second chance points. Doc said that by their stats the Lakers won 50-50 balls 17-4.

[Surfah]

Sheesh. You know it's bad when even Plaschke piles on.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-...1802793.column

Hey Boston? Great Celtics? Famed smackdown artists?

Shhh, it's OK, the coast is clear. You can come out now. Those bullies in gold shorts and grimaces are gone. I promise.

Nobody is waiting to wrestle you back to the floor. Nobody is going to bump you back into the marina. Those guys who tossed you around like vacant headbands have the left the building.

It's OK, Celtics, you went into hiding early, but it's fine now, you can come on out from underneath your frayed reputation and dented mystique, it's only one game.

[Surfah]

Artest is making it hard for LA fans not to love him. He purchased two tickets to be given away by Power 106 to game 1 of the Finals. Only the radio didn't advertise that the tickets, purchased by Ron himself, were floor seats with $9,000 face value each.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/16490/ron-artests-lucky-beneficiaries

[HBCoug]

Pig Miller gets the #2 avatar nod ahead of greats like Rory Sparrow, Aaron McKie, and of course, Fish (can't use current players). I'd like to think I'm also honoring Pig Davis and his punch-to-the-face worthy lip licking after phantom "and 1s" and blown layups.

[Surfah]

Some championship merch:





The best though come from the street wear guys:

Redemption

(Front)



(Back)



Only Kings Have Rings Kobe



Here's Ronnie

[Surfah]

[Surfah]

[Surfah]

This hat is so hot:

[YOhio]

Hi Lakers fans. FYI...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/06/lakers-violence-lapd-releases-raw-video-of-mob-attacking-cab-seeks-publics-help.html

Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles Police Department or the Los Angeles Fire Department. The LAFD Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section number is (213) 485-6095

[YOUTUBE]CMdi-lOqDv8[/YOUTUBE]

[Surfah]

I hadn't realized that former Laker and Lakers assistant coach Larry Drew was promoted to HC of the Hawks. Byron is coaching again with the Cavs. That's 3 former Showtime Lakers in NBA HC gigs with Rambis in Minnesota. Not bad.

Also, with Shaw in the running for the Cavs job that went to Scott, you have to think that the Lakers expect Phil back. I bet it's a one year deal and Shaw gets the reigns next year.

[Surfah]

Phil coming back for "the last stand." Three-peat.

[HBCoug]

Lakers offer Mike Miller 5 years / $30M. He's definitely the shooter we need but they also need to address the huge vacancy at PG. You have to assume they have something up their sleeves with this kind of offer right out of the gate. He apparently has until the end of today to decide.