[GreatMovieCritic]

Originally Posted by KingCrash

But because of this stupid 2-3-2 format the Lakers have to take at least 2 out of three, and even then they have to go back to Boston to win. The Celtics just need to continue playing defense and keep the pressure on for the whole game and at the very least they'll go back to Boston leading 3-2.

That's what I'am hoping for. That's if the Lakers are still alive by then and have cleaned up their sloppy defense and offense.

[Demyx]

Refs are awful tonight indeed.

[TheHitmanHart]

I thought the refs had an OK game. Not great, but not awful.

[M.W.]

Originally Posted by Venge™

Like how Vlad took 7 steps on the fast break before scoring?

I was thinking that as well. Boston really did rough up the Lakers. Gasol got hacked on two or three 'AND 1s', Kobe wasn't getting any calls, and everytime they tried applying any type of defensive mentality it was quickly overruled by cheap fouls.

This isn't going to say that the Celtics received all the calls or the refs fixed the game, but there were some obvious miscalls on both ends of the floor. Bob Dillany (sp?) and his crew were horrible tonight.

[GreatMovieCritic]

Originally Posted by Nightmare M/W

The Lakers had enough motivation coming into the game tonight. If losing game one and realizing these are the biggest games you're going to play in your life isn't enough motivation, surely a comeback where your advasary played no defense whatsoever wont give you any more motivation than you already had.

Celtics inconsistent? Not at all. A consistent pattern is already developed. They're impeccable at home and a fragile, breakable team on the road.

True, true but now GM3 becomes even bigger than both those games. As the old cliche goes "one game at a time", one win in LA might be followed by another and so on. There's motivation obviously because now because it's about staying alive...the first two games were merely about stealing a win and obviously developing a feel against the other team. Everyone knows the Celts are tough at home even though at the beginning of this series they were the underdogs to some people.

"A consistent pattern is already developed. They're impeccable at home and a fragile, breakable team on the road."

Huh did you mean unbreakable or breakable here? If you really mean breakable then by that pattern the Celts should have terrible games in LA (LA hasn't had much trouble on the road until now).

[Venge™]

Originally Posted by TheHitmanHart

I thought the refs had an OK game. Not great, but not awful.

No, it was completely and utterly crap.

1st and 2nd quarters went completely Celtics.

I felt 3rd quarter reffing was OK, Celtics just outlplayed Lakers with hustle.

4th quarter went to the Lakers, granted they still had to hit 7 three-pointers, but I still felt the reffing was absolutely terrible.

In the end though, reffing still went to Celtics overall, they shot 38-10 FTs. In fact, Leon Powe-nd had more FT attempts then the whole Lakers team.

Still, the Lakers came back because the Celtics became complacent and stopped doing the things that got them the huge lead (in the 3rd) in the first place. No defense, no hustle, and it's just like Doc Rivers not to play his hustle players (Powe) at the end. Rivers is horrible, the sooner they get a new coach, the better.

[M.W.]

Originally Posted by GreatMovieCritic

True, true but now GM3 becomes even bigger than both those games.

Game three isn't a must win, neither was games one or two. How does the magnitude of this upcoming game qualify as 'bigger than games one & two'? There was as much pressure on the Lakers in game one as there will be in game three.

As the old cliche goes "one game at a time", one win in LA might be followed by another and so on. There's motivation obviously because now because it's about staying alive

It's all a chess match. However you look at it, the first team to win four games sweeps the series, regardless of the scenario. And it's not about staying alive just yet because simply, it's not win or go home.

...the first two games were merely about stealing a win and obviously developing a feel against the other team.

Los Angeles has to steal a win eventually. If they come back to Boston tied 3-3, is it about stealing a win then? Like Herm Edwards briefly said, "you play to win the game". Not to withlong a stalemate, feeling out process.

Huh did you mean unbreakable or breakable here? If you really mean breakable then by that pattern the Celts should have terrible games in LA.

Yes, I meant unbreakable. If you've watched any of their other playoff games on the road, you'd know by know that the Celtics are unbreakable & unstoppable!

[TheHitmanHart]

In the first half, the C's drove to the hoop and the Lakers didn't. That's why they the FT comparison was so out of wack.

[PatMan]

I was shocked that the Lakers got as close as they did ... I really thought they would complete the comeback. The stage is set for the Lakers at home, imo. They have a decent amount of momentum, even though the C's still won. I see LA taking ALL THREE at home, since the Celtics are AWFUL on the road in playoffs. I say LA in seven, can't wait for the rest of the series.

[Venge™]

Originally Posted by TheHitmanHart

In the first half, the C's drove to the hoop and the Lakers didn't. That's why they the FT comparison was so out of wack.

No. Celts got calls and Lakers didn't. Ask just about anyone.

Lakers were less agressive, but I think they were 21/2 going into the 2nd half in FT attempts. And one of those was from a technical.