NBA Finals 2008: Game 2 Preview – Questions need Answers
June 7, 2008 – Dr. Browntorious
If there is one lesson that could be pressed upon us as soon as this Sunday, it’s that it may not be wise to taunt, prod, and ridicule a competitor as fierce and potent as Kobe Bryant. The “Black Mamba” is probably the fiercest competitor the NBA has seen since the retirement of the great one, Michael Jordan. Competing the way he does at this level, Kobe Bryant clearly has a great deal of pride bordering on arrogance, and likely does not like the criticism he has felt for the last two days in the mainstream media and blogosphere. Celtic fans worldwide have been absolutely cut throat with their criticism of Bryant’s NBA Finals Game 1 shooting performance, and his purported lack of defense. Fans of the Green Machine have been saying Ray Allen is the new “Kobe Stopper”, and that the Celtics team defense is enough to contain Bryant.
I would have to say there is no defense that exists on this planet that can stop a player of Jordan or Bryant’s offensive magnitude and greatness. But maybe the bigger question that needs to be answered is: Does the Celtic defense really need to stop Bryant? It’s a long debated philosophy among Coaches, where usually they sit on one side of the fence or the other. Can a team be successful by playing straight up defense on the opposing teams star player, and simply work their tails off to lock down everyone else? It’s not likely that Kobe will score 80ppg over the duration of a series, so should your focus really be on the easier task of making sure his supporting cast score very little and at a very low efficiency? Some would say yes.
On the other hand, a lot of coaches believe that the best strategy is to double team the oppositions star player in order to limit his scoring as much as possible, knowing full well that some of the role players could be nearly wide open and still not score. This philosophy generally is utilized by both types of coaches in the final minutes of close games. Why? Because it is widely acknowledged that an opposing coach is going to lean heavily on his star offensive player in the closing minutes of a close game. Why do you think Steve Kerr was so wide open for his game winning or game changing shots in the final seconds of NBA Finals games while playing for the Chicago Bulls? Michael Jordan was undoubtedly “double, triple, or quadruple” teamed!
I’m sure we will all be watching closely on Sunday to see which type of Coach Doc Rivers is. Rivers must know Kobe Bryant is going to come out in Game 2 in attack mode. So which way are Doc and Celtics defensive coach Tom Thibodeau going to play it? Double team Kobe? Or let him get his points?
The Hoop Doctors Game 2 Preview Questions:
- The Celtics had the 2nd best home record in the league during the regular season. With only one loss at home in these playoffs, can the Lakers beat the Celtics at the Garden? If they want to win this thing, they better hope so.
- Will Kobe Bryant start attacking offensively in the first halves of games, or will he continue to wait until the last minute to get himself involved as much as he does his teammates? In the case of Game 1 it is crucial for Kobe to be sure not to wait until it’s too late.
- Can anyone on the Lakers stop or even slow down Kevin Garnett? He had his way with every big man the Lakers through at him in Game 1. Will Phil Jackson devise a strategy to contain him?
- Paul Pierce was “The Truth” in Game 1. Will the ultra-competitive Kobe Bryant take on the personal challenge to make sure he slows Pierce’s offensive game, showing clearly he is the best all around player on the floor?
- Will Pau Gasol listen to Phil Jackson and toughen up for Game 2, or will he continue to buckle under the aggressive muscle game of Perkins and Garnett?
- Can the Lakers perimeter shooters, get their shooting touch back in time to steal Game 2 in Boston? Vujacic, Radmanovic, Fisher, and Farmar ya’ hear?
- If Perkins doesn’t play or is limited due to his injury from Game 1, will the young Leon Powe and the veteran PJ Brown be able to step up their games and fill the void on the Celtics front line?
- Can the Lakers quiet the Celtics fans early in Game 2, or will the Celtics blow the roof off the place? The biggest key to Game 2 could be the momentum built for one team or the other to start the game.
As in any Celtics game this season, I expect a physical battle. If the Celtics can keep the game slow and played in the half court, this type of grind will be in their favor. On the other hand if the Lakers can play good defense and get out on the break for easy transition buckets and not have to figure out the complex riddle of the Celtics half court defense, this game could go to the Lakers.
Either way, get ready for some more drama. Whenever the Celtics-Lakers play in the NBA Finals, I have come to expect nothing less!
Game time: Sunday, June 8th – 9 pm EST.
Just wanted to say that if Boston continues to play excellent defense against the Lakers, then trouble is in the making for Kobe and Company.
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The outcome of the game 2 will ultimately depends on Ray Allen. Phil Jackson will control Kevin Garnette and Paul Pierce. So if Rondo steps up and teams up with Ray Allen, Celtics are going to win the game.
Kobe will get his 30+ points tonight. Even though the Truth will score high 20″s, I think KG is the key in this series — he fuels the Celtics defense and is the heart & soul of the team. All I can say is that I hope the Celtics win tonight. I can’t stand one thing alone about the Fakers and it’s Kobe Bryant — the lack of respect he pays to his opponents during post-game interviews is so irritating. It has always been about KoME Bryant and this is why he is disliked as much as he is liked. He will never be GREAT like MJ because MJ was loved and respected as much as he was feared. Why does the Lakers games 1 loss have to be about poor passing and execution on the Lakers part? Hey Kobe — do you think your poor shooting performance in 3 consecutive meetings this season had to do with the solid Celtics defense? Wake up and win AND lose like a man.
LOOK….KOBE BRYANT IS THE CLOSEST THING TO MICHEAL JORDAN RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He might never get to MJ’s level of greatness but he is very close. But come on lets be real, the Lakers were in the game the whole time until late in the fourth quarter. If the Celtics didn’t get those weak ass foul calls the Lakers would have won the game.
And the scary thing is, Kobe didn’t even get off….lol….he had a very poor night.
If the ref’s are on bull, and the Lakers come out with a little more intensity, with Kobe being simiply Kobe, then this whole series is a rap…..
I’m saying Celtics over Lakers. First of all they dont have the pressure of being favored to win the series. Second of all, its obvious, without Kobe the lakers would be nothing. Basketball isn’t a one man show it is a team sport and the celtics play more like a team so i think they will win
You just validated my point. You gave absolutely no credit to the Celtics in game 1. How about Pierce? Did he have the same kind of game as he did in game 7 vs. the Cavs? Did any of the Big 3 have their best possible game? No. It’s not that Kobe had a poor night…it’s rather that he has had 3 consecutive poor nights against the Celtics this season. Game 1 was key. Phil Jackson is 41-0 when winning game 1 and something like 6-7 when losing game 1. Does anyone have the stat when his teams lose games 1 and 2? Now, I bet you that stat is “scary”….possibly 0-something, right? C’mon Celtics, win game 2! They have to win and I’ll tell you why. The Lakers trade for Gasol was so underhanded that it should be officially investigated. I lost so much respect for West when that trade went through — it was clearly his doing even though he denies it. The Bulls were willing to offer a lot more for Gasol — everyone knows this. Ok, going off on a tangent…apologies. Back to your comments — weak ass fouls? Shall I remind you about game 4 in the LA-SA series? And a no-call by a ref that was reprimanded in last year’s playoffs. My prediction for the game tonight — Kobe and Phil will be crying a lot at the refs and crying early. And after a game 2 loss by the Fakers, Kobe will say something self-serving as always.
Also if the Lakers are good enough to win the Championship, the officiating shouldn’t be a obstacle for them, they should be able to play through bad calls. Not every call is going to go in the way of the Celtics and the same with the Lakers. There were horrible calls in the Celtics vs. Pistons games and the celtics played through them and won. This series wont be won by one player or lost due to officiating. This series will win on who wants it more and the use of team work. The Celtics want it more because they haven’t been in the finals for over 20 years. The Lakers have been in the finals recently and have won it. Don’t get me wrong that is an accomplishment. Most of the Lakers players have championship rings, but only 2 celtics have them, and all the rest will go through hell to get their own. Secondly, the celtics are more of a team than the Lakers. they dont have the Season MVP, and they dont have any of our players consistently putting up very high scoring performances. they have many players, not just one, putting up very good scoring games. The main game plan for the lakers pass the ball to Kobe. the celtics incorporate their whole team while playing which makes them more effective than just one player. For these reasons i think the celtics will win game 2 and also i think these reasons are the contributers to the celtics great chance of winning the whole series.
BballKid,
You make a good point about the Celtics team oriented play vs. the Lakers star oriented play. The Celtics have a more balanced attack. Although when the Lakers role players have good shooting nights they are balanced as well.
The team oriented play is preferable for the majority of the game. but if there is a close game coming down to the last minute of play, i’d rather bet on a team with star oriented play. Cause if its down to last minute Kobe will win the game. He’s amazing at that.
I think the Lakers will win todya. I just 400 bucks down on a bet on the Lakers to win! if they don’t win i’ll cry. LOL.
hey Laker4sho – you are going to lose that 400 bet hard my friend! Celtics are going to dominate the lakers today! Maybe you can ask Kobe for a refund of your money after he throws up bricks again!
p.s. where do you bet on the games? proline or something?
LOL @ Celticnation. Celtics have no chance to beat the Lakers today. The celtics fans always talk aobut how how cocky Kobe bryant is but they are the cocky ones who underestimate him and the lakers. I just signed up for bodog betting on the ad at the top of this page man. damn you celtics fans are dumb! lol
You’re calling me dumb but you are the idiot that just through 400 bucks away. No way the Lakers win today. You should be smarter with your money and put it on the Celtics to win.
We never said Kobe was cocky, we just said Kobe is really the main reason the Lakers are good. Also if you agree with my points then you must be dumb also, because somehow my points are dumb.
I don’t care if you think kobe is cocky or not anyways cause he deserves to be cocky. He is the best player and will dominate the Celtics tonight! I am going to come back here and laugh hard at you dudes when Lakers dominate today and I make cash on that one…LOL you guys don’t know anything about it.
Kobe isn’t the only clutch player. Paul pierce dominated the second half of game 1 with a hurt knee. ray allen has also hit countless clutch shots in his career. also who is more energetic and dominant, than KG, when it matters the most?
are all lakers fans jerks because we didn’t say s**t about you and then you just started to be an @$$hole to us????? Anyways this should be a great game and the team who wins, I think it will be the celtics, should get credit for winning a crucial game.
This will be a very crucial game for the Lakers, becuase if they go down 0-2 it will be very hard for them to climb out of that hole. On the other hand, the Celtics if they go up 2 games have to be careful not to get over-confident like the Mavericks did a couple years ago when they were up two games on the Heat. Dwade and Shaq have a lot of pride and the confidence of the mavericks and fans ignited them to dominate the rest of the series with 4 straight wins for the title.
I do think however that the Celtics players are smarter than that. They are mature and will not rest or be over confident until it’s all over and they have their ring!
looks like someone lost some $$$
How did I know you would be back to gloat Bball Kid? LOL
Ah well. I will make it back on Game 3! I hope LOL
I wish the Lakers completed that come back man. Would have been the greatest comeback in history for sure!@ and would have mad e me some coin.
Ah well
Too bad you lost that money LC4sho…And your right, that 24 point come back would have been the greatest defecit ANY time has overcome in an NBA finals game with under 2/3 of the quarter left. It is all about momentum and the lakers put together come back runs like no other team but that is because they dig pretty big holes for themselves when they fall out of their offense. But that is exactly what the celtics are good at…playing D. Put for all you LAKER HATERS out there….you need to get a clue. Kobe doesnt need to be greater than Michael Jordan. Thats just a little game your playing in your heads. IT DOESNT MATTER.
You guys are really imature. THERE IS NO GREATEST PLAYER EVER AWARD AND IF THERE WAS YOU RETARDS WOULDNT BE THE JUDGES…
But importantly i would like to point out that if you dont see the pure energy….talent….and heart in players like Pao, Lomar, Fisher, Turiaf, Farmar and Sasha then you just dont REALLY watch them play and if you dont watch them play then you cant judge them. You can talk s&*t about how Kobe is out there doing it all but you would just be talking s*&t…nothing more. We have not only five guys that can dominate any team…but we have 5 guys that can come off the BENCH and dominate any team. Our “MOB SQUAD” is well known for bringing down defecits put up by the starts.
What are your bench players known for?….well one of them has a head that makes me question aliens desguised as people…. PJ brown could collapse just running down the court at any moment….And im sure everyone is going to be going all whoopdy do about Mr Poo Poo’s 21 points….Well think about it…if you had a half time show dedicated to your life dont you think you would play pretty good?!?!? He averages 6 points a game….hes not a threat.
In all seriousness you guys have a decent bench but they are a little old and pretty unreliable. Unfortantly, so far in the serious, i cant say much for LA’s bench. But nothing is set in stone until tonights game….and when we win it wont mean anything until thursdays game….once we have that under our belts….AND I’M not dumb enough to bet 400 bucks on it but i can GUARANTEE those first two games. ANyway then were back at 0-0 and we will see whats really going to happen. If we get all three then CELTS are in trouble because we can win on the road
the other lakers players are doing some work but if someone was to take away kobe the lakers would suck. if someone took away one of the big 3 boston would still be good
your trippin balls bballkid…you didnt listen to anything i said and you’ve obviously never REALLY watched the lakers play…With all the SH!T people talk about how the lakers got Pao for nothing…(which is partly due to the fact the people dont realize we also gave them the rights to Pao’s younger brother whos just as big and actually very talented)…the only thing your comment does is validate the fact that you guys got an even better and more rediculous deal putting THREE ACTUAL ALL STARS on a single team. Lomar…Pao…Fisher…. they arn’t all stars put they play like them and if you did take KOBE away for a whole game…these guys and EVERYONE off of the Laker Bench would put your comment to shame because they would play even harder without KOBE.
Anyway none of that maters because you have your “big three” and we’ve got ten guys ready to knock’em out of their little Championship DREAM.
All of the Lakers “capable” of playing like stars would be doing this because it is the NBA finals. I thought odom was a star???? whats up with him
Odom has been playing better than Mr. All-Star Hall of Fame Ray Allen has been in the past few series. Although he lit us up in the last game, it didnt mean anything when the rest of the “big three” couldn’t make a shot for their lives. Odom does all the little things that matter and now that they are at home…Pao will sit around the post…and when he dishes it to Kobe who will be instantly double teamed, they will get the ball to a cutting Odom right down the middle of the lane for a dunk.
WHERE DID ALL THE CELTIC FANS GO!!!!! DRYING YOU TEARS!?!?!?!?!?!
hey ray allen knows how to play defense without fouling. Also how could the lakers lose when they had a 24 point lead? This shows everyone that the celtics want the title more. they might not win game 5 but im sure they will win it all at home.
Boston Celtick rulls !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1