Biggest Win For LA? TNT Would Have You Think So...

I shouldn't even bother to blog about this because the loss isn't really a big deal when you think about it. Here's why:

Let's first take a look at the lineups for the game tonight.
For the Celtics we had:

Ray Allen
Rajon Rondo
Kevin Garnett
Kendrick Perkins
Paul Pierce (even though he was visibly weak due to the flu)

Glen Davis
Nate Robinson (injured early)
Von Wafer
Avery Bradley

The Lakers had:

Bryant
Gasol
Bynum
Fisher
Artest

Odom
Blake
Brown
Walton
and 3-4 random people I've never heard of, but at least they had bodies to put out on the floor if necessary.

So with Robinson out and Pierce not a big factor due to illness, the Celtics trotted out a whopping 7 healthy players. And even THAT is debatable because Perk's probably not 100% yet. So, let's say 6 and 1/2. And we lost by only 6 points.

Second, based on that, it just becomes more obvious that the Celtics are in a completely different league. Throughout the first half, we were fresh and full of energy. We built up a 15 point lead (8 by halftime) and it would have almost certainly continued that pattern had we had fresh legs to sub in for our starters. Unfortunately, as we all saw, this wasn't the case, and by the time the 4th quarter came around, everyone was winded, and rightfully so. I mean, just look back to the game in LA. We blew them away in the 4th and we were healthier then than now (the Lakers, meanwhile, were the same). So, if A + B = C, that proves that when even a when we're just a LITTLE BIT healthier, we're far better. Again, the Lakers essentially scraped by with a 6 point victory tonight.

Here's a couple more points of interest:


Boston is 11-6 against the so-called "elite teams." (For my money, San Antonio, Dallas, LA, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta, OKC, and Orlando.)

LA is 2-6. And yes, I counted tonight's win for them even though we were absolutely decimated.

The Celtics have had one of the hardest schedules in the league in the first half of the season. I'm too lazy to go and look at our strength-of-schedule and all that percentages, but just look above. We've played 17 games against teams above .600 so far. The Lakers have played 8. I went through their schedule and results and they didn't play an elite team until almost A MONTH after the season started! The Celtics started against Miami.

By the way, know what really pisses me off? How the Lakers play in the same arena as the Clippers. It's actually kinda unfair when you think about it. When they play the Clippers "on the road" it's not really a "road" game. They're playing at home and most of the fans there are Lakers fans to begin with. Completely takes home court advantage away from it. It's also unfair for the rest of the league. All teams play 41 games on the road, but the Lakers really only play 39. I know I'm being nitpicky, but wouldn't you like the Celtics to play 2 fewer games on the road and add 2 more to play in Boston? Actually, let's take this a bit further. There are 4 teams that play in California: the Warriors, Kings, Lakers, and Clippers. Now, sure, California is kind of a big state and all, but FOUR TEAMS?! And it's not like you're going from the northernmost point to the border of Mexico here. The plane ride is apparently about 1:30. I dunno, this just pisses me off because it's all in the same state/area and the travel seems not nearly as taxing as other NBA teams have to do.

While we're here, I also want to point out that LA used to be in Minneapolis and won a few championships there. Why do they count towards LA's total?? Do we say, "Here they are! You're 1-time NBA Champion Thunder!!!!" just because that same franchise won a title back in Seattle? No. The Lakers don't have 16 titles. They have 11.


Anyway, the point of this was just to show that tonight's loss is essentially meaningless because of our lack of players. Meanwhile, LA is all healthy and beat us by two possessions. Yeah. Nice job.

Can't Think of a Creative Title Because I'm So Pissed Off.

This is going to be R-rated, so if you get offended by stuff, avert your eyes.

First, what a load of horseshit. I try to be as unbiased as possible, but when you call a sixth foul on KG for having Derek Fisher push him to get the ball, it's hard not to get pissed off. Yeah yeah, this game was "exciting because it went into overtime, Andy!" Fuck you. This game was bullshit. The refs so clearly favor Kobe Bryant the self-proclaimed "Face of the League" it's not even funny. And how the FUCK about that last no-call? How do two people grab Ray Allen by his arms as he's running AND as he's shooting and you don't call anything? And don't give me this stupid shit about how it's the last play of the game, so the refs gotta have big balls to call something. Well, let me tell you something. A play that flagrant needs to be called. On both ends. Seeing Pau Gasol, he of the non-bathing, anti-hygenic lifestyle make an effeminate yell trying to emulate KG at the end of the game is sickening.

"Rawwwwrrrr! I don't bathe and am a soft player who is only getting recognition because I'm not on a shitty Memphis team anymore!!! Rawwwwr!"

The amount of time their big guys spent in the paint is another big issue with the officiating. You know, you only get three seconds in there right? So how come they're clogging up the whole damn thing the entire game?? Jesus. Fucking pay attention. Where the fuck is Dick Bavetta and why are so many of these young refs in these big games? Put the fucking 24-year-old with his hair greased back to look cool on Grizzlies-Thunder games.

"Hey Kobe, I'm young and clearly a douchebag, so to be your friend I'll give you all the good calls!"

So, congratulations, Lakers. Sure you didn't have Bynum, but Kobe's content to shoot the ever loving shit out of the ball without passing to anyone, and when he knocks down a 6-7 out of 30, the announcers go ape shit. KG's recovering from the flu and 5 other guys on the Celtics have symptoms and had to be given antibiotics. He was clearly winded. Scal is still out with a concussion, so our big guy problem went deeper. You're still a fucking soft team trying to be all physical (i.e. getting in the faces of KG, Perk, and Rondo throughout the course of the game trying to get something going). I bet $100 on us when KG's in the game the whole time playing at 100% health. He clearly wasn't at that tonight.

Another criticism, this time actually against some of our play. Why the FUCK are we double-teaming Kobe out way beyond the three point line? At least a few times in crucial moments, Perk would come out and guard Kobe, leaving Gasol or Odom open down low for easy layups. What. the. fuck. Oh, and Perk. STOP BRINGING THE FUCKING BALL DOWN WHEN IT'S DELIVERED TO YOU IN THE POST. We lost probably 4 points in regulation because you did that.

See? Perk, you wouldn't have gotten molested if you just kept the ball up. A lesson to be learned by all...

RONDO: Stop taking wild layups and throwing it hard off of the glass in hopes that someone on our team is there to clean it up (KG did so in the first quarter. But that's luck. Don't do it 5 more times.).

DOC: Why are you going with Big Baby at the very end? Put Eddie House in!!!! The guy's been on fire for over a month it seems and had been in that game.

Unfuckingbelievable. I just hate shitty games. HATE. Bad officiating is the worst thing in the league. You know if Kobe was taking that last shot and got as fouled as Ray, they'd call it. Where's the fucking parity? It's never easy for the C's. I was going to root for the Lakers to beat the Cavs in Cleveland in a couple days to give them their first loss at home, but fuck it. I want to see Lebron torch Kobe's ass. Fucking demolish them.

"I'm Kobe Bryyyyyyyant!!!!"

When all's said and done, it is just one game. We've had the two longest winning streaks in the league and are right there near the best record. We will win the East because Orlando's slipping after losing Nelson and the Cavs can't do it with one guy. Once we have everyone at full strength, we're fine. Maybe we just expecting things to fall into place with KG back in the lineup and it didn't work out? Could be. But one thing's for sure, night in and night out the C's always have two opponents: the team and the refs. There's no doubt in my mind that when a big name player like Kobe or Lebron are playing, they always get the calls. And that is just unfair. Let the game be played. If there's foul (i.e. Allen's play) call it. If there is minimal-to-no contact (i.e. KG's sixth foul) don't call it. Calling those bullshit ticky-tack fouls RUINS the momentum of the game.

Oh, one more thing that just popped into my head. Last play of regulation. We had called a timeout. I know Pierce wants to take on Kobe one-on-one, but come onnnnnnn! This is a team game. Have your teammates set a couple of screens, get a play going. There was plenty of time to do that, but we opted to have Pierce dribble the ball out at halfcourt and then drive/spin/be out of control and try and score. C'mon, Doc. You can draw up a better play than that.

Fucking see you in the playoffs, you purple and gold ass clowns.

"My ego is THIIIIIS big! butihavenoringssinceshaqleft."

Oh, and for good measure:

How anyone could be a "fan" of Kobe-wan Kenobi (as my dad calls him, although giving him Jedi status is still too much) is beyond me. Fucking asshole.