What’s on my brain going into tonight’s Game 3…
If you speak with 95% of the population, you’re going to get the assumption that the Lakers are going to win tonight. Pick your poison or your theory but that is the prevailing notion across the nation…the team in Gold is picking up the W tonight. And I can’t say that they should not or that they will not, however let’s not just hand over the rights to a team who has not looked great in Games 1 and 2 just because they are returning home. If the Laker team that whined and complained their way through quarters 1-3 in Game 2 shows up, I don’t care who is refeering the game the Lakers are going to get dusted. Had to get it out of my system.
The Lakers also have to stop fouling. Not talking about Game 2, but that’s two games the Celtics have gone to the line 30+ times. To put that in perspective they had only done it three times prior to that. You cannot give a jumpshooting team like Boston easy points like free throws. They are too good defensively, it bails them out and it also stops any chance for you to get out and run. Stop bitching, moaning, throwing your hands in the air. Instead just stop fouling. It will be more entertaining that way.
Lakers. You have to show up. And I’m talking to everyone but Kobe. Kobe is only going to be able to do so much against this defense. We know this after winning Games 1 and 2. For him to takeover and have a *shudder* “MJ” game he has to get to the line. If he gets to the line 10+ then yes Kobe Bryant can take over and none of you matter. But in all honesty…you all matter. And now it’s your time to shine and to remind everyone of how good you are. Role players are always better at home in the postseason. Not only that but you have to play with a sense of urgency. You lose this game…you know the stat that is coming. 3-0 and you might as well be listening to the Undertaker’s theme song because you’re as a dead as a doornail.
Kobe. Relax. Seriously….relax. Stop thinking about your legacy right now and think about winning a championship. You had a great fourth quarter…but you’ve been forcing the issue a little bit. Stop belittling your teammates every five seconds. Seriously…I don’t want to hear any comparisons between him and MJ until he stops this habit of acting like he is above his teammates. Because he still does it. It’s the tiny things. He sent about 10 death glares towards Pau last game. Not exactly uplifting behavior. Back to my point Kobe…you’ve got to get to the line tonight. Have to. You’re not beating the Celtics if you don’t attack the basket and get to the foul line. Unless you find a way to make jumper after jumper after jumper and have the best night of your life (which could happen) it just isn’t happening. Relax. We all know you’re good enough, stop thinking about Shaq and MJ. Just be the best Kobe Bryant you can be.
Radmonovic, you can salvage your career with a few threes tonight. Try not to foul Paul Pierce twice in the first minute of the game and you’ll already have improved over the first two games. You’re a secret weapon for the Lakers. They need your three-balls space cadet.
Pau…bottle the aggressiveness and swagger you had in spurts of the first half of Game 2 and use it tonight. For pete’s sake even Curt Schilling was calling you a wuss and he knows less about basketball than Angelina Jolie’s kids. Stop looking so helpless out there, come on man.
Lamar Odom. Just for the sake of us basketball fans, remember how to play the game. You should be a major factor in this series and you frankly have done next to nothing. Even Phil is calling you ‘confused’ which is code for ‘you are really fucking this shit up for us’. The Lakers need a 22 point performance from you more than they need 50 from Kobe.
Luke Walton. Do something. Please.
Kevin Garnett. I need to stop fooling myself into thinking you’re a post player. You’re not and you never have been. Even though you do it every now and then and it produces results…I will stop harping on it. I’ll also forget that you were a dominant force in the West that featured big men like Sheed, Duncan, Webber, Malone and Shaq. But… for pete’s sake just dribble past Pau Gasol once or twice and don’t get scared when you realize you’re at the rim and don’t have to shoot a fadeaway jumper. And put down your ‘Best of Hakeem’ DVD so when you actually do get in the post you don’t shake yourself out of a shot.
Ray Allen. Resist the urge to want to punch Sasha Vujacic.
Paul Pierce. Your knee held up after 3 days of rest, treatment, meds and adrenaline. Hopefully being home and the boo’s can help you out a little bit. Is it just me or am I expecting him to be a little more hobbled seeing as how there is a much quicker turn around. Doc should go to you early to test the knee out. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Eddie House. Please don’t bring your son.
Leon Powe. Don’t get discouraged. It’s not going to be like last game.
Kendrick Perkins. Do something besides scowl.
Jeff Van Gundy. Please, please, please stop saying you want teams to “push the ball”. Last I checked you were one half of the equation that nearly killed the NBA dead with your New York Knicks. And the Rockets sure as hell didn’t run for anything. 88 points a game, notorious for playing a slow, half-court game…and you keep talking about pushing the tempo. I, fine sir will call you out because you are lacking the credibility to say such things.
Mark Jackson. Any basketball players job is to hit open jumpers, not just PJ Brown. Do not say this as if it analysis or a mind-blowing statement. And please stop with the cheesy catchphrases on the slow motion replays going into commercials. It’s the Finals…try and be classy?