ariza's the lakers best on the ball defender (when he's healthy), Radmonovich is their worst. Ariza locked up Iverson after he put like 40 on the lakers in 3quarters earlier in the year. But maybe he's not healthy. Kobe's decent on the ball but a little lackadaisacal at times on defense. Cool the Celts down from 3 and its in the bag (barring another Delaneygate episode).

i await another snotty retort..

After watching eight quarters, it appears that Bryant may be the only rotation ready Laker with the appropriate skill set to counter Pierce. This adjustment has surely been considered over the last 36 hours.

The Lakers may want to start Bryant on Pierce tonight just to make sure he doesn't get out of the box early - the Lakers really need to establish an early tone.

If the Lakers go with the Bryant/Pierce match-up, where does this leave Radmonovic? It's hard to imagine him chasing Allen along the baseline. If this adjustment occurs, it seems the Lakers are going to have to go small by using Vujacic to chase Allen.

Tonight's first quarter should be fascinating with the Lakers in urgency mode while Boston looks for a couple of kill shot runs.

I hope I'm wrong, but smart money has the Lakers with a double digit lead after 12 minutes.

I had a dream last night that the Lakers won this game on a Kobe buzzer-beater. I hope that doesn't happen.

i had a dream that my gf's sister was over my house, playing with the lights by the pool, and she knocked one over. the shrubs caught fire, and everyone was too drunk to do anything but laugh, so I got a fire extinguisher --- but wouldn't you know it? By the time I got there, the fire had spread to the neighbor's lawn and to the side of my house. Everyone continues to laugh and laugh, while I panic screaming CALL 911 CALL 911! The heat is getting really really intense, and all of a sudden i wake up, realizing that is 100 degrees in my house because I shut the air conditioner off when I was trying to set it on a timer and it's 95 degrees in nj in ****ing june because of global warming!

Also, go C's.

James

James, I don't buy the heat part, I think it's the mets which are causing these nightmares.

Having Kobe on Pierce may help, problem is that while Ray Allen tires Kobe out (he's been moving a lot more off the ball this series than I have seen all playoffs, anyone else agree?), Pierce can get him into legit foul trouble, even in LA. Also, Pierce is still bigger and stronger than Kobe, he's a tough matchup.

No longer a mod Xorbie?

I think this is right. Pierce is great at getting to the line, and could put Kobe in foul trouble early on by just bullying his way to the hoop.

this is part of the reason why this matchup is not the best for LA. Pierce has been the best player on the floor so far, and I'm not sure what the answer is. hope he starts to play poorly I guess.

After I realized it didn't say what I expected it to say, I stopped reading and lost interest.

i'd expect more of the same on Pierce.. maybe more Ariza if he shows he can hang (wouldn't mind this because it's not like he's a lockdown defender and he's pretty bad offensively). Kobe will take him in stretches and more down the stretch. Hopefully Doc starts calling for a lot of Pierce post ups if this happens. This is where Pierce can really abuse Kobe. The size mismatch is just too much. I forget which game it was during the regular season, but in one of them this exact scenario happened and Pierce just torched him.

also I haven't seen anyone post this but Cassell sprained his hand in game 1. Not sure if he's expected to play tonight or not. Free Eddie!

yeah, i do not mind being the escrow

oh man that would be so great.

sorry meant game 2 obv.

Nope.

typical schilling though. He's like oh, this is how they do it in B-ball, never seen a leader in bball before... while all around circling the fact he obviously doesn't like Kobes style, and the fact he has absolutely no basis for his comment because he "hasn't observed other bball team leaders." most normal people would at least make one other team for a basis of comparison, but no not schilling, he's just gotta get it out there.

Was schilling this annoying before he got a ring with the sox? I forgot, it's been a while now. I think he was annoying with the dbacks, but whatever.

He is amusing at times since it's so stupid, but meh. Also, this is basketball too, but obviously he's an expert on everything, so I guess he's qualified.

ok cool I will send my money (should be 2k, 1k for kneel and 1k for black) once kneel sends over the other 2k, and blackmamba confirms and sends u the 3k.

Also whats ur stars/ftp sn's bobbo? You can pm me if you don't want them outed.

Epipen, confirming I am betting $3k to your $1k for the winner of tonights Game 3 Celtics vs. Lakers. I have Lakers.

confirm

am i missing something here, why is Epipen taking 3:1 odds on celtics with everyone here when he could get 4.5:1 on open market?

cause getting money on a sports book is hard ldo (plus u need to factor in the juice too)

BOOKED. if you really want to escrow we can but i trust you.

naw no need to escrow with u, I know ur respected/have money...plus u were in our 1k fantasy bball league so that counts for something

wat?