Down 0-2, Make It Interesting

The Good Ole' Days

 As of this moment in time, both the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers are down 0-2 in their respective series.  Both teams are up there in age (except for Bynum and Rondo), are not playing well, and we may be witnessing an official changing of the guard in The Association.  I decided to pose a question to my fellow Nextians:

Who has a better chance to make their series interesting?  The Celtics or the Lakers?  Here is what these genius' said.

Of course, the trusty Bilbo "Burglar" Baggins chimed in first:
I hate betting against The Lakers, but I think they will drop Game 3 w/o Ron Ron. Unless Gasol and Odom have epic games, I find it hard to believe they will win in Dallas. Boston has a much better chance of winning at home, despite looking like they just woke up from a nap. Rondo needs to take advantage of the fact that Bibby is guarding him and
I could see LeBron settling for jumpers with Shaq filling the paint. He isn't the defensive stopper he once was, but he can still take up space and deliver hard fouls.

Overall I don't like either team's chances, but if the question is which team will make the series more interesting (not a sweep) than I'll go with Boston.

Bilbo Baggins
2x YeeBA Champion

Timmay (Czar of the MVM) decided to respond:
Bilbo...your signature is weak.  The Lakers are the champs until proven otherwise.  The Mavs, well...they are the Mavs and were the last team to take the first 2 on the road in a best of 7 and lose the series.  Go Celtics...win game 3!

BK kept it short and sweet, trying to wrap up his week at work:

Lakers. I think the heat are a better team than the mavs

Toomie (MVM) kept it even shorter as he had a tee time after work:
Celtics

Timmay (MVM Czar) then made it all about betting:
I would love to say the Celtics because I put $100 on them to win the series, but I think age is catching up to them.  Their entire team is injured.  I hate the Lakers, but if they win Game 3, they are right back in it.

BK then responded a day later:
Can I take back my answer about the Lakers? I haven't watch Boston play too much this year but I get the sense they are old and the Heat are just hungrier. Its all about the matchups, I think everything is setting up to be the Heat's year and LeBron isn't going to back down.


Well, it seems to me as if "getting old" is a pervasive theme amongst THE Nextians who had time to respond on a Friday afternoon.  Although I do not agree and wonder if these guys actually watch the games, we all agree that this is the end of an era.

The "Weekly" Chat -- 2nd Round Playoffs Edition

Cam:  Hello Jamesbo/Thrilly-B.  I’m sure you are enjoying the heck out of this here second round.  It certainly is "Fan"tastic!  Aside from those nightmare inducing talking basketball commercials and the T-Mobile rapping Emo dude, what is intriguing you at the moment about the actual playing of basketball?  Both Dallas victories in Staples were something to behold. Kobe hasn't yet been able to produce his patented "Badger" playoff scowl.  Dirk dominates Game 1's close and the Mavs just out execute the defending chumps in Game 2.  Dirk doesn’t look too soft now, does he?

Biblo:  I have learned over the years to never write off The Lakers after a Game 1 loss. But it is hard to ignore the fact that Pau Gasol is so crucial to their success that anything other than spectacular play from him will spell disaster for the reigning champs. With so much talent on each side, I think whoever makes fewer mistakes will win. The Lakers looked tuuuurrable the last 2 minutes of Game 1. Stupid fouls and turnovers against a solid veteran team like the Mavs is suicide. However, I have to think The Lakers will bounce back. This series is tough to call, but I give an edge to the team that has made it to The Finals 3 years in a row. Lakers in 7.

Nice "distressed" jeans, Mark.  Also, nice team. Seriously.

Cam:  I think you'll change your tune especially when you learn that Dallas won game two as well in Staples.  Did your TiVo miss that one?  Also, congrats on making it through a post concerning the Lakers without mentioning Kobe.  And enjoy the Artest clothesline on JJ Barea = one game suspension.  I also love the fact that you're making series' predictions even though I didn't ask for them.  Way to take some initiative, Burglar Baggins.

 
Cam:  The Grizz looked great in game 1 but then Durant held a team dinner serving James Harden and Eric Maynor some of KD Kool Aid and these two 2^nd teamers combined to drop 36 in game 2.  Lithium was also added to Westbrook’s fruit punch causing him to thankfully only shoot 20 times instead of 30 thereby leading to a more efficient Thunder attack.

Bilbo: Memphis is a fun team to root for, and I’d love to see a possible Gasol vs Gasol match up in the next round, but I have my doubts that a team that relies so heavily on Zach Randolph so much can ever make it to the WCF. I just can’t see them getting past such a talented team like OKC. If Ibaka is seriously hurt, that obviously changes things, but getting past an aging Spurs team is one thing (Attn: Laker fans..this is your team in 3 years!), but getting past Durant and Co. when they are clicking is too difficult as was evident in Game 2. This series will come to who controls the paint. If Thunder can hold their own, their offense will tip the series in their favor. OKC in 6.

Pau is sad that Marc is now better

Cam:  And how old and slow do them Celtics look?  Wade & Co. seem to just be playing harder and faster.  As the Sportsdouche and Brian Windhorst said, this is Wade's team now as all LeBron is good for is setting hard picks (hilarious).  Boston just can't seem to get over the Perkin's trade and the things that they used to do well (playing harder and tougher) aren't happening.

Bilbo:  I’m pissed off at The Celtics. I really expected a tough, physical series between these two squads, and so far the only beef was from Paul Pierce, the least intimidating player in the NBA. I’m sure they really miss Perkins right now, because he would have knocked down D-Wade at least once a game. Who would of thought that it was him and not Garnett who defined the Celtics as a tough as nails team? They just haven’t been the same since the trade and I can’t see getting back on track against Los Tres Culos. Speaking of the Heat, I don’t think they’ve had to break a sweat at all through the first 2 rounds. Do we have to wait until the next round for Thibodeau to attack their weaknesses? Of course the way Chicago is playing I think The Heat could sleepwalk through the The East and face the winner of the Lakers/OKC series. While I wish this would go 7, I’m picking the Heat in 5.

Cam:  I'm finding it hard to enjoy the Bulls right now.  D-Rose isn't shooting the ball well and it seems as if they aren't playing to their full potential.  Although I think they'll get by the Hawks after ATL stealing Game 1 in Chi-town, they better be ready for 'dem Heat when they get through this series.  Thibbs might find a way to slow down Wade n' Co. but if they don't tighten up their offense (paging: Carlos Boozer) then they are going to have trouble hanging with Mike Miller and his teammates.

Bilbo:  How about them Hawks?? The perennial underachievers are suddenly a scary team. The talent has been there but consistency has always been lacking. I wasn’t sure if their round 1 victory was more The Magic playing crappy or if this team was legit. After the Game 1 beat down against The Jordans, it’s hard not to take them seriously. I feel like Chicago will come out on top, but it always looks like Derrick Rose is one drive away from a serious injury. But I’ll stick with the new NBA darling and say the Bulls in 6.

Cam: I like all of your predictions but the Lakers one.  Of course, you wrote your thoughts before their Game 2 loss so I'll cut you some slack.  But if you had to say, who was the hottest actress sitting in the front row at Staples?

Why The Celtics will win the '10/'11 'Ship (Barring Injuries)

If a picture speaks a thousand words then I'm thinking that a picture of Kobe on the floor with only D. Fish offering a hand up contrasted to this picture would tell about a bajillion words.  Does that make any sense?  No?  Good.

I was going to steal a BDL idea and do a "Provide a Funny Caption" contest for a free 40oz but thought better of it.  I don't think many of us drink 40's anymore anyway.