Celtics stun Lakers after huge comeback
June 13, 2008
The Boston Celtics have moved to within one win from taking 2008 NBA title. The win against the Lakers was more impressive as the Celtics were at one stage down by 24 points. The loss for the Lakers was the first at home in the 2008 playoffs.
With 6:45 left in the second quarter the Celtics trailed by 24 points. At halftime they still had 18 points to make up just to pull level with the Lakers.
The match started well for the home side. Fans would have been thinking the game was in the bag after a 35-14 opening quarter in which the home team could do no wrong. It was Lamar Odom who came out firing for the Lakers when he scored 13 points in the first quarter.
The key point for the Celtics was that they had plenty of time to chip away at the Lakers lead. This is exactly what they did. After being down by such a huge margin in the second quarter the Celtics had got to within 2 points going into the fourth quarter.
For Boston there was no one player that stood out. It was a good team effort that helped them get back into the match. It was much the same for the Lakers as the scoring was well spread through the team. The problem was that Kobe Bryant would normally lead the scoring by a wide margin and today he did not deliver scoring just 17 for the match. This came from 6 of 19 shooting. His inaccuracy lead to the downfall of the Lakers. At the start of the final quarter Bryant had scored only 7 points. Bryant has been averaging over 30 points a game throughout the playoffs.
The match was up for grabs with 1:30 left on the clock as the Celtics held a 2 point lead with the scores 89-87. From there it was a Posey 3 point shot that stretched the lead to 5. The Lakers hit back with a 2 point bucket to Fisher. With the match in the balance it was the pressure free throw shooting of Paul Pierce that edged Boston clear.
A Gasol dunk made the score 94-91 in favour of Boston. On the next play the Celtics worked down the clock and Ray Allen ended the play with a layup to once again take the lead to 5. So that was where it ended and we saw Boston complete one of the greatest comebacks in NBA finals history.
Game 5 will also be played in Los Angeles. Can the Celtics claim their first NBA crown since the mid eighties or will the Lakers take the series back to Boston?
Lakers hit back on home court
June 11, 2008
The Lakers kept their home winning streak alive in the 2008 NBA playoffs with a 87-81 victory over the Boston Celtics in game three of the finals.
Kobe Bryant helped the Lakers turn a two point deficit at the start of the fourth quarter into a six point victory. The Lakers star scored 10 points in the last quarter and 36 for the night.
As the Lakers took to the court in game three they knew it was essential to win this match or they could virtually kiss goodbye the 2008 NBA title. No team has come back to win a series from 0-3 in the history of the NBA finals.
The hero for Boston in game 2, Paul Pierce, had a quite night for Boston with just 6 points. Ray Allen top scored for the visitors with 25.
Of the starting five for the Lakers it was only Bryant who hit double figures. Lucky for the men in yellow reserve Sasha Vujacic chipped in for 20 points.
The Lakers will be looking to extend their playoffs home court winning streak to 10-0 as they take on the Celtics in game 4 on Thursday.
Looking for Celtics jerseys or Lakers jerseys?
Boston fight off late challenge from the Lakers for 2-0 lead
June 9, 2008
The Boston Celtics almost let a 24 point lead slip in game two of the NBA finals. Playing at home with less than eight minutes to go you would have thought they were safe.
The Lakers thanks to a huge 41 point final quarter almost snatched what would have been a vital away win. What got the Lakers back in touch was a flood of three point baskets. They scored seven in the last quarter. With 38 seconds to play two Bryant free throws got the Lakers to within two points at 102-104.
Paul Pierce who fought off knee pain was key in the final seconds. He sank two free throws to extend the lead to four. On the next play he got a blocked shot as Vujacic attempted a three point shot.
Pierce played another big game for the Celtics as he scored 28 points for the night. He was backed by Powe who scored 21 for the Celtics. Kobe Bryant once again lead the scoring for the Lakers with 30.
The series now moves to Los Angeles for the next three games. It of course is vital that LA win the next game to get back into the series. They really need to win all three to go back to Boston with two shots at getting the away win that is required to win the series.
The Lakers are 8-0 at home in the playoffs for 2008 and are 14-0 at home since March 28. They will be keen to keep that streak alive. Game 3 is on Tuesday night at the Staples Center in LA.
Are you a high school athlete in the USA? Get into TAKKLE.com
June 9, 2008
Have you heard about TAKKLE the Ultimate Site for High School Sports? It is a great site that gives high school athletes a chance to showcase themselves to sporting scouts or fans of high school sports in the USA.
TAKKLE follows the social network model to allow you to post photos and videos, share schedules and stats. It is also a place to hangout for coaches, athletes and fans. It gives you an outlet to share your passion for sport.
TAKKLE was developed with the high school athlete in mind. It is a place to help you succeed. If you are looking to promote yourself to the scouts or college coaches this is the place for you. TAKKLE.com allows you to load pictures, videos and stats from all your games. It is a great place to showcase your abilities.
At the end of the season when it is time to get your name out to college coaches you can send the “TAKKLE Sheet”. This is a one-page snapshot of your stats and all your personal info. It can easily be sent to any college coach in the USA.
Are you a High School Coach?
If you are a coach TAKKLE makes your life easier as well. You can use the tools in the site to organize game and practice schedules and keep in touch with your players in a secure environment. You can even scout your upcoming opponents. Join FREE Today! TAKKLE also makes it easier to help you get your players in contact with college coaches.
TAKKLE is great for college recruiters also
To succeed as a college coach you need to find the best athletes and of course coach them well. Takkle can help you find athletes easier than before. Takkle will bring all the key information to you in an easy to search format. You can use just about any criteria you can think of to find the perfect fit for you team. The high school athletic world will be at your fingertips.
TAKKLE.com is also a great place for fans, friends and parents of high school athletes. The site will be one to keep up-to-date with all that is happening with your favorite athlete or team. There will be stats, photos and videos for you to view and comment on.
Another great thing with TAKKLE is that you can end up in Sports Illustrated. They have a faces in the crowd section which features athletes from TAKKLE.
Why not head over now and sign up! TAKKLE is the Ultimate Site for High School Sports. Join FREE Today!
Lakers looking to level series and then wrap it up at home
June 8, 2008
The Lakers were second best in the opening game of the 2008 NBA finals against Boston Celtics. The Celtics playing at home to the first match 98-88.
With the way matches are scheduled if LA can steal the next match they go home to play 3 straight matches. This could see them claim the title on their home court. There is a long way to go before thinking about that.
In game 2 the key for the Lakers is to be more physical on the boards. They need to grab more rebounds than they did in match one.
Game 2 tips off at 9pm ET on Sunday.
Celtics back to finals after 21 years
June 1, 2008
Going into the fourth quarter at home with a 68-60 lead the Pistons may have thought that was enough to close out the game. They did not see what was coming from the Bostons, a team hungry to make the NBA finals for the first time since 1987.
The Pistons opened the fourth quarter with a bucket from Rip Hamilton to take the lead out to 10. Here is where it went wrong for the Pistons. They missed their next four shots and turned the ball over three times in a four minute period. During that time the Celtics scored 10 unanswered points to tie up the scores at 70.
The team from Boston now had a sniff for victory and there was no letting up. A 29-13 final quarter blew the game apart and with it they were heading to the NBA finals.
The Celtics had the lead after the first quarter after a 24-21 opening. They still lead a halftime by the same margin. They faded in the third quarter to make the Pistons think the game was theirs.
Then they hit them with a 23-6 run in the fourth quarter. It was too much for the home team to handle and they were out of the NBA finals for 2008.
It was Paul Pierce that sparked the Celtics in the fourth quarter. He hit two key baskets and some free throws that got things going. He ended the match with 27 to lead the Boston scorers.
For the Pistons it was the guards who did the bulk of the scoring when the big men were needed to step up and help overcome the rush of points the Celtics got in the closing quarter. Billups lead the scoring with 29 and Hamilton contributed 21. Prince, McDyess and Wallace could only score 20 between them.
Now just like in the days I first remember following the NBA from here in Australia it is the old classic matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Who can forget the old rivalry of Bird vs Magic.
The 2008 series between the Lakers and Celtics has a lot to live up to. Play in game one begins on June 5 in Boston.
Have your say below.
Bryant shoots Spurs out of NBA finals
May 30, 2008
Kobe Bryant has scored 39 points to play a key role in eliminating the defending NBA champions, San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs came out firing and had a comfortable 13 point lead after a 28-15 first quarter. Tim Duncan and Michael Finley combined to give the Spurs 15 points in the opening period.
The second quarter started with the Spurs further building their lead after a 15-1 run in the first 7 or so minutes. At this point they were up 33-16. Jordan Farmar finally got things going for the Lakers with 3 straight baskets to edge back into the match.
By the end of the first half the Lakers had worked their way back to 48-42. Kobe Bryant was now starting to have more of a say in the proceedings and ended the half with 13 points.
The Lakers have shown in other games that they can chase down a lead and they again proved that in this game. Youth and speed can help when up against an older team.
Apart from a lead in the opening minutes the Lakers did not get their noses in front until it was 61-60 with 1:11 left in the third quarter. The Lakers slowly pulled away however could not shake the Spurs. With 2:45 to go on the clock the score was 85-82 in favour of Los Angeles.
It was not until the last two minutes that the Lakers got the edge and went on to claim their spot in the NBA finals for the first time in 4 years.
The Lakers must now wait to see who they will face in the finals. Boston has the lead in the series over Detroit who play on Friday night in Detroit. If the Pistons win at home the series will be decided in Boston on Sunday.
Celtics tease Pistons in game 5 win
May 29, 2008
Boston in the third quarter of their Eastern Conference final match had Detroit on the ropes. They held a commanding 17 point lead with 3:32 left on the clock in third quarter.
Did Boston go to sleep? or did Detroit wakeup? In the remaining minutes of the match Detroit worked themselves back into the match and with just 8 seconds left in the match they were just 1 point behind with the scores at 102-101 in favor of the Boston team playing on their home court.
The Celtics now lead the series 3-2 with game 6 back in Detroit on Friday. If the Celtics can steal another away win they will be going to the NBA finals for the first time since 1987 when the team included Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale.
In this game it was another Kevin who came up with the goods. Kevin Garnett scored 33 points for his team. He was backed up by Ray Allen who knocked in 29 including a key jumper with one minute left in the match.
Detroit will now need to make sure they are on their game when they play on their home court in the next match. If they have an off night they will be eliminated from the 2008 NBA playoffs.
Lakers one match from NBA finals
May 29, 2008
The Los Angeles Lakers have held off a late charge from San Antonio to win game 4 of their match against the defending NBA champs. With 56 seconds on the clock the Lakers were ahead 93-86. The Spurs got to 91-93 with 28 seconds to go however that was the end of the scoring.
The Lakers are now ahead in the series 3-1. With a home game on Thursday the Lakers would be odds on to wrapup the series and move into the NBA finals.
Kobe Bryant once again lead the way in the scoring for the Lakers with 28 points. It was a good team effort as the scoring was spread across the team.
San Antonio had three players that did the bulk of the scoring. Tim Duncan was top scorer with 29. Tony Parker and Brent Barry also make good contributions with 23 apiece.
For the Spurs to stay in the finals they will now have to go to Los Angeles and upset the Lakers on their home court.
Big last quarter sees Pistons home
May 27, 2008
A big game from Antonio McDyess saw the Detroit Pistons level the Eastern Conference finals at 2-2. He stepped up with 21 points and 16 rebounds as Detroit defeated Boston 94-75.
Boston’s big three players Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen had trouble hitting baskets. They were a combined 11 from 38 from the field. Shooting like that is not going to win games it that is how it was for Boston.
For Detroit Richard Hamilton chipped in with 20 points and Rasheed Wallace scored 14.
