Finals

What a game, what a season.
I've had the pleasure of attending several Celtics games with my dad, a Celtics season-ticket holder since 1979 (he got them the day after the Celtics drafted a fellow by the name of Larry Bird, you may have heard of him). Game 6 was the most enjoyable experience of my life as a sports fan. There is NOTHING that compares to seeing your favorite team win the championship. It is the ultimate fan reward. Being there with my dad was extra special as well; he's raised me as a Boston sports fan, to the point where I don't even know when my love of the Celtics, Red Sox & Patriots began - it was just always the way.

So many things about last night’s game piss me off:

Boston is up 2-1 over the Lakers and Game 4 is tonight in LA. The Celtics will win one of the next two games in LA and finish the series up in Boston and take home banner # 17. The Lakers shouldn't even bother to show up tonight because this series is already over. I know the Laker fans are going to piss and moan about this bold statement but the truth is the Celtics have this wrapped up and I'll tell you why.

10. Kobe Bryant had to score 36 points for the Lakers to barely pull off Game 3. Not an easy task to repeat 3 more times against the Celtic's defense.

Since I bitched about the referees before Game 3, I figured I'd comment on tonight's assigned referees for Game 4. Steve Javie (one of the best refs), Joe DeRosa (part of the 2006 mugging of the Mavericks mentioned previously) & Tom Washington (don't really know him, which probably means he isn't that bad) are the assigned referees.

I must say, I am loving what I am seeing so far in the Finals. Game 1 was well played and featured the huge, epic comeback by Pierce. Game 2 was 3 ½ quarters of just domination before holding off a furious comeback (way too stressful). The Lakers can cry about the foul shot disparity, but you don't get to the line without taking it to the rack.

NBA Finals Preview

Wow. The Celtics & Lakers both looked impressive in closing out their respective Conference powerhouse. On top of that, they have guaranteed a TV ratings bonanza for the NBA and ABC. And let’s face it, after taking the regular season crown in their respective Conferences, would either team want it any other way? To be the best, you have to beat the best. And this is the first time since 2000 that both Conferences’ top seeds made the NBA Finals.