Game 1

I wasn't going to post anything specifically about the Laker's Game 1 no-show, but after receiving a steady stream of taunts from "Beh-stin" Celtic fans (actually just Laker-haters that jumped on the bandwagon) at work... I changed my mind. A couple thoughts:

1) The Celtics are a great team. Nobody is saying "YAAAHHHHH... THE CELTICS SUCK!" because that would be foolish. They've got 3 all-stars, one of the strongest team defenses ever, and a selfless attitude that continues to blow my mind. They've got KG, one of the best power forwards EVER. And they've got home-court advantage based on their blistering regular season record. (Which may or may not have been largely due to playing in the weak eastern conference. I'm just saying.) As much as they're our arch-rivals, I can't hate the Celtics personally. I can still hate them as a team, the way any die-hard fan can hate an opposing squad. But for crying out loud -- what a great team. Just had to get that off my chest.

2) I'm undecided as to whether Paul Pierce's crippling knee "injury" (and subsequent miraculous "recovery") was legit or not. Bill Simmons made the point that "he might just have been more scared rather than in pain." OK, true. But why was he CARRIED off the court by his teammates? Last time I checked, most people with knee injuries are able to hop on the other leg while being supported under each arm. Also, the way he was holding his knee immediately when it happened didn't look right to me -- most catastrophic knee injuries I've seen (and I've seen more than a few) are most comfortable with the knee in mid-range extension. I can't think of a single person I've ever seen with a blown out knee who grabbed it and flexed it as far as it would go up to their chest. The fact that he was carried off the floor straight to a waiting wheelchair, wheeled back with an entourage that was trying to block the TV cameras from zooming in on Pierce (what the heck? umm, this is the NBA guys... it's televised!) and came trotting back out of the tunnel after only 1:45 of game time with hardly a limp? Suspicious at best. I've also heard the point that "Pierce is a gutsy player who's never really been injured" -- I don't see how that pertains to his willingness or ability to fake (or amplify) an injury with the purpose of injecting a little momentum into a series where the Celtics are (for some reason) the underdogs. He's been quoted as saying he has "a pretty good chance" of playing on Sunday. I would agree that 100% is a pretty good chance. The only way I will let this one go is if a) he doesn't play part of this series because of his knee, or b) he ends up getting surgery this offseason on his "injured" knee. Otherwise... whatever. It's not illegal to fake an injury, I'm just not buying it. (Yet.)

3) Pretty funny how the Lakers went from being the overwhelming favorite to the definite underdog in 1 game. From what I've been reading, people have been trying to contemplate how on earth the Lakers are going to be able to win a single game against the Celtics now. Umm... that was one game. We didn't even show up. The entire team was cold for 3.5 quarters. It was a road game... "the series doesn't even start until a home team loses." And we were hanging with them until like 2 minutes left in the game, even though we were playing like trash. All I'm saying is that sometimes you have a bad game, and you just have to let it go. If the Lake Show is able to let it go and come out with some intensity in game 2 (or even game 3), we'll be in good shape. If not... we definitely have a problem.

4) Andrew Bynum. (sigh)

5) How cool are the Boston alternate jerseys? Green & black are 2 of my latest favorite colors. Definitely NOT because of the Celtics, more because of Vest Coast. And no I don't want one of those jerseys. I want one of Fish's.

6) People keep harping about how Chris Wallace should be the Lakers' MVP for the season for his role in sending Pau-Pau to LA. People also keep chirping about how Jerry West must have played a huge role in Memphis trading an all-star for a huge pile of empty salaries*. My point: you people are dumb. I didn't hear you complaining when the Celtics sent Al Jefferson to Minnesota for KEVIN FREAKING GARNETT. This completely devastated an entire NBA franchise, and brought about the biggest single season turnaround in history... but Chris Wallace did something wrong? You guys remember who signed off on the KG trade, right?

(*Incidentally, I really miss watching Kwame get hit by the ball right between the 5 and the 4 on every entry pass. I also miss accidentally teaching my 4-year old niece new words every time he came into the game. My favorite question from her: "Which one is 'Freaking Kwame'?")

7) Game 2 party at my house tomorrow night. You're invited. (Even if you're a Celtics fan, although you will be asked to sit on "the couch of shame.") GO LAKERS!!!