It was the most “4-0” 4-2 I have ever seen.

The Lakers were never really in this one; outclassed, outplayed, outsmarted at every turn.

In game one, it was thought that they suffered from a combination of being on the road and being a little rusty from time off after dispatching the Spurs.

In game two, they were out of it early, and down by 22 at the end of Q3, and despite a big comeback found themselves returning home without the desired split on the road.

But ahh, game three. Home court, the rust off, and LA was back in rhythm, off to a good start, up at the half and back in control. Almost. They get outscored after the locker room break, for the third straight game. They fight to hold on to a win, but there does appear to be a leak in the ship.

Then came a time when it all went wrong. Up by 23 points, LA goes on to lose, and the leak is now gushing with force.

It ends a few days later in Boston, when Boston goes up by 23 and shows the Lakers how to not lose a lead.

What did we see? Good D, or poor shooting? There is no debate – Boston’s team defense shut down Kobe, made Odom and Fisher almost invisible, showed Gasol to be a lightweight, and had Radmanovic and Vujacic looking like Euro league rejects.

And let’s not forget coaching, where I was as far off in my analysis as I was on the series itself. The most telling sign? Q3. Post first half adjustments. Doc schooled the Zen Master, as his Celts took 5 of 6 Q3’s. And the rest of the games were no different, Doc made the right moves, at the right time, while Phil was often seen on the bench, rubbing his beard, looking for answers. Ones that never came.

In the end, it was 4-2. But it looked more like 4-0 . . .

“Kick off your Sunday Shoes”

Excuse me, while I sidestep sports for a brief interlude.

I called Nancy Grace.

As regular readers know, I find Nancy Grace to be one of the most despicable people on the planet. So from time to time I tune in, to see what new crap she’s trying to dish up as news while I fight the urge to participate in the viewer call in section of show by letting them know I think she's a  - - - -.  On Thursday, she, along with CNN, was reporting on the big story – a severed foot washed up on the shore near Vancouver. In case you are unaware, this was the fifth such appendage found in recent time, all being the right foot, so it appears five different people have met their maker via a serial killer. Nancy reported, “It most likely is some guy with a foot fetish.”

WRONG!

If it was a guy with a foot fetish the bodies would have washed up; he would have kept the feet!

But that’s not what I called to complain about. I wanted to know why they weren’t playing “Footloose” as background music for the story.

They hung up on me.

I’m thinking it won’t be the last time.

You can’t keep a good Conspiracy Theorist Down!

Had there been questionable calls on Boston in game 6, that brought about a game 7, the Conspiracy theorists would have had a field day. No matter. I heard the reason Stern didn’t exert his power to influence the outcome in game 6 was because the spotlight that was on the league regarding influencing big games for the most financially beneficial outcomes, as evidenced by the press conference Stern held mid-series, prevented him from doing so. Like I said, you can’t keep a good Conspiracy Theorist down.  

Mayweather taking a nap?

On Friday, ESPN asked Marvin Hagler (the only boxer who ever said “I retire” and wasn’t lying) if he thought Floyd was retired, or just taking a break. The Marvelous one responded, “No, he’s not retired, he’ll be back. There is way too much money for him to walk away from.”

I find Floyd’s announcement curious. Last month, he forced his trainer, Uncle Roger Mayweather, to give up his job as trainer of Steve Forbes, in his bout with Oscar. His reason is that he didn’t want Roger to help Steve in case Forbes won, thus preventing Floyd from gaining what would most likely be his biggest payday ever, his rematch with DeLahoya.

Then, a few weeks later, Floyd retires??!!

Boxers fight for one reason – to get that big pay day. What was most likely going to be Floyd’s largest payday ever was his rematch with Oscar. And then, with the money right there in front of him, he suddenly decides to retire?

No.

Maybe he’s just waiting for an already old Oscar to get just a little older . . . ???

“Warning - Anyone with erections lasting more than 4 hours should consult a physician.”

This Lakers-Celtics matchup is Viagra to David Stern, and after already carrying a week-long woody Stern may need medical attention by the time it ends a week or so from now.  

After what almost seems like an off season we finally get the championship round started tonight. I have already banked a profit this post season, with a 24-16 record, and I have one play outstanding, and I LOVE the price AND the play:  +160 play on the Lakers in the series (wager placed on LA to win it all, as “buy notice/recommendation” as written two weeks ago:  “I thought “LA to win it all” had better value than the series versus SA, and discounted Boston in Stern's desired dream match-up throwback to the good old days (the pre-Donaghy days.)”

So, I may just sit the series out and count my coin.

Yeah, right.

Here’s a quick, last minute look at the series, and some random thoughts:

There is no one player that can defend Kobe, team defense is the way to go at him, and Boston excels at this. They knocked out another singular star in LeBron, but there are two major differences between Lebron’s Cavs and Kobe’s Lakers – supporting cast and bench; the Cavs have none, the Lakers not only have both but they have quality in both.

Many bettors like Boston because they spent an entire season looking like the best team in the league, but that discounts the fact that they have looked second best at best during the playoffs. When ‘capping this series I toss the two Boston wins in the regular season - the stakes are a little different now, yes?

The Celtics barely got past two losers in Atlanta and Cleveland, and one slightly gimpy Pistons team. Boston and its fans now know why they say “The post season is not the regular season.” Comparing getting pushed to the limits by the likes of Atlanta (with a losing record), and a one man band easy-to-defend-against squad like the Cavs, as opposed to defeating the Jazz (best home record in the league) and Spurs (defending champs) is not much of a comparison. "Seasoning" and "mo" edge to LA.

Both teams have had blackouts in the post season, lousy play in spots, but LA's seem to be less and shorter lived; they seem steadier, Celt's seem up and down.

Coaching edge?
This ain’t “Apples to Oranges,” we’re talking “Apples to Onions.
And post season factored into that? Even more so.

We can debate player matchups forever, not sure it matters in the end – like I said, this matchup is Viagra to Stern, and he loves "happy endings," Hollywood endings.

And you know which team is Hollywood.

We are seeing the maturation of a superstar, one who threatens to make the much over-used Jordan comparisons legit – Kobe is playing with noticeably more maturity; you can see the playmaking ability and trust in his teammates. He seems to have gained a sense of when it is time to bring the other players into the game, and when he has to step it up himself and shoulder the burden.

Every once in a while in the world of sports there comes along that rare individual, who at his unique moment in time is less human, more unstoppable force. If you can’t see that look in Kobe then you are wearing blinders

A sweep ain't happening, because we have two good teams (besides, Stern said “No! Too much revenue left on the table!”) but when all is said I think the Celtics pull a Whitey Bulger (an in-joke for Bostonians there.)
Sometimes ‘capping ain’t about numbers, it’s about recognizing destiny . . .