Since I predicted the Lakers to win the championship, I’ll gladly eat crow. The Celtics were the best team all season and went out and handled their business in the Finals.

Here is a video celebrating the Boston Celtics and their championship run:

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However, take a second to watch this Kobe Bryant video. It looks like he may have fouled Paul Pierce when he reached in for the steal. And guess who was on the floor? Dick Bavetta, the ref who the FBI is investigating.

Interesting.

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Boston’s Big Three — Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen — can each make a case for why they should win the 2008 Finals MVP. Here is a look at the stats so far in the Finals through four games:

Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett is averaging 17.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game against the Lakers in the Finals. The problem is he’s only shooting 38.2% from the field.

Paul Pierce
Paul Pierce is averaging 19.0 points, 5.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in the series. He’s shooting 45.3% from the field, 46.7% from beyond the three-point arc and has played very good throughout defense throughout the series.

Ray Allen
Ray Allen is averaging 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He’s shooting 52.1% from the field and 48.0% from three-point land.

Conclusion:
Ray Allen is currently in the lead in the MVP race. However, Paul Pierce can overtake him if he has another big game to close out the Lakers. Kevin Garnett would need a monstrous game to get back into the hunt.

Ray Allen is shooting himself to the Finals MVP

Photo: Newscom

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Kendrick Perkins
Kendrick Perkins hurt his shoulder in Game 4 and his status for Game 5 is in doubt. The Celtics are saying that he has less than a 50/50 chance of playing. Perkins, who has been banged up a number of times during the playoffs, would likely be limited if he did play. If he can’t go, expect PJ Brown or Leon Powe to get the start at center for the Celtics.

Rajon Rondo
The Celtics’ starting point guard has an injured ankle that kept him out for much of the second half of Game 4. His ankle injury is being classified as a bone bruise. If he can’t go in Game 5, expect Sam Cassell or Eddie House to get the start in his place.

Paul Pierce
After injuring his knee in Game 1, Pierce suffered another injury in Game 4. Thankfully for Celtics fans, this injury was deemed minor. Pierce will be ready to go in Game 5.

Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics will try to win the 2008 NBA championship in Game 5.

Photo: Newscom

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The good news for Boston is that Rondo sounds like he’s going to play in Game 4. Rondo is a defensive minded point guard who can also rack up assists in a hurry. Without Rondo, the Celtics would really be hurting at the point guard position. The only other options are Sam Cassell and Eddie House. That pair combined to shoot 3-for-12 in Game 3.

While a bone bruise doesn’t sound too serious, it is the same injury that limited Manu Ginobili against the Los Angeles Lakers during the Western Conference Finals. If Rondo is ineffective in Game 4, that will help the Lakers in their attempt to tie the series at two games apiece.

During the playoffs, Rondo has averaged 10.3 points and 6.9 assists per game.

Rajon Rondo getting helped off the court.

Photo: Newscom

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Bryant had 36 points in Game 3 as the Lakers won 87-81. The Lakers now trail the Boston Celtics 2-1 in the best of seven series. Game 4 will be played on Thursday in Los Angeles.

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In 15 minutes, Powe had 21 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the field. The Celtics, led in part by Powe’s dominance of the bench, beat the Lakers 108-102 to go up 2-0 in the 2008 NBA Finals.

Now to the nice part. The video of Powe’s dunk over Gasol:

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The Celtics went on to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 1 of the Finals. In Game 2, Pierce is expected to play.

When Pierce went down, he says that he felt a pop in his knee. Tests indicate he hasn’t suffered any major injury and should be close to 100% for the rest of the series. For the Celtics to have a chance to top the Lakers, Pierce is going to have to have the series of his life.

Photo: Newscom

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Shooting Guard
Boston – Ray Allen
Lakers – Kobe Bryant
ADVANTAGE: Lakers. As long as he can steer clear of Vanessa Curry or any other Laker Girl, Kobe should dominate.

Small Forward
Boston – Paul Pierce
Lakers – Vladimir Radmanovic
ADVANTAGE: Celtics. Pierce has to play great for Boston to win this series.

Power Forward
Boston – Kevin Garnett
Lakers – Lamar Odom
ADVANTAGE: Celtics. Odom can do a lot but he’s no KG.

Center
Boston – Kendrick Perkins
Lakers – Pau Gasol
ADVANTAGE: Lakers. As long as Gasol doesn’t choke, he should dominate this matchup.

Bench
Boston – Cassell, House, Posey, Brown, Davis, Powe
Lakers – Farmar, Vujacic, Walton, Turiaf
ADVANTAGE: Lakers. Their bench is young but powerful.

Coach
Boston – Doc Rivers
Lakers – Phil Jackson
ADVANTAGE: Lakers. Nine championships against zero championships.

Overall
Lakers in five.

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will be lifting the 2008 NBA championship trophy.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Expert Fantasy

Without Allen, the job of chasing the 2008 NBA MVP will mostly belong to Paul Pierce. Pierce, who did a good job against LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, will start the game off against Bryant. Other players on the Celtics who could guard Bryant in the finals include James Posey and Ray Allen.

Allen is slowed by an injury to his Achilles tendon. During the regular season, he averaged 6.6 points per game. In the playoffs, his minutes have gone down and he’s only averaging one point per game.

Photo: Newscom

Post from: Expert Fantasy