NBA Finals Live-Blog: Game Four

Who: Boston Celtics at L.A. Lakers
What: Game Four of the NBA Finals
Where: Staples Center- Los Angeles, California
When: 9pm (ABC)
Why: So Jeff Van Gundy can try to pick up Hollywood women/or for the NBA Championship
Spread: Lakers -7, O/U 191

Here we go again people. I'll kick things off at 8 something and it should be another rip roaring good time.
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James Worthy is your in-studio guest today and he's doing pretty good so far. He's always been subdued so I don't expect much. Also, do you think that there wasn't a better marketing partner for the NBA than Haier? The possibilities are endless.

I demand more and newer Wipeout commercials ABC.

"The keys to a Celtics victory tonight is Kevin Garnett."- Jon Barry

Pretty sure that's just a singular "key", but I could be wrong.

Am I the only one thinking ESPN's need to lower the crowd noise so the commentators can be heard a big factor in the decline in Finals ratings? (Via SS Reporters)

I think it's more the music inside the arenas but yes. It's almost like they're yelling at times.

Happy Birthday Marv Albert! (Via Monty)

Oh wow! I had no idea!!! Everyone take a shot for Marvelous. Paul Pierce let's out a nice g'dammit during the intros and we're just about ready to go.

Anybody else notice the intro montage they edited out Johnny Most's intro. In previous intros he calls it "The World Series of Basketball Championship" and the last two games they've left edited out the "World Series" part. Interesting. (Via Anon)

I hadn't noticed, but I don't see what the problem would be leaving that in. I do love that intro though (minus the Miami Heat part). Okay we're ready for the tip. Lakers get it to start and we're underway. Two for the Lakers but Allen counters with a layup. Fisher picks up two free throws and Pierce turns it over and Allen misses a three. Kobe is fouled with the Lakers up two early. He misses the second but a lane violation is called on K-Perk. Wait, a foul. Lakers ball. That was random. Gasol on the dunk after a nice cut....five point lead.

TECH ON DOC! That was quick. Javie Ts him up as he was arguing about a non-call on Kobe. Fisher misses though...no harm no foul. Garnett misses two down low and a beautiful pass to Odom for the slam! 9-2 to open. Rondo stops the run though with a jumper. Odom again and he's 3 for 3 and Perkins answers with a short hook. Rad bangs down a three and the lead is eight for LA. And Odom hits again and Doc needs a timeout. Wow....that's how you start a game.

16-6 with 6:31 Left....

For those interested, Sideout is on MyNetworkTV, a nice choice for commercial breaks. (Via Playoff Beard)

Monnnnnnroooooooe Clarrrrrrk! C. Thomas Howell's finest acting work. Good call. Garnett misses yet another jumper and this might get ugly soon. Kobe misses but Odom rebounds, goes to the line, and draws Garnett's second foul. Time for some PJ Brown action. Odom misses the first, hits the second.

"This is where the Lakers are a dangerous basketball team."- Mike Breen with the Lakers up 14

Right, because most teams when they're up by 14 are at their most vulnerable, cheezmo. (Via Heef)

Pierce throws it away and Rad hits a three!!! 20-6. Kobe swats PJ Brown but a foul is called....looked like all ball. Enh, he got some of the hand.

"Guess what? That's not a foul. That's a good block right there."- Mark Jackson
"What are you talking about?! That is a blatant foul!"- Jeff Van Gundy
"I just wanted to see if you were paying attention."- Mark Jackson

House is off and the lead is thirteen still...make that 15. Fisher hits a jumper. Perkins misses, Odom hits and this is a rout. House bricks another three and Phil Jackson calls a timeout.

24-7 with 3:20 left in the first

TNA has midget wresting on SpikeTV. (Via Swany11)

No way! And Odom hits again....this guy is killing it. Pierce finally hits a jumper to end the drought but Kobe is fouled on the other end. 14 point lead for the Lakers. Another Celtics miss and Gasol is fouled on the shot.

"Mike I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say 2-2."- Jeff Van Gundy

Way to make the viewers change the channel. I'm sure ABC is happy with that one. Ariza to the line. Ariza misses the second but he gets an offensive board.....AND HE NAILS A THREE!!! Good lord. 30 seconds left and House gets a runner to fall. Lakers get what will presumably be the last shot. Gasol is fouled though with 4.7 left and he'll go to the line. Miss. Make. Ray Allen misses at the buzzer and that's the quarter. A 21....21! point lead for the Lakers....

35-14 Lakers after the first quarter

JVG sounds like billy pack calling this game over already. (Via Anon)

This Taco Bell commercial with the rappin dudes is driving me insane. (Via SS Reporters)

Seriously. Aren't they supposed to shorten commercials like that after 2 months?

"When do you bring back Kevin Garnett?"- Michele Tafoya
"Right Now!"- Doc Rivers

Another Celts turnover to start the half and Powe fouls Gasol. Machine misses and Trevor Ariza shoves Posey in the back to collect the board and two. That was a blatant miscall. Ray Allen is swatted by Ariza and he almost picks up another steal....he's all over the place! Garnett finally hits a shot and the lead is 20. KG again and he looks to be on a bit of a roll. Walton hits a three though after missing what seems like 10 of them.

40-19 with 8:13 left in the half

Obligatory Luke Walton is the mole joke (Via Anon)

It's not your night when Trevor Ariza looks like a 4 time NBA All-Star. (Via SS Reporters)

Oooooh Michele Tafoya has Will Smith for a Hancock promo. Greaaaaaat.

Robert Horry is looking thinner and much more peculiar. (Via Avinash)

"The Celtics need some Hancock type energy right now. They need that guy to start to jump up to the sky. Now Hitch was a great movie. Now Kevin James, if there's anyone funnier than Kevin James, I want names."- Jeff Van Gundy

Ugh. Here we go. JVG talking about crappy movies. Another Celts turnover and Kobe is fouled. MACHINE HIT THREE! 24 point lead.

Nooooooooooooorm!!! (Via Anon)

Hahahaha. Was that from Last Comic Standing or is he at the game? Posey misses a three, Kobe misses one as well and Garnett hits a turnaround. Give him the ball every damn time. It's not that hard Doc. Or Allen...who hits the three. The lead is cut to 19 with 4 minutes left and Phil calls another timeout.

Bryant misses and Posey gets to the line. Let's make it interesting guys...please don't make it like a Jacksonville MNF game! Gasol misses and Posey hits a three!!!! A 14 point lead....that was quick. A bad pass for Fisher and a Lakers turnover. Pierce hits a J and it's just a 12 point lead!!! D-Fish ends the run though with an and one. That was fun though. 2 mins left in the half.

Allen misses and Gasol dunks on him at the other end. Posey hits a three and Garnett blocks a Radmonovic shot at the other end. Fisher heads to the line and hits both. Pierce drives and gets Kobe to commit his third foul. He hits both and the lead is thirteen. Another Lakers turnover but PP misses a bank shot. GASOL AND ONE! That was huge. 9 seconds left.....and Rad fouls Rondo for no apparent reason. He misses the first and hits the second. 5.2 left....FARMAR HITS A RUNNING SHOT AT THE BUZZER!!! That hurts and that's the half...

58-40 Lakers at the half

"The Lakers came out to play tonight cause they didnt really play in Game 3" - Mike Wilbon (Via Steve)

What is the definition of "really playing"? Isn't a win a win.

Stu Scott: "We will show you footage of the Zen Master you have never seen before." And I thought the Phil Jackson-Jeanie Buss sex tape was only a rumor. (Via Anon)

Hahaha. That better not be out there. And we're back! Second half gets underway with the Celtics looking to make a game of it. I missed a bit but Garnett hits a layup and the lead is down to twelve. Perkins is hurt...looks like a shoulder. Celtics can't help but turn the ball over and Garnett misses yet another jumper. Kobe hits a three and just like that the lead is back to 18.

68-48 with 7 minutes left in the third

"Flea!...I'm told he's from the Red Hot Chili Peppers"- Mike Breen (Via Sam)

Mike Breen sounds so optimistic whenever Boston gets within 15. (Via The Fourth)

James Worthy: "And how many Finals did you play in?"
Jon Barry: "Well, none.'
James: "And they PAY you?"
(Via MikeT)

And we've got ourselves a game! The Celts cut it to 11 with three minutes left. Another Lakers miss but Garnett commits an offensive foul. PIERCE AND ONE! And he can cut the lead to 9. Unbelievable drive. It's nine. Gasol misses and Garnett is fouled. L.A. isn't in the penalty though...1:30 left.

HOUSE FOR THREE!!!!!!! Six point game. Wow. Kobe misses...Allen with the rebound and he's fouled at the other end. Make. Make. Four point lead with 40 seconds left. Farmar airballs and the Celts get the last shot....OHHHH!!!! PJ Brown just dunked on Kobe's dome!!! 2 point game! Wow....just wow. 21-3 run to end the quarter.

73-71 Lakers at the end of three

"You have Kobe Bryant vacillating from the greatest player in the World and the greatest player on the Planet. What's the difference?"- Jeff Van Gundy to Mark Jackson

Machine misses three and House misses but PJ Brown gets the rebound. Machine commits a foul on Ray Allen with a scissor hold. Interesting tactic. Powe ties it!!! Kobe misses but Powe also misses on the other end. Bryant for two. Great move. Pierce answers and now we're playing! Still tied.

75-75 with 8:47 left.

Odom misses a three and House rebounds. Mike Breen points out how quiet the crowd is....he's right. Garnett misses. Ooooh...pretty jumper by Kobe. Lakers up two. House misses a jumper but Kobe misses a bunny on the other end. Garnett ties it. Odom gets the lead back.

BTW...Simmons called it. A classic. (Via Ed)

Well I think everyone was feeling that, but yes he did. Pierce gets his ankle broken and he's down and Kobe slams one home! 4 point Laker lead with 5:47 left. Posey hits a three and Bryant misses badly at the other end. Still Lakers ball though....Gasol scores. Garnett is fouled down low and he heads to the line. He hits both and the lead is back to one.

The Celtics lead for the first time tonight! Unbelievable....four to go and there's another turnover!!! Celts call timeout.

84-83....3:48 left.

Pierce misses a three but Allen skys for a board. Allen to the rack...GOOD! Three point lead. Machine misses but Odom gets a board...Farmar! Off...Pierce gets the board. Garnett scores!!! 88-83 2:10 left. Insane.

I think Bill Simmons's head just exploded. (Via Tim)

I think mine just did too. Hahahaha JVG just freaked out as they went to Mark Jackson when play started back up. Too funny. Kobe to the line...he hits both. 3 point game. Pierce is fouled and he gets two shots. MISS! Make! Four point game. Pierce commits the foul to give...still Lakers ball. KOBE HITS! Great shot. Two point game...1:20 left....

POSEY FOR THREE! Five point lead.....Fisher hits! Only a two!!! Wow. Under a minute. Pierce draws another Bryant foul. Timeout. 46.8 left...92-89 Celtics. Javie on that foul call...it was a foul but it wasn't much.

Pierce to the line....Make. Make. The lead is five. Gasol get a quick two. Allen with the ball....OHHHHH! What a drive! Allen schools the Machine!!! 5 point lead with 15.7 left. UNBELIEVABLE. Ray Allen just blew by Vujacic! MACHINE IS PISSED!

Here we go...

Machine misses, O-rebound, Kobe misses....rebound Celts....GAME! Unbelievable. I'm at a loss for words.

97-91 Final....CELTS WIN from down 22 in the first, 18 at the half, and 20 in the third. Amazing. Videos to follow.