NBA Finals Live-Blog: Game One

Who: L.A. Lakers at Boston Celtics
What: Game One of the NBA Finals
Where: TD Banknorth Garden- Boston, Massachusetts
When: 9pm (ABC)
Why: To repair Kobe's image so people forget he's such an asshat and/or to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy
Spread: Celtics -3, O/U 192 (Series Price: Lakers -175, Celtics +155)

The fun gets underway around 8 something with videos and pregame goings on (i.e.- Kimmel). Feel free to leave predictions and hate comments for Stephen A. Smith in the comments.
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So the Kimmel thing is happening after every game and I'm pretty sure that's going to get annoying quick. I remember when his show first started it game after a Super Bowl. The NBA Finals aren't the Super Bowl, but this year's numbers should be a good vehicle.

So Jimmy starts out with a humorous game of one on one with Shaq, and then we find out that Magic Johnson is on the show. Ugh. Well at least we also get the Spelling Bee champ and Puffy as well. I'm upset Bill Simmons won't be making an appearance though.

"He's like the white Larry Bird this guy."- Jimmy Kimmel on Basketball trickster Tim Nolan

Oooh Erin Andrews is there for the Spelling Bee thing and she's looking extra tan today! I would have pulled the video but it was pretty boring (outside of EA's low cut shirt).


I think Jimmy Kimmel should wait till Erin Andrews sunburn wears off before inviting her on next time....Sorry to insult the golden child AA, but now a good appearance for EA. (Via Steve)

Seriously. Magic has to be approaching Shaq-like size these days.

"Don't get me in trouble with my employee."- Magic (That would be employER Magic)

And we're live from Boston. Kobe comes in wearing a gold tie and looking pimp and Garnett looks like Morpheus with a long suit coat. Straight pimping.

"Sometimes you have to manufacture drama, not here."- Stuart Scott (So you admit it?)

Damn Magic is everywhere tonight. How did he get from L.A. to Boston in 10 minutes?!?!?! I love the Dropkick Murphys but if I never hear "Shipping up to Boston" again I'll probably be okay.

The other networks aren't even trying tonight. Two hours of "So You Think You Can Dance?" for FOX. (Via The Fourth)

Hahaha Seriously. I was just put in a trance by Bill Bellamy on Last Comic Standing. You can now add Mike Breen's goatee to the "Gus Johnson Hall of Fame for Bad Facial Hair".

"Carlos Boozer, you've got to make the Lakers pay. Boozer did it earlier in the Playoffs."- Jon Barry

Didn't Boozer have a collection of his worst games as a Pro against the Lakers? Like a commenter mentioned recently.....I don't really want advice from a guy that averaged 4.3 ppg and 16.9 mpg in his career. That James Taylor is so hot right now.

Okay, let's do this. Wait Chris Mihm is still on the Lakers? When did that happen (or not happen)???

Am I the only one who thinks the giant Larry O'Brian Trophy at mid-court is tacky? (Via Anon)

No not at all....I never understand why they make the thing so damn big.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I just got goosebumps and Brian Scalabrine just got a lot darker for this game. Maybe he's on the Erin Andrews tanning plan....


Pretty sure that's Tony Allen, ABC. I could be wrong though. And we're just about ready for the tip. HAHAHAHAHAHA, okay that really is Evil Mike Breen. The goatee and the band aid? Priceless.



Wow, Doc Rivers actually sounded inspirational for once. Simmons, eat your heart out. (Via Dan)

Seriously. That was a great speech. Okay the tip is coming up after the commercial. I'm going to try and not bog you down with game talk between the quotes, so if you have something to say....speak up and you'll see it here.

The Lakers get out to an early two point lead and apparently there's only 1:11 left in the first quarter. They fix the clock problems and Rondo misses a jumper. Odom hits a jumper after a Kobe steal and the Lakers go up four. Nice layup by Pierce but he commits a dumb shooting foul on Derek Fisher at the other end.

"Hard to hear the whistle, this place is loud."- Mike Breen

Seriously. I can barely hear JVG when he chimes in. 10-8 Lakers with 7 minutes left in the quarter.......Wait, we're tied. Garnett jams one home. Great move and the crowd gets even louder. Bryant misses two shots in a row and Pierce follows with one of his own. There's are first timeout halfway through the first.....10-10.

"Garnett attacking the rim, MY GOODNESS!"- Mark Jackson

"These guys are banging quite a bit down low."- Mike Breen (Via SS Reporters)

Kobe finally hits one with 5 minutes left, and the pace is starting to slow down. Rad has two fouls and The Machine comes in. Pretty shots traded by Garnett and Gasol and we're tied again. A great move by Rondo but he misses the layup and the Lakers commit a backcourt violation which the ABC crew disagrees with.

Ray Allen schools The Machine and hits a three and there's a Lakers timeout with the Celts up 5.

And the grotesque trophy on the floor has already caused one missed call... how many more? I say the over under is 4.5 for this game. And more than a feeling? really? who the hell is picking the audio today? (Via Dan)

Yeah that was definitely a violation and I don't even think the guys got the rule right. If you have one leg over and you pass back isn't that backcourt?

Q: I survived a Japanese game show? Are TV execs even trying any more? (Via Mr. Cheekz)
A: No (Via AA)

MACHINE MAKE THREE! I don't think I've seen him miss during these Playoffs.

"I've got a play....post Garnett."- Jeff Van Gundy

Alley Oop to Garnett! He misses? His whole body was above the rim. How did he miss that??? Bryant hits a short jumper and we're tied again (I have a feeling I'm going to be saying that a lot). Wait...The Machine misses. PJ BROWN is a beast...I'm just sayin'.

That's the quarter folks and a good one at that. Celts are up two. 23-21.

I believe Mike Breen now qualifies for the first ever "announcer playoff beard". You hear that Buck, start growing some facial hair! (Via Steve)

Hahahaha. Now that would be awesome. Hey Michele is there! I don't care and subs galore come into the game. Cassell, Powe, Walton, Turiaf, Brown, and Posey are all in....I might change the channel. Does Cassell ever not take a shot when he's on the court? I mean he made it, but that was a terrible look.

"They just showed Phil Jackson, he's 80 years old and he looks great!"- Jeff Van Gundy

Oh great....here come the jokes. Paul Pierce has done nothing this game at all but the Celts are still up five. They need to make this lead bigger with Kobe on the bench. Wait, "Start Me Up"? Who does ABC think is watching these games???

That was Tex Winter Jeff mentioned AA, not Phil Jackson. (Via Steve)

Whoops...my bad. Anywho, Celts up two still but Pierce is going to the line. I'm not gonna lie but this game is kind of boring. Garnett hits two and Boston is up three. Does anyone know if Derek Fisher's shots actually cause rain to fall? Bad call by Bavetta on Gasol there.

Offensive foul on Kobe Bryant who absolutely wanted to destroy Cassell there. Sam then conveniently misses a three. Time for Rondo to come back in. Lead is 5 for Boston.

By the way Adam Sandler...I will mess with the Zohan. You may have your most retarted character since Billy Madison. (Via Steve)

Ouch. Paul Pierce picks up his third foul. Actually he's not really doing anything so it might not be bad to get him a break. Gasol with the dunk and the lead is one. Posey misses a three and this is the time of the game where Boston looks completely lost offensively. Lakers take the lead.

"Very poor pick and roll coverage tonight by the Celtics."- Jeff Van Gundy

You think? Two dunks in the last five possessions might have been a hint. Timeout Boston with the Lakers on a 10-2 run. 45-42 L.A. with 3 minutes left in the half. And thanks to SD we've got our first retarded Boston fan of the Series! I give you "Guy in Pink Garnett Jersey"....



ABC is going through some audio problems now. Great. The Lakers are controlling this thing now as Mark Jackson tells us that Magic Johnson is the best point guard ever and it's not close. Oscar Robertson was pretty damn good.

And that's your half. The Lakers turned it on at the end there and lead by 5. I could care less about the Halftime Show and those jokers so I'll probably see you in 15 or so. Keep those comments coming....

51-46 Lakers at the half

Damn. Sorry about that delay I tried to pull that Magic-Bird commercial and my computer just completely shutdown on me. We're back on now and Paul Pierce just went down with a crippling knee injury to both himself and the Celtics. That's not good.

Lakers are up three halfway through the third and now Perkins is hurt too. Good lord. Ray Allen hits a three though and we're tied again. HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT'S PAUL PIERCE'S MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not exactly Willis Reed-esque but that was awesome (and probably staged).

AA, you're getting a little too much Simmons lately I think... although it's "Good lord" or a variation of that rather than "Holy Crap," haha. Playing on a sprained knee (or sprained anything, really) takes a lot of guts, it'll be interesting to see how Pierce responds. (Via Dan)

You're right....I apologize. Boston has pushed the lead to four near the end of the third, but Garnett fouls The Machine on a three. Perkins is coming back, but I'm pretty sure he's not going to get the ovation that Pierce did.

WOW! Alley oop to Kobe....now we're playing. L.A. up one with Rondo on the line.

"Rondo to Pierce.....BANG!"- Mike Breen

Celts up one......AND ANOTHER PIERCE THREE! Now this is what I'm talking about. Kobe hitting oops, Pierce nailing back to back threes.......Welcome to the Finals!

Kobe misses a three and PP hops on the bike. That's your quarter....and unbelievable shot by The Machine which doesn't count.

77-73 Celtics

Leon Powe with a great offensive rebound and he gets fouled. Mike Breen with best wishes to Senator Ted Kenneday and count that as something I'd never hear during an NBA broadcast. Whoever called Sam Cassell missing key shots late in the game was right....that was nasty.

Huge work by the bench players and the Celtics go up eight with a Posey three. And yet ANOTHER Boston song going to the break. I think that was "Smokin'".

Someone get Sam Cassell off the damn court. That last shot was terrible....well not as bad as Turiaf's jumper just now. Derek Fisher is like the anti-Cassell. He hits another jumper. Boston up six. Hahahahaha and now Cassell lets the clock expire....come on Doc.

Machine hit jumper, lead go to four. Here comes the Lakers' bench! Timeout.

86-82 Celtics, 5:48 left

Way to slide a Hancock promo in there ABC. Bryant is off again and Pierce hits yet another fadeaway. Gasol misses a wide open jumper and Rondo misses on the other end, but Brown is there for the O-Reb and the foul.

I feel like this announcing team has no heart tonight, especially for the situation. I'm barely feeling any excitement watching this, and I was excited for Spurs/Lakers. And I have no real favoritism here (/half-hearted Knick fan). Breen doesn't do much for me, especially how he played damage control when Pierce got hurt. I actually like Van Gundy, just... not feeling it tonight. Just kinda... going through the motions. The Game 1 motions. (Via Zak)

I hear you to a degree Zak. They're calling a pretty good game, but the energy isn't exactly translating.

"I can't believe you're trying to get brownie points with the camera crew."- Mark Jackson to JVG

WOW! An And One from Odom cuts it to six and keeps the Lakers in the game. Six point lead. Make that five. 3 minutes to go....

Gasol to the line after what looked like a good block. Six point lead still. Miss. Make. Rondo gets to the line for the Celts after a nice move at midcourt. Make. Miss.....out of bounds on the Lakers. 1:45 left....

DAMN! Kevin Garnett comes with the THUNDA!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's a video. Wow.

"GARNETT ON THE FOLLOW!" - Mike Breen (Via Zak)

Still a six point game though. Garnett is feeling it though and he's fouled on the drive. Makes both....eight point lead with a minute left. Kobe misses a three and Garnett grabs the board. KG misses on the other end and L.A. brings it back down. Fisher misses the three and the Lakers finally foul with only 16 seconds left.

Ball Game. Game One goes to the Celts. Great second half and a good job by Breen, Jackson, and JVG. Videos and such to follow. Thanks for sticking around and I'll see you Sunday night.

98-88