I have to say, the phrase "the Celtics have shot number 2 at the championship" elicits an unwelcome yet entertaining image of animals throwing their own poop. Either it's a very clever dig at how they botched game 5, or I'm just reading it a little wrong. :)

Wow... I would have never put that much thought into it. But my prediction: ABC will have plenty of shots of a pouting Kobe as the Celtics win one of the second toe.

Opps, i messed up that "second toe" comment up.

Predator vs. Alien? Oh, sorry, I thought that picture deserved a caption...

Did John McCain just refer to the former Suns coach as Mark "DAN-toni"??

Nice work buddy!

Stephen A. Smith on ESPN was talking about Doc Rivers ability to win with healthy talented players.

Here's what he said:

"If you remember when [Doc] was in Los Angeles, he had Tracy McGrady but never had Grant Hill."

Um... I guess Stephen would like to talk as fast he can on camera instead of giving correct information.

My prediction: Jon Barry makes the observation that in Game 6's, the team which scores the most points wins 60% of the time. That, and I think the Lakers win by 4.

AA, you hear that the AP is setting up rules for blockquoting their articles now?



And Celtics 98 Lakers 82.

Dwyane Wade?


Was Robert Parish unavailable?

Wade is the best they could do? He was hurt more than anything this season. Where is LeBron James? Where is Mano Ginobli? Where is Charles Freaking Barkley?

I did read that SS. Seems like a stretch for them to enforce it but it's a good thing I rarely link to the AP.

Here's the link for those who care....

LINK

Wonderful day for me, I stomach Julie Foudy's "analysis", and finish it off with Van Gundy likely talking about clam chowder in the 4th quarter.

Paula Cole? Was Yoko Ono busy?

Paula Cole?? Isn't she black? ...And a good singer?

Way to destroy Francis Scott Key's version.

Why do we need the starting lineups in this fancy display over and over again if we know it rarely changes?

Take 1 drink every time Sasha Vujacic shoots the ball.

Yeah.....YEAH!

Was that Bill Cowher in the Lakers locker room?

This crowd is so much louder than the Lakers fans have ever been.

Also, Radmanovich still sucks.

Charles, Kenny, and E.J. on with Leno tonight. Don Rickles also scheduled tonight. Can only imagine Rickles and Barkley on the couch at the same time.

"He's the best player in the planet...on the world..." - JVG

where is the HD? Game 6 and No HD? WTF? Vlad is so bad.

"Kobe is the best player in the world, and certainly on the court right now" (Quote inexact)

Gee, chuckles, wouldn't "in the world" sorta imply "on the court right now"

Celtics are missing mickey mouse shots.

It's in HD for me. Maybe you don't have it on the HD channel.

@Heef, thefourth... I believe JVG's comment there was a play on Jackson saying something equally ridiculous in game 5.

Say what you will, and we have, but these guys have chemistry, and don't make the game horrible to follow.

All my HD channels are working but ABC. Vlad still sucks in regular Def. Kobe might have to score 60 because his teammates looks like crap.

jvg: PEE YOU ARE EEE

Pau Gasol should be a spokesperson for Gillette Venus razors...

Can't wait to see Ira Newble on the second quarter tonight!!!!

"Radmonavic picks up his second..."
It seems that phrase has been written into Mike Breen's notes going into the second tv timeout of each game

Someone told Vlad Rad to give PP some space. Forcing Pierce to become a jumpshooter, oddly enough, is the Lakers' best hope. That, and Jon Barry catching Hep C at a strip bar in Quincy.

Steven Tyler in the stands... makes me glad, for once, that I'm NOT on HD.

Lamar Odom with the three stooges defense

The lady next to Belichick all the way to Steven Tyler...why ABC?

Phil Jackson is a coach committed to antagonizing the opposition. I mean, paying off goons to break a plane's windshield? Dedication!

@anon:

Oh, they're far from the worst announcers ever. I still get to make fun when they say something dumb though. :)

Can someone check if Pau has a vagina? Pretty sure he...um... she does.

@heef... oh, please... I believe that's one of hte purposes of AA's fine forum :)

What's the non sequiter of the day to come from Van Gundy? I'm guessing it has something to do with Aerosmith curing childhood obesity.

@Ivan:

Someone on WEEI's whiner line today said Pau Gasol looks like Rebecca Lobo with facial hair.

Peanut butter jelly, peanut butter jelly!!!

What do you think Kobe would do if one of his teammates offered him a PBJ?

" It was a missunderstanding...I think Gasol was inviting Brown to the Opera" -JVG

Shouldn'that commercial have Kevin Durant pulling off the Sonics jersey, too?

Am I the only one that made a PB+J after the KG segment?

Phil says Pau has to be stronger and we immediately see a replay of KG whispering sweet nothings in his ear as Pau falls back in ecstasy.

With Big Baby coming in, there's only one word that can make this 2nd quarter better than the last 2nd quarter scrubfest....Scalabrine.

Let the Crawford controversy begin!

Odom/Gasol: 2-10 4 Pts. 10 rebounds. 2 pre-pubescent ladies.

Wow...if Doc puts Scalabrine in....I'm pretty sure the world will implode.

I wonder if by Game 7 GMC decides to reveal who the player in the GMC SUV is. I have no doubt in my mind that it's DJ Mbenga.

And Joey Crawford checks in to the game for the first time. Didn't think Phil would play him this early.

Fuck you, Joey Crawford.

How can you call a technical like that in this game? It's the coach's JOB to complain to the refs.

Shit like that does nothing to convince me that the refs aren't trying to make this go to 7 games.

AA, you're right, they shortened that Taco Bell commercial!

hate to rain on everyone's parade, but i think scalabrine is inactive since perkins is playing today.

radmanovich still sucks.

Doc Rivers, you have been chosen to play Opportunity Knocks! All you gotta do is pretend to coach and you win a title!

"...and the teaching began last year when they won 24 games." Mike Breen gets caught up in the moment during this brief Celtics run.

"I think Bill Russell can get 3 blocks coming off the bench now!" -Guess Who?

I'm pretty sure that after Game 5's Chris Mihm's fiasco, poor Chris is comfortably wearing his yellow CROCS by the bench.

Let the blowout begin!

I find Kobe being in this "Respect" commercial interesting... has any player done MORE to damage his character than Kobe the last 2 weeks?

Or am I alone in this thought?

I believe on ESPN you can get the "Michelle Tafoya reports that Ray Allen is still in the locker room" cam feed of the game.

"Oh, there he is!" -- Michele Tafoya

THIS is why we need sideline reporters!

the BEST part of that was teh "Oh there he is." comment right as tehy cut away from Tafoya.

Right on cue...there's More Than A Feeling...still better than endless 3 Doors Down guitar riffs.

Still waiting for one of the refs to have the balls to call a 'T' on the Celtics for their after-whistle, protect the rim bullshit.

That's Ray Allen's music!!!

The Lakers suited up the third little piggy and gave him number 10.

Radmanovich is fucking AWFUL.

So... Kobe hasn't scored since 1994.

Radmnovic must be destroyed by MACHINE!

One way to stop Kobe?

Play some freaking defense. The rest of the league needs to learn that. How many times did he waltz to the bucket during the western conference playoffs? Every series, unscathed. Look at him now. He's no Jordan. He's more like Gordon.

Chump.

I bet we don't see his daughters in the post game. He only pimps them on wins.

"Thibs, youre up 14, sit down!" -JVG

This game is over...did you see the Lakers bench when Ray Allen saved that ball...everyone just sitting down...not showing any emotion...I mean look at the Celtics bench! Come on Lakers!

Wow... that play byGarnett almost made me dump my laptop... I was as excited as the Celtics bench... following what hch said... the Lakers bench has been like that ALL series... totally disinterested.

Now THAT'S the Garnett I've always wanted to see in the postseason.

Something tells me Phil Jackson will take another year off from coaching.

What's the over/under on Kobe demanding a trade tomorrow during an interview with Screamin A. Smith??

When does Easterbrook write in his notebook "Game over"? It looks like the Lakers are punting on fourth and short at midfield.

Thank god Cheese Doodle Boy is not on radio anymore....

Vote Brian Scalabrine for your player of the game, T-Mobile voters!

I played a little game tonight. I decided not to tune into the game until about ten o'clock (watching Yankee game with some friends, then went home). I put the over/under for a Boston lead at 12, and stupidly took the under (figured 6-10 points). Got back, and it was 18. And I was disappointed in myself for not knowing better.

WHAT AN NBA FINALS, FRIENDS.

"There's not one guy in this room that wants this more than any other guy." - Doc's halftime talk

Really? You think Cassell wants this as much as Pierce, Garnett, or Allen? And Scalabrine just wants a ring to pawn. No one out in public would think he actually won it, anyway.

Did Wade get speech lessons from Barkley?

I think D-Wade has one of Sir Charles' cheesesteaks in his mouth.

Wilbon just said the Lakers need to go small with Kobe, Fisher, Machine, Farmar, and Turiaf... and then grab rebounds.

Please tell me I'm missing something?

Did they put dwyane on the set just because he sponsors t-mobile?

Phil Jackson lost this series because he was too stuck up to come down from his high chair. He's getting outcoached by a guy who was almost ran out of the league last year.

Rondo hits to open 2nd half. Game over. Will the Bulls pick Beasley?

You think if there was no WIRED segment for ESPN, Phil Jackson would be a little more angry?

Allen... Rise and fire!!!

First dunk for the Lakers tonight. Great!

Did they stop teaching defense in Zen school? Did you SEE that Allen 3? The Lakers Defense is pathetic.

Why the hell is Kobe Bryant, a 1st Team All-Defensive Team selection, guarding the offensively inept Rajon Rondo, while the Radmanovic, a stiff on defense guards Paul Pierce... baffling.

Boston is going into all-star game mode.

While Jackson waxes poetic on the elite structure of the Celtics...

Has there ever been a team that made the Finals that was more in need of a total off-season overhaul than the Lakers?

After seeing DANNY AINGE GM a World Champ, I think every other team in the NBA needs on off-season overhaul.

Yeah - the 04 Lakers.

I think Odom is going to be moved this summer.

Zak - when Bynum comes back, Lakers win at least 63 and cruise to the title next year.

Assuming Bynum plays how he was at the start of this year. He wasn't amazing before this year, and now he's coming off a serious injury. And I truly think this team is going to need more than one physical player on the inside.

AA - Odom tried a cheap shot on KG but didn't quite connect.

Also, I figure The Mouse got on JVG and made sure he wouldn't go ADD on a potential series-clinching game... well, again.

Tim Donaghy needs to check in to keep this game interesting

If you want the Lakers' NBA Finals in a nutshell, I think it was that "post up" by Pau Gasol.

PJ Brown PWNS Kobe Bryant right there... Can we skip the 4th quarter so I can go to bed? Please?

What do they do with the champagne from Sunday night? You know they had some in LA in case the Celtics won. Do they fly it out to Boston or just buy more? If they buy more, what happens to the stuff in LA? Do they give it away to Lakers office staff? Who supplies the champagne anyway, the home team, the winning team, the league? I wonder how champagne goes with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Anyone else looking forward to a dopey Scalabrine wearing swim goggles on the bench at the end of the 4th?

Javon Walker used the champagne from Sunday night.

My prediction... 4th quarter, the MACHINE takes over and forces game 7

Having to keep the sound down... can anyone help with the, er, new chants the fans have going now?

Somehwere, Shaq is still smiling.

@AA... a game used Scalabrine jersey... does it still have the tags on it?

OK, fellas, series MVP? Pierce? Allen?

Hahaha...no it's just his suit jacket.

The Celtics could finish out these last nine minutes with just Ray Allen on the court, and the Lakers still wouldn't get within 10. You know why? He Got Game.

/couldn't help self, is leaving

"Where is Kobe?" in the background. Shades of "Where is Roger?" from the '99 ALCS.

There are heroes and then there's.....THE MACHINE!!!!!!

@dante... "where is Kobe?"... I LOVE that... why, oh WHY couldn't ABC have gotten Shaq instead of DWade for the studio for this game?

This lead is so big there's no way in hell The Machine can cover the spread.

Hey, Lakers. There's this guy, Ray Allen. Heard of him? He's scored 9 points on you in 35 seconds. Yeah, um... I'm thinking you should look at him once in a while.

Meh, who cares. You're losers anyway.

And Simmons asked for Sev-En-Teen chant got a quick start up.

The Celtics just need to run down the shot clock every possession, then throw the ball 50 rows deep. Souvenirs for everybody, and a 20 point lead at the end of the night.

Does the NBA have a mercy rule?

KG is just LAUGHING at Lamar as he bitchslaps him to the ground... WTF is Lamar even bothering to "smack" to KG?

@ed...Right now, unless PP goes off for 20 in the last 5 minutes and change, you HAVE to go with Allen. Although it could go either way and I won't comnplain at all. Anyone else?

It's a damn good thing the Lakers shut down the game watch at Staples. I doubt that the homies would much appreciate the effort.

My vote for Finals MVP goes to Kevin McHale.

"Who was throwing bricks at local cars?" ABC NY7 News Commercial

"Kobe Bryant?" - Me

"The Lakers are being embarrassed." - Mike Tirico on ESPN Radio

Mike, the Lakers are embarrassing themselves. If they had cell phones by the bench, they'd be texting their people right now.

I think Jeff Van Gundy's head exploded after the Allen's third open trey of the quarter. This defense is just jaw-droppingly terrible.

Gotta love the "Na-na-na-na". Hey hey hey, goodbye.

WOW... even with the sound low, I can still make out that "Nanana hey hey" chant... and at the 5 minute mark, is THAT the earliest in recent memory?

Gotta love it....TD Whatever the jell they call it Garden at Comiskey Park. Hello Nancy Faust!!! (na na song)

"He can touch it in 5 minutes and 13 seconds"

What is he, 13? Real men last for hours.

THat is an ungodly loud chant, I LOVE IT

M.A.C.H.I.N.E. -c'mon folks lets get that chant going!

Umm.. why is Doc Rivers celebrating? 3:24 left. And Sasha is on his way.

It's good to see that all it takes is your team to be down 35, down 3-2 in the series, and only 5 minutes left in the game for Lamar Odom to show some emotion. I say BRAVO Lamar!

Garnett's in the crowd! And clock check - 3:11!

Wow, the NBA should make the Lakers start off next season with an 0-2 record as punishment for this embarrassment.

Even the refs said "screw it, we can't even force a game 7" after the 2nd quarter.

I think the Lakers should start fouling. An NBA lead is never insurmountable, amirite???

/ratings hype machine

Embarrassing. The Lakers are almost matching the intensity, activeness, and alertness of their home crowds. Almost.

Didja hear that Kobe? The WNBA expects great! And they actually contest fast breaks!

I swear this is true....I SWEAR....I just saw a Lakers playoff ticket commercial on KABC in L.A.!!!!!

"Get your Laker playoff tickets now!"

I SWEAR.

The Laker's are plaid this game like it was an All-Star game, except without the defensive intensity.

I know it's all young guys on the court, but at what point do you give the other team a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiittle respect and stop running the score?

I mean, the Lakers don't deserve the respect, but the Celtics are better than that.

What was the prop bet over/under on "number of times Big Baby dribbles from halfcourt and dunks"? I forget...

I'm assuming this last time out was taking to clean up the MESS that Mr. Paul Pierce just made.

Wow... I don't ever remember seeing an NBA Gatorade shower...

It's official: David Tyree saved us from a Boston Sports Trifecta Monopoly.

Just gotta say... the celebration broadcast loses a little something when you have to mute everything every couple seconds.

As KG turns into Kate Winslet.

Kevin Garnett is crazy.

Who the hell was that white dude that was consolding KG as he wept on his shoulder? Funny stuff.

The FCC officially ruined Mike Breen's called. It was bleeped out. Unbelieveable.

Aaaand KG just said Tafoya looked good tonight. Apprently there was something more in that gatorade than we thought. NAMATH STYLE!

Alright, who's driving the Denali?

KG hugging Bill Russell. "I got my own! I got my own."

Chills.

Hate Boston all you like. But they just booed the stew out of Scott!!!

David Stern - "The Lakers were a worthy Western Conference Champion..."

Fuck, I wouldn't want to play poker with Stern when he can flat out LIE to our faces like that.

KG demented dropping F BOMBS everywhere LOVEIT!

KG is a little nuts but the shot of him hugging Bill Russel and saying, "I hope we made you proud" was pretty cool.

What happened? - Paul Pierce

You won the MVP! - Teammate

OHH SHIT!! - Paul Pierce

The KG interview as well as the last 10 seconds of the game need to be posted.

That was insane.

Boston fans booing the commish...BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Ingrates booing the man who scripted the whole thing.

Eh, get a grip, anon. Boston had the better team. Stern's a thug who runs a racket; a buffoon and pale faced liar, but that doesn't mean the Lakers would have won this series without him. They just weren't as good.