Congratulations to the Boston Celtics for making it to the NBA Finals.  Boston took the series 4-2 on Friday night with a win at Detroit, 89-81.  Paul Pierce scored 27 points, Ray Allen had 17 and Kevin Garnett added 16.   Boston point guard Rajon Rondo scored 11 points and Kendrick Perkins added 7 points and 7 rebounds.  “I’m just happy to be a part of this, man,” said Pierce.  “It’s been a long process."  The Pistons blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost in Game 6 of the conference finals for the third straight year.  When the score was 70-60 late early in the fourth quarter looked like Detroit was going to roll with the crowed behind them.  Boston then went on a 19-4 run to take the lead 79-74.  The oddsmakers at sportsbetting.com currently have the Boston Celtics -3 favorites to LA Lakers heading into this NBA Playoff Finals betting matchup

The NBA Is happy Boston won on Friday. This means huge TV ratings, Lakers vs. Celtics playing for the NBA Finals championship.  Lebron James knocked Detroit out of the Eastern Conference finals last year and Boston did it to them this year.  It was just too much of a gamble to bet count on Detroit to come through against a team with the best overall record in the league.  I didn't believe Detroit had a chance in this series.  There was some celebrities at the game on Friday night, Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez, singers Kid Rock and Anita Baker along with Lions linebacker Ernie Sims. 

Since Game 3 in Atlanta on April 26, the Boston Celtics have played a game every other day without exception.  Now they have some time to rest before Game 1 of the NBA Finals with LA Lakers.  You are going to hear "beat LA" all over again like in the 80's when this series tips off in Boston.  ESPN after the win Friday night was throwing out a ton of the older Celtics vs. Lakers highlights.  This series could make for some interesting matchups, especially down low.  Kobe is going to get his numbers so the Celtics strategy should be to take out the role players.  Enough cannot be said about GM  Danny Ainge.   He has brought the Celtics back to respectability and has re-inserted the values set by Red Auerbach.  It's great to see them back in the finals again just like the old days.  Ray Allen is feeling good going into this series, having two big games in Game 5 and 6.  Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo, they have seasoned and stepped up right before our eyes. They really have proven they're part of the 'Big Five'.

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The LA Lakers celebrated the NBA Western Conference Championship with all the fans at the Staples Center Thursday night with a 100-92 win over the Spurs.  Bryant wanted the ball in the 3rd quarter and when Bryant got it, he did exactly what the rest of the Lakers knew he would, he scored 39 points for the game and just took it over.  “We all share in this,” Bryant said after the Lakers' 100-92 victory. “It is not me at the forefront. That's just not how we roll.”   They have now a week to rest as NBA Finals start on June 5th.  “The better team won,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “You get a seven-game series, you win four games, you’re the best team.  The oddsmakers at sportsbook.com currently have the LA Lakers +3 underdogs to Boston heading into this NBA Playoff betting matchup

In Game 5, down by 5 points and the Lakers' ball with 10 seconds to go in the game, the Spurs decide not to foul and let the game end.  Lakers' Sasha Vujacic's throws up a 3 pointer and hits it and there was no need to do that as the game would have been over.  Makes you think why would he do that?  The Lakers won by 8 points, and do you know why the line was for the game?  How about LA -7 favorties so that 3 pointer meant everything in Vegas.  Vujacic just shows how classless the Lakers are... their fans being a close second.  Kobe needs to publicly and literally kiss owner Mitch Kupchack, the man he so trashed, so disrespected, so hated, pulled off the trade that made this possible.

You have to congratulate San Antonio on a great season.  They don't have to hold their heads down and this series just proved that the the rivalry still lives on between the two teams.   It wouldn't surprise me if the same two teams played in the Western Conference finals next season.  A lot of talk now is that Kobe could be better then Michael Jordan?  Kobe hasn't come close to passing Jordan yet, did people live in the 90's?  It would take at least 3 more rings and 4 more MVP's to even be in the discussion.  The Western Conference should be scared for a long time to come...the Lakers only get better with Bynum next season.   They're gonna dominate for a long time to come, unless New Orleans gets another big player to help Chris Paul out.

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Kevin Garnett lead the way 33 points Wednesday night in the NBA Finals as Boston took a 3-2 lead in the series with a 106-102 win.  Ray Allen scored 29, hitting a long 2-pointer with a minute left after Detroit came within one point.  Celtcis's Kendrick Perkins’s had the best game of his young NBA career.  Perkins had career NBA playoff highs with 18 points and 16 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo added 7 points, 13 assists, 6rebounds and 4 steals for Boston.  Paul Pierce scored 13 of his 16 points in the first half, when Perkins out rebounded the Pistons 13-11 by himself.  The oddsmakers at sportsbook.com currently have the Boston 5.5 underdogs to Detroit heading into this NBA Playoff betting matchup

Rip Hamilton took an absolute beating in the final minutes of Detroit's loss to the Celtics.  With about three minutes left in the game he got poked in the eye by Ray Allen.  Hamilton sprained his elbow in the final minute of Game 5 which he may have sustained while illegally clutching Allen on the other end.  Still it's a game time decision for Game 6 if he will play or not.  The Pistons hope Wallace can keep his emotions in check because if he's called for one more technical, he will be suspended for Game 7 if it is necessary.  The NBA fined Wallace Thursday $25,000 for his expletive-laced rant targeting Game 5 officials Mike Callahan and Kenny Mauer.

I really enjoyed watching Ray Allen get his stroke back, and if they are going to win Game 6 on Friday night he needs to keep it going.  Will he stay hot?   Allen will be remembered as one of the best pure shooters in NBA history.  Who has a better career percentage from behind the arc?   Celtics can't afford another 7 game series, they have been playing every other night for about a month now it seems and they need rest if they were to play the LA Lakers.  While the Celtics home/road disparity was well documented through the first two rounds, they've now managed to get a road win under their belts and the road team has covered three of the last four games in this series.  The last game came down to the wire and tonight's game could easily do so again, making taking the points a valuable proposition.

NBA Angle plays for this NBA Playoff Picks Matchup When DETROIT team played as a Home team - Last 2 years - After a conference game - Coming off a Loss over Eastern Atlantic opponent 10-1 SU in this spot.  When BOSTON team Played as Road team as a Underdog - Vs Conference Opponent - Last 2 years - Coming off 1 game home stand 9-2 ATS in this spot

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In the NBA Playoffs Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals Wednesday night, a foul should have been called on the last play of the game, an NBA official said after a review of the play.  With 2.1 seconds to play in the game, Brent Barry of the Spurs went up for a shot to win the game at the buzzer after Derek Fisher came down and bumped Barry.  There was no call on the play.  This is a non-issue if the replay doesn't show Joey Crawford in the background in clear view of the foul and Crawford never even flinches to make a call. One would say Joey Crawford's mind had already been made up long before the play even developed.

Ok, we all know that Brent Barry got fouled , period.  He could have went to the line to tie the game with two free throws.  These refs have been horrible in these playoffs.  I remember in Game 3 of this series, the refs missed a traveling call on Duncan in the first half.  It was almost like these refs should be in the WWF or whatever they call it now.  I wonder if the refs were waiting for another ref to make the call.  The Spurs are classy saying everything right to the media.  It is water under the bridge, lets move on to Game 5.  The Spurs will need play better than Game 4 and Game 1 and need to win to remain in the series or its time to go fishing.

David Stern has had all sorts of problems with the NBA the past few seasons.  Tim Donaughy thing happened, but the timing was bad. If the Donaughy thing had happened in the middle of the playoffs, believe me, Stern would be answering questions from a congressman right now.  The NBA needs to set up a committee that reviews each and every game with the purpose of evaluating the competence of the officials.  For the ones that seem to spend most of the game pulling the whistles out of their butts - suspensions and post the offenders just like the players.  They should be responsible for there actions.

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