In a foul mood
The Lakers' Phil Jackson hasn't lost too often in the playoffs during his coaching career, which probably explains why he is so bad at it.
After the Celtics' 108-102 win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, Jackson quickly put most of the blame for the defeat on officials Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney and Ken Mauer.
The Celtics shot 38 free throws in the game, including 19 in the first half. The Lakers shot 10 free throws, including only two in the first half.
Jackson noticed.
"I think my players got fouled," he said. "I have no question about the fact my players got fouled but didn't get to the line. ... Ridiculous."
Jackson added that the free-throw discrepancy was "unbelievable. I've never seen a game like that in all the years I've coached in the Finals."
Personally, I thought Boston deserved everything it got in Game 2.
The Celtics played better, played harder, played with more purpose and played with more energy than the Lakers -- at least until the final four minutes.
I was shocked at the the Lakers' inability to control the middle, although that has been the big knock on center Pau Gasol over the years. He can turn a little soft, which he did in this game, and I thought Boston took advantage of it.
In Utah, of course, Jackson won't get much sympathy. His cries of injustice will fall on deaf ears because of what transpired in the Western Conference semifinals between the Lakers and Jazz.
Or maybe he forgot.
L.A. won the series, 4-2. In their four close wins, the Lakers shot 169 free throws. Utah shot 99. In Game 2, the Lakers shot 43 free throws. The Jazz shot 16.
In the six-game series, Kobe Bryant shot a 96 free throws, despite playing one game with back spasms that admittedly prevented him from aggressively going to the basket. By comparison, Jazz catalyst Deron Williams shot 29.
Privately, the Jazz players, coaches and team officials seethed over what they considered unequal treatment by the officials throughout the series. But publicly, the Jazz did not complain nearly as loudly as Jackson and the Lakers did after Game 2 against the Celtics.
To their credit.
-- Steve Luhm
After the Celtics' 108-102 win in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, Jackson quickly put most of the blame for the defeat on officials Dan Crawford, Bob Delaney and Ken Mauer.
The Celtics shot 38 free throws in the game, including 19 in the first half. The Lakers shot 10 free throws, including only two in the first half.
Jackson noticed.
"I think my players got fouled," he said. "I have no question about the fact my players got fouled but didn't get to the line. ... Ridiculous."
Jackson added that the free-throw discrepancy was "unbelievable. I've never seen a game like that in all the years I've coached in the Finals."
Personally, I thought Boston deserved everything it got in Game 2.
The Celtics played better, played harder, played with more purpose and played with more energy than the Lakers -- at least until the final four minutes.
I was shocked at the the Lakers' inability to control the middle, although that has been the big knock on center Pau Gasol over the years. He can turn a little soft, which he did in this game, and I thought Boston took advantage of it.
In Utah, of course, Jackson won't get much sympathy. His cries of injustice will fall on deaf ears because of what transpired in the Western Conference semifinals between the Lakers and Jazz.
Or maybe he forgot.
L.A. won the series, 4-2. In their four close wins, the Lakers shot 169 free throws. Utah shot 99. In Game 2, the Lakers shot 43 free throws. The Jazz shot 16.
In the six-game series, Kobe Bryant shot a 96 free throws, despite playing one game with back spasms that admittedly prevented him from aggressively going to the basket. By comparison, Jazz catalyst Deron Williams shot 29.
Privately, the Jazz players, coaches and team officials seethed over what they considered unequal treatment by the officials throughout the series. But publicly, the Jazz did not complain nearly as loudly as Jackson and the Lakers did after Game 2 against the Celtics.
To their credit.
-- Steve Luhm
2:22 PM
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1 Comments:
Nice comments Luhm. It is convenient that Jackson appears to have forgotten that his team was the obvious benefactor of the officiating in the second round. Classy Phil, real classy.
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