Mea Culpa to All; “Bay-watch” Begins; and My First UFC

I’s been way too long. Anyone who might still be hanging in, mahalo. Thank you. Grazie. Merci. One question: what the heck are you doing with your life? Bro, you got some thinking to do…but I really do appreciate you coming by.

Boston’s Lo-A Team the Greenvill Drive

My piece is still No-A as in appearance. Or, M.I.A.

But hope springs eternal. I’ve been thinking that my Greenville Drive piece was just this close to running and when it did, that would be a great time to resurrect the ol’ sports blog. All I can say is, thank god it’s not a baby I’m waiting on – sucker would be HUGE. But I did get paid, so presumably it really is going to run soon. Thanks Brian!

In the meantime, Celtics celebrations are over, they’re back to work. I liked the Espy’s “Top of the World” piece.

Recently, with the Sox stinking up the place and the Pats only in day five of camp…it’s slim pickings. Probably good for the rest of my writing.

But there is one thing I started to write about and thought it might be worth putting up.

My First UFC Ticket

Not live (are you kiddin?) but we watched a bunch of fights pretty close on the heels of the last boxing match I watched. Pacquiao v. Diaz – WBC lightweight title fight first. It reminded me of good, solid boxing from the old days.

I’ve been resisting the UFC phenomenon for a while now, it just happened that this event came closely on the heels of the Pacquiao v. Diaz fight. Maybe I was just in a bloodthirsty place…

My notes and memory are mostly long gone, but here’s a little Scooby snack for ya:

Tibau v. Stevenson – grapplers; all about the ground game.

Almeida v. Cote- BJJ v. striker

Jackson v. Griffin – freestyle

This fight card was perfect for an introduction to the various styles of martial arts, wrestling and boxing that are used by the mixed martial arts fighters. In each match you could see the strengths of one style when pitted against the other and the skills of the combatants in using or leveraging their defense of another. It seemed to me that the fighters had respect for each other and for each other’s discipline or technique. It was also clear these are not/(at least these matches) were not bar brawls set in a cage for bloodthirsty crowds.

Am I seeking out more UFC fights on tv? Not now. If I happen to hear of one coming up, I’ll probably tune in. It’s not really the comic choregraphed “professional wrestling” schlock that I thought it would be.

“Baywatch” Begins and Favre-watch drags on

This Boston Globe piece is good but the reader comments are better.

He still has Red Sox posters and the “onesie” that his Red Sox fan father had him in. He seemed poised and a little boring after Manny but I should remember my advice to others. He deserves to rise or fall on his own merits. There’s no way he’s replacing Manny’s bat. There’s no need to villify Manny, either. He’s not the smooth or boring interview but his authenticity is part of what made him unique in this day of agent fed pr spin stars. I mean, did you catch Brett Favre’s text message to the press? When did you hear that swamp rat talk like that? Only his agent talking there. If Green Bay fans forget how whiney Favre was before and arrogant that’s on them. Remember he smirked when asked why he wasn’t mentoring Rodgers? “not my job.”

He played high out of his mind and let’s see how many Superbowls did he take GB to? Oh that’s right, One. 1997 championship over the Pats. (ouch) Now his agent has put so many fine words in his mushy mouth that people think he’s being wronged. That’s brilliant manipulation of the press, the client, the situation. Your client comes out smelling sweet. Good job, Bus Cook.

Nothing Like a Long Drive…Greenville Drive Going Live

So the exciting news today is that my long-awaited Greenville Drive piece is about to go live!

Huh? You mean you don’t remember? Jeez, it was only like, um a year ago. I went to Greenville, SC and wrote about the Southern Exposure event. Then discovered they are home to the Boston Red Sox LoA team: The Greenville Drive. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the story. They have a field built to Fenway Specs. It’s been so long – I feel a bit like I’m about to deliver an elephant. We were in final edits in January. Dude, I’m serious. January. Welcome to Web 2.0.

And just the second it goes live, I’ll be sure to let you know the URL…

But speaking of Red Sox and development…here’s an update from the ranks:

BOS		AAA		Lowrie, Jed SS		5		1		1		0		.284		2B (11); 11-game hit streak
BOS		HiA		Anderson, Lars 1B		4		1		2		1		.312		HR (10)
BOS		SS		Kielty, Bobby RF		4		0		1		0		.375		Rehab assignment

Maybe the Bengals Need a D-back?

What’s going on with the Pats? This item in the Courant notes Willie Andrews (Pats defensive back) was charged with illegal possession of a large capacity firearm and assault with a dangerous weapon, on his girlfriend. I don’t even know this player but this doesn’t seem like the kind of behaviour this team tolerates. It’s now like we’re in Cincinnati or something.

Unfortunately, crap like this overshadows the good things other teammates are doing. Randy Moss held a charity golf tournament (Links for Learning) and gave away shoes to kids, Wes Welker held an event (Cleats and Cocktails) in Oklahoma in conjunction with Adrian Peterson’s camp.

Let’s hope the Pats can return to glory. If not I may be forced to follow Moss’ Nascar team. Oy.

Endless Innings, Endless Fun – Endless Careers?

Battle of the Older Guys – A Win for the Sox

Johnson 44 Y.O. D’backs Pitcher and former Yankee…still throwing some pretty nasty stuff at his age. Wakefield’s knuckleballs proving tricky for DBacks. He’s 41. (see those dancing pitches?) And, now we see Shilling (41 and former co-MVP with Johnson for the DBacks…) after successful surgery still leaving his options open, while acknowledging a comeback at his age is not likely. On his 38 Pitches bloghe wrote a nice post about having no regrets. Good for him. We should all be so lucky. Can’t deny his role in helping the Sox win their World Series Championships.

Tonight’s Game Notes:

Wake – 94 pitches 61 Ks – Eck called it like something from “son of flubber” where the ball won’t contact. 7 IP; 6 Ks…his catcher Cash had a pretty good night, too. (didn’t you wonder why Johnson Intentionally walked Cash? b/c Johnson knew last time he faced Cash, Cash took him deep…)

11 2/3 scoreless innings by Delcarmen who came on to relieve Wakefield (last matchup was in 2005 when Johnson was a Yankee.)

3 run Homer by Cash cements another late inning rally – Moss and Cash (so far Bottom of 8th) responsible for the 5-0 lead we hold

.278 team BA – second in AL and just behind .284 – in NL that’s the Cubs’ team BA…

It’s almost empty tank here for me…but I’ll tell you the other observation from tonight’s game: patience at the plate. Our batting coach has done great things with our guys’ discipline at the plate. I don’t even know what goes into it all but – DOH!! -we were full count 2 outs with a chance to end this. …now, a Walk by Hanson? Paps comes out bases loaded, 2 outs. Holy replay Batman….late inning drama again!

Paps – third in league in saves? 5-0 Win/shutout of DBacks. Phew.

Late Innings Rally Give Sox the Win and a Monster Lesson

For me and Eric Byrnes on playing the balls off the Green Monster. I’m always amazed any batter can hit any of these pitches. To then be able to take defensive swings, or foul-tip the pitch count up; another level of respect. Further, when you see veterans place the ball just where they know it suits the particular game, players, inning, etc…Incredible.

Case in point: Byrnes, by all accounts a good and an experienced player is struggling in that left field pocket. The good hitters are using his inexperience playing the Monster to their advantage. You see the carom bouncing way over head…maybe a good way to load the bases and get into the opponents’ heads.

(btw. how railed out was Lenny Clarke in the booth? I thought he was in rehab? odd that his appearance with equally amped Denis Leary last season was Remy’s favorite moment? And how juiced is Remy’s kid?)

13 Innings and Finally a Win

[ed. note: this post was hiding in my drafts folder...apologies to the three of you who might be reading this...]

For as long as the game went tonight (that would be Monday’s game v. St. Louis!) , you’d have thought it would get boring. But it didn’t really. There was drama of pitcher-batter duels, fielding, substitutions…it was a good chance to see various strategies in action. Plus thrills and spills.

Lane/Boston Herald

It also was a good chance to see what a cranky MFr LaRussa is. Youkilis thought the crowd was too quite, he attributed it to the fact that they might be hungover from celebrating the Celtics win. Francona compared it to a girls’ softball game (ouch – he has daughters that play!) But, leading double base hits in three extra innings, men on base, often all of them….and it still took 13 innings to get it done.

Maybe, it was just that it took that long for Lowell to hit (his first was the double in the 13th) and someone was looking out for him? Crazy play at the plate? We had it: Varitek’s head over keister roll with the ball in the hands the whole time. Yikes. Papelbon’s fourth blown save. Threat of a sweep. Oh yeah. We had drama.

(I saw a bunch of green hats in the stands, Dave, hang in there buddy, I’ll get the damn photos up…along with the story explaining why no man really wants to be seen wearing a green hat….)

The Last Thing Out of Pandora’s Box?

It was HOPE.

Hope is a prickly, dangerous and a beautiful thing. Some would say it’s an Audacious thing.

Two Champions (Getty Images/Elsa)

It was a Season of Hope here in Boston.

I felt the fluttering of hope at the beginning of the Celtics’ season when I dared to hope. Could they could do it? Make it to the playoffs? Would it be possible, after last season?

What if they wound up playing the Lakers? It was too much to fathom.

As the season progressed and victories mounted, we dared to hope. When things looked shaky, the chant rang out in the Garden: “Don’t stop believing.”

131-92 – So many records set this season and so many superlatives. Rajon Rondo was 6 months old the last time the Celtics won. You listen to the post-game press conference of Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo and both of them talk about the way the whole team stuck to the plan, the discipline and the accountability they enforced amongst themselves.

That’s character and that’s good coaching, too. Something I didn’t know I could expect from Coach Rivers. I stand corrected. Humbled by the man who hasn’t had a chance to grieve his own father who died last November and whose birthday would have made him 77 yesterday.

Bob Ryan ran out of them. Check this clip, it’s hysterical. It’s also a pretty impressive wrap up of the game, going over the amazing box score, he literally ran out of superlatives and rolls off something like five “Greats” in a row…

Some quotes:

“The Truth beat The Rapist” My friend Catherine who was a Paul Pierce fan and tried to win me over for years…you were right all these years, my friend.

“Our arms are getting tired here in Boston from hoisting all those trophies...” Jackie MacMullen

“I knocked the bully’s ass out,” Garnett said. “I knocked his ass clean out.”

“I’m not living under the shadows of the other greats anymore,” Pierce said. “I’m able to make my own history.”

“When you cut me, I bleed green.” Bill Walton

Team Photo (Barry Chin/Globe)

See what marvelous things can happen when we dare to hope?

Bill Belichick sitting courtside with his girlfriendm was probably thinking about how his team could bring home the Lombardi trophy this year. How sweet would that be?

Keep Hope Alive.

Gotta Give it Up for the Old Guys! Celtics Make History

Ap/Terrill

Snatching Victory from the Jaws of Defeat, Celtics “Let the air out of the building.”

Ray Allen (8 time NBA All star; one of the all time NBA career 3 point shooters) played every minute of the game. Every minute. He played each one like it was worth more than 60 seconds. People will focus on one or two plays where he embarrassed Vujacic or made some insane and beautiful baseline play. But the fact is that he was in there every minute because his skill and experience mattered. And it did, every minute of it did.

With Rondo out, Allen immediately adjusted his game. No one else can get the pass in transition that he needs for his 3 point plays. Instead, he became a point guard, shooting guard, rebounder, he was everywhere. He took Vujacic out not in one or two possessions that will show on the highlight films, but by planting doubt and making Sasha tentative or making him hesitate. Setting the table, possession by possession. Even to the end of the game, so any time Sasha is one on one with Ray, he’s going to hesitate because, as Vujacic admitted in the post-game interview, he “was afraid to foul him.”

These are the kinds of contributions that don’t necessarily show up on the stat lines. The poise, the composure, the skill to continually take it to the other guy. Spread the defense, drive into the paint and challenge them to foul, to bait the defender (right in front of the ref, while shaking off the screen) these things will stay in the head of a younger player.

Someone like Allen (19 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, 1 block) or Garnett (led with 11 rebounds and his numbers don’t show his contribution. I still want him to dominate the paint more, please? They both labored for years in the Western Conference racking up insane stats but going unnoticed by most of us and never getting the chance to play with a team that could be a contender…you don’t think these guys want this? As Kobe reminds us, it’s not just about wanting, it’s about executing. You’d have to give it to the Celtics on that score, too.

Going from a record-setting 1st quarter deficit to record-setting comeback in the last minutes of the game. That doesn’t happen because Paul Pierce wants to guard Kobe and gets the assignment. It’s because he can do the job. Because shooters can spread the defenders. Even with limited minutes and a bad ankle, Rondo was going into the paint and making the Lakers account for him when he was on the floor. When his limitations showed, he sat and was okay with it. Powe, Posey, House (his long jumper gave the Celitcs their first lead with 4:07 left in the game), Brown….each player made a contribution without which this historic win would not have been possible.

PJ Brown had his first Finals game in his 15 year career in game one and remains calm, ready and understated. Except when he’s emphatically dunking over a stunned Laker. “Just” ready to do “what the team needs me to do.” How many NBA veterans are in Finals game shape, while contemplating retirement, then get this call? He is faster to set up his feet to draw a charge than half the younger guys on the floor. He’s rebounding. Doing whatever it takes. Huge. Should have gotten a couple of foul calls he didn’t get.

House misses two of this first four – keeps shooting. Posey, 18 points tonight. One of the only guys on the team with a ring. He knows what it means to be in the Finals.

Numbers to look at: (and what they mean, or don’t):

• Celtics are 22-0 all time in playoff series when leading 3-1 (6-0 in finals) (but these numbers were not by these Celtics)
• Celtics began the game by setting a record low first quarter in NBA finals history (that WAS this Celtics team)
• Lakers blew a 24 point lead; still held 50-48 lead at halftime
• Celtics outscored the Lakers 31-15 in the fourth quarter
• 24-15 Celtics out rebounded Lakers in second half
• C’s were still down by double digits with two minutes left in the third quarter (I can’t believe it and I watched it happen!)
• First lead for Celtics came with only 4:07 left in the game (no quit in THIS Celtics team)

You just can’t deny these guys. Not even the Lakers can. We can all taste it, KG. You guys are earning it every day. When they take the floor in practice, when they take the floor at game time.

Kobe can have his shots (as in drinks) we’ll give him those. The ones on the court, not so much.

Jamele Hill said today, Kobe’s legacy as a leader is what remains to be seen. That’s what his team needs.

Game 2 Win Holds Answers to Championship

The Answers aren’t on the Pine or in the Whistles

Though both those things matter. While many people will focus on the performance of Leon Powe tonight, or his tough road to get to the NBA, those stories, as compelling as they are don’t hold the key to the ultimate victory for the the Celtics.

Powe played aggressively and had the FTs to show it. He scored 21 points for the Celtics in 6-7 shooting in 15 minutes. His performance didn’t surprise the rest of the Celtics, just us. They’ll tell you he plays like that in practice every day.

We might be forgiven for overlooking him, since he’s played something like 68 seconds in the season so far. Though the calls were lopsided (10-10 for the Lakers and 27-38 for the Celtics), that will be corrected or at least balanced out by the calls at the Staples Center. Officiating will be kind(er) to the Lakers at home, no one doubts it.

The Celtics bench was underrated before tonight, they’re earning the respect they deserve, largely on the performances like Powe’s tonight. It takes nothing away from Powe’s contribution or his uplifting and awe-inspiring story, to say that other pieces of the game hold more important data for the C’s to focus on.

Other important factors:

Skalij; LA Times

1. Rondo’s continued maturation – His 16 assists tonight put him in the same discussions as Magic Johnson for first time playoff assists (Magic had 20 in his first playoff game). The assists show maturation. Development of this young guard, who is playing much larger than his 6′1″ 180 size, is impressive. He’s learning fast what his contribution can mean to the team performance. Earlier in the season he was turning the ball over and trying to make too many plays himself. You see Allen’s points off Rondo’s assists going up. Rondo understands better the flow and speed in transition that suit Allen’s superhuman shooting. And more importantly, Rondo has made the adjustment.

He’s also fearless with his body, going into the paint, drawing fouls, even if he’s not the lights out FT shooter, he is demanding that he be accounted for where ever he is on the floor. Let’s hope he’s durable the way he throws his body around. He’s matured quickly and impressively. He was all over the floor tonight with two steals and a block. He was quick enough to throw the veteran Fisher, off.

2. With the quick transition and faster flow, Ray Allen is in his groove. He is also playing great defense. We need to keep him on Kobe. He, like PJ Brown and a couple others on the floor, seems to know how the play is unfolding, where the pass will go, where the ball will bounce.

3. Kendrick Perkins is big and tough, especially in the low post, but he’s got to learn to keep his head. He effectively neutralized what could have been an advantage (his being able to come back from the high ankle sprain and play effectively) by getting into stupid foul trouble. We might need his advantage, especially since the Lakers don’t seem to have an answer for him (except to get under his skin and in his head.) That should be within his control.

4. Paul Pierce cannot be stopped. I thought he looked a little slow defending Kobe, but he certainly doesn’t seem too hampered by the knee. He will have to continue to play at this pace for the team to succeed (28 points, 8 assists in 41 minutes of play.)

5. KG still not driving into the paint the way I’d like to see it, especially when Gasol and Odom were picking up fouls. Assuming he’s reading things I’m not seeing, and he ended with a double-double so it’s not like he disappeared. He was also double-teamed a lot of the game. (Lakers points in the paint 40; C’s 34)

Gauthier, LATimes

6. The most worrisome factor for me was the Celtics loss of focus, lack of pressure applied when they had a 24 point lead, they didn’t go for the kill. They got loose. The Lakers made three pointers they never had a chance at in the first three quarters of the game. Uncontested. What happened to the defense? The lead at 24 was not enough for me to relax. Sure enough, the Lakers cut it down to a two point lead. I hope we learned our lesson. There should be nothing in the mental aspect of our game that allowed us to let up.

Game 3 at the Staples Center

One thing is certain, the whistles won’t be blowing in our favor. Let’s hope they’re not so lopsided.

Our veterans (starters and bench) have either Western conference experience, or just experience, to help offset if not override the intimidation factor of being in that arena, on that stage. Will the Lakers defense show up? There were glimpses of some of it in this game tonight, but that’s not really what we expect from them. Don’t expect them to let us roll up by 24.

Will we apply pressure for a full 48 minutes? Will our guys be sharp and smart? Will our baskets fall?

Will Phil Jackson call a timeout just to tell his team that he didn’t think he’d seen them play worse? Don’t count on that.

Sushi, Ribs, Onigiri anyone?

Ballpark Food

I’ve written about it before here in Ramen Red (toe)Sox and the Matsuzaka Effect, here, and here, but I guess once the Times does it, it makes it officially a topic. From the number of the comments, it’s a hot topic! Check it out here.

Here’s the slideshow.

No onigiri out there at any ballpark?

Mental, Physical, Fundamentals and Hazel’s Hooters

Hazel Mae is covering the MLB draft on TV as I write, including an inside look at how the Sox organization selects its drafts like Lowrie and Ellsbury. There’s a lot of interesting info, and I’m glad for her work on this piece. I’m also glad when she’s off camera because I find the boobs-bigger-than-my-head persona too distracting! When will we have good women on-screen announcers who don’t have to (or feel they have to) create/buy their Playboy bunny look to get on screen? Ick.

So speaking of things basketball sized…it’s on to the Celtics-Lakers GAME2. Cru-u-ush. as in Crucial.

Tale of Two Halves – Celtics Deliver a “Kick in the Backside” to Lakers

Game one was thrilling. Lakers lead 51-46 at half. Celtics allowed them to shoot 50% then shot 13 for 39 in the second half (33%). The game had something like 12 or 13 lead changes and a similar number of ties.

Other numbers to focus on: shot attempts/made; rebounds; turnovers; assists; fouls.

Gasol – 1 rebound every 6 minutes; 8 rebounds to Garnett’s 13. 15 points to Garnett’s 24. I think his lower offense is less important than his lower rebounds. Garnett is much faster and more fluid and watching highlights I saw a few plays where Garnett had the ball and read Gasol’s feet, then made his move. Gasol, though listed as taller than Garnett, was beat by Garnett with bookend dunks uncontested. One in the first quarter and one in fourth.

Garnett – established himself with a psychological advantage over Gasol with the first quarter uncontested dunk. Smart. Garnett needed to control the paint more in the final quarter though. He admitted in the post-game conference that he didn’t adjust when the mid-range shots started to fail rather than fall. With Odom and Gasol in foul trouble, I wanted to see Garnett dominate and challenge in the paint to send them home with a reminder of how poorly they matched up. Expect Garnett to make the adjustment.

Odom on the bench in the final minutes. We need to exploit the chance to get him in foul trouble.

Pierce – 15 of his 22 in the third quarter. Fierce. You saw him come back and take over. His collapse in the third with the meniscus strain might have been as much an emotional collapse fearing that his ten years in the desert might come to an end at the gates of the promised land. He came right back and established himself as a presence offensively and defensively. Reminded me of when Ray Lewis of the Ravens tore his triceps and got right back in the game throwing a penalty just to establish that he might be injured but was still to be reckoned with.

2-3-2 format – Makes second game HUGE. Both sides must look at game two as a must win for the psychological advantage as well as the objective advantage winning it will hold.

98-88 – victory – how many times have the Lakers been held to 88 points? aAnyone?

Posey’s three pointers – don’t discount how important these uncontested shots were. The Lakers will now have to account for defending him closer whenever he’s on the floor. That leaves them spread a little more thin defensively.

PJ Brown’s numbers don’t show the importance of his play. He was blocking shots, rebounding under the basket as well as showing his poise and experience. Watching the good players positioning themselves for where the rebound will land, like baseball outfielders playing off the walls, shows their skill and focus.

Boston’s defense – just beginning to understand the complexity of the defensive schemes. Earlier this season in one of the post-game conferences, Garnett or Pierce mentioned working on improving how the team shifts through the defensive options together, real-time. So much more than simply choosing man-on-man or zone, elite defensive teams have several options they have to be able to choose from in sync with each other as the game unfolds.

Ray Allen is a fantastic defender. Hadn’t appreciated his skills until I saw him up against Bryant. Not baited by a shake and bake move or head fake. Launching at precisely the right moment to get a clean hand in the face or on the ball, without fouling. 19 points; 8 rebounds; 5 assists.

Derrick Fisher – remember his steal in the paint? He’s so prepared and so skilled at reading the whole floor, he can anticipate where the pass is going to come from and go to. He is never surprised, he’s always aware. Even if his shots aren’t falling as they usually do, he must always be accounted for on the floor and he’s always a significant part of the team’s success.

Kobe mentioned “bunnies” he’d missed, the Lakers will come back like that other famous bunny – the Energizer bunny. Don’t expect them to be held to the same stats in Game two. They’re better than that, individually and collectively.

Red Wings Take Stanley Cup – Celtics and Lakers Begin Epic Series

I couldn’t help but think of the Celtics and Lakers matchup watching the final game of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs between the experienced Red Wings and the younger Penguins with youth and the phenom on their side. Is there a parallel to be drawn? Some insight to be gained?

Here are my thoughts and observations, first on the hockey game and then on basketball:

Hockey – The Red Wings experience showed tonight. Shots on goal, composure in front of the net defensively as well as offensive pressure that was relentless. Your heart has to go out to the Penguins’ goalie who made a phenomenal number of saves this series and to the rest of this young team. The pressure was on and the experience counted.

Basketball – As someone said tonight about the basketball game, oh yeah, I think it was Kobe…all the desire in the world won’t win it if you can’t execute. You know these guys are all watching film, trying to find a way to improve their individual game, their team play. How can they be sleeping? KG didn’t sleep 4 or 5 nights in the last series watching film. Not from nerves. Watching film. Good record against the Western Conference (25-5) and defensive player of the year (KG). Improved play by the whole team with more games played which may or may not be an advantage, depending on who you listen to.

Dedication is fierce on both sides. Like the stories of Barry Bonds watching film of the new pitcher he faced named Matsuzaka. Bonds, of all players could have taken a pass on the opportunity, but that never occurred to him. If film was available to him, he asked the reporter incredulously, why wouldn’t you watch it?

Likewise, Kobe has been asking players to keep pounding him on his “weak” side, so he can improve. The elite players never stop trying to improve, find an advantage, better their game. It’s not only about wanting it more, it’s about improving your ability to execute.

The sheer skill is impressive enough at this level. But skill never carries someone into the limelight without discipline and hard work (at least not for long.) In sports, perhaps more than any other field, this is true. On these two teams, there is no lack of determination to keep improving, play better, to win. Some will say it comes down to who wants it more, I think Kobe’s right, though. Wanting it more won’t beat better execution. The veterans know that.

KG, Pierce “The Truth”, and Ray Allen – these guys have gotten better as they’ve had more time to play together in pressure situations. They haven’t gotten rattled, they’ve stayed intensely focused. They have experience but together at this level, they can’t compare to Bryant and Fisher.

The young guys on the C’s have showed improvement and poise, too. The veterans we’ve acquired have added composure, skill and heart to the lineup.

On the Lakers side: it’s hard to ignore the phenomenal talent of Kobe Bryant. How many excellent players retired without their rings because they played in the Jordan era? That’s the caliber of player this guy is. So the game plan won’t be how to contain him. Remember when the Spurs plan was to contain his attempts, and they did, his points off fewer attempts went up. Jackson is a common denominator with these two historic talents.

Winning for the Celtics will depend on containment of Bryant as well as total “A game” execution by everyone on the court. The Lakers will capitalize on any mismatch, mental distraction or mistake. I’m pretty confident they’ve been working hard at improving individually and as a team. There’s little doubt the desire is there.

Doc Rivers showed wisdom when baited by a reporter to answer a question about how he would overcome Phil Jackson’s record and skill as a coach. Like my buddy tells me about cards, don’t worry what others are holding, focus on what you can do with what you’ve got. That’s about what Doc Rivers said.

The only sure thing is that the next several days are going to be an exciting ride. Fasten your seatbelts. Oh yeah, and please don’t call during the game…

Hey mom they found a Tee big enough for me: