Outmatched

Now it gets interesting...I mean desperate. Lakers head back to LA for some much needed home cooking. I'll be honest, I'm a bit concerned about these Lakers and won't lie about the fact that I was doubting whether this team could win a game in this series. It was looking pretty grim there for about 98% of the game. Here are my thoughts (and fears) on the remainder of this series:

• Here's why the Lakers are getting killed: No defense, poor shooting, not playing aggressive or with any sense of urgency. The Celtics simply want it more.
  
• The Laker reserves are also getting completely out played by their counterparts - so much for those deep lakers.
  
• Let's not read too much into that late run - yea they pulled it close, but you gotta be more discouraged about what they did for the first 7 quarters of this finals.
  
• I'm not sure how he's going to do it, but the Zen Master has to get this team playing more physical and more aggressive.
  
• Probably the worst officiated championship game of the last 10 years or more. The biggest complaint I had was the fact that they didn't let the game get into any rhythm - tic-tac fouls on both teams. BUT, that free throw discrepancy is absurd. No doubt that the Celtics were more aggressive and probably would/should have shot more free throws , but to have a backup shoot more free throws than the entire Laker team? Ridiculous. The crappy thing is you just know there's going to be at least a game or two where the pendulum drastically shifts in LA. Refs suck.
  
• Here's a thought: someone just follow Paul "Pele" Pierce around the three point line because all he does is roam up there waiting to bomb. Knee injury my ass.
  
• Odom is out of control. He's been pretty frustrating this series and has contributed next to nothing.
  
• Game 3 is a must win and bench players typically play better at home than on the road so I gotta go with the Lakers here. But if they lose, I don't think they win a game....but we won't go there. If they can find a way to win this next game I think they blow them out in game 4, making it 2-2. From there? Who knows. Lakers in a semi-close game tonight (10 points or less).
  
• The net-net of this series is the Celtics are starting to peak at just the right time (last couple of games of the conference finals and now) and the Lakers are slipping at just the wrong time. LA played so well throughout the conference playoffs, but now seem to be losing their mojo which is very common in sports as we know. Here's hoping the Celtics revert back to their ways of sucking on the road.
  

Something other than the NBA:

• First off, someone needs to slap the crap out of Cedric Benson...then do it again. He should also probably NOT spend any more time in Austin than he absolutely has to. With that said, the Bears releasing him may be the best thing that happens to him - he hasn't fit in there from day 1 after a lengthy hold out. You just have to think he's capable of performing physically if he can just find the right fit and get his act together. He can go and sign a 2-year, very low deal with a team that needs a backup RB, establish himself as a serviceable back and then move on. I can see Chargers, Texans, Chiefs, Lions, etc. We'll see - I imagine he'll miss a few games due to suspension.
  
• So I watched the Belmont with a buddy who is big into horse racing and was interesting (I know nothing about it). He bet on the horses that got 1st and 2nd - 38-1 on the horse that got first. Impressive.
  
• Unless Nadal gets hit by a bus, Federer will never win on clay. Too bad because he'll get hit for that, but still one of the best ever. Either way, he got his ass handed to him. Not even close.
  
• Should be a great US Open this weekend - Phil and Tiger paired together. I'll have the DVR going.
  
• Let me see....nope, still don't care about baseball yet.
  

Non-Sports Thoughts for the Week:

• Watched Juno last weekend - great, great, great movie. One of the better ones I've seen in a while (which isn't saying much).
  
• I'm about to experience one of those "firsts in life" things - buying a new air conditioner for the home....NOT good times.
• Which brings me to my next point - anyone got about $8-$10K lying around? Yea, me neither. Perhaps I could raise the money by making the Sports Rant a subscription-based blog? You guys would pay to read this dribble wouldn't you? Please?
  
• Here's one way to make purchasing a new air conditioner a bit easier - sleep in your house without one for a night or two.
  

That's all I got folks - HUGE game tonight in LA. Don't expect the crowd to get into it until the second half for 2 reasons: 1) the game is in LA and fans don't show up until then, and 2) the game tips off at about 6:15 California time.