Basketball

[jabu]

Weer die Spurs in game 7.

Spurs dus tegen de Lakers en vannacht Pistons tegen de Celtics.

Laat het ajb een finale Lakers - Celtics worden en niet weer Spurs - Pistons.


In Nederland staat het ondertussen 1-1 in de finale tussen Amsteram en Den Bosch:

EiffelTowers slaat hard terug

DEN BOSCH, 20 mei - De tweede wedstrijd in de finaleserie om de landstitel was een nauwkeurig spiegelbeeld van het openingsduel. Nu was het EiffelTowers dat de hele wedstrijd domineerde en MyGuide op bijna beschamende wijze in de hoek zette. Deed de Bossche ploeg zondag nog mee in het eerste kwart, in De Maaspoort zetten Oliver en Tucker met twee driepunters de toon. Het was onmiddellijk 6-0 en kleiner is het verschil eigenlijk niet meer geweest. Via 24-13 was het bij de rust 43-31 en MyGuide had werkelijk niets in te brengen tegen het goed verdedigende EiffelTowers. Ook niet in de tweede helft, waarin het verschil - vlak na de start van het vierde kwart - zelfs opliep tot maximaal 26 punten bij 76-50. Daarmee was de wedstrijd gespeeld. Het werd uiteindelijk 91-71 en dus is er volledig evenwicht als de twee teams donderdag gaan beginnen aan de derde wedstrijd.

UITSLAGEN EN PROGRAMMA

MyGuide-EiffelTowers 78-63 (1-0)
EiffelTowers-MyGuide 91-71 (1-1)

Donderdag 22 mei, 20:00 uur in Amsterdam
Zaterdag 24 mei, 15:30 uur in Den Bosch
Dinsdag 27 mei, 20:00 uur in Amsterdam
Donderdag 29 mei, 20:00 uur in Den Bosch *
Zondag 1 juni, 15:30 uur in Amsterdam *

[Dubbel]

Weer die Spurs in game 7.

Spurs dus tegen de Lakers en vannacht Pistons tegen de Celtics.

Laat het ajb een finale Lakers - Celtics worden en niet weer Spurs - Pistons.

Maak je over Boston maar niet teveel zorgen. Die spelen echt als een kampioen. Op z'n Duits. Niet spectaculair maar wel constant iets beter dan de ploeg waar tegen ze spelen. Atlanta en Cleveland bleven steeds in de buurt maar waren in wezen kansloos. Detroit gaat het ook niet redden. Het moet imo heel raar lopen wil Boston de NBA titel mislopen dit jaar. Hopelijk volgend seizoen de beurt aan LA...

[jabu]

Scouts Inc. Scouting Breakdown: Pistons vs. Celtics

This is the matchup in the Eastern Conference finals that was anticipated when the playoffs began. Although the Celtics were pushed to the limit in both series and the Pistons had some speed bumps and injuries along the way, both teams are right where they were expected to be.

No matter how up and down each team might have been at times in the first two rounds, the important factor to consider is that at the critical moments in each series, both teams held true to form -- with tough team defense and clutch offense from their best players.

Expect this series to mirror the three regular-season games they played -- tough, physical, half-court slugfests that were close in the fourth quarter. Detroit won in Boston on Dec. 19, 87-85, then the Celtics won in Detroit on Jan. 5, 92-85. On March 5, Boston won at home 90-78 to take the season series.

The NBA's two best half-court defenses have been just that in the playoffs -- Boston has held opponents to 86 points per game on 40 percent shooting, while the Pistons have given up 87 points per game on 44 percent shooting. Both defenses have been suffocating in the half court, and have gotten lockdowns on key players during the most critical possessions of games.

Detroit will look to grind along at the NBA's slowest pace, and Boston will look to run more. Turnovers will be a key for both teams getting out in the open floor, because easy baskets will not be found in half-court sets.

Both team's benches played prominent roles in their three regular-season games, as well as in the playoffs so far, so look for Boston's coach Doc Rivers and Detroit's coach Flip Saunders to use a wide variety of players to try to find the right combinations from game to game.

Chauncey Billups will be a key early in this series, as the status of his hamstring injury will be tested in Game 1. During the regular season he was dominant. The Pistons will look for offense on endless screens and cuts from Richard Hamilton with looks into Rasheed Wallace in the post. Detroit's precision and execution in the half court will be tested on each possession against the NBA's best defense.


The disappearance of Ray Allen's offensive game in the playoffs will be of major concern for the Celtics in this series. With very little turnaround time between series, major adjustments to get Allen going may not be possible before Game 1. Kevin Garnett was the big gun for Boston against the Pistons in the regular season, and with Paul Pierce coming off a 41-point effort in Game 7 against the Cavs, look for these two to have most of the action run for them on the offensive end.

The Pistons come into this series with plenty of rest, having dispatched the running, 3-point shooting Orlando Magic in five games. Boston comes in tired from the physical pounding of seven games with Cleveland. If the Celtics cannot recharge and reload quickly enough, Detroit could come rolling into Boston and take Game 1 and do away with the Celtics' home-court advantage.

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PG
Chauncey Billups
17 ppg
6.8 rpg
1.3 apg 
 
Rajon Rondo
10.6 ppg
4.2 rpg
5.1 apg

Chauncey Billups: Detroit won the last two games of the semifinal series against Orlando with Billups in street clothes, and his fitness to return from a hamstring injury will be evaluated in Game 1 of this series. He averaged 22.7 points on 7.0 assists in three games versus Boston this season, scoring 28 in the Pistons' win on Dec. 19 and 23 in the March 5 loss. He went to the foul line 35 times in those three games, and he will look to be physical against the smaller, slighter Rondo. Expect more drives, back-downs and post-ups when Billups has this matchup.

Rajon Rondo: Boston's fourth-leading scorer in the playoffs, his back-to-back 3s against Cleveland in Game 5 might have been the two biggest baskets in the series. He provides quickness and penetration on offense, and he has nearly a 4-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the playoffs. Rondo averaged 11 points on 14-for-33 shooting versus Detroit in three regular-season games. He will have his hands full defensively with the physical Billups, but will try to go at Billups with his speed at the offensive end.

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SG
Richard Hamilton
17.3 ppg
3.3 rpg
4.2 apg 
 
Ray Allen
17.4 ppg
3.7 rpg
3.1 apg

Richard Hamilton: He is Detroit's leading scorer in the playoffs and carried much of the load with Billups out against Orlando -- scoring 63 points in those two games, which included 24-for-25 from the foul line. Hamilton averaged 18.0 points on 51 percent shooting against the Celtics this season, including 21 points in Detroit's Dec.19 win at Boston. He will score off screens, pull-up jumpers, drives and post-ups. Hamilton's scoring output has increased in the playoffs, and with Allen struggling, look for this matchup to be a key to the series.

Ray Allen: Allen is living through an offensive nightmare in these playoffs. He averaged only 9.3 points against Cleveland on 32.8 percent shooting, making only 4-for-24 from 3. During the season he averaged only 12 points in the three games, shooting only 4-for-13 in his last two games against Detroit. In the December loss he had 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting. His 3-point shooting will be needed in this series, but don't expect his offensive struggles to get any easier with Hamilton as his primary defender.

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SF
Tayshaun Prince
13.2 ppg
4.9 rpg
3.3 apg 
 
Paul Pierce
19.6 ppg
5.1 rpg
4.5 apg

Tayshaun Prince: The Pistons' best defender has picked up his scoring in the playoffs, averaging 16.0 points with a team-leading 56.2 percent from the field. Defending Pierce will be his primary responsibility, and he held Pierce to 11 points on 5-for-16 shooting in Detroit's regular-season win in Boston. Prince averaged only 5.3 points in three games versus Boston, but look for him to post up and spot up for the corner 3.

Paul Pierce: Pierce took over Game 7 against the Cavs, and his aggressiveness offensively against Prince will be a key in this series. His scoring and offensive consistency have been up and down in the playoffs -- ranging from 4 points in Game 1 versus Cleveland to 41 in Game 7. Pierce averaged 15.0 points on 35 percent shooting against Detroit in three regular-season games, scoring 15 and 19 in the two Celtics wins. He will catch and shoot, go off the dribble, and post up against the longer, taller Prince. Look for Pierce to be Boston's go-to guy during crunch time.

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PF
Rasheed Wallace
12.7 ppg
6.6 rpg
1.7 bpg 

Kevin Garnett
18.8 ppg
9.2 rpg
3.4 apg

Rasheed Wallace: Detroit's best interior scorer has also led the team in 3-pointers made in the playoffs with 16. He will work his post-up game against multiple Boston defenders, and will move out to the 3-point line to spot up and to pick-and-pop with Billups. During the regular season he averaged 16.0 points and 8.3 rebounds on 40 percent shooting. Wallace's shot blocking will also be one of the keys for Detroit's defense of Kevin Garnett, whether he's matched with KG or helping from the weak side.

Kevin Garnett: Garnett is the Celtics' leading scorer and most consistent performer in the playoffs -- averaging 20.3 points on 51 percent shooting. He played a big role against the Pistons in the regular season, averaging 24.0 points on 54 percent shooting in three games, including 31 in the Celtics' win on March 5. Although they won't guard each other all of the time, his matchup with Rasheed Wallace will be a key, as both players can score inside and out, not to mention both players are the emotional barometers for their teams. Look for each to try to get in the other's head early.

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C
Antonio McDyess
8.8 ppg
8.5 rpg
0.7 bpg 

Kendrick Perkins
6.9 ppg
6.1 rpg
1.46 bpg

Antonio McDyess: McDyess has lost minutes to Jason Maxiell in the playoffs, but he provides midrange shooting and a big body on defense. His ability to complement Wallace in the Pistons' high-low action opens things up for Wallace inside. McDyess had 13 points and 10 rebounds in the Pistons' 87-85 win in Boston in December, but only nine total points in the two regular-season losses.

Kendrick Perkins: Perkins provides rebounding and size for the Celtics' front line. During the regular season against the Pistons he averaged 7.3 points and 11.3 rebounds -- including a 10-point, 20-rebound performance in Boston's 90-78 win in March. He will contribute with hustle plays at both ends of the floor.

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BENCH
Jason Maxiell
7.4 ppg
4.4 rpg
1.5 apg 

James Posey
7.4 ppg
4.4 rpg
1.5 apg

Pistons

Jason Maxiell: Maxiell brings a physical, athletic presence to the Pistons' front line, and his energy and aggressiveness have been a key element in the Pistons' playoff success. He has started six of 11 playoff games and averaged 25 minutes per game -- averaging 5.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

Rodney Stuckey: Stuckey gives Detroit size in the backcourt and can play the 1 or the 2. When he started in place of Billups in Game 5 and Game 6 versus Orlando he averaged 10.5 points in those wins. In the playoffs he is averaging 7.3 points and 3.7 assists on 35 percent shooting.

Lindsey Hunter: Hunter is a crafty veteran who handled the ball and hit some big shots during the Orlando series. He's a pesky defender and locker room leader.

Theo Ratliff: He's a shot-blocker off the bench, averaging 11 minutes in seven playoff games. Did not play against Boston this season.

Arron Afflalo: Afflalo is a big guard who can defend, averaging nine minutes per game and 1.7 points in the playoffs. Had four points in 11 minutes in the Pistons' regular-season win.

Jarvis Hayes: Hayes is a small forward who can score, but averaged only five minutes and two points per game in the playoffs. In the January loss to Boston he had four points on 2-for-5 shooting.

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Celtics

James Posey: Posey is averaging 22 minutes per game in the playoffs and he provides defense and 3-point shooting. During the playoffs he has made 17 3s in 14 playoff games, but was a nonfactor in 15 minutes per game in the regular season against Detroit.

Leon Powe: Powe brings energy and aggressiveness to the Celtics' front line -- much like Maxiell does for Detroit. Look for more minutes from him as his value has increased in the playoffs.


Glen Davis: Davis saw increased minutes against the Cavs in Game 6 and Game 7. During the January win against the Pistons he had 20 points in 23 minutes and on March 5 he had seven points and four rebounds in the Celtics' win. Big Baby brings a big body to the Celtics' front line, and he will do his damage around the basket.

Eddie House: House brings emotional energy and 3-point shooting to the backcourt. During the regular season he averaged 3.7 points in 14 minutes per game against Detroit.

Sam Cassell: Cassell has seen his playoff minutes plummet with his offensive inconsistency, averaging 5.4 points on only 24 percent shooting against the Cavs. His scoring punch may be needed if Boston struggles in the half court.

P.J. Brown: The veteran big man will be needed against the big, deep Pistons front line. He averaged 3.9 points during 11 minutes per game in the semifinals.

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BOTTOM LINE

This series will be another long, drawn-out physical battle for the Celtics. After being taken to the limit in both of the previous series, they will now face an even more punishing defensive team. Detroit has not had to weather the physical trench fighting in its two earlier series, so this will be a new test for it. Expect close games, hard fouls, tough defense and grind-it-out offense -- just what we would expect from the Eastern Conference. Boston hasn't proved that it can be the same team away from home, and Detroit can and will win on the road in this series.

Prediction: Pistons 4, Celtics 2

ESPN

Scouts Inc. Scouting Breakdown: Spurs vs. Lakers

These two teams may be the best in basketball, based on their playoff performances and the level of competition they had to beat. Denver won 50 games, and the Lakers swept them. After Phoenix played well late in the season with Shaq, some "experts" picked the Suns to win the title, but they lost to the Spurs in five. Round 2 saw L.A. beat a true title contender -- including a series-clinching win in Game 6 on the court of the league's best home team, the Utah Jazz. The Spurs one-upped L.A. by winning a Game 7 on the road against New Orleans, clawing back from a 2-0 series deficit to win four of the last five games against a truly outstanding team. Both teams are playing their best basketball, and they match up very well.

The Spurs are such a balanced team, getting slashing from their guards, shooting from their wings, and almost everything from their Hall of Fame power forward. In the playoffs, their guards are also shooting well, and their role players are all plugged into the right spots. They can change lineups without a hiccup and often get better play from these different looks.

The Lakers are revved up on offense as well, with their own Hall of Fame player doing a lot of everything. In fact, Kobe Bryant is having a terrific postseason, perhaps even topping his own MVP regular season. His willingness to blend in with the team as often as possible has made L.A. almost impossible to defend.

The Lakers will be challenged to defend San Antonio's excellent ball-screen game. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili come roaring off those screens, dragging the screener's defender across the lane and creating not one but two mismatches on the floor. If the defender hedges strong too early, both Parker and Ginobili can split the screen and get into the teeth of the defense. Trapping the ball handler has its risks, as both guys can beat the double and play five-on-three, or make the easy pass for a quick ball swing and an open shot. Both guys are also great at the mid-range game, so playing off them is dangerous.

Defending Tim Duncan is equally tough, as the Spurs will play four-around-one and let TD go to work, with excellent spacing and good shooters if the Lakers double. There are reports that Pau Gasol can defend TD without help, but they are mostly false. Should L.A. try to squeeze TD early or late in the possession, the Spurs can go to their high-low passing game with Fabricio Oberto, who can feed Duncan next to the basket before help can arrive.

The Lakers will create just as many problems for San Antonio's tough defense, by pushing the pace in search of quick but open shots. This is one way the Lakers' players other than Kobe can make offensive contributions. Good fast breaks depend on mobile bigs, and L.A. has two of the best in Gasol and Lamar Odom. Both are highly skilled, and Odom is playing perhaps his best ball of his career. They are equally dangerous in the half-court set, utilizing the triangle to get easy shots for players who are being defended by guys quick to help on or rotate toward Kobe. Gasol is too good to be ignored even for a moment, and he can hurt the Spurs on the glass if they don't recover to box him out.

Like San Antonio, the Lakers have shooters primed and ready to launch if the defense is too focused on their inside players or Kobe anywhere on the floor. Kobe is the best perimeter player on the floor by a good margin, but neither Utah nor Denver had two guys able to defend him as well as Bruce Bowen and Ime Udoka. Neither can shut him down, but they can force him into poor shooting nights while not fouling too much.

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PG
Tony Parker
18.8 ppg
3.2 rpg
6.0 apg 

Derek Fisher
11.7 ppg
2.1 rpg
2.9 apg

Parker: Parker was not as sensational against New Orleans as he was in the Phoenix series, but he was still very good. Against the Hornets, Parker averaged 19.4 points on 48.6 percent shooting, drawing lots of help when he came off ball screens. He's 6-for-13 in the postseason from the 3-point line, making it even tougher to defend him -- although he did not attempt a single 3-pointer in four games against the Lakers this season. He did average 20.7 points against them, and should be able to penetrate on Fisher without needing a ball screen. Parker -- the Finals MVP last season -- has the look of someone who understands he is one of the game's truly elite players.

Fisher: One of the real heroes of Round 2, Fisher averaged more than 14 points on 57 percent shooting against Utah. And his long-range accuracy (11-for-17 from 3, 64.7 percent) made the Jazz pay for their extra attention on Kobe and Pau. He got roasted a lot by Deron Williams, but made up for a good portion of it by grabbing 3.5 steals per game -- more than three times his season average. He'll need to do the same on Parker, who's quicker with the ball than D-Will.

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SG
Manu Ginobili
19.5 ppg
4.8 rpg
4.5 apg 

Kobe Bryant
28.3 ppg
6.3 rpg
5.4 apg

Ginobili: The Spurs inserted Ginobili into the starting lineup when they were reeling early in the second round, and he responded with a major contribution to the overall victory. He scored 97 points in their four wins, putting up team-leading point totals of 25 and 26 in their final two wins. Manu also dished out 4.5 assists per game in the series. He will be asked to play a similar role against L.A. His mid-range game will be huge against L.A.'s shot blockers inside. Coach Gregg Popovich may elect to bring Manu off the bench in order to counter what has been a strong Lakers bench for most of the season. Ginobili is often the biggest difference maker for the Spurs, and he's likely to do it again in this series.

Bryant: Bryant maintained his premium performance level in Round 2, pouring in 33.2 points on just 19.3 shots per game. He attacked the rim with vehemence and shot an astounding 96 free throws. Most importantly, he supplied great guidance and leadership in a pointed effort to keep his teammates engaged. He'll have a tougher time against the Spurs, who defend him as well as anyone does. He only averaged 24.3 points a game against them this season. But Kobe is still the giant X factor in this series: He's the player most capable of carrying his franchise to the Finals.

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SF
Bruce Bowen
6.0 ppg
2.9 rpg
1.1 apg 

Vladimir Radmanovic
8.4 ppg
3.3 rpg
1.9 apg

Bowen: Bowen played beautifully against New Orleans on both sides of the floor: He shot 37.2 percent from 3 and made some clutch shots, while his defense on Peja Stojakovic was perhaps the difference in the series. All eyes will be on him to see what he can do against Kobe. He's played extremely well in the four games against the Lakers, shooting an amazing 80 percent from 3. He gets energy on offense from his performances on defense.

Radmanovic: Against Utah, Radmanovic shot the ball better -- from all over the court -- than he did in the first round. He shot 9-of-22 on 3s in the series (40.9 percent) and nailed 2-of-3 in the huge Game 6 clincher. On the other side of the floor, he struggled to defend on and off the ball against Utah's precision offense. He must be aware of Bruce Bowen spotting up for the corner 3.

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PF 
Tim Duncan
19.3 ppg
11.3 rpg
1.95 bpg 

Lamar Odom
14.2 ppg
10.7 rpg
3.5 apg

Duncan: No player is happier to get away from the Hornets than Duncan. He averaged just 15.3 points on 42 percent shooting in the series. Sometimes the Hornets doubled him early, sometimes late, and other times they just left him to work one-on-one against Tyson Chandler. The different defensive looks served to really disrupt Duncan's rhythm. The Lakers may try a similar tactic, but they have no one as good as Chandler to play TD straight-up. Duncan was clutch from the free-throw line against the Hornets, making 12 of his last 14, including all six of his attempts in Game 7. L.A. did a good job on Duncan during the season, as he averaged only 16.3 points.

Odom: Odom is another Lakers player who played brilliantly at times against Utah. He scored 18.2 points a game on 58.7 percent shooting and grabbed 11.7 boards a game. His offensive aggressiveness was a major key to the series, as Odom shot 47 free throws (7.8 per game) after shooting just 4.2 per game during the season. He averaged only 13.8 points and got to the line just 3.8 times per game against San Antonio this season. He needs to be ultra-aggressive to take some pressure off Gasol inside. If the Lakers are to win, it is likely that Odom will have to continue his excellent play.

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C
Fabricio Oberto
4.8 ppg
5.2 rpg
1.2 apg 

Pau Gasol
18.9 ppg
8.4 rpg
3.2 apg

Oberto: Oberto earned his starting job back midway through the series against New Orleans, thanks to his excellent ability to pass the ball in the interior to Duncan. Oberto does not finish with much physicality, so he may struggle to score against the Lakers' lengthy defenders. His biggest challenge will be to contain Odom, who is playing excellent basketball.

Gasol: Gasol was good, but not great, in the second round, partly due to the attention Utah showed him. His averages of 18.5 points and 8.3 rebounds per game were nearly identical to his regular season work. He'll likely need to step it up a notch in the Western Conference finals. His excellent activity on the offensive glass (3.5 per game) showed that he's not just a finesse scorer. But he's not been a great rebounder in his four games versus the Spurs, having grabbed 6.3 per game. The Lakers need him to do better than that so they can start their break.

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BENCH 
Michael Finley
10.1 ppg
3.1 rpg
1.4 apg 

Luke Walton
7.2 ppg
3.9 rpg
2.9 apg

SPURS

Finley: Finley averaged only 7 points per game in Round 2, but he made both of his 3-point shots at key times for the Spurs in Game 7. If he starts in this series, his ability to defend the unreliable but capable Radmanovic will be important. And for the Spurs to pull out a series win, it is likely that Finley will have to make some big shots.

Kurt Thomas: Whether he starts or comes off the bench, Thomas will have to make some pick-and-pops to open up angles for Parker and Ginobili on ball screens. His defense on Pau or Odom will be key as well, so he must sprint the floor in defensive transition.

Robert Horry: Horry did not do much in the second round, other than setting a hard screen on David West and his sore back. But Horry will probably factor into at least one big play in this series. If he can make a few 3s, it could change the dimension of the game.

Ime Udoka: Udoka may have been the most unsung hero of the second round, hitting 12-of-23 3-pointers. He will supplant Bowen as a "Kobe stopper" when Bowen is resting -- a challenging defensive assignment that could hinder his red-hot shooting.

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LAKERS

Luke Walton: Walton's production dropped considerably from Round 1 to Round 2: He went from averaging 14 points per game to just 5 points per game. His problem was very poor shooting, as he went just 9-of-26 from the field. However, he could be a difference maker if his rhythm returns.

Jordan Farmar: Farmar had a disastrous series in the second round, scoring just 1.7 points on 13 percent shooting from the floor. He did average 10 points in four regular season games against the Spurs, and he needs to produce similar numbers this time around.

Ronny Turiaf: His numbers are very small, but his production normally outweighs the statistics. His defense on Duncan will be a key to the series, especially if Gasol gets in foul trouble.

Sasha Vujacic: Vujacic scored in double figures in four of six games against Utah, averaging 9.3 points on excellent 3-point shooting (9-for-21, 42.9 percent). But he's more than just a shooter, and the Lakers need him to bring energy and passion to their second unit. He is a solid performer against the Spurs.

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BOTTOM LINE

The Spurs showed they can really run against Phoenix and New Orleans, but they are pragmatic and can play a slower game very well. The Lakers are not quite as fortunate, in that they require more of a running game to be most effective. However, the Spurs offense has been much more potent lately when Parker pushes the pace, so a faster and entertaining series is much more likely now, rather than if these teams were playing two seasons ago. Both teams possess sky-high confidence and play with real purpose every night. On paper, I think the Spurs are the slightly inferior team (just as I felt about them compared to New Orleans in Round 2).

The Lakers are probably the best team in basketball: They combine outstanding offensive talents with an excellent system, and feature long, aggressive and smart defenders who are very well coached by Phil Jackson & Co. But the Spurs are also expertly coached, and they play with no fear of losing their crown. Little bothers them, including starting out in a 2-0 series hole. Sometimes we have to look past the records, past the stars, and notice when a team seems to be "destined" for a title. Starting with Duncan's clutch 3-point prayer in Game 1 of Round 1, this team has had that look.

Prediction: San Antonio 4, Los Angeles 2

ESPN

Voorlopig staan de Lakers wel op voorsprong: 1-0.

[Dubbel]

Lakers op voorsprong ja! Vraag niet hoe. Het leek wel Pasen. Van zover zijn onze helden terug gekomen. Ik geloof dat ze er op een gegeven moment meer dan 20 achter stonden. Hopelijk breekt er nu iets bij de Spurs en kan het momentum bij de Lakers komen te liggen.

[jabu]

Bij de ervaren Spurs zal er niet zo snel wat breken. Bovendien moesten de Lakers deze eerste thuiswedstrijd in de serie wel winnen.

[Frank]

Volgens mij kunnen ze die Nederlandse finale wedstrijden net zo goed schriftelijk afdoen. De uitploeg maakt geen zak klaar en de thuisploeg scoort gewoon lustig door.

Nu weer Amsterdam dat 24 punten voorstaat met nog iets van 3 minuten spelen.

Geen zak aan op deze manier....

[Duke]

Pistons weer naast Celtics

BOSTON - Detroit Pistons is donderdagavond op gelijke hoogte gekomen met Boston Celtics in de finale van de Eastern Conference. De bezoekers waren in Boston met 103-97 net te sterk voor de Celtics, die daarmee hun eerste thuisnederlaag in de play-offs moesten slikken.

Richard Hamilton maakte 25 punten voor Detroit en was daarmee de meest trefzekere schutter van zijn team. De thuisploeg moet het vooral hebben van de impulsen van Paul Pierce (26 punten), Ray Allen (25) en Kevin Garnett (24). Zaterdag is de derde wedstrijd, dan in Detroit.

De winnaar van de best-of-seven-serie speelt in de finale van de NBA tegen de winnaar van de Western Conference. De eindstrijd gaat daar tussen Los Angeles Lakers en San Antonio Spurs.

www.sportwereld.nl

Als de Celtics thuis gaan verliezen, gaat het een lastige opgave worden.

[jabu]

Inmiddels staat het al 2-0 bij de Lakers tegen de Spurs door een tweede thuisoverwinning op rij van de Lakers. Deze keer niet met zoveel moeite als in de eerste wedstrijd, maar met 30 punten verschil: 101-71.

Homecourt advantage ligt in de serie tussen de Pistons en de Celtics nu bij de Pistons. De stand is daar nu 1-1. Kom op Celtics!

[jabu]

De Celtics hebben bij de Pistons gewonnen en de stand op 2-1 gebracht!
Vannacht game 3 in San Antonio tussen de Spurs en de Lakers.

Vierde veegpartij

DEN BOSCH, 24 mei - Het wil de twee beste ploegen van Nederland maar niet lukken om een echte wedstrijd op het parket te leggen. Zaterdag in de Bossche Maaspoort werd ook het vierde duel een veegpartij en kwam er uit eindelijk een verschil van dik in de dubbele cijfers op het scorebord: 79-63. Het was Kees Akerboom die al in het eerste kwart de toon zette namens EiffelTowers met een fantastische serie van zeventien (!) punten, waarop het eerste kwart eindigde in 24-13. MyGuide is daarna nooit meer in de buurt gekomen van de thuisploeg en dus is het nu 2-2, heeft iedereen steeds zijn thuiswedstrijden gewonnen en gaat de serie dinsdag dus verder in Amsterdam.

MyGuide-EiffelTowers 78-63 (1-0) Beelden NOS
EiffelTowers-MyGuide 91-71 (1-1) Beelden NOS
MyGuide-EiffelTowers 74-58 (2-1) Beelden NOS
EiffelTowers-MyGuide 79-63 (2-2)
Dinsdag 27 mei, 20:00 uur in Amsterdam
Donderdag 29 mei, 20:00 uur in Den Bosch
Zondag 1 juni, 15:30 uur in Amsterdam *

[jabu]

Door een dikke thuisoverwinning, 103-84, hebben de Spurs de achterstand teruggebracht tot 2-1.

[Duke]

Leuk filnpje over Kobe Bryant.

[jabu]

Leuk filmpje over Fransesco Elson.

[jabu]

Sensationele zege Eiffel

AMSTERDAM, 27 mei - We hebben er lang op moeten wachten maar wedstrijd vijf in de finale serie bracht dan eindelijk een duel om te watertanden. In de volle sporthallen Zuid leverden EiffelTowers en MyGuide een playoff wedstrijd af die geen moment verveelde en vele gezichten had. Uiteindelijk was het Travis Young van Eiffel die de grote matchwinnaar werd. De Amerikaan schoot bij 63-60 aan het einde van het vierde kwart drie vrije worpen raak waardoor de wedstrijd in overtime kwam en vervolgens schoot hij bij 77-77 in de laatste seconde de winnende jumper binnen waardoor het 77-79 werd en de eerste uitzege in de serie een feit werd. Eigenlijk was het al een wonder dat MyGuide zolang in de wedstrijd bleef want de thuisploeg schoot dramatisch. Maar door wilskracht en keihard werken werd een dusdanig reboundoverwicht opgebouwd waardoor de Amsterdammers tot het einde in de wedstrijd bleven. Donderdag kan EiffelTowers het kampioenschap binnen halen door in de eigen Maaspoort te winnen.

Lekkere overwinning van Den Bosch! En Travis Young

[Kaboem]

Zo, was een aardig wedstrijdje gisteren in de SHZ!

[jabu]

Morgen een feestje vieren in Den Bosch?

[jabu]

Lakers al op 3-1, met een thuiswedstrijd morgen voor de boeg.
Vannacht de Celtics tegen de Spurs bij een 2-2 stand. Come on, Celtics!

[Marillion]

Lakers - Celtics zou puur als affiche wel een klassieker zijn. Is het nog de moeite om een keer zo'n potje te bekijken op Sport1 of valt er voor een neutrale sportliefhebber weinig te genieten?

[Kaboem]

Ik zou vanavond maar naar Sport 1 gaan kijken, Marillion. Om 20.00 uur!

[Marillion]

Een spektakelstuk?

[Kaboem]

Voor Nederlandse begrippen zeker!

[jabu]

Lakers - Celtics zou puur als affiche wel een klassieker zijn. Is het nog de moeite om een keer zo'n potje te bekijken op Sport1 of valt er voor een neutrale sportliefhebber weinig te genieten?

Een finale Celtic - Lakers is zeker de moeite waard om naar te kijken. Vanavond kan je beter is Den Bosch aanwezig zijn!

[Duke]

Celtics ruiken aan finale NBA
Uitgegeven: 29 mei 2008 8:42
Laatst gewijzigd: 29 mei 2008 8:42

AMSTERDAM - Boston Celtics heeft woensdag een 3-2 voorsprong genomen in de NBA-play-offs tegen Detroit Pistons. In de vijfde wedstrijd van de finale van de Eastern Conference waren Kevin Garnett en Ray Allen de uitblinkers tegen de basketballers uit Detroit: 106-102.

“Het was fantastisch”, aldus Allen na de wedstrijd. “We spelen tegen een ploeg die deze situatie vaker heeft meegemaakt, maar we groeien per wedstrijd.” De Celtics gaven in het vierde kwart nog wel bijna een voorsprong van 15 punten uit handen. De ploeg kan vrijdag een einde maken aan de best-of-seven-serie als er in Detroit wordt gewonnen.

www.nusport.nl

[Duke]

Morgen een feestje vieren in Den Bosch?

Nee dus!

[Dubbel]

Lakers 2008 Kampioen West!

Wel een ploeg met karakter hoor, de Spurs. Duncan, Parker, ijzersterk ook. Ze mogen dan misschien een minder jaar hebben maar je bent ze echt pas kwijt als het afgelopen is. Vorige pot in SA staan ze de hele wedstrijd achter maar hadden ze zomaar kunnen winnen als de laatste bal er in was gegaan. Vandaag een beetje vergelijkbaar, komen ze vlak voor tijd ook binnen 10 seconden ineens weer 5 punten dichterbij. Een ploeg zonder Kobe zou er aan onderdoor zijn gegaan. Briljante Kobe Bryant overigens, zeker in de afgelopen 2 partijen. Die vent kan werkelijk alles en doet dat ook. Terwijl hij zelfs nog allerlei blessures heeft. Goed, op dus naar de volgende ronde. Tegen de Pistons zie ik volop kansen maar het wordt natuurlijk gewoon de Celtics. Die worden normaal gesproken straks ook NBA winnaar tenzij Kobe nog eens een tandje bij weet te schakelen. We blijven hopen. De stad is er paars-goud gekleurd van!

[jabu]

Morgen een feestje vieren in Den Bosch?

Nee dus!

Was inderdaad erg jammer. Wel een terechte overwinning van Amsterdam met een uitblinkende Gipson. Het begon nog met een ijzersterk eerste kwart van Den Bosch (Akerboom schoot met scherp), maar daarna nam Amserdam het over. Bij Den Bosch gaven te veel spelers niet thuis. Oliver en Young probeerden het tenminste nog wel, maar zo'n Tucker zakte gingantisch door het ijs. Ik heb niet de echte wil gezien om ten koste van alles kampioen te worden. Amsterdam toonde veel meer karakter. Toen Oliver even opstond maakte Wyatt gelijk een harde fout op hem. Soms moet je kunnen uitdelen. Dat kon Amsterdam wel, maar Den Bosch was veels te soft.

Toch is het nog niet beslist en wordt het aanstaande zondag een echte wedstrijd. Den Bosch heeft niets meer te verliezen en veel goed te maken. Het zal een klap zijn, maar ze kunnen nu wel geheel onbevangen spelen.


Mooi dat de Spurs er uitliggen en de Lakers naar de finale gaan. Kobe is inderdaad een fenomeen! Nu moeten de Celtics nog even afrekenen met de Pistons. Dan zal het een mooie finale worden, waar mijn voorkeur toch naar de Celtics uit gaat.