Boston Celtics will lose TWICE in the next week!

Lamar L.A. wrote:

LoL! Nice job with your CYA, Sagarin.

I wasn't covering my ass, just acknowledging the obvious as I also did when I warned that your USC Trojans were NOT the Trojans of yesteryear and would struggle with this true freshman at QB. As I warned that Rick Neuweasel would have the Bruins challenging SC for PAC-10 supremacy within a few years (he has already stolen CU's top two playmakers in Josh Smith and now Darrel Scott). Glad the Bruins, among others, will be back and USC will no longer be getting an auto-bid to the Rose Bowl every year, but not in this manner. That Stanford win yesterday was also a "thing of beauty."

Agreed. At the same time, Denver benefitted from a "perfect storm" of ideal circumstances.

Well, "Seriously?," sounds like a political figure I know. Denver didn't do much to get any worse, but they didn't do anything to get a whole lot better until Lawson learns to play defense. If they win the games they SHOULD, they will be locking up home court, and, as you have seen, that is an advantage the likes of which you see in no other professional sport.

But look, we share the same disdain for Bauston (though Philly fans are absolutely the worst fans I've ever encountered) and I always root for LA teams behind Denver, except for in football, where the de facto proxy in the Raiders not only doesn't count, but they are the most dreadful team with the most dreadful legacy and management ever. Too bad LA has languished all these years in getting a real team. The Trojans have been able to fit that bill for the past decade. No longer.

Sagarin wrote:

If they win the games they SHOULD, they will be locking up home court...

When the Lakers get Gasol back into the lineup, you could make at least an equally compelling argument for them to do the same, probably more so.

Sagarin wrote:

...as you have seen, that is an advantage the likes of which you see in no other professional sport.

Yes, I witnessed it on May 29th also, but I noticed that you rather conveniently issued a "no comment" on that. Sounds like several political figures that I know, as well.

I was in agreement with you during the 2008/2009 season. We are talking about the 2009/2010 season now; hence, no need to "comment."

Sagarin wrote:

I was in agreement with you during the 2008/2009 season. We are talking about the 2009/2010 season now; hence, no need to "comment."

It's much more likely that you were simply trying to ignore a counter-point that you couldn't effectively answer.

That being said, when you claim that the Nuggets exhibit "Sheer dominance (when it matters) at home," is this based upon their comprehensive résumé of three home games? Tell me, which one of these early-season tilts qualifies as "dominance when it matters?" The 9-point "rout" against the Jazz? The 10-point victory over mighty Memphis? Or does running up the score when the Lakers finally ran out of gas in the second half meet the criteria?

I noticed that you're also contradicting yourself. First, you are emphasizing that "Denver didn't do much to get any worse, but they didn't do anything to get a whole lot better" compared to last season. As a result, we both agree that the Lakers and the Nuggets are essentially the same teams as last year. However, when I pointed out that the final game of the Western Conference Finals (when both teams were equally well-rested) clearly seems to undermine your "Sheer dominance (when it matters) at home" theory, you claim it's an entirely different season so it gets dismissed.

Sagarin, you are one of the most knowledgeable sports fans on these boards, but you would get absolutely crucified in a formal debate.

"Seriously?", chill, I'm not attempting to "debate" you. The "sheer dominance" was indeed a glancing reference to the game against the Lakers when they did, in fact, run completely out of gas. It wasn't even close. And, Gasol or no Gasol, I think this Lakers team is down a notch. But, just as the first few retorts of Boston fans on this thread were useless in the context of the entire year, so too is this banter. The Nuggets sent a signal... that's it. I'm just trying to bring your smugness factor down a notch. The Nuggets will be a better team than last year, IF they can bring Lawson into the fold defensively as I said and think they will. Much better than Jones, who was an unsavory character and player last year.

Sagarin wrote:

As I said... Sheer dominance (when it matters) at home.

Quite impressive, indeed...

Sagarin wrote:

...and, yes, I do realize that Gasol wasn't in

Coincidentally enough, the Lakers are 5-0 with Pau back in the lineup. Just a minor impact on the team though, right?

Sagarin wrote:

I'm just trying to bring your smugness factor down a notch.

I can see I failed in achieving this and your imminent retort will drive the point home even more so.

Sagarin replies while ignoring factual data in a counter-point. What a surprise!

As far as my so-called "smugness factor," there are two things you have conveniently overlooked:

1. I didn't start the ugly trash-talking within this thread. The foul-mouthed Celtics fans took it to another level, and I chimed in after that. In other words, from their perspective if you're going to light the fuse, don't get upset when the bomb goes off... you're receiving what you deserve!

2. With all due respect (and as we have discussed in other threads), you might be one of the very last "regulars" on the LetsRun boards who should be lecturing anyone else about being smug.

Lamar L.A. wrote:

1. I didn't start the ugly trash-talking within this thread. The foul-mouthed Celtics fans took it to another level, and I chimed in after that. In other words, from their perspective if you're going to light the fuse, don't get upset when the bomb goes off... you're receiving what you deserve!

The trash talking was started by ripvanracer in the OP. He is not a Celtics fan.

Truth teller wrote:

The trash talking was started by ripvanracer in the OP. He is not a Celtics fan.

Perhaps a touch of bold and italics in the font will increase your reading comprehension level.

Lamar L.A. wrote:

I didn't start the ugly trash-talking within this thread. The foul-mouthed Celtics fans took it to another level, and I chimed in after that.

Thanks, but I read it correctly.

In other words, you decided to comment on a carefully selected portion of the text that fits your biased point of view.

Welcome to the LetsRun message boards! You will fit in quite nicely.

Nope. Just made a pair of observations.

I see. In other words, you decided to emphasize who fired the 22-caliber first shot, rather than who dropped the nuclear bomb. Interesting logic!

You're the one who wrote, "if you're going to light the fuse, don't get upset when the bomb goes off." :)

Agreed, but in this case there is a difference between belligerent trash-talking and simply being a troll. You obviously fall into the latter category.

Sagarin wrote:

As I said... Sheer dominance (by the Nuggets) at home.

Marc Stein of ESPN.com wrote:

The Nugs are the second team ever with a win percentage of .750 or better to get dumped by a team on a skid of at least 15 games.

I haven't watched any Lakers games lately. Are you still part of the stupidest fans in the league who chant MVP when your team is getting crushed and Kobe Klanker is 6-19 after throwing up nine turnaround, off-balance, fade aways with two guys on him?

Mr Mountain wrote:

I haven't watched any Lakers games lately.

You haven't missed much... just the same old thing for them: longest winning streak in the league, etc.