The home team Celtics just defeated the Lakers on their home floor in Game 1.  Phil Jackson decided not to call any timeouts down the stretch, obviously upsetting the Vegas folk, which resulted in a 98-88 Celtics win.

    The win for the C's was not really as decisive as the final score indicates, however, as LA not only hung in there through 3 quarters but led most of the first half.

    PJ Brown, ex-Bull, came in off the bench for the Celtics to log some HARD minutes after an ineffective Kendrick Perkins went out with an ankle sprain.

    Bryant disappeared in the 4th Quarter, as Sasha Vujajcic pulled up for a couple bad shots and the Lakers basically were totally out of sync in the 4th.

    Despite the Lakers' first game loss, I am still holding out for Lakers in 6.  Too young.  Too athletic.  Can play fast or slow. Deeper.  Kobe Bryant.  I could go on.

    Tonight the Lakers failed to cover a 3 point spread,  the o/u was at 191.5 and the teams combined for 187 (under).  The NBA still does the idiotic 2-3-2 format in the Finals, so Boston stealing one in La La Land could be monumental, or at least more so than stealing one in the 2-2-1-1-1 format is.  Three in a row is what LA needs to win if they can't steal one on Sunday @ 6 PDT.

I'll put these in order of likelihood of being hired:

Thibs:   supposed "Defensive Mastermind" before this year.  Was his name being thrown around before he got to coach KG?  No.

Avery:  another "defensive" coach.  Won 67 games with Dallas last year, and then couldn't get them past the run and gun Dubs in the first round.  Also, choked away a 3-1 lead in The Finals vs. the Heat against his mentor Nelly.  The Little General is like Skiles on PCP.

The RIfleman:  Chuck Person.  He signed with the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, as an assistant coach behind Reggie Theus (thanks to wiki.)   Very "emotional" from what I've read on BaB, kicking balls into the stands and such.  Helluva shooter in his day.

DeWayneCasey :  Retread.  FIred unfairly in Minny?  Who is this guy?

Terry Porter:  Don't know anything about his coaching abilities, except that he got fired by the Bucks.  LOVED his game on those early 90's Blazers teams.  Against the Bulls in the Finals, he was the second best player on the court after Scottie Pippen.

Mark Jackson:  2nd All Time in Assists.  Wants to coach.  No Experience.  Not impressive as an analyst.  Already interviewed, and that makes him unlikely at this point.  Donnie Walsh must love him, which is good.

Jeff Hornacek:  lobbying for the PHX job, and will probably get it, so doubtful that he lands in Chi.

Brian Shaw:  Jackson disciple.  Likes to hold the clipboard on camera right after Laker time outs.  Master of the Triangle?

Ty Corbin:  assistant with Utah Jazz for last four seasons under Jerry Sloan .  Hmm, what about Jerry Sloan?

Kurt Rambis:  another Jackson disciple.

via www.kurtrambis.com

Scottie Pippen:  number 33.  Incredible basketball IQ.  Can't keep his mouth shut?

above is from January vs. Gonzaga.  Skip to the :50 mark to see him with a monster flush in traffic.  He also shows off an ankle-breaking cross-over-->kick out to the shooter.

this is vs. G-Town in December.  He makes a nice floater in traffic and goes  strong to the hole, drawing contact and making the and one.

vs. Cincinnati in December,above,demonstrating his outside J. It's not the prettiest but he heats up and strokes it.  Gotta agree with Calipari on this one.  His shot will only improve, especially with the amount of shoot a rounds you get in the NBA (Kirk Hinrich is obviously one exception to this rule).

Imagine if we could get D. Rose to lay off the candy! His first step might be even quicker!

One final thought:  always remember, we could have the number 9 pick.  We got the number one pick, and we get our choice of two awesome players.  I've seen some good points made for picking Beasley here today.  All I can say is that it's nice to have options!

Feel free to post more vids in here.