kovalsky@trwspp.UUCP (06/11/84)
{L A K E R S}
Well folks, we are down to Game 7 Tuesday night at the Garden -
due to be a great finish in a great series of Laker-Celtic matchups of
the 60's. History is on the Celtics' side: they have never lost a 7th
game in championship play(7-0) and the Lakers have never won a 7th game
in the finals(0-4). Will history repeat itself, or is this a new year?
Both the Lakers and Celtics have showed that neither team has any
quit in them. The momentum has definitely taken some shifts in this series,
with the Lakers definitely rolling in the first 3 games, Celtics coming back
in games 4-5, and Lakers coming off the floor in game 6. I realize I predicted
the Lakers in 5 or 6, but I should have known that 2 great teams like these
would go to the limit, and they sure have put on a show.
Objectively, I don't know who has the edge for Game 7. Boston does
have the home court (more like home boiler!) advantage, which definitely
affected Kareem in Game 5 when he had a horrible shooting night. But he came
back very strong in Game 6 so I look for him to be a leader for the Lakers
in Game 7 if he can pace himself in the heat. Noone should ever have to play
a professional basketball game in temperatures approaching 100 degrees, but
both teams are subject to the same conditions. Still, it will reduce the
effectiveness of the players and it might not be as good a game as it can be.
This should be a series people will talk about for awhile in
basketball circles, and here's to hoping the LAKERS will prevail in Game 7.
Bruce Kovalsky (the OTHER Magic Man)
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