Celtics top Lakers ... in NBA 2K8
Don't feel like staying up late tonight to catch Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Celtics and Lakers? We've got you covered. Utilizing NBA 2K8 for the xBox 360 console, we ran a computerized simulation of this year's championship series.
The result? This series won't be easy on Celtics' fans hearts. In the end, however, Boston prevailed in seven games in our simulation.
Check out the video above to see highlights from Game 1, where the Celtics watched a double-digit, second-half lead evaporate before rallying to emerge with a 106-99 triumph at the TD Banknorth Garden.
The Lakers ultimately came back to win Game 2 (in lopsided fashion no less), then took two of three in Los Angeles (the Celtics winning Game 4). Undaunted, the Celtics returned home to win a pair of nail-biters to capture virtual banner No. 17.
Here's what you'll find in the highlights from Game 1:
Boston, which led by 11 at the half and seven at the end of three quarters, watched the Lakers pull ahead, 84-83, on a Pau Gasol dunk over P.J. Brown with 7:56 to go in the game.
Kevin Garnett, who finished with a game-high 36 points and 17 rebounds, soon re-entered and took over. With the Celtics clinging to a 98-95 advantage with 2:09 to play, Garnett swatted a Vladimir Radmanovic offering on the defensive end, then backed down Lamar Odom for a bucket at the opposite side of the court as the Celtics prevented Los Angeles from making a late run.
Even still, the Celtics were only up three with under a minute to go when Paul Pierce effectively slammed the door by hitting a shot-clock beating jumper from just inside the arc for a 102-97 advantage. The Celtics made their free throws down the stretch to preserve the victory.
In the simulation, Kobe Bryant poured in 36 points on 13 of 24 shooting, while Radmanovic chipped in 23 points and seven rebounds. Gasol added a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards, while Odom came a bucket shy of a triple double (8 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists).
Ray Allen shot the Celtics back into the game after Boston found itself behind after the first quarter. Allen was only 1 of 5 beyond the arc, but scored 29 points overall and hit some key jumpers when Boston desperately needed points. Pierce chipped in 18 points and six rebounds, while Rajon Rondo directed the offense with 14 assists to go along with 10 points and two steals.
Read on after the jump to find out more about how we set up the simulation.
How we did it: With permission from 2K Sports, Boston.com video game junkie Chris Forsberg set up a simulation between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers on the xBox 360 console. The latest rosters were downloaded from 2K Sports' servers and all pertinent changes were made to each team's roster (including updates to each team's rotation, based on average minutes played in the postseason).
The xBox 360 version allows a computer vs. computer option, so a human player did not control a team at any time. Only one single simulation was attempted per game in the best-of-seven series and all footage was recorded for inclusion online. Additional simulations could produce different results.
Want more?: Check out our Patriots posteason simulations utilizing EA Sports' Madden 2008, including our take on Super Bowl XL II (Hint: It turned out better for Pats' fans than the actual Super Bowl).
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I'm definitely looking forward to this series and watching the Lakers beat the Celtics. The Karma from the Cheatriots is going to carry over for you guys unfortunately, and with one of your drug riddled players narking out his dealer even more so.
Keep on dreaming. LOS ANGELES ALL THE WAY!
how does what happened to the pats have ANYTHING to do with the celtics? so because the clippers suck you guys will too? good argument...
New Curse of the Bimbino, Win it all in the regular season, loose the big one. Sucks to be Boston.
I was unable to watch the simulation but i would not have believed in it enen if I had watched it. The simple reason is the common sense. The differences in the two teams performances during the playoffs simply does not allow you to swallow a Celtics win enev in your dreams (or in a simulation). There is absolutely no way this Lakers team will let anyone win 4 games out of 7.
Tough luck Celtics.
I see the Lakers fans are so confident in their team that they have to come to a Boston paper to tell us Celtics fans we're going to be crushed. Whether the Lakers or Celtics win isn't the point, (well it is but I'm going somewhere here) the point is Lakers fans are the ones dreaming thinking the series will only go 4 or 5 games. You LA fans are so HUNGRY for a CHAMPION that you're have delusions. Here's a fact for you Laker fans, (really bandwagon fans) 40 years ago the Boston Celtics beat the Lakers in 6 games. I've picked 6 games for this and history will repeat itself. The Celtics got off track a little in 1985 and 1987 but we'll get back to business of capping of another championship season by beating another Lakers team.
That sounds about right, except it will be the Celts in 6.
Lakers blow.
You guys are dreaming big time. I agree with morgino ("The Karma from the Cheatriots is going to carry over for you guys unfortunately") that you have to pay for the Cheatriots. I think all of us, fans of the FAIR game, will be happy when the Lakers defeat you 4-0. Go Lakers!
My favorite part was the REPLAY of a VIDEOGAME of Walton's jumper. Rad. GO LAKERS!!! How can you call Laker fans Bandwagon fans?? Only Boston fans would be OK with going to bed having watched these highlights instead of the actual game! And one of your columnists pointed out that the Smeltics were just the third most important team in Boston.
1. Our Bench is the X-factor. We can rest our big 3 and possibly extend the lead, while Bostons big 3 will need to play almost every minute of the Finals to stay close.
2. Celtics Defense is good because its an aggressive help defense. Against the best passing team in the league, this will hurt more than help them.
3. They have no answer for Odom other than to have Garnett on him. Which would mean they will need to double Gasol. When they do, he will find the open man in the corner for an open 3 or a cutter.
4. Doc Rivers vs Phil Jackson, come on now.
5. Fisher has to much experience for Rondo. And if Ariza is healthy, you dont have to worry about Rondo at all.
Lakers in 5. Six, only if he Celts get lucky.
SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT CELTICS
So we meet again, just like the past
Don’t blink, this going to be over fast.
Hey Boston Celtics how’s that ECF crown
The WCF is here and you going down
You said “Beat LA”, That was the taunt of a fool
Get ready Celtics, we going to take you to school
To bad Red’s not here with his stinking cigar smoking
To see 9Rings become 10Rings, and I aint joking
You were so bad you hired 3 mercenaries to win
But your so-called stars only makes us grin
Yelling Beat LA was a stupid thing to do
So Boston Celtics we got something for you.
If you want the title, through the Lakers you must go
And that aint happening, Didn’t yo mama tell you so
We got to the Finals, without our Beast Bynum playing
We the LA Lakers, you hear what I’m saying
We got all kinds of depth, we got blazing speed
We got the Force on our side, that’s all we need
You got a stringbean for a forward nicknamed Big Ticket
But in the 4th quarter I’m sorry, the boy aint worth sh+t
You got a coach who I like who they call the Doc
But his substitution pattern is a Freakin Crock
You got a player called The Truth, you know you lying
We got a man who outscored an entire team without tryin
When your team scored 80, they thought they were hot
Until they saw the 81, that the Black Mamba got
Then the faces of the Celtics all turned green
The green is for envy cause we got Kobe Bean
One thing your teams got this I must say
They got an @ss kicking coming for taunting LA
Your team should really pack it’s stuff & just split
Your team has no game, they aint got shit.
the Karma from Al Davis will more than offset that of the Master Bill Belichick.
as far as bandwagon, I can't help but laugh to hear that coming from an LA fan. their excuse is always, "we have better things to do like the beach and the sun here in LA, that's why we don't pay attention until the teams are winning?" wow. I have news for you Lakers fans, the C's were filling the building when we had average teams over the last 2 decades, and the building was not empty like some arenas around the NBA are all the time when the C's were losing 60 games last year, so the bandwagon argument is way off. does the whole city rally around a winner? of course show me one city that doesn't, but the argument that Boston fans are bandwagon just makes you sound ignorant.
C's in 7. keep sleeping on us LA.
So here is what I like about the Lakers fans blogging over here in Beantown:
This first analysis:
5. Fisher has to much experience for Rondo. And if Ariza is healthy, you dont have to worry about Rondo at all.
Say What? Did you guys watch the Eastern Conference finals at all? Rondo held his own quite nicely against Chauncy, who by the way, is 20 times better than Fisher. Too much experience, ha!
1. Our Bench is the X-factor. We can rest our big 3 and possibly extend the lead, while Bostons big 3 will need to play almost every minute of the Finals to stay close.
OUR bench is the X-factor. Posey, House, Brown, Big Baby, Powe, Cassell can all play right with your bench just like they did in the 2 games we played back in regular season. Brown and Cassell weren't here yet and you guys didn't have Gasol yet but you did have Bynum and there is no way in hell your going to tell me that Gasol is better than Bynum.
Come on now, I know you guys are confident but the Lakers in 4 or 5 just isn't going to happen. This series is going 7 and I'm hoping that it's the Celts on top but I'm not such a homer that I think the Lakers are going to roll over because they are a GREAT team and I can't wait to watch the entire series. I have a lot of respect for this Lakers team and Kobe scares me to death but just don't unerestimate our boys, we are just as good and just as hungry.
And who ever said the Lakers in 4, please go back to the hole you've been living in because the fact that you even brought the Pats into this shows that you know nothing about sports and just can't get over something that just doesn't matter anymore. GET OVER THE FREAKEN PATS!!!!
Final result will not be what I expected.
That simulation is a work of someone who does not belong to this earth; a very weird imagination. THE LAKERS ARE NOT GOING BACK TO BOSTON BECAUSE THEY (Lakers)WILL FINISH THE SERIES IN FIVE(5). The Victory parade in LA is already planned.
Lakers in 4!!!
No Doubt.
You guys are dreaming. Kobe MVP = Laker Championship. You can't stop this.
I think the Lakers will be surprised when they confront the top defense in the NBA. Unfortunately for the Lakers, they have only one superstar who can take over a game. Similar to the series against Cleveland, Kobe will be contained and forced to shoot long range jump shots. The focus will likely be to shut down Gasol. Derrick Fisher will have nightmares thinking about the speedy, swarming defense he will face against Rondo, I expect several steals and turn overs.
The key to this game will be Paul Pierce. The Lakers have no answer to his defensive and offensive play and rebounding. Also too I expect the Celtics to dominate the boards with KG, Perkins, Pierce and Rondo.
Celtics in 5
It's funny how you Celtics fan say we're dreaming even when the Lakers have won championships in every century since. The Celtics haven't won in 21 years and that's the best you've got to throw out...HISTORY?? Come on dude, you're kidding right? Take a look at the stats below and start trembling baby.
courtesy of a dedicated L.A. fan but you can verify them if you wish.
The Celtics "Big 3" combined postseason stats:
55.8 points
15.5 rebounds
11 assists
3.6 steals
1.92 blocks
The Lakers "fairly sizeable 3" combined postseason stats:
64.3 points
25.3 rebounds
12.9 assists
2.6 steals
4.34 blocks
Yeah. Now that I look at the numbers I can see it. That
1 extra steal per game that the "Big 3" get will definitely
be a huge advantage. I can't see how the "fairly sizeable 3"
will overcome that, even with their 9 more points, 10 more
rebounds, 2 more assists and 2 more blocks.
Smell-A fans are convinced it will be a 5 game series. Well you're RIGHT. Celts in 5!
Lakers is winning the First Game 102-89
Enough with the insults.
LA and the Celtics have played two different types of regular seasons and two different types of post-seasons. Comparing averages mostly works in the regular season because we all play a weighted schedule of equal length with the only difference being quality of opposition between conferences.
LA played fewer games in the post-season and had the best average offensive performance in the regular season. You'd expect their stats to be better. That said, the Celtics have won more games against similar or better opposition.
It will be a great series. Good luck LA and Boston
"Show me what you got Celtics"
"How about show me you have a life to find the time to create something like that?"
Celtics in 6 everyone.
We will win both at home.
1 in LA and game 6 back at the garden.
It's just that simple...this team is the Cleveland Cav's all over again and Cleveland was more scarier than LA.
What a joke the lakers are the only reason they made it was Kobe and the C's D is going to shut his colorado sex scandal creepy ass!
Who is the moron who said the Lakers were fans of "Fair game"?? And then ripped the Pats? What a dumbass. Did you forget that the only reason the Lakers are here is because of a suspicious lop-sided trade of Pau Gasol courtesy of Jerry West - the ex-Laker who was there to PRESENT THE WESTERN CONFERENCE TROPHY TO THE LAKERS WHILE AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES! At least McHale got ONE decent player for trading Garnett (and a massive salary dump). Want to talk fair? That was the shadiest trade in history. Moron.
Mark of Florida,
"You LA fans are so HUNGRY for a CHAMPION that you're have delusions."
Actually your grammar is delusional.
"Here's a fact for you Laker fans, (really bandwagon fans) 40 years ago the Boston Celtics beat the Lakers in 6 games. I've picked 6 games for this and history will repeat itself."
Well see.
"The Celtics got off track a little in 1985 and 1987 but we'll get back to business of capping of another championship season by beating another Lakers team."
Got of track? The same way Barkley got of track by $400,000? It has been 22 years since you guys won a championship. I'd hate to see you off track on a blogging day!
Mark of Florida,
"You LA fans are so HUNGRY for a CHAMPION that you're have delusions."
Actually your grammar is delusional.
"Here's a fact for you Laker fans, (really bandwagon fans) 40 years ago the Boston Celtics beat the Lakers in 6 games. I've picked 6 games for this and history will repeat itself."
Well see.
"The Celtics got off track a little in 1985 and 1987 but we'll get back to business of capping of another championship season by beating another Lakers team."
Got of track? The same way Barkley got of track by $400,000? It has been 22 years since you guys won a championship. I'd hate to see you off track on a blogging day!
Maybe if L.A. fans had showed this much passion for the NFL, the second largest city in America wouldn't have lost 2 NFL teams. Welcome to a real sports town.
Cs defense is the difference in this one. Name a team in the WC that plays any kind of D. You couldn't could U. Each team wins one away, but it's the C's in a great 7 game set.
I feel sorry for all the unemployed Lakers fans spending time on a Boston paper to pop their virtual jerseys. Really pathetic. Maybe if L.A. actually had an NFL team to follow they wouldn't have the time. Hoping for a good series either way; should be fun.
I think it's just great that Lakers fans feel comfortable enough to come to a Boston forum and label a Boston team as cheaters. The NBA has circumvented salary cap and fair trading rules to hand over the likes of Shaq and Pau Gasol to the Lakers in order to keep that franchise winning. They somehow justify that as fair play - but yet, Boston is a bunch of cheaters because they put a cameras in in an illegal position at a football game. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, they also never seem to mention that their star player and league MVP should be in jail. All this kind of makes won wonder why these LA fans aren't looking in a mirror when they utter the word cheater...
I live here in the west coast. But Born and raised in Boston. All LA fans are a bunch of bandwagon jumpers. Honestly, just watch when the Celtics play in LA. when the game is in the mid 4th quarter watch the seats and how empty they start getting-no matter the score.
They have no passion for sports out here. The only Passion they have is whats considered the "in thing". Right now, the Lakers are doing good, so it's "cool" to watch them.
Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy it out here more then the east coast, but in terms of sports and their passion it's bad
Doesn't really suck to be in Boston. Every one of our Major sports teams (including soccer) has made the playoffs. Four out of five have made the finals now (Bruins being the one). We have an NCAA hockey title to the city's credit as well. Boston is feeling fin in terms of sports success this century so we aren't complaining.
Also I think the Celtics fan base is feeling fine where we are right now. Considering a year ago today we were looking at the worst record in the league and no bright future ahead of the tunnel. Things have made a complete U-turn and we are just fine with that.
Boston in 6.
Anyone who thinks the Lakers are going to win has been blinded of how bright thier uniform is THIS IS BOSTONS TIME TO WIN AND THEY WILL!!!!! GO CELTICS
West coast offense fissled all year against the BIGGEST 3 ...and so it shall fizzle once more.....Celts in 5
Hey mamba!
yes we meet again, just like the past
to bad your talking way out your a@@
The ECF vs WCF, how about the WWE too?
take us where? you never went to school!
9 rings become 10, and your not joking,
but your full of hot air from that stuf you been smoking
we hired mercenaries?, but kobe demanded more help!
so jerry bought a gasol to silence kobes yelp.
you got to the finals without bynum
with garnett on the floor you wont even find em.
about your coach the one made famous by Mike
he never inherited a team he didnt like.
red recruited drafted and trained the best
phil wants to beat him, give it a rest.
you got the force on your side
as in kobe forces his way
into a woman but his wife he must pay!
you got kobe bean? oh mr MVP
wasnt it last year he yelled "Trade me"
jerry buss son i law dnt like his pappy
cause Kobe made buss fire him, gotta keep kobaby happy!
Im gonna leave you with just one more thing
it aint all about chanting, its all about the ring,
and as for Paul Pierce in LA spent his youth,
IT WAS AN L.A. LAKER , WHO SAID "HE'S THE TRUTH!"
Lakers all the way. A KG team will never win a series against a KB team bottom line.
I'm not a fan of either team, though I'm very interested in the outcome of what should be a fascinating finals. I've watched the NBA fairly closely all year. I lived in Boston twice in the 80s and 90s, and I've always loathed the Lakers, so my natural loyalty would be the Celts. And there's one overarching reason to hate the Lakers even more: Kobe Bryant is a slimy, egomaniacal person of extremely questionable
character.
Regardless, as the series begins tonight, I must give my prediction nod to the Lakers. Why? The Lakers are very well coached. How does one make such an assessment? They run an actual offense, and they do it with discipline many of their times down the court. They have also played more defense in the playoffs. If their offensive schemes don't work, they have hot shooters to clean up the mess.
The Celtics are not well coached. They have little discipline on offense, and it's not clear what their offensive schemes are in the first place. If Allen (one of the game's most gifted shooters) and one or the other of the Celts' three threats are having an off night, their offense grinds itself down to something fairly weak and apparently unable to find itself again.
The Celtics' often excellent defense means they should win a game, or maybe even three. But from where I sit (Seattle, by the way - yeah, sad times out here), the Lakers must be favored.
one down, 3 more wins to go...
GO CELTICS!!!!!!!
haha @ 4-0 lakers.
Learn to add after celts' win tonight. GG.
i think the lakers fans are living in a fantasy world when it comes to winning this series. Celtics have to many guns, too much power. almost every player on the Celtics is amazing, including the bench. all the lakers have is three starters who are good.Celtics are gonna steal the championship.
i doubt thats paul pierce.....but cool anyway
Yea, aint that just Grand! Go Celt's!
JT
This 2008 nba finals will be one of those tales will be talked over a cup of coffee, in a barber shop and will be email as many times as you could say...
And who ever wins this series, Lakers with Kobe scoring 35-40 points and Gasol keeping the rhythm inside the paint for the next 5 or 6 games, we are sure this will be exciting and seeing how the Big 3 will come up with their first ever golden ball....Man this will be one hell of a game!!!
NBA! We LOVE this game!!!
GO CELTS!!!! GOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! BEAT L.A.!!!!!! :-)
Game 1 is played in Los Angeles.
I have been a Lakers fan since I was 5. I am not as confident as many of you are that the Lakers are so superior. Celtics played incredible team defense and had no fear of Koby and company. The Lakers are going to have to make a strong showing tonite ---they cannot go down 2-0. Koby needs to make some unselfish adjustments to his game.
HAHAHA! 2 - 0. Trust me, The Celtics will bring that trophy to Boston! GO CELTICS!
Funny how those Lakers fans are all quiet now!! HAHAHA!!
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