Eagle-Tribune Blogs: Burt Talks Sports

A few things on my mind heading into tonight’s game:
*Aren’t ABC, ESPN and the NBA being a tad disingenuous when they put the 8:30 p.m. time on the teasers for the NBA Finals games?
Sometimes it is noted that “coverage begins” at 8:30 p.m., but the point is they all realize 9 p.m. doesn’t look good.
*Rajon Rondo apparently has too much time on his hands during these finals. He has his own blog that I have to admit is interesting.
He talks about his injury, treatments and his time in his hotel room. It was this blog that we learned how much he was hurt on Tuesday night, when he said he was at about 50 percent. Anyway, check it out.
*Pau Gasol played 6 seasons in Memphis. Really. Well, apparently there was a reason not many of us knew much about him. He talked about the difference between his time in Memphis and now in LA.
“Obviously being in LA, the exposure is 1,000 times bigger than being in Memphis, so people probably didn’t notice me much when I was in Memphis because probably had one or two nationally televised games and probably when the games came on, people really didn’t want to watch our game,” said Gasol.
Gasol also talked about Kevin Garnett’s struggles from the outside the last two games or really the entire series (22 for 62, 35 percent).
“I’ve been trying to do a pretty good job of contesting and getting a hand in his face and making it hard,” said Gasol.
*Lakers coach Phil Jackson basically implied that the key to beating the Celtics is not letting all three of The Big Three have big games.
“We’ve said over the past three games that we can’t let all of their scorers hurt us, Allen, Pierce and Garnett. If two of the three have good games, we have to keep one of those guys at a sub-par game if we’re going to have a chance to win, and last night was a good example of that.”
*Celtics guard and sharp-shooter Ray Allen has given new definition to the term “light’s out.” He says the Staples Center lighting is a challenge, especially in the corners.
“I just made the assessment of when I was shooting how in the corners it’s real bright. When I was shooting, I was shooting, and then when I looked for the ball I was looking into the light, so it kind of blinds you off the back,” he said. “But that’s why I get to the gym as early as I do, so I can adjust to what I’m doing out there on the floor and it doesn’t affect me at all. But it’s just a nuance here in this building.”

Share This