Just the numbers only tell half the story.
I disagree. The problem is: there is not enough number. The numbers were not detail enough. For example, if there are separate stats for intentional fouls, foul while go to basketball, foul for 3FG, they would give you a much better picture of the game.
Do the numbers show that the Celtics were the more aggressive team?
Do the numbers show that the Celtics were the more physical team?
Do the numbers show that the Celtics played defense with their feet while the Lakers played defense with their hands?
Do the number show how soft the lakers played?
Wdleehi, it is up to you to come with the stat to support your point. For example, you can count shot in the paint or number of dunks. So the answer is yes.
All the terms that you uses such soft, physical, aggressive means different thing to different people.
double edged sword there, its up to you to not ignore stats that disprove your analsis, like total fouls called (take out LA's two intentional fouls, and its 5 total fouls diffrent), shots from inside 17 feet (see holingers article) dunks (useful because this is the nba finals, you should really not allow 8 dunks as the laker d did. thats 16 easy points at the rim. you have to foul when beat)
the cherry picking comment is justified, you've ignored stats that go contrary to your point in this and other threads. In this thread alone you don't seem to be willing to take out the total fouls called and explain that non-disparity, nor address hollingers shooting chart which shows almost all of the lakers 2pt FG shots from anyone other than kobe were long looks and jumpshots over the top. Those don't result in shooting fouls, going to the rim hard (see: powe, leon) does.
also, how can you ignore visual evidence of your interior D's softness? i'm at work, so i can't hit youtube, but KG's put back in game 1 was a complete defensive lapse, to the point that kobe (rightfuly so) screams at gasol before KG ices the game, leon powe dunking right in your bigs face four times, and once taking the ball by himself at 3 laker big men, none of whom wanted any part of taking a charge/playing D, powe's 4 rebounds over 4 people (these were shown on ESPN this morning while thier nba panel echoed the lack of desire from the lakers big men)
no ones questioning that your a good team, i expect you to win tonight and show some pride, but if someone doesn't get through to your big men that they need to be tough, your going to lose one game at staples, and that will be your doom, because everyone not named kobe looks scared out of thier mind in the garden.