True, it gives Boston the potential to win it all by winning out at home, but that's besides the point. Lakers fans will now feel fully vindicated in their sense of persecution. If they lose, it's because they were screwed. If they win, it is against adversity.

I mean, the refs called fouls on Kobe Bryant. Fouls! On Kobe Bryant, who has never committed a foul, and cannot be in the presence of defenders without himself being fouled! Raw foolishness!

Oh, and there was that moment with both Garnett and Gasol hit the ball at the same time and it went out of bounds, and they called it Celtics ball. Even after review, they didn't see evidence to overturn it, despite it being clear to Jack Nicholson from the other side of the court that it was Garnett who touched it! Clearly, the fix was on, despite the fifteen attempt advantage the Lakers had in foul shots, DESPITE the solid two minutes of hack-a-Celtic the Lakers played at the end.

Sigh.

I know not all Lakers fans are like this, but I think you would be hard pressed to find a more entitled fan base. I have spoken to some who are STILL enraged over the so-called "Wheelchair Event" from 2008, as if the Celtics best offensive player leaving the game for 3 minutes was some kind of great strategic move. Every foul that doesn't go their way seems to be some kind of insult, and any time Kobe Bryant isn't clearly a Basketball God, it must be because the league is against him. (Stern would, of course, deny all of this if he could find his way out of Kobe's pocket.)

I just don't get it. But it sure makes hating the Lakers a whole lot easier.