Celtics 3 Lakers 1
As I sent my pregame prediction to CBeans, it simply stated "Celtics by 7" at 6pm, 2 hours before the game started, I felt that Boston would not be as piss poor as they were 2 days before. Little did I know, 8 minutes after tip off that it would be early blow-out. I made a few calls to my Laker friends saying that it wasn't good to have a blowout in the first half. It was too much time and too much that could happen over the course of the game. Their response was very valid, "Kobe only had 3 points." Wait...how in the hell are they up by 20 points and Kobe only has 3 points? The Lakers were being lead by Odom, who was 7-7 for 15pts, that sure wouldn't last. Kobe was doing a great job facilitating and making the right passes but I was too sure that he would find his stroke, or the foul line.
The turning point. It was in the third quarter when the Celtics realized that Kevin Garnett is actually better off on the block versus at the top of the key playing horse with himself. Sure the insertion of E-House and Posey to spread the floor helped, but he needs to have the plays called for him on the block regardless of who is running the team. Then there is the House 3 pointer from the corner followed by PJ Brown's Expiring Contract got a easy dunk to end the third and cut a once 24pt deficit to 2 points. Throw in that Paul Pierce almost injured himself but couldn't risk "faking" another injury in the 4th quarter so he pushed threw and made some crucial free throws down the stretch.
The MVP(s). How clutch was Ray Allen? Jesus Shuttlesworth has landed. Not only has he been the most consistent Celtic in the series, but how about the defense he has been playing on Kobe and the fact he pulled down 9 rebounds last night while playing 48 minutes. The first dagger late in the fourth quarter, Ray say he was guarded by the European Blender Vujacic (1-9 fgs) and waved off the screen. Vujacic's knees buckled as Ray flew past him for the left handed layup. Vujacic looked like Adam Morrison in the Final Four after that basket.
Then there is James Posey. A Bruce-Bowenesque Corner 3 pointer that stretched the lead back to 5 points was as close to a Steve Kerr from Jordan kickout moment there will be in the Finals this year.
What now? I had originally said the Lakers would win in 6. I underestimated the fact of team basketball. The Lakers seem to have every matchup advantage, the potent bench, and the best individual player in the game. But Boston has three star veterans that want this more than anything. Lakers win game 5 simply because Boston really has nothing to lose. This is a trap game. The Lakers have to win to keep the series alive. Boston can rest and come out loose knowing that they get to rest a few more days and get to cash in the championship in "Titletown, USA."
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