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The Boston Celtics took a 2-0 lead over the Los Angeles Lakers last night by holding off the Lakers late and escaping with a 108-102 victory at home.
The storyline after game 1 was the Celtics advantage on the glass (46-33).
The storyline after game 2 is the Celtics advantage at the free throw line.
Boston shot 38 free throws in game 2. LA shot 10.
Credit Boston's offense for attacking the basket and drawing fouls but game 2 was a horribly officiated ballgame.
The Lakers were robbed of at least 10 free throw opportunities. The most notable being a lob to Gasol in the 2nd quarter where he caught the ball in mid-air, finished, and was raked across the forearm and sent to the floor. No whistle.
With the Lakers leading 19-18 in the first quarter, Kobe Bryant was whistled for two questionable fouls within a minute and four seconds of one another. The first call took place under the Celtics basket when Bryant and Allen were jockeying for position on the baseline, the second came with Bryant sealing Allen on a post-up opportunity on the elbow. Neither call was warranted.
With Bryant forced to the bench due to foul trouble, the Celtics went on a 12-3 run before Phil Jackson was forced to burn a timeout to get Kobe back in the game at the 9:40 mark of the second quarter.
Once again, Paul Pierce led the way for the Celtics. Pierce scored 28 points on 9-for-16 from the field and 4-of-4 from the 3-point line. Vladimir Radmanovic, Luke Walton, and Trevor Ariza (7 minutes) have been completely ineffective defending Pierce in this series. They've fallen for nearly every pumpfake he's thrown at them and that's allowed Pierce to get into the paint, draw fouls, and create for others.
Time after time, Rajon Rondo penetrated the Lakers defense and got open looks and easy buckets for his teammates. Rondo finished with 16 assists. Four short of the Lakers total as a team.
Leon Powe came off the bench and provided instant offense for Boston. Powe was 6-of-7 from the field and 9-of-13 from the free throw line, scoring 21 points. Powe shot more free throws than the entire Lakers team and scored nearly as many points as the entire Lakers bench.
After shooting just 42% from the field in game 1, the Lakers shot 49% from the field in game 2.
Bryant scored 30 points on 11-of-23 from the field (48%) but attempted only 4 shots inside the paint.
The Lakers posted Kobe up on multiple possessions but it came at the expense of their offensive continuity. Once again, there was little ball movement. Pau Gasol shot 67% from the field but received only 12 shot attempts. Lamar Odom scored 10 points but was ineffective.
Odom lives off the strong to weakside passes that put the defense out of position and allow him to catch the ball at the free throw line extended. Those passes have been few and far between in this series.
The lone brightspot offensively for the Lakers has been the Bryant-Gasol pick-and-roll.
But the Lakers haven't run that play enough.
Of even larger concern to the Lakers is their defense.
They've been unable to keep Pierce, Allen, and Rondo out of the paint. They've given up too many back-breaking 3-pointers in transition. And they've failed to match the physicality of the Celtics.
If LA is to have a chance of evening this series on their homecourt and forcing an elimination game in Boston, several adjustments are in order.
1. Place Kobe on Pierce
Pierce is averaging 25 points a game on 63% from the field and 88% from the 3-point line. The only Laker who has slowed Pierce down for stretches has been Bryant. Foul trouble is a concern but Coach Jackson has to trust Kobe to play smart and not fall for the shots fakes and jab steps that Pierce utilizes.
The Lakers have received next to nothing from their shooting forwards so the most logical solution is to play Bryant at shooting foward and insert Vujacic at shooting guard.
Shooting forward Trevor Ariza is a reliable defender but he's still working himself back from injury and received only 7 minutes of playing time in game 2. It's hard to believe Trevor couldn't produce more than Luke Walton has. Walton is averaging 1 point and shooting 25% through the first two games of the NBA Finals.
2. Stop dribble penetration
Second year point guard Rajon Rondo is outplaying veteran point guard Derek Fisher. Fisher is shooting just 41% from the field and 29% from the 3-point line. He has been incapable of keeping Rondo in front of him defensively. Reserve Jordan Farmar has been effective defending Rajon but is averaging only 13 minutes a game while shooting 57% from the field and 75% from the 3-point line.
Despite a sprained knee, Pierce has routinely driven past Radmonovic and Walton as if they were running in sand.
3. Get back in transition
The Celtics have hit several game changing 3-pointers in transition where the Lakers failed to locate their defensive assignments on the run.
4. Check out
Although the Lakers rebounded well in game 2, they still allowed the Celtics 10 offensive rebounds. Second chance points after a solid defensive possession take the wind out of a defense's sails. The Celtics are getting second chance opportunities because the Lakers - 1 through 5 - are failing to put a body on their man after the shot goes up.
5. Continue to trust in their bench
The Lakers have received significant contributions from their bench during the playoffs. But they're still a relatively inexperienced bunch. Inexperienced players rarely contribute on the road, much less in the NBA Finals. The familiar surroundings of the Staples Center should help them get back on track.
6. Reverse the basketball
It's Kobe's responsibility to move the ball and create for his teammates against the NBA's best defense. Bryant is a great mid-range jumpshooter and connected on a good percentage last night but the Lakers have to make the Celtics work for full 24 second possessions rather than settle for one pass and a contested jumper nearly every time down the floor.For the Celtics to steal a game in LA or close the series out on the Lakers homecourt, they'll need to carry their defensive intensity and offensive execution to the West Coast but with the knowledge that they won't enjoy the homecourt officiating they received in game 2.
(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Read more of my NBA blogs at BallerBlogger.com
