If you want to win Game Five, this is what you must do: play Trevor Ariza at least 25 minutes. This is the prescription for the Lakers to get back in this thing.
Remember when Boston kept penetrating your defense and spreading the floor so their shooters could spot up and knock down open threes? Remember how Farmar's and Vujacic's on-the-ball defense was completely exposed by a much tougher Celtics lineup? Didn't it seem like Jordan, Sasha, and Vladimir were late in rotations on defense in the second half?
I know you're thinking that if we had Andrew Bynum in the middle to protect the paint, these players wouldn't be struggling as they have been. But the fact of the matter is, Bynum's not coming back until October. So how can you counter Doc Rivers' brilliant move using Eddie House at the point, Ray Allen at the two, Paul Pierce at the three, James Posey at the four, and Kevin Garnett at center? It was this particular lineup that changed the whole momentum of the series.
I'm wondering... why play Derek Fisher only two minutes in that all-crucial fourth quarter when Fish is going four-for-five shooting from the floor? And you know he would play tough defense on House all day every day.
Why keep Sasha Vujacic in the game, when he'd been struggling all night, and you know Trevor Ariza is playing exceptional on defense and offense?
And why keep using the obviously confused Vladimir Radmanovic on hot-as-a-hot-pocket James Posey, when you know you can create a mismatch by having either Lamar Odom or Ariza guarding him?
What needs to be done to immediately counter the Celtics' small shooting lineup is to use a big, quick lineup. Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Ariza, Odom, and Gasol the entire fourth quarter. When you look at this lineup, you think defense first and foremost. And failing to get stops when you needed them most was the Lakers ultimate downfall in Game Four.
Think about it coach. Doc Rivers is probably going to use that same lineup again since Kendrick Perkins is all baanged up and Rajon Rondo has practically been out of it since game two. By the way, great job of limiting Rondo's production in L.A.
Therefore you use Fisher to get all up in House's face so he can't get wide open looks. I'd stick Kobe on Allen so you immediately put an end to all of those Ray-Ray special penetrations from all angles. You're good to go guarding Pierce with either Ariza or Odom because they have the length and foot speed and either of these two players can also guard the slow-footed Posey. Gasol on Garnett is not going to change.
The great thing about this Lakers lineup is that the players are interchangeable at three different positions. And L.A. won't be sacrificing offense. A huge matchup problem is created for Boston, with Odom being guarded by Posey (since Allen is guarding Ariza and Pierce is on Kobe). Odom can post him up and make plays and force the Cetlics to scramble on defense. So it's a safe bet you'll generate spacing, you'll be able to spread the floor, and most importantly you don't become a jumpshooting team because you know Ariza will cut through the open lanes and find ways to be active around the basket.
What if Boston decides to go big and replace Posey with Leon Powe? That's when you bring in Ronny Turiaf and stick Lamar at the three to guard Pierce. So on defense, you have both Kobe on Allen and Fish on House on a permanent basis. You match muscle-for-muscle with Boston's interior players by using defensive players, and you match Boston's shooters with your two best defensive guards.
Because Ariza is playing so well, you want to use that to your advantage since Trevor affords you the flexibility when it comes to matchups between the many different looks Boston likes to throw at you. Simply put, I can't believe Ariza only played eight minutes, when he's giving you 6 points, 5 rebounds, a blocked shot, a couple of batted balls, and he disrupts the passing lanes better than anyone on the team.
Had you utilized him more throughout the series, the Lakers certainly wouldn't be down 1-3. It'd be tied, for sure. Who knows, maybe they'd even be up 3-1. But instead, we have to look at what's in front of us.
A lot of people are now saying that you're being outcoached by Doc Rivers, but I don't believe that. After all, a coach can't control the amount of effort and energy the players are giving when they already know the game plan.
But it's up to you, Zenmaster, to counter the Celtics with your best combination - Fish, Kobe, Trevor, Lamar, and Pau. Defense. Balance. Length. And only one European player.
Vujacic, Radmanovic, and Turiaf can sit and learn while watching from the pine. But make sure to give Sasha a good 20 minutes if he's got the stroke.
Time to get tough, Lakers. This is Los Angeles USA, not freakin' Western Europe. Coach Jackson, make sure the Lakers' assault continues on their opponents and not on themselves.
Backs against the wall. Game Face is On. What up to all Dads. Wutz crackin' fellas!
FORTITUDE. That is the difference in this series between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. It hasn't been Ray Allen's shooting or Paul Pierce's all-around play. It's not Kevin Garnett's defense either. It's fortitude. It's resiliency and determination. It's courage and internal strength. Guts and grit. Veteran endurance. Boston has it, and Los Angeles doesn't. My hats off to the Celtics, who are playing the way I expected my Lakers to play like.
The Boston Celtics deserve everything they've accomplished in this series so far, while the Lakers have sat around and let a special opportunity get away from them. Because they were waiting for something to happen in the second half instead of grabbing their opponents by the horns and pummeling them down to the ground. They didn't have the staying power. In four Finals games, the Lakers have not played a complete 48-minute game. I don't know about you, but this means a lot. Not that the Celtics have played a complete game either. They've had their share of bumps in the road. But this Celtics team has fortitude, which breeds staying power. That's the difference. It was never the talent level - both teams are evenly matched as far as skill is concerned - but rather the mental toughness. The Celtics' veterans did not panic while the Lakers relaxed and they took complete advantage by annihilating the confused Lakers, outscoring them by 30 points after the Lakers took a 45-21 lead in the second quarter.
Aside from the fact the Lakers didn't have their heads in place in the second half, here are some other notable Lakers failures that cost them the game and perhaps the series.
1)Coach Phil Jackson did not come to coach: After watching his team build an 18-point lead at halftime, his most effective lineup turned out to be the lineup that had Fisher or Farmar at PG, Kobe at SG, Trevor Ariza at SF, Lamar Odom at PF, and Pau Gasol at C. And then Jackson fell asleep. Instead of using Ariza in the second half to counter James Posey, Jackson relied on the space cadet. And later in the fourth when it was evident the Lakers had lost their luster and the Celtics had complete momentum, what did Phil counter with? He stuck with Farmar and Vujacic way too long instead of allowing Ariza and Fisher, two expert defenders, the opportunity to bother and counter Posey and Eddie House. Simply put, the coaching staff fukcked up big time.
2) Kobe Bryant: The MVP has a long way to go despite my blowing him up all the time like he's the second coming of Michael Jordan. Not only did Kobe shoot poorly, he failed to recognize game situations in the most crucial of games. Why did Kobe only shoot the ball four times in the first half and defer to his teammates instead of taking an active part in their offensive outburst? The fact that Kobe was not assertive prevented him from developing a rhythm as he did in Game Three, and by the time Pierce started defending him Kobe was already out of the game. Kobe's mental breakdown and lack of awareness cost his team the game.
Jordan would have recognized that Boston was playing better and better as the game progressed, and MJ would have turned it on at the right time knowing that his team was slipping. Jordan would have gotten to the foul line in order to stop the momentum from the Celtics' many runs. Jordan would have gathered his teammates in a huddle and talked about what they needed to do. Jordan would have helped on Sasha when it was apparent Allen was going to take him to the rack with 16 seconds left in the game. Kobe did none of these things.
As a Lakers fan, I'm extremely bothered by it. As a Kobe hater, you are saying, " I told you so." And as an NBA fan, I believe Kobe is still not there yet. If you were to pinpoint the player who was responsible for this loss, all fingers should point to Kobe. He did not know how to take advantage of and react to what the Celtics were doing in the second half. Championship leaders and MVPs don't let this sort of thing happen to his team, especially when they're playing at home. The Lakers have a lot of growing up to do, and it all starts with Bryant.
3)European style of play doesn't win NBA titles: First of all, the Lakers have way too many European players on their team. I don't like it because it makes the Lakers too much of a jumpshooting team. And when you appear lax, lenient, and tender on the defensive end, teams are going to take full advantage. Gasol played with heart, produced a respectable 17 and 10, and tried his best. He plays hard and he's a keeper on this team. He's the type of power forward who would shine with a defensive center. That's why we've got Andrew Bynum.
The Machine is also a keeper. He has a tremendous work ethic, he's determined, he's the best shooter on the team, he was game last night, but like I said, it's very rare that Sasha puts up two consecutive games in which he has a high scoring output. This is because he's a young player who's learning the intricacies of utilizing one's talent to the fullest extent. He's maturing and you can't blame him for his effort.
Ronny Turiaf is game, but it's clear he doesn't yet possess the veteran moxie of a PJ Brown or James Posey. He'll get there, whether or not it's in a Lakers uniform. He's a free agent this year.
Radmanovic is the biggest disappointment of them all. Remember that play in which Ray Allen took the ball to the rim on a fast break with Vladimir running with him step-for-step? And then the space cadet stepped aside and let him score easily on a lay-up instead of fouling him hard and knocking him to the ground? I said before the playoffs that even Luke Walton was tougher than Radmanovic. How much heart and pride does VladRad really have? Will he give up and mail it in? Or will he come out and score 20 and play aggressively on defense? If he has another bad game on Sunday, I say it's time to part ways.
My point is this: If one-third of your twelve-man active roster is European, you will have the reputation of being "soft". The Lakers are sure playing that way right now, and the only solution may be to trim the fat a little bit, replace the fat with muscle (Ron Artest perhaps?), and come into next season with a renewed focus on defense because Bynum will be back and Ariza will have his health.
At the end of the day, MVP Kobe Bryant sounded optimistic but you could see it in his teammates' body language that they were deflated. But you never know. History was made last night and history can be made once again. I don't give up after nine rounds in a 12-round fight. And neither should the Lakers. Especially after all they've been through.
L.A. has to forget about the last three games and treat the series like it's game one. The players have to avoid reading the newspapers and stay away from the internet. The coaches have to throw away any game plan and just let them play. Jackson needs to start Ariza at SF so the Lakers will be quicker on defense and in transition. All Lamar Odom has to do is give us one good half since that's all we expect. Gasol needs to control the boards since that's all we expect too. But Kobe is the one who has to take it to another level if the Lakers even want to make this thing interesting. Which means he has to produce a triple-double. L.A. has to come out on fire and not play with complacency. The players have to show passion in game five. They have to show a ton of heart and most importantly, pride. This is what I expect from players who have the word "Lakers" etched on the front of their jerseys.
Karma is a b**** isn't it? First Paul Pierce fakes the funk and tries to show up and mock Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, next thing you know Kendrick Perkins sprains his ankle minutes later and then Rajon Rondo twists his foot two days later. Talk about coming back to bite you where it hurts. See Boston, this is what you get when you try to fukck with the City of Angels. No good graces will come your way.
And it's not over. Believe me. There's more of this karma thing on its way, special delivery directly to every Boston fan's doorstep. Air mail special with Kobe's you-know-what tea-bagging on all of your green and white faces.
Go ahead Boston Celtics fans. Believe you've won. Believe the L.A. Lakers are done. Believe your team is better. I dare you. The Lakers' defense swarmed Boston every which way but loose and the Celtics buckled under pressure like they did when they blew a 24-point lead just one quarter earlier. Finals rookie Doc Rivers was lost as well, unable to come up with an answer for the Lakers' adjustments on defense.
And through all the commotion over the last five periods between these two teams, the MVP has been carefully choosing his spots on the floor while studying what the Celtics are trying to do (Lakers come back from 24 down). And he is getting ready for the kill (Kobe D's up Rondo, Pierce, Allen, and the entire Celtics offense). Translation: Boston doesn't stand a chance.
Like the venomous slithering snake, the MVP is slowly but surely shedding his skin, moving ever so cleverly, and allowing his poison to do its thing and inflict its power. Such is the Celtics' predicament over the next two games. Rivers is thinking, "How on earth are we going to prevent ourselves from being down 3-2?"
While the entire eastern seaboard continues to think the Lakers are all about Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers fans remain patient. It's all about Kobe, huh? If it were, then who grabbed 12 rebounds and helped limit Kevin Garnett to 6-21 shooting? Who came off the bench to knock down big shot after big shot, score 20 points, and basically matched Ray Allen in production? Who made the adjustment of the series by putting Kobe on Rondo (thanks for taking my recommendation, Phil) immediately as the game started, not only taking Rondo out of his game but the entire Celtics' offense as well, which culminated in the actor Paul Newman, er Pierce, blowing his first Finals audition in L.A.?
Celtics fans want to taunt and call the Lakers soft? Go ahead. We double dare you. We'll see who's in foul trouble the next game.
You want to underestimate a team that put the defending champions out of their misery? Go ahead. Think like you're tough. Your team name is symbolized by a 3-foot leprechaun yet you employ a 6-ft tall mascot to look like a leprechaun at your home games. Talk about not staying true to the game and being what you are not. All of a sudden you want to say your team is tough just because KG throws down a couple dunks and Perkins throws a couple of staredowns after he scores? Who are you kidding Celtics fans?
I've watched KG since he was in high school and he's never been among the strongest or toughest big men in the NBA. He was always a finesse 7-footer who had handles for a big man and is really a small forward playing the four. When Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, Shaq, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Horace Grant, Brian Grant, Arvydas Sabonis, and David Robinson were all in the Western Conference, Garnett was being pushed around so much he decided to settle for jumpshots. That's why his game is that way today. Boston tries to intimidate you by setting moving picks, grabbing your arm while refs aren't looking, and veteran trashtalking. The only reason guys like Sam Cassell, James Posey, and PJ Brown look as good as they do is because the media is giving them all kinds of credit for having been there before. So it makes the young Lakers role players that much more disadvantaged. Let's see if Brown tries his silly staredown and grin when Kobe or Fish runs into him.
Boston wants to believe that Game Three was in their hands. They want to believe that they were in the game the entire time and if Pierce and Garnett hadn't missed all those shots, they'd have won. Obviously, that's to be expected when you're up 2-0 and your opponents' second and third best players have been mediocre at best.
But what Boston fans don't realize (or are choosing to avoid) is that the Lakers are figuring them out with each passing quarter. They're just taking a little longer to figure out the Celtics' schemes because they are such a balanced team. No team has given the Lakers matchup problems like Boston has. But it doesn't mean the Lakers are done. All this entails is that the Lakers now have to outsmart, outexecute, outthink their opponent. It just means the Lakers have to work harder. And there's no team in the NBA this year that's worked as hard as the Lakers to get where they're at considering all of the expectations, or lack thereof, that were placed on this team.
This is where great thinkers Phil Jackson, Tex Winters, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Cleamons, KurtRambis,Frank Hamblen, and Brian Shaw come into the picture. Now this is an ensemble of toughness, if there ever is one. These guys have so many rings collectively you'd use up your fingers and toes. This coaching staff has so much pride, expertise, and mental toughness it will rub off on the players. And it started to happen in Game Three and will continue tomorrow night.
Go ahead Boston fans. Talk your smack. I triple dare you. Some of you will give justa little credit to the Lakers defense and how they stepped up their intensity. But ALL of you will say Boston lost because two out of their Big Three had awful games. That's fine with me. I just hope you're not trying to psyche yourself out.
The bottom line is the Celtics lost because they couldn't stop the Lakers when it counted. Yes, it was because of Kobe. And yes, Kobe is the featured player on the team. But don't be mistaken Laker adversaries. This is a TEAM. You heard me. Team. T-E-A-M. The Lakers win as a team. They lose as a team. And they even miss free throws as a team.
Lakers fans will say that L.A. would have blown out the Celtics had they converted on their free throws. Possibly so and most likely. And Celtics fans have already affirmed their belief - the Celtics are "clearly the better team" according to Lisa H. And to only lose by six even when the Lakers had all of those free throw attempts? I can already feel it. The overconfidence of Celtics' fans has got them believing that the Lakers missed their free throws because they were nervous. I'll tell you what... if a team doesn't go to the free throw line for two games, you're going to miss some foul shots. The Lakers had no practice at the free throw line, plain and simple. I bet they come out and shoot 80% in Game Four.
Don't even worry, Lakers fans. We got them right where we want them. It's the Celtics fans who are uptight, and that's why they have to go out and talk down on the Lakers after every game they win instead of talking about the positive things their team did to win. It's an inferiority complex issue. Trust me on that one. Even after a loss, the Celtics faithful will still talk their trash and put to light all the bad things that happened to the Lakers. And for them to think three games prove that the Celtics are clearly the better team is complete disillusionment. How can you seriously believe, after losing a 24-point lead in less than 8 minutes at your house in a crucial fourth quarter and come out the following game and put up so many bricks you could revive the Berlin Wall, that your team is far superior to the Lakers? I don't really want to bring up the past but had the Lakers received their fair share of calls in games one and two, this series could easily be 2-1 Lakers or even 3-0.
If Lakers fans "refuse to see the light" and are being blinded by the "glare of Hollywood". then Boston fans must be in denial about the reality television show called "Kobe Does Boston." The biggest mistake the Celtics will make is to believe the Lakers are a one-man team. A greater mistake they will make is to disregard the two players who have been cold all series long. But the greatest mistake they will make is to underestimate the character of this squad and believe their "confidence is not very high", as LISA H says, reassuring herself in the process.
I will say this: if this series is so one-sided, then how come Boston is not up 3-0? And don't even say the refs gave the Lakers calls because you deserve to get smacked upside the head if you do.
But knowing the Celtics, they will be feeling good about the way they lost. Even Doc Rivers' comments after the game implied this, mentioning how Boston could have won the game and failing to give credit to how the Lakers took them off their rhythm. Big mistake, because if you are saying you feel good about a loss, it's the first sign you're making an excuse for a bad performance and the first symptoms of weakness for the Boston Celtics in this series. How can a coach and a team feel good or confident about a loss in which the entire team plays one of the ugliest games in the biggest series of their lives? My point is, no person playing in the NBA Finals should feel good after losing.
The Lakers are playing mind games with the Celtics' overconfident demeanor. They are figuring them out slowly but surely. The Lakers have unleashed the rabid killer that is Kobe Bryant after keeping him tame in the first two games. The Celtics felt the wrath of his fire and anger for the first time on Tuesday. They will adjust by reimplementing their original gameplan for games one and two and attempt to respond to Kobe's sudden offensive onslaught.
But Boston has a major problem. Now that Kobe's on fire, his teammates will soon follow. We all know THE MVP leads by example and we all know his energy and passion rubs off on his teammates. We've seen it all year and we're going to see it again. As the Lakers coaching staff methodically dissects the Celtics using their years of experience and expertise, guys like Sasha, Fisher, Odom, Gasol, Radmanovic, Ariza, Walton, and Turiaf are meditating again and starting to believe.
The brash Celtics faithful wants to think less of Kobe's teammates and call them "dwarfs", although L.A.'s frontline is 7-0, 6-11, and 6-10 respectively. Boston wants to believe it's over. They're hoping and praying for the Lakers and their fans to collapse on the floor like a certain player who wears number 34 in green. The Truth is (no pun intended), Celtics fans are as uneasy and tense on their couch as their own team is on the Staples Center floor.
Celtics fans want to say the Lakers have no chance to win this series because the Lakers are all about Kobe. They want to taunt us and say the team in purple-and-gold has very little hope. Go ahead and underestimate Kobe and his ability to make others better players. Now that he's figured out a way to penetrate that defense, it automatically makes the other players better. You watch and listen to what I'm saying. Go ahead and overlook the Bench Mob.
Lakers Nation dares you.
THE ASSAULT CONTINUES...
Game Four Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers 104, Boston Celtics 88
10. The Celtics' bus will catch on fire on the 405.
9. Celtics' bus driver will then exit off Manchester and Prairie and head to the Forum
8. Law prohibiting indoor smoking is making ghost of Red Auerbach irate.
7. The Celtics will lose focus and be seen partying at Paul Pierce's mom's cousin's nephew's best friend's house, the Sunset Strip, Downtown Disney, Melrose, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, and Hawaiian Gardens Casino.
6. Kevin Garnett will visit his property in Malibu and find out Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers lives there.
5. Kobe Bryant slept in his own bed with Vanessa.
4. Lack of wheelchair accessibility in visitors' locker room at Staples
3. The Celtics don't realize they're about to cross paths with the ghost of Chick Hearn.
2. Randy Newman's "I love L.A." will inspire referees.
1. Pierce won't know how to act with so many movie stars around him.
For those who believe the series is over, get your TIVOs ready. The fun and games are about to begin, with the series shifting to the circus known as Hollywood.
Just when you think you've already seen your share of drama, wait 'til you see what's in store for the next three games.
THE LAKERS' ASSAULT may have stalled, but it continues tonight with a vengeance....
It's crystal clear who the favorites are in this series. It's so clear it would put ProActiv out of business. 38-10 free throw disparity! What?! Unbelievable!! Ludicrous!!! No f'n way!!!! There are so many adjectives to explain the refereeing in last night's game I had to pull out a thesaurus just to count how many there actually were. But wait Boston fans and Laker haters.... just before you even think that I am going to blame the zebras for this one, you should already know me better. No excuses, baby. The Lakers are getting roughed up like a Mexican fighter going heads up with Manny Pacquiao.
Put simply, the Lakers' mentals are not into this series.... yet, and this is why they dropped the first two games. Boston has played with a purpose to win at all costs, while L.A. is standing around waiting for something to happen. This better change. The Lakers need to forget about the refs and limit Vladimir Radmanovic to about 15 minutes a game and use him stirctly for game situations in which you desperately need threes. Like only when they're down 20 points. As far as I'm concerned, Coach Phil Jackson needs to insert Trevor Ariza into the starting lineup (he did during the regular season so why not now?) immediately for the Lakers to have a chance to gain any semblance of momentun in this series.
The Celtics have a great mix of players. But it's they're toughness, both mentally and physically, and their resolve is what allows them to be dominant. It doesn't surprise me one bit. In fact, it shouldn't surprise anybody. They've been doing this all season long.
Two of their starters, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo are talented young players who are key components to what they're trying to build. They are playing exceptional in these playoffs and what allows them to play at a higher level than most second-year players is the constant leadership and guidance they are receiving from the Big Three while being out there on the floor. The finished product that we are witnessing now are two sophomores with unbelievable composure. That's why Rondo's held his own against Derek Fisher, and that's why Perkins doesn't seem to be bothered by either Pau Gasol or Lamar Odom.
And when you bring into the game poised veterans like James Posey, Sam Cassell, and P.J. Brown, you better believe that more often than not the team will maintain its execution and level of play. On the other hand, my Lakers' famed Bench Mob has not lived up to the hype, obviously playing in slow motion as they continue to shows signs of being intimidated and their inactivity has caused them to be extremely tentative.
On the other hand, the relentless Leon Powe scored at will and did major damage to the Lakers' interior defense with his wide array of post moves and athletic ability to get out in transition, run the lane and finish. Sam Cassell was, well, Sam. Brown has been stready in two games, hitting the open midrange shot when it's there and constantly positioning himself to get offensive rebounds to help his team get second chances. Posey is playing solid defense on anyone he's assigned to guard, including Bryant, and he's coming through and hitting timely three-pointers. All in all, it's an all-out Celtic demolition.
The combination of athleticism, depth, and versatility that the Celtics have shown in these two games is the same balance the Lakers exhibited all year and allowed them to win the west. The Celtics are giving the Lakers a taste of their own medicine. In fact, one might even speculate and think that the reason Pierce pulled off his acting stunt was to take a shot at Bryant who, in the Utah series, appeared to hurt his back only to recover so quickly. Of course, Bryant and the Lakers lost that game in overtime as Kobe seemed to lose track at the end there a little bit. But with Pierce, Boston won. I don't know... I was just thinkin.'
And in Game Two, with all those highlight reel plays, it almost looked as if Showtime was wearing Celtic green. I never thought I would see it but, the Celtics were running the Lakers to the ground like Magic, Kareem, and Worthy used to do to their opponents. Boston did their job and now the Lakers have to answer back.
Now the Lakers are in trouble. Just kidding. Not even panic time yet. Not even close. For those Celtic fans thinking sweep... if a series were two games long, the Boston Red Sox don't beat the Yankees. And if they stopped after two games, the New England Patriots would have won the Super Bowl. This thing is far from over folks. It's Boston's turn to be on the road and deal with all that hoopla, the hype, and all the possible distractions brought on by what we know as Hollywood.
Although most people in the East Coast are now probably talkin' sweep, it's probably best that they refrain from being too overconfident. The Lakers haven't played their game yet. Whether or not it's the result of the stifling Celtics defense or Kobe Bryant's reluctance to get off to fast starts or the absence of certain role players stepping up, I really can't pinpoint the exact answer. You be the judge. But I do know this, the problem involves all three of those issues. And the only way for the Lakers to get back in the series is for them to bring their heads into the game if you know what I mean.
Time for the Lakers to solve the riddle that is the Celtics' defense
A lot of people are convinced about the supposed eternal greatness of this Celtics' defense and rightfully so. But I'm not. Not yet at least. Yes, they're tough, solid, determined, and confident but it's not like the Lakers are playing the Bad Boys, folks. It's not like it's Bird, Parish, and McHale out there on the floor with DJ and Danny. The Lakers have to assert their will and stop worrying about the officials. They have to play physical man-to-man defense off the ball as Rick Fox mentioned. They have to stop reaching in on defense and move their feet. They need to beat their opponents to the ball on the boards and make the hustle plays. They need to force the contact as opposed to trying to draw the contact. Most of all, they have to develop their identity against Boston and establish themselves. They have to do all of these things in Game Three because it is in their absolute benefit to do so. We all know zebras, er officials, have a way with turning the tide and influencing the dramatic aspect of the series.
For two games the Lakers tried to solve their defense to no avail. And after two games, the Lakers now have a chance to really assess the situation. What will L.A. have to do to penetrate that defense and establish themselves?
Kobe needs to be setting the pace from the getgo. And the only way for him to do this is play like he's the best damn basketball player on the planet period. It's as simple as that. Assert yourself early Mr. Bryant, stop looking at the refs, attack the boards even more, and dunk on some fools. Attack, attack, and attack the teeth of that defense. With absolutely NO REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE. Seriously. Dunk on all of 'em. Take it to the rack. Jump over people. Fly through the lane. Do what's gotta be done because after all, isn't that what Kobe is supposed to do?
With this mindset, Kobe doesn't have to worry about the shots because they will go down eventually. His teammates, like they have all season, will follow his lead and slowly develop confidence and a killer instinct mindset. It's all psychological, because the talent on both teams is so good. In a series like this, it's the mental aspect of the game that separates the winner from the loser. It's the ability to play through adversity and the will to overcome the toughest of challenges that separates first place from second. And for the Lakers, it starts with Kobe and it better start now.
Another adjustment the Lakers can make is in their defense, obviously. It was clear in the Detroit series that there were spurts in which the Celtics had a difficult time handling the Pistons' half court trap defense. The Lakers employed some of this in the fourth quarter of Game Two and it seemed to bother Boston a little bit. It was instrumental in their comeback, and the Lakers can certainly take some positive signs out of this heading into Tuesday's game.
The reason the Celtics have effectively disrupted and interrupted the triange offense and the Lakers' ball movement is because Lakers' players are taking to long to read and react. The Celtics' defenders are just as long and agile as the Lakers' players and its causing the Lakers to appear as if they're running the offense in slow motion. They can't seem to get anything going, as far as inside-out play is concerned. Above all, they're doing a phenomenal job harrassing and confusing Kobe by sending a variety of defenders at him from all directions. So what can L.A. do to break this down?
Although it all starts with Kobe, the player who's got to get it going big time is Lamar Odom. Phil said he looked "confused" but added "we'll get it together." The way he's going to do this is to involve him in set plays down in the post early on. Lamar has to be ready to be in attack mode at all times, a characteristic he hasn't always brought consistently.
And then there's Pau, and the big question as to how on God's green earth is he going to neutralize Kevin Garnett. Boston fans will say it's impossible. I say Kobe and Pau go pick-n-roll 75% of the time on offense and make KG have to think about where Gasol is on the floor. The idea here is to have the Lakers' two best offensive players in action at the forefront and have everything else develop from it. At the same time, if Pierce is guarding Kobe and Pau is being guarded by KG, there's more of a chance that the Celtics' two best defenders may be in foul trouble. The Lakers cannot get away from their weapons. Right now, the Celtics are comfortable defending the Lakers. Screen-n-roll plays with Kobe/Pau and Kobe/Odom extends the floor for the Lakers on offense and brings the Celtics' big men out of the paint. Once L.A. get some momentum from this adjustment, it will open up opportunities for shooters like Vujacic, Farmar, Fisher, and the space cadet to inflict damage and make the Celtics pay. The Lakers already know that Kobe will be doubled no matter what. Now they have to use this to their advantage.
A major reason why Boston has felt so comfortable playing against the Lakers and why they're 10 points better than L.A. is point guard Rajon Rondo, who is outplaying Derek Fisher so far. Rondo's ability to get into the lane to create havoc and make defenders think is opening up his teammates for easier opportunities. Offensively, he spreads the floor with his quickness, and Fisher's ineffectiveness on offense has allowed Rondo to roam freely defensively and intercept passing lanes while playing solid help defense all at the same time. Rondo has performed the job of floor general quite well as he is spearheading the Celtics' attack, so it may be time for Kobe to guard him and frustrate him a little bit.
It doesn't take much to get back into a fight. The Lakers just have to bring more passion, more energy, and more balls of courage to the battle. This ain't no joke and I'm sure first-timers like Ronny, Sasha, Jordan, Pau, and Lamar have found out. You gotta bring it; as if your life depended on it. You get socked up a little bit, you weather the storm, and you get back up and counter. The Celtics jabbed and hooked, bobbed and weaved, and knocked the Lakers down twice with a couple of blows to the ribcage.
Don't be suprised to see a good dose of DJ Mbenga in the next three games, the one player off the bench the Lakers have who could likely ignite the team with his length, ability to body up on guys, shot blocking, and physical strength. Although he won't put up major numbers, he could potentially provide something for the psyche of this team. And I guarantee you that Mbenga would have fouled Powe real hard on that play in which Leon dribbled the length of the court and dunked it when no Laker player stepped up to stop the ball. Like Powe, DJ also has his own story about overcoming adversity when pitted against all odds. It's your turn to shine Mbenga, so you better be ready when Phil calls your number.
Now the series is at Staples Center for the first time. I expect an advantage on home court. I expect the fans to bring their die-hard attitude. I want to see passion. I want to hear heckling. I want to smell killer instinct from the Lakers. So far the ASSAULT is being done on us, Lakers fans. There will be blood before all of this is over.
Last night the Boston Celtics showed the Los Angeles Lakers what their defense is all about. They suffocate you, rush and collapse at you, they taunt you, and best of all, they protect the paint. All the while, the Boston Three Party threw a party of their own. And the Lakers' couldn't crash it after building momentum with a halftime lead. Good job, Celtics.
But this party is just beginning. It's not quite over. Far from it. This party is so big that even the world's best actors are taking part in the game. Literally. Talk about a Hollywood script.
Paul Pierce, in a desperate attempt to gain some elite recognition in this league, takes full advantage of the festivites and does his best Willis Reed impersonation. With one glaring difference. Reed was actually hurt. A trained NSA/CIA/FBI agent or anyone with a psychology degree will tell you based on Pierce's post game comments that his apparently serious knee injury was all an act. Talk about overstating what happened. The Eagles would say that "you can't hide those lyin' eyes."
Who are you fooling Paul? I've strained my left medial meniscus (cartilage) during a game before and partially tore it and you don't just get up after three minutes and return to the game, score 11 more points, and run on a bike during timeouts. When you hear a "pop" after injuring your cartilage from landing awkwardly, your knee locks up and you can't run let alone jump. That's all I have to say about that.
For this, he has been nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role in the 2009 Academy Awards. The Boston Celtics operations crew, meanwhile, has also been nominated for Best Film Score in a Drama for their outstanding work. I've never heard the theme from Rocky resonate like it did Thursday night.
Now back to the game. In summary, the Celtics were much more physical than the Lakers. In the second half, the boys in green pushed L.A. around like a bunch of chumps. They outmuscled them, outrebounded them, outhustled them, and outshined them. Boston not only dominated the boards, they fed off the crowd in the third quarter as the Lakers seemingly were on the verge of extending their five point lead before Pierce took over.
As I mentioned before the series started, the key to the series for the Lakers is their forward play. Lamar Odom and Vladimir Radmanovic were severely outgamed by Pierce and Kevin Garnett, being outscored 56-19. This cannot happen. Although it's virtually impossible to outplay two potential Hall-of-Famers, Odom and Radmanovic still have to give a better effort both on offense and defense. They almost played as if they were intimidated by the Celtics. They were not aggressive, they were tentative with the ball, and did not attack the basket. Against the Celtics' frontcourt, they have to force the contact as opposed to hoping to draw the contact. It's a mindset that these players have to come with. As Phil Jackson said in his pregame locker room speech, "You have to play with a purpose." These two Laker forwards did not do this.
The difference in the game
There are two obvious differences in the game. The first one is the disadvantage of the Lakers at the forward position. The Lakers have to find a way to score inside and get to the line if they hope to establish some kind of momentum.
Another difference was the Celtics' advantage on the boards. They saw how Utah used this to their benefit and applied it to the game. The ferocity that KG brings uplifts his other teammates. He is a Defensive Player of the Year but is an MVP at the same time. KG's dominance inside, his two monstrous dunks, and his attitude seemed to lift teammates PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, and even Leon Powe. They were quicker than the Lakers to react to the ball and the tone was set by KG. It seemed like for much of the game, the Lakers were moving in slow motion.
What the Celtics need to do to keep homecourt
1. Keep doing what they're doing. Rajon Rondo played well and matched Derek Fisher's output, and Ray Allen kept Boston in the game in the first half with his outside shooting.
2. Maintain the defensive intensity. Again, it starts with KG. So I don't have any reason to believe the Celtics will lose their focus over the next two days. The Celtics did a commendable job on transition defense last night and they've done an even better job of slowing the Lakers down to a halt, forcing L.A. to run their half court offense, which plays right into Boston's hands. The reason they are 3-0 versus L.A. so far this year is because of their defense and because they seem to know how to guard Kobe. It's up to Mamba to make an adjustment on offense so his teammates can follow the lead.
3. Treatment for Kendrick Perkins' ankle. I don't believe it's a serious sprain, maybe just a slight tweak. Nevertheless, ankle injuries are extremely tender. Although PJ Brown has played exceptional in his backup role, Perkins will be needed for the duration of the series. I believe he will be at least 90% for game two, but you know how they do it in Boston nowadays. They like to make you believe one thing and they go out and do something else. With that said, I guarantee Perkins will start and be 100% come Sunday.
4. Finally, Boston will need to think of another script to implement for Game Two. Because it's so obvious they're trying their hardest.
What the Lakers WILL DO to win Game Two
1. Execute a much different game plan. Kobe and his teammates will run, run, run. They will be more aggressive on both sides of the ball. They will attack the rim with more vigor. They will get Radmanovic involved early. Pau Gasol will be all over the paint, blocking shots, and throwing down dunks. After having watched the film, he will know how KG approaches rebounding position and be ready to match him and box out. Odom will rebound and lead fast breaks. The young Bench Mob will have shaken off the jitters and will be ready to attack. Kobe will be Kobe. All in all, the Lakers will be forced to bring Showtime back.
2. Attack the glass. This starts with the Lakers' "soft" frontcourt. After they watch film and dissect how they lost, they will play with a purpose. This starts by being physical with the Celtics. If the Lakers successfully match the Celtics' physicality, all of a sudden they will see that more of the Celtics' players will be in foul trouble and this opens everything up for the Lakers and Kobe Bryant to run-n-gun and operate the triangle with precision. One way for L.A. to get things started and establish themselves is to commit some hard fouls early on and put some Celtics on the ground so as to send a message.
3. Kobe Bryant will watch film and make the appropriate adjustments. As I speak, the Lakers are in an enclosed room dissecting the game tape. And Bryant is noticing that there was one sole reason as to why he was limited to midrange shot attempts and wasn't able to get to the rim with accuracy. The Celtics played him smart. They didn't double Kobe right away. They waited for Kobe to make his move and then when Kobe was getting ready to commit himself, they would converge on him with an extra defender or two. This would usually happen after Kobe would take a few dribbles or attempt to penetrate, but every time he drove the lane, another defender would come at him from the blindside catching him off guard. And that's why we saw a lot of fallaway jumpers and plenty of contested shots from Kobe.
This is how Detroit's Bad Boys used to frustrate Michael Jordan in the eighties. The only difference is the Jordan Rules, in which the Pistons would literally hit MJ every time he drove to the basket. If today's NBA would only let them play as physical as they did back then and refrain from eject ing a player from doing those things, there would be the Kobe rules.
As intelligent a player Kobe is and as exceptional a coach Jackson is at making adjustments, don't be surprised if the Lakers start the half court offense by getting Bryant the ball at the pinch post position in the triangle immediately. Kobe will be more patient reading the defense, and when the double team comes, there will be a plethora of cutters for Kobe to feed the ball to.
4. Knock those Celtics to the ground. Boston came in with a mindset and implemented it. Just like the eighties Celtic teams, they forced their physical style of play and succeeded. It has temporarily frustrated the Lakers. But those great Lakers teams never backed down. They got physical too and responded. They didn't shy away from contact and weren't afraid to knock some enemies upside the head. The Lakers will undoubtedly come with a much tougher mindset on Sunday. In the same way role players such as Kurt Rambis, A.C. Green, Bob McAdoo, and the skinny Michael Cooper responded to the Celtics' constant taunting, bullying, and trash talking, this version led by Derek Fisher, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, Luke Walton and Jordan Farmar has just received its wake up call and now it's time to show what they're made of.
5. Trevor Ariza. Because Luke Walton cannot guard Pierce, it's time for Coach Jackson to utilize his best kept secret weapon, who's been in hibernation since snow last fell in the city of Los Angeles. We've got The Machine on offense. Well... we've also got "The Specialist" on defense. Ariza's been ready to run-n-gun. He's waiting for an assignment. Why don't we go ahead and have him stick the actor.
A Boston Celtics fan recently commented on my most recent blog, The FINAL ASSAULT: How the YOUNG GUNS will crash the BOSTON THREE PARTY and stated that Los Angeles Lakers fans, including myself, seem to sound overly confident about the team's chances in the NBA FINALS and that we lack objectivity. Nothing could be further from the truth.
A lot of Lakers fans have a tremendous amount of respect for the Celtics franchise because Boston has earned it over the years, defeating the Lakers a whopping 8 out of the 10 times they've faced each other in the Finals. However, the Lakers have won the last two series and as we all know, Showtime dominated the eighties. This is a brand new era with brand new players playing a brand new style of basketball in front of millions of fans, old and brand new. So all this talk about history only benefits fans and the media. As far as I'm concerned, the players aren't even thinking about the past battles. The ONLY commonality between the past and present rivalry with these two teams right now is the color of the jerseys.
Since this will probably be the highest rated Finals ever, and since Celtics fans have a way of getting Lakers fans riled up, I have decided to grant a certain blogger's wish. I'm going to go ahead and think objectively, and reveal to everyone how it is the Celtics are going to defeat the purple-and-gold.
In honor of THE RIVALRY, It's now time for me to take off my Lakers jersey and dissect the Boston Celtics. The Beasts of the East. Gang Green. The best defensive team in the NBA with the best defensive player in the NBA. The team with the best regular season record. Now Lakers fans... before any of you lose your cool, this is in no way meant to disrespect or hate on our Lakers. I am doing this for the purpose of debate. I am doing this so Celtics fans can come out and talk basketball with us. I am doing this for the love of the game.This series is going to be the best of the best, so it's only fair that I honor both teams.
VITAL FACTOR #1: The CELTICS' BENCH. We all know what the Big Three can do so there's no need to explain further. Most experts have already mentioned the Lakers' advantage with their reserves because of the impressive balance of the Bench Mob. But beware Lakers fans. Boston's group is no slouch.
James Posey, who has a ring, is their sixth man. He plays excellent defense, hits clutch threes, and his ability to guard multiple positions and harrass players such as Kobe Bryant, Vladimir Radmanovic, Luke Walton, and Trevor Ariza will be key to the Celtics' success in this series. He stepped up every time Coach Doc Rivers called his number, and there is no reason to believe he won't continue to do so. Posey's play was monumental to Miami's success during their title run in 2006. He has an instrumental role once again in the championship round.
When Posey is on his game and ignites the team, the rest of the bench becomes that much more dangerous. They're a bunch of veterans - Sam Cassell, P.J. Brown, Eddie House - so they won't wilt under pressure. I also expect Rivers to play House significant minutes in this series because his threat as an outside shooter can counter the Lakers' Sasha Vujacic. When House is on, there's only a handful of players in this league that can match his marksmanship from long range. Lastly, the Celtics are deeper than one would think at first glance. Forwards Leon Powe and Big Baby Davis both play bigger than their actual size and both played significant minutes for them during the regular season. And as we know, the Lakers have had trouble in the past with bruising, physical forwards.
If Boston's reserves can provide consistent scoring and excellent transition defense against the Lakers' second unit in order to complement the production of their starting unit, the Lakers will have an extremely difficult time matching up.
A side note: This is so key for the Celtics because the Lakers have not had to deal with a team in the playoffs that was 10 players deep in the rotation. Therefore, if the Boston bench can step it up two notches and give the Lakers problems, Coach Phil Jackson will be forced to make adjustments he's never had to make in the postseason.
VITAL FACTOR #2: RAY ALLEN. So far in the postseason, Ray Allen has struggled to maintain consistency in his outside shot. He seems to be over the hump, scoring 46 points over the last two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. Was it perfect timing? Certainly. Is this a sign of things to come? Celtics fans hope so. Allen has always been a big time clutch player throughout his career so I expect Ray Ray to come out firing in the first two games in order to develop a rhythm for himself.
If Kobe is going to guard Allen the majority of the time, then Ray needs to attack Mamba. He needs to run Kobe into screens and tire him out on defense so it forces Jackson to take Kobe out of the game. If Allen can establish some kind of penetration or mid range game against the Lakers' rotating Triangle Defense, it should open up his long range bombs from downtown. The Celtics are at their best offensively when they establish Kevin Garnett down low, Paul Pierce on isolation post-ups, and Allen coming off screens along the wing. When they execute this to perfection, they are truly the Big Three. It's Allen, not Pierce or KG, that opens it all up for the Celtics, much in the same way Peja Stojakovic does for the New Orleans Hornets. And it's no surprise that when Allen was on his game, the Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons two games in a row with relative ease to close out the series.
VITAL FACTOR #3: The BOSTON CROWD. Without a doubt, Celtics fans are going to bring it. They will throw up signs like "Beat L.A", "Kobe S-u-c-k-s" or "A-nother B-oston C-hampionship" since ABC is going to televise the series. They will be raucous. They will be loud. It will be a sea of green at the Garden.
All of the Celtics old-timers like Havlicek, Bird, Russell, McHale, Ainge, Parish, Cousy, and Heinsohn will be in attendance. All kinds of celebrities will fill the crowd. In other words, the atmosphere at the Garden will be just as electric as the star-filled Staples Center. Boston has always known how to take full advantage of their home court and we all know that the Lakers have struggled against heckling crowds. It seemed like the Utah faithful got into their psyches a bit as the Jazz took two games at home against the Lakers. Boston fans won't be able to penetrate the head of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson, but if they can affect the performance of other key Laker players, namely Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, then home court advantage will truly work in their favor.
VITAL FACTOR #4: TRANSITION DEFENSE. The Celtics' suffocating half court defense is the best in the league, hands down. They are excellent at trapping and forcing the opponents' best scorer right into the heart of their defense, which usually ends up being KG or Kendrick Perkins, who is no slouch inside. But in order to defeat the Lakers, you have to limit their transition baskets since L.A. loves to get out and run. Boston does this by taking each possession like it's their last, meaning they milk the clock. They go inside to KG and exploit the mismatch. Doing these things accomplishes two things. First, it allows the Celtics to dictate the tempo of the game and play at their pace. Secondly, it gives the Celtics more opportunities to get to the free throw line and steal momentum. They ought to take a page out of the Lakers-Jazz series. Utah was able to win two games versus L.A. because their forwards frustrated and outplayed L.A.'s forwards and got to the foul line numerous times.
VITAL FACTOR #5: TRANSITION OFFENSE. Whether the Celtics like it or not, they will have to get out in transition. This is the only way to keep up with the Lakers and their penchant for scoring. Utah did this well, getting out to early leads in games four and five. I mentioned previously that the Celtics will have to limit the Lakers' fast break by slowing it down. It's obvious that for Boston to defeat the Lakers, they have to play a balanced game and be willing to run as well. Beat L.A. by beating them at their own game. San Antonio didn't stand a chance because they played a standstill offense. The fact that Boston has the ingredients to execute a running game looms large for Coach Rivers. Rajon Rondo needs to be the catalyst here. He needs to force the issue when the opportunity presents itself because this will put pressure on the Lakers guards, namely Derek Fisher, who will try to be physical with him. And when Boston gets out on the break, guys like House, Posey, Pierce, and Allen all of a sudden become tremendous threats along the wing or three-point line.
SUMMARY: Although I predicted Detroit to reach the Finals, the Boston Celtics have proven to be the most complete team in the Eastern Conference despite their late season stagnation. While the Lakers peaked the last week of the regular season and maintained their dominance throughout the playoffs, the Celtics began to peak in Game Seven of their hard fought semifinal battle with Cleveland. It carried over to the Detroit series and it finally all came together in the last two games. Heading into the Finals, the Celtics are as confident as ever. They've found their stride and look to be in the same form that won them 66 games during the regular season.
The Celtics will be fresh come Thursday. The players, as well as the fans, will be so charged up the Energizer Bunny will be seen cruising through the parquet.
Somewhere in that New England air, the ghost of Red Auerbach exists. If one were to look carefully, there's a cigar hiding somewhere inside that Celtic locker room.
Boston Celtics fans want to continue bringing up the fact that Boston was 2-0 against the Los Angeles Lakers in the regular season. And because of this they will defeat the Lakers to capture the title (as Aerosmith's Dream On plays in the background).
But at the same time, it's also widely known that both Celtics victories came way back in 2007 and Pau Gasol was absent from both of those games.
Must I remind everyone that although Andrew Bynum played in both games, Andrew Bynum is not Pau Gasol. They are two completely different players.
Pau Gasol is VITAL FACTOR #1: While Bynum was barely starting to find his niche offensively early in the season, he proved to be ineffective against the Celtics because he is primarily a defensive player. Defending the paint against Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins is a daunting task for any player in this league, let alone a young kid like Bynum. So it's not surprising that Bynum could not be effective both on offense and defense against theDefensive Player of the Year.
But with Gasol, the Lakers are able to give Boston a wider variety of looks. Gasol's versatility as a big man gives the Lakers a huge advantage that the Celtics cannot overlook. Gasol is a more creative scorer than Bynum. Gasol is a better passer. Gasol, the veteran, has a higher basketball IQ than Bynum at this point in their careers. And most importantly Gasol has better court awareness and recognition, allowing him to put more pressure on the Celtics' bigs when he's on offense.
Not to mention Pau is an underrated defensive player, as most average fans tend to dismiss the importance of his length and ability to bother and alter shots. All in all, the fact that Gasol is a constant threat to score 18-23 points per game allows the other Lakers players to become more of an offensive threat themselves. This is why Lamar Odom has flourished with Pau, and this is why Vladimir Radmanovic seems to always hit timely three pointers when Gasol is on the floor. Like gasoline, Pau is the one who adds fuel to the Lakers' engine.
Here's some food for thought: The Lakers are 33-8, incuding the postseason, with Gasol in the lineup. That's a 66-16 pace, which is the same record the Celtics had in the regular season. And we all know that the playoffs are much tougher than the regular season, so go ahead and try to analyze the two teams now.
Speaking of Radmanovic, he is going to be VITAL FACTOR #2 in this series. Paul Pierce will most likely be guarding VladRad and he will most likely be doubling on occasion in order to help out against Kobe Bryant and Gasol. This will be one of the biggest mistakes the Celtics will make in this series. Throughout the playoffs, the Lakers have made it a point to involve Radmanovic early in games so that he can find his rhythm. And Vladdy has responded to the challenge quite well. If this trend continues, the Celtics will be in a ton of trouble because again, they will have another weapon to worry about.
Must I remind Celtics fans that they have never dealt with a team with as much balance and firepower as the Lakers in this here playofffs. Meanwhile, the Lakers have already dispatched two of the leagues best defensive teams in Utah and San Antonio, and both of these teams have their own set of legitimate Big Threes.
VITAL FACTOR #3 is obviously Lamar Odom, because he is option #3. This I know for sure: Lamar is going to be outmatched if he has to guard Garnett by himself. KG will attack Odom from all angles and the most important thing for Lamar is to stay out of foul trouble, a daunting task. So how will LO counter KG? Take it to the Big Ticket on offense. Just like Kobe, Odom has to remember that he has to be in attack mode 100% of the time. By dribble driving constantly on Garnett, the Celtics may even find the need to help out and double and this opens up the lanes for LO to dump off to Pau inside once the help comes and free up Kobe, Radmanovic, and Ronny Turiaf for offensive boards and second shot attempts.
A side note: In the playoffs, KG has never faced a player as versatile and as quick off the dribble as Odom and he's never been pressured as a defender because the players he's guarded (Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejao, Marvin Williams) have all been stationary players who are either set shooters or lack the ability to be creative on the floor. This is something to keep a close eye on.
We all remember The Microwave, Vinnie Johnson, and his importance as a bench player, sharpshooter, sniper, and clutch player for the Detroit Pistons during their championship runs. Pretty soon, we will all be remembering The Machine, Sasha Vujacic and his excellence as a defensive pest and timely outside shooter for the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Which brings me to VITAL FACTOR #4. What impresses me most about Vujacic is his relentlessness and his ability to play with NO FEAR whatsoever. The guy is game. Never mind the flops. This guy knows how to get under a player's skin. He's Dennis Rodman and Frank Brickowski with a touch of Reggie Miller wrapped up in a 6-7, 200-lb frame. What we will remember most about Sasha in this series will be his tenacious defense against Ray Allen, who's proven to us in the playoffs that he's anything but consistent. Of course, the Machine will also get his threes. Even if it means throwing up a buzzer beater with a Lakers' victory all but assured.
Most people like to talk about the Big Three and their leadership when describing the ascent of the Boston Celtics to the top of the NBA. But at the same time, we tend to overlook the importance of the leadership Rajon Rondo has brought to the ballclub all season long. In fact, Rondo has looked even better in the playoffs than he did in the regular season. Opponents continue to sag off him defensively and Rondo has continued to knock down the open shot series after series. However, all of this ends now. Because Derek Fisher, the toughest player in the league pound for pound, is not going to let it happen. Which brings me to VITAL FACTOR #5.
Think about the motivations here. Fisher remembers 2004 like it was yesterday. He remembers the pain so much he brought it up during his locker room interview after game five versus the Spurs. He remembers what a young Chauncey Billups did to him. But let me remind everyone that this young Rondo is no Billups. Once Rondo feels the muscle, once Rondo experiences what he didn't experience against a soft Mike Bibby, a thin Delonte West, and an injury plagued Billups of '08, he will realize why Fisher has the rings and he doesn't. Moreover, Kobe will recognize that Derek will have open shots because Rondo will be scrambling to double him. Kobe's intelligent enough to know that when the the Fish is hungry, you've got to feed him. Ironically enough, D-Fish will be sending Rondo fishing in about two weeks.
SUMMARY: Analysts and experts always want to harp on the Celtics' great defense and the Lakers' great offense. The big mistake is to overlook the capabilities of this Lakers defense. While Boston has struggled the entire playoffs, primarily on the offensive end, the Lakers have given the world a complete display of basketball perfection.
Against Denver, L.A. showed the world their run-n-shoot capabilities against a team that loves to run-n-gun, averaging close to 120 per game.
Against Utah, the Lakers showed the many different ways they can defeat a team that prides itself on execution and precision. They won against the Jazz by fast breaking them to death, they pummeled Utah inside with their half court game, and they applied their killer instinct against the Jazz on the road in a closeout game in front of the toughest arena to play in.
And then they humiliated the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs by beating them at their own game while completely tiring them out at the same time. Never before have I ever seen a defending world champion so deflated and demoralized at the hands of a young team.
And the Celtics? All they've proven is that they have a hard time scoring, barely squeaking past a team who wasn't supposed to be in the playoffs, another team with a King and bunch of paupers, and a former East power whose star power forward never seemed motivated from the start and conceded the series by showing too much love to his rival after a crucial game five loss. The bottom line is the Celtics are barely gettng by. Against the Lakers, that spells doom. If the champs couldn't do it, what makes you think the first-timers in green can?
Like I've always said, the Lakers were not only built for the long term. They are built to win championships. This means that the players are assembled with complete balance both on offense and defense in mind. The Lakers have the perfect mix of offensive threats and defensive stalwarts, old school ballers and new school killers. The Lakers have fine-tuned the formula by combining the attributes of Showtime with the precision of the Triangle Offense and Bermuda Triangle Defense. Now that Trevor Ariza is back, it even gets that much tougher for guys like James Posey, Tony Allen, and Pierce. And Bynum isn't even playing!!
So look out, Boston. Here we come with a vengeance. The Lakers are locked in and loaded and they are a force to be reckoned with. With all guns-a-blazin.'
The BOSTON CELTICS, the team with the best regular season record in the NBA at 66-16, the most improved team in league history over a one-year span, the team with three Hall-of-Famers, the team that keeps reminding itself of the 67-win Dallas Mavericks of a year ago, and the team that the LOS ANGELES LAKERS are expecting to play in the NBA FINALS, are one game away from pulling a NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS.
KEVIN GARNETT, the MVP? There's a reason why he's never won an NBA title.
DOC RIVERS, the Coach of the Year? There's a reason why he's never played in the NBA Finals.
PAUL PIERCE, the Truth? The truth is, he's older and slower and he's not putting up big numbers like he used to. There's a reason he's never been to the Finals.
RAY ALLEN, the Big Three's designated hitter in the 4th quarter? A disappointing 1-for-8 from three-point range on the road under pressure. There's a reason he's never led a team to an NBA Finals appearance.
If it weren't for KENDRICK PERKINS' perfect effort (5-5 FG, 4-4 FT), the C's would have probably been blown out by the eighth seed ATLANTA HAWKS, who didn't even win 40 games all year.
Is there such a thing as CELTIC PRIDE anymore? What's wrong with the C's? How come they can't seem to execute with consistency? Are there too many egos on that squad?
I guess we'll find out sooner or later. For now, I hope all of you loyal Celtics fans don't jump off the edge of that cliff.
This is where bloggers and the rest of you sports freaks can spread more rumors. We all love to speculate about potential deals just as much as we'd like to know if there are aliens residing somewhere near the Kuiper Belt. Last I heard, the aliens did not create the rings around Saturn...
In L.A. word around town is that Maggette will be dealt soon. But to whom? Golden State has some moveable pieces, as does Sacramento who would like to reunite Bibby with Webber. My Lakers have a chance at a number four seed if they continue improving but could win it all if Buss finds a way to land K.G. and managing to keep Odom at the same time.
Rashard Lewis may be on the move in Seattle. Minnesota may look to add someone to help Garnett instead of trading him if only they could find takers for Ricky Davis, Mike James, Mark Blount, and Troy Hudson, who are all locked up long term. Portland always has pieces to move since they haven't won anything since the infamous 4th quarter meltdown against the Lakers in Game 7 of the 2000 West Finals. Jerry West and Mike Fratello don't see eye-to-eye so a shuffling of personnel may be imminent in Memphis.
The East is loaded with trade-bait. Ty Lue in Atlanta, Antonio Daniels in Washington, Stephen Jackson in Indiana, Luol Deng and Ben Gordon in Chicago to name a few. There is also talk that Paul Pierce is getting impatient, and Richard Jefferson isn't feeling the same way anymore. In Gotham you can trade just about anybody, including Isaiah Thomas. If Herb Williams is still there, trade him too. Milwaukee needs help and is one solid player away from making the playoffs. Who will go and who will stay?
