It's A Series Now

Boston had their chances to steal one in LA, but the Lakers remained tough and held off the Celtics 87-81 to close their deficit in the NBA Finals to 2-1. By all accounts this was a poorly played game by both sides, with only three players looking like they actually made the trip from the west coast. The Celtics struggled to shoot 35% from the field, while the Lakers missed 13 free throws – although they can at least take solace in the fact that they finally got the calls they so badly desired in Boston. The league’s MVP was joined by the NBA Finals’ latest super-sup, Sasha Vujacic, to anchor the Lakers, while Ray Allen worked hard to keep the game close for the Celtics. In the end, Vujacic and Bryant shined in the closing moments of the 4th quarter, while Allen was conspicuously left out of the game plan during his team’s final possessions.

Given the circumstances, the Celtics missed out on a huge opportunity in Game 3 to steal a monumental road victory and bury the Lakers. Over the course of the playoffs, the Lakers have been unstoppable at home, improving to 9-0 at Staples Center in the postseason during which they’ve averaged 107 points a game. It’s doubtful the Celtics will be presented with another opportunity where Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom combine to go 5-18 from the field or where Bryant misses seven of his 18 free throw attempts, especially at the Staples Center. For once, Kobe and the Lakers looked vulnerable at home but the Celtics failed to take advantage, breathing life into their desperate opponent. The Lakers were a nervous group throughout, but to their credit they toughed it out and made enough plays down the stretch to steal a toss-up of a game. The hill that the Celtics will be forced to climb is only going to get steeper now that this young group has broke through and recorded a victory in this championship series.

The silver lining in all of this for the Celtics was that the two superstars they most relied on to get here, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, collectively had their worst performance of the playoffs. Yet, despite the duo missing 27 of the 35 shots they took, Boston’s hard-nosed defense kept them in the game. Pierce was a non-factor during the entire game, accumulating more fouls than points for a majority of the contest before finishing with six points against five fouls. Far and away, Pierce was the MVP of the two games at the TD Banknorth Garden, but he became the goat in Game 3. Most of the plays he attempted to make were out of control and ended up blowing up in his face. Usually a standout performer when he returns home to LA, Pierce couldn’t have picked a worse time to record a bad game in his homecoming.

Garnett experienced similar trouble in Game 3, missing his first 10 shots before finally recording a field goal on an alley-oop just before halftime. KG has struggled with his shot up late, but his demise last night was as much a product of his own problems as it was great adjustments from the Lakers. LA’s defense on the Big Ticket was stellar, forcing KG into extremely difficult fadeaways for most of the night, including in the final six minutes. Most of the credit for this improved defense should go to the Zen Master, who concocted a strategy that put Bryant on Rondo, allowing him to double team on Garnett almost at will. The Celtics young and diminutive point guard has repeatedly ignored the open jump shots that have been granted to him, and LA finally has made him pay for it.

Looking ahead to Game 4, both teams have a laundry list of items they can improve on entering Thursday nights tilt. The Lakers, however, have the confidence knowing that they are coming off a win even while not playing their best. Meanwhile, the Celtics must work to establish Pierce and Garnett early so that they can shake the rust that they have been overcome with. In addition, Doc Rivers is going to need to make a decision with his young point guard. He needs to instruct Rondo to make the Lakers pay for giving him such a cushion, or give his predominant lineup a major makeover. Boston had success with Allen as the primary ball handler and going big with James Posey, Kendrick Perkins, and Garnett in the game at the same time. With Posey in the game, LA’s defense will be stretched with his terrific perimeter shooting. Eddie House is another man from the bench that deserves a bigger role for the same reason.

The Lakers have a similar riddle to solve with two of their horses, Gasol and Odom, each of whom has underperformed in the three games against the Celtics. They have both been disturbingly quiet for much too long, especially Odom who has battled foul trouble through this entire series. Clearly, Odom’s matchup against Garnett has consumed him and his game hasn’t been as smooth as it was earlier in the postseason. Gasol made a long-awaited appearance in the fourth quarter of Game 3, grabbing a number of crucial offensive rebounds and two clutch tip-ins to secure the win. However, you can bet nine points will not be enough for the Lakers to even the series.

I expect Game 4 to be a much better played game, with the Lakers evening it up on Thursday night and turning this into a best-of-three. The free throw disparity will continue to work in the home team’s favor and this time Bryant and his teammates won’t be so atrocious from the charity stripe. That should be enough even though you can almost guarantee Pierce and Garnett will come ready to redeem themselves.