The Celtics made a crucial mistake in Game 2 and we will see if it comes back to haunt them. In boxing when you have a fighter on the ropes, you have to finish him. You have to go in for the kill and the KO. That wa,y whenever you run across him again, he has in the back of his mind that he can never defeat you. But when you let him off the ropes, get a couple of good shots in before the end of the fight and have you wobbling, even though you may win on points, psychologically the other fighter is in better shape for the rematch.
The Lakers got those final punches in. But with that being said, they still face the daunting task of winning 4 out of the next 5 games against a team that looks like they have their number. Until the 4th quarter of Game 2, the Celtics have clamped down on the Lakers defensively to the point that they are smothering the Lakers into submission. Now, it is yet to be seen if the 4th quarter was a sign of things to come, or just the Celtics easing off of the gas pedal a bit.
It is pretty obvious the Lakers must win all their home games to have any chance in this series. I don't think it is possible for them to win two games in Boston, but if they just have to win one I think that is possible. The Lakers have to hold on to the hope that the Celtics are not the same team on the road as they are at home and use that to their advantage. The Lakers have not lost at home so it won't be impossible for them to win all three, but they will have to step up their defensive intensity.
A couple of side notes. Paul Pierce should be ashamed of himself for leading people to believe he is hurt when, in fact, there is absolutely nothing wrong with him at all. Seriously, there is nothing wrong with him. The reason he didn't want a MRI was because he knows that his knee is fine. If I was the commish I would suspend him, but that is just me. Also the refs in this game were horrible. Very inconsistent and shouldn't be allowed to ref another finals game.
It ain't over
arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhgggggggggggggggg
Losing by 1 or 100 its still a loss, if they have to draw moral victories from a failed 4th quarter comeback in order to pump themselves up then this will be over in 4 and they dont deserve to be champs. That comeback fell short PERIOD(and that's w/ boston not even playn any type of respectable D in the last 7 mins of the game). While I believe that this series aint over by a long shot, It boils down to "EVERYONE" drank that "KOBE" kool-aid and failed to realize that Lakers defense is avg at best, Boston has three players capable of droping 30 or more compared to the Laker's "ONE"... Also the benches...talk about getting exposed, they are avg at best...The lakers are not out of it but it aint lookn good 4'em espcially if they are gonna keep shootin jump shots and expect to get to the line(aint gonna happen)... P.S. Quit crying about the ref's, I remember against the kings in 2001 playoffs, the lakers shot 26 ft's in the 4th qt alone.. so turnabout is fairplay.
2001? I thought it was 2002 and the difference is folks were crying about it and yet there's not much of a peep over this one?
Regardless of your affiliation this is the sad state of the NBA. There's a reason why nobody believes in it anymore its too corrupt and Donaghy isn't alone!
38 Free throws to 10. That is an embarrasment to the league
I made money
Why would anyone but the Lakers want Pierce to be suspended because you THINK he was not hurt? Come on now it made his team play harder and made the fans cheer louder. He didn't hurt anyone & he didn't do anything illegal.