NBA Finals at a Glance

By Paul Casey Gotham

Whether it’s a case of “a day late and a dollar short,” or “better late than never,” here is a look at the series between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. Match-ups and intrigue kidnapped this piece for a couple of days. With game one in the rear view, here’s hoping for a few lucid thoughts.

It’s hard to believe the deficit of game one was just thirteen points. The Celtics saved their worst basketball for the second quarter of the first game of the finals. Or, better yet, their worst twelve minutes of basketball some time between the first and second quarters.  Might be interesting to do an over-under on how many times Doc Rivers ran the clip of Shannon Brown getting to the rim untouched. Better yet, how many times did the video get replayed before Kevin Garnett started MFing every breathing being within ear shot. While we are at it, let’s take bets on how many times Rivers showed the clip, how long it took before MF came from Garnett’s lips, and who nudged Rasheed Wallace to wake him from his slumber?

On the topic of ‘Sheed – it’s kind of strange how my opinion has changed. Is it possible that Danny Ainge schemed to keep Wallace in good health just for the Orlando Magic and now the Lakers? It is crazy how Dwight Howard let ‘Sheed get in his head. If we concocted a list of the Loosest Cannons in the NBA, Wallace would rank somewhere near the top. Yet, Howard just played right into his game.

Still, ‘Sheed looks like a key weapon right now. I used to laugh every time he pulled up from behind the arc. That’s great – a 6’11 guy pulling up from long range. Gee, where can I find a guy that will do that? Thing is, I don’t know what’s funnier: Wallace jacking from that range? Or, Pau Gasol having to defend someone that far from the basket? Wallace might see an increase in playing time as the series wears on.

Back to the first game – how the Celts trailed by nine at half is beyond me. They played that poorly. Next day, everybody and their great aunt was taking turns prognosticating the demise of the green. Everybody with a case of short term memory loss that is. Everybody forgets Cleveland went into the Garden…errrr…TD Garden that is and put a 29-point hurting on Boston to take a 2-1 lead in the conference semi-finals. Boston promptly won the next three. Orlando beat Boston by 21 (and it wasn’t even that close) to climb back from a 3-0 deficit before the Celts closed out the series.

Momentum does not intimidate Boston.

At the same time, Kobe Bryant looks determined. Whatever that means. Maybe I am buying into the hype. Feel free to let me know if I have been influenced.  The video segment of Kobe watching …videos of the NBA greats might have sucked me in. It’s just that I can’t help it. Every time I look at Kobe I see this 19-year old kid with a Fresh-Prince-of-Bel-Air cut whose idea of a post entry pass was an eighteen-foot jumper clanging off the front of the rim. Now, it looks like the 13 years in the Association have taught him something. 13 years? Wait. 13 years? Is it possible that Kobe is playing in his 14th NBA season? Seems strange to think he was competing for headlines at one time with Monica Lewinsky.   Only thing is, Kobe still has a little Fresh-Prince-of-Bel-Air left in him – as evidenced by the 10-29 night against Oklahoma City. Kobe still will shoot his team into a loss.

Prior to the series, LA’s big concern seemed to Rajon Rondo. And why not? Rondo has had six double-doubles and one triple-double. LA defended Rondo by committee in game one. Derek Fisher stayed five feet from the Boston point guard until Rondo knocked down a couple of jumpers. Then Brown took his turns as did Sasha Vujacic. It even looked like Kobe matched-up with Rondo a couple of times although that might have been dictated by defensive transition responsibilities.

Fisher spent some time chasing Ray Allen. The only way that match-up will work for LA over the long haul is if Allen continues to get into foul trouble. Don’t get me wrong. I have a bunch of respect for Fisher. It just doesn’t seem like there is a favorable match-up for him.

Paul Pierce’s 24 points in game one seemed quiet. Half of his output came from the line. Pierce failed to connect from long range, and he looked bothered by the pressure of Ron Artest. On the other hand, Garnett took more shots (16 as opposed to Pierce’s 13) but scored fewer points. Boston’s half court offense looked stagnant for long stretches. Perhaps, the fact that LA limited Boston’s opportunities in transition exposed the Celtics. Beyond that, LA held Boston to ZERO second-chance points.

Boston will need to get more output from their bench. Tony Allen has to recapture what he had against Orlando and Cleveland. Glen Davis will need to add more rebounds.

Five points from Lamar Odom is not going to get in done for the Lakers. If LA’s bench depends on Kobe too much they can expect Boston’s defense to ratchet up the intensity.

This series will go seven games.

Thought from the Pine?