For the first time since 2004, the NBA Finals are tied at one-apiece, and we’ve got a Finals where we legitimately don’t know who’s going to win. Thank God.
NBA Finals, Lakers-Celtics Game 3: Storylines Abound As Series Shifts To Boston
After the Celtics' win on Sunday night, we're now back to square one with this series. The Lakers were on the brink of wrestling control from the Celtics and, perhaps, coasting to second-straight NBA title this week in Boston, but now the Celtics have renewed room for hope, and it's Boston with a chance to take control over the next three games.
Headed back to Boston, there are a few key changes that we could see in this series. For one thing, we go back to the subplot mentioned in my NBA Finals Preview. The 2-3-2 series format. As I said then, in 25 years with the current format, the team playing three straight at home has swept those games only twice (DET in ‘04, MIA in ‘06). With one of the more evenly-matched series in years, the odds of the Celtics becoming the third team to do it are pretty slim. So what’s the goal, then?
Boston Needs To Win Two Of Three At Home. And, more specifically, they probably need to win tonight. A win in Game 3 takes the pressure off for the next two games in Boston, and suddenly, the Lakers are the team with its back against the wall. Then, L.A. has to win 3 of the last 4 games, the first two of which would come against a Boston team riding a serious wave of momentum.
Obviously, we can go back-and-forth all day long with these “If Boston wins...” or “If L.A. wins...” scenarios, but here’s the point: If Boston wins tonight, things start looking pretty great for the underdog Celtics. It’s really quite simple. Win tonight, and Boston’s got control of this whole thing. The Celtics know this, and the Lakers know this. And the Celtics fans know this, which is why you can be prepared to hear plenty of complaints about tonight’s officiating assignments should the C’s whiff on this opportunity.
On that note, let’s roll through some other storylines from tonight...
All Eyes On Bill Kennedy
Whether you believe Tim Donaghy and think Bill Kennedy hates the Celtics because Doc Rivers called him a homosexual, or you think Bill Kennedy just has an ordinary bias against the Celtics, or you don’t, there’s no question about this last part: Bill Kennedy officiating a pivotal NBA Finals Game in Boston will be a story. The only question is how big.
My thoughts are here, but let’s hope it doesn’t upstage the game tonight.
Andrew Bynum: Can He Keep This Up?
Through the first two games of the series, Andrew Bynum's been fantastic for L.A. on both ends. He's given the Lakers 30 minutes-a-night, he's helped shut off the paint on defense, and Sunday night, he added 21 points on offense. When Bynum produces that way, the Lakers big men are better than just about any team in the league--not to mention, it offsets the offensive disappearing act from Lamar Odom and Ron Artest. So far, he's been great, and it's given Los Angeles a huge advantage in the paint.
But Bynum’s injured, young, and famously inconsistent. How much longer can he keep dominating the Celtics big men? And as a corollary...
Pau Gasol: Can We See Him In Crunch Time?
It's just the nature of basketball that the Lakers, with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, would rely more on Gasol in the early parts of the game, and lean on Kobe in crunch time. Late in the fourth quarter, we're accustomed to seeing guards take over. But Pau has been awesome so far this series.
So awesome, in fact, that he probably deserves a few more looks down the stretch. Kobe is Kobe, yes, but if Gasol keeps killing the Celtics big men, it’s time to give him some consideration as a go-to guy in crunch time. In the last two games, Pau Gasol has taken exactly one field goal under six minutes in the fourth quarter. That came with 17 seconds left in the fourth quarter on Sunday, on a desperation three-pointer.
In other words, so far in the NBA Finals, Pau Gasol hasn’t taken a shot with under six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Listen, I’m as big of a Pau skeptic as anyone, but... If I were a Lakers fan, I’d want to see that change over the course of the next few games. He’s been too dominant for them to just ignore him like that.
Oh, and about that dominance...
The Celtics Big Men: A Moment Of Truth
The Celtics big men have gotten their @#!*% kicked over the first two games. That's the only way to put it. Kevin Garnett has legitimately painful to watch. The Celtics won't get another 27-point half from Ray Allen, and they can't count on another triple double from Rajon Rondo. But if they're big men can step up on offense and defense, they won't need as much from their perimeter guys.
After the first two games though, that’s a big if. KG and co. need to step it up.
Rondo Rondo Rondo Rondo Rondo Rondo Rondo Rondo Rondo Rondo
He’s been fabulous for Boston throughout the playoffs, and after a hiccup in Game 1, he got back on track on Sunday night. A triple-double and game-winning scoring eruption in the fourth quarter... Not a bad way to announce your arrival to the NBA Finals.
The Lakers can’t stop him. They just can’t. Maybe this is the game they put Kobe on him, but even then, you have to think Rondo wins that battle. He’s too clever with the ball, and playing with too much confidence right now. So what can stop him? Fatigue.
Rondo does everything for that team when he’s on the court, he plays the game at 1000 mph, playing 40 minutes-a-night in the playoffs, and he’s taken a beating all year. Remember: none of his Game 2 heroics happen if Doc hadn’t finally taken him out of the game at the start of the fourth quarter. Managing Rondo’s minutes is one of the hidden subplots for Boston that could be a factor if this series goes seven games. The guy has got to be worn out.
Tonight, though, you have to think the Boston crowd will carry him, and combined with Pierce/Allen, the C’s will enjoy another banner night on the perimeter. Still, it’s something to watch for as things unfold tonight and the rest of the week. At some point, this guy’s got to get tired. Right?
Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe Kobe
Back in that Finals preview, I talked about Kobe Bryant at length, saying, “this year’s NBA Playoffs might just be his greatest masterpiece yet. The Lakers and Celtics make for a lot of great storylines, but none of them as profound as what Kobe’s doing right now. He’s playing near-perfect basketball. And if he finishes the way he’s started, it’ll be something that even his greatest critics will have to applaud.”
In Game 2, though, when everyone expected Kobe Bryant to step forward and dominate down the stretch, it was Rajon Rondo who stole the show. Does this mean Kobe’s no longer a basketball genius that’s played near-perfect basketball over the past few weeks? No, but at least he’s human.
And, quite likely, a very @#!*% off human. He knows the stakes, and watching his response should make for some great theater. The Celtics have the edge playing at home, but on the list of “people you don’t want to @#!*% off in life,” Kobe ranks right up there with the best of ‘em. Nothing’s guaranteed, but we should all be on the lookout for a textbook Kobe vengeance game tonight.
In Boston, Will The Celtics Bench Get Better?
The Lakers have the possibility of a Kobe vengeance game as their ace-in-the-hole, but the Celtics have an x-factor, as well. At home, some of the young, mercurial bench players like Nate Robinson, Tony Allen, and Glen Davis stand a much better chance at making big time contributions in an NBA Finals game.
Again, the Celtics may not get another virtuoso performance from Ray Allen in Game 3, but all throughout the playoffs, they’ve had bench guys step up to play crucial roles in big moments. With guys like Allen and Big Baby, it’s the sort of thing that’s a lot more likely to happen at home. Can it happen tonight?
If it does... Advantage: Celtics.
Celebrites At The Boston Garden!
Step aside Jack Nicholson, Leonardo Dicaprio, Donald Sutherland, Andy Garcia, Will Ferrell, Terrell Owens, Sly Stallone, Charlize Theron, Justin Timberlake, Dustin Hoffman and Jason Batemen, Adam Levine, Hilary Swank, Michael Clarke Duncan, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, and every other starlet that graced the Staples Center with their presence this past weekend.
We’re headed to Boston. Time for Mark Wahlberg to take center stage.
THE PICK: It’s a tough call that basically boils down to one variable versus two. Since we know, regardless of my appeals, Kobe Bryant will never defer to Pau Gasol in crunchtime of an NBA Finals game, for L.A., he needs to get back to his Game 1 form. Can he do it? That’s variable No. 1.
For Boston, there are two variables. First, can the Celtics big men stop playing like crap? I mean, Kevin Garnett’s too proud--and too good--to go out like this. Right? Something tells me that with the home crowd and momentum from Game 2, KG’s better tonight. In any case, that’s variable No. 2.
And then, finally, there’s Boston’s bench. If the Celtics have one, clear edge in this series, it’s... Rajon Rondo vs. the Lakers guards. But if Boston has two advantages, the second is definitely their bench. Can Tony Allen, Glen Davis, Rasheed, and Nate Robinson step up to lift Boston? At home, you have to like their chances. That’s variable No. 3.
So how does it boil down?
- Can Kobe have vengeance game?
- Can KG and co. stop getting abused by Pau?
- Can the Celtics’ bench step up?
If no. 1 happens, then the Celtics need both no. 2 and 3 to break their way. On the other hand, if Kobe doesn’t have a huge game, then either one of Boston’s big variables could swing things enough to let them steal Game 3, and the momentum in the whole series. My pick?
Honestly, I have no clue what might happen. Neither do you. Isn’t that awesome?
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