I'm somewhat at a loss for words today (surprising, no?). All I can say is that the Lakers got lucky last night in more ways than just the favorable officiating (Kobe just about hacked Paul Pierce's arm off on the decisive steal, but the game was not lost there). The Lakers are lucky that KG missed two crucial free-throws (which, should the Celtics lose will become the mother of all albatrosses hanging around the Big TIcket's neck), and especially lucky that 3 of 5 Celtic starters are hurt during the biggest games of the entire season. Knowing that, the Lakers should be ahead, they should be cruising to a championship, but they aren't. The Celtics botched game five and spoiled a brilliant performance by Paul Pierce that could have, and should have clinched the series. The bad news for LA is that the Celtics know that, and they won't let it happen again.
I guess David Stern gets what he wants, a six or seven game series, but yesterday's game just delayed the inevitable. The Lakers have played so poorly this series, I can't see them winning again in Boston, much less two in a row against the Celtics. That is, the Lakers shouldn't win again if Doc Rivers can pull his head out of his own ass long enough to properly coach a game and KG can stop doing his best Lamar Odom impression and step up like we all know he can and should. The Celtics are clearly the better team, they just couldn't quite get it done yesterday.
I wish I had some super secret, in depth analysis that revealed the key to beating the Lakers, but the Celtics just have to defend, make shots and play better than they have. They haven't been playing poorly, just not well enough to really crush the Lakers. They should do so tomorrow in Boston, and if not, they certainly will in game seven. It also wouldn't hurt if Doc started KG, posey, Pierce, Allen and House and gave them the most minutes instead of messing around with the likes of Rajon Rondo and Leon Powe (which is like messing with Tryon skanks).
Just win.
