What set this two teams apart? It was another close game in which Boston came back to tie the game after letting LA getting a 19 and 14 point leads but this time couldn't get over the "hump". As Kobe said: "The series ain't over" and we are going back to Boston.
The diference for the Lakers this game was Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Easily. For the first time they were aggresive, they didn't back down to KG and they played like that -almost- the entire game. In the fourth quater the lack of poise of the Celtics cost them the game. I'm not taking anything here from the Lakers, they did a hell of a job going directly at Garnett and putting him in foul trouble early and often during the first half but when the game was on the line the Lakers didn't exactly went for the kill. They needed 2 missed put-backs and 3 missed free throws for KG to stay alive. There was also the Kobe "steal" as he reached from behind Pierce to poke the ball away but in that particualar point it should have been a tied game .
The Lakers again play like a desperate team. Like a team with nothing to loose and so far that mindset have worked for them twice at home. Can the bring the same intencity and desire outside to Boston? The question is not about the Lakers' psyque but about Odom and Gasol consistency because they might have found out that if they took it to the C's -without that fear of contact they have shown for most of the series- good things would happen. They know Kobe can't beat the C's by himself and they know they need to come through for their team. For all the talk about coaches and adjustements and strategy the major hole for the Lakers this Finals have been their inconsistency and lack for fire. This is the first series they need that ( Denver? Please. My dog has more fire when barking at fallen leaves. Utah? Outside DWill, Matt Harpring and Jerry Sloan they are softer than those fallen leaves my dog enjoys to roll over after awhile of barking at them mercylessly. The Spurs? They are not soft but they were more tired following the New Orleans series that my dog after a good half hour of rolling over a pile of fallen leaves). They don't need to magically create a defensive mindset. They just need some hustle.
This take us to the adjustement of the moment. The C's can't do anything if Gasol and Odom decide to be aggresive. They are not going to hack them every time they go to the rim that's just not Celtics' defense. The answer to that question might be scarier that most Celtics' fans think. The key is Mr Defensive Player of the Year. Garnett had another awful game and he - again - crumbled under pressure in the fourth quater. They are going to need a very smart and under control Garnett to control the paint ( specially if Perkins is out for the series) and keep both Odom and Gasol in check. He needs to make them pay for daring to attack him offensevely. He needs to make them work for every posetion without collecting fouls like the were trading cards. Despiste KG's offensive struggles the last couple of games he has gone more to his repertoire in the post. He needs to keep that trend but go up a notch or two or eleven and make them defend him and probably (given those two defensive "capabilites" ) put them in foul trouble.
This is Doc Rivers' graduation. Game 6 is all about Celtic pride. They can not afford to go to a game 7 and deal with the possibility of a 50 point game from Kobe Bryant. Their passion and desire can't be lesser that the Lakers'. The championship is one win again and Mr Auerbach is watching.
The Lakers again play like a desperate team. Like a team with nothing to loose and so far that mindset have worked for them twice at home. Can the bring the same intencity and desire outside to Boston? The question is not about the Lakers' psyque but about Odom and Gasol consistency because they might have found out that if they took it to the C's -without that fear of contact they have shown for most of the series- good things would happen. They know Kobe can't beat the C's by himself and they know they need to come through for their team. For all the talk about coaches and adjustements and strategy the major hole for the Lakers this Finals have been their inconsistency and lack for fire. This is the first series they need that ( Denver? Please. My dog has more fire when barking at fallen leaves. Utah? Outside DWill, Matt Harpring and Jerry Sloan they are softer than those fallen leaves my dog enjoys to roll over after awhile of barking at them mercylessly. The Spurs? They are not soft but they were more tired following the New Orleans series that my dog after a good half hour of rolling over a pile of fallen leaves). They don't need to magically create a defensive mindset. They just need some hustle.
This take us to the adjustement of the moment. The C's can't do anything if Gasol and Odom decide to be aggresive. They are not going to hack them every time they go to the rim that's just not Celtics' defense. The answer to that question might be scarier that most Celtics' fans think. The key is Mr Defensive Player of the Year. Garnett had another awful game and he - again - crumbled under pressure in the fourth quater. They are going to need a very smart and under control Garnett to control the paint ( specially if Perkins is out for the series) and keep both Odom and Gasol in check. He needs to make them pay for daring to attack him offensevely. He needs to make them work for every posetion without collecting fouls like the were trading cards. Despiste KG's offensive struggles the last couple of games he has gone more to his repertoire in the post. He needs to keep that trend but go up a notch or two or eleven and make them defend him and probably (given those two defensive "capabilites" ) put them in foul trouble.
This is Doc Rivers' graduation. Game 6 is all about Celtic pride. They can not afford to go to a game 7 and deal with the possibility of a 50 point game from Kobe Bryant. Their passion and desire can't be lesser that the Lakers'. The championship is one win again and Mr Auerbach is watching.
2 comments:
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