NBA - Shipping Up to Boston
It seem that the Lakers didn’t get the memo that they were supposed to lay down and die. Last night the Lakers, led by Kobe Bryant’s 25 points, beat the Celtics 103-98. Many people felt that the Celtics wanted to win it all at home and were simply going to phone it in but that wasn’t the case last night as they fought back from a 19 point deficit to make the game close late. The Lakers fought hard to ensure that there would be a game 6 and that their fans would not seem them lose the championship live.
Kevin Garnett was forced to sit most of the first half due to foul trouble but Paul Pierce took over scoring a game high 38 points and keeping his team in it. “We couldn’t stop Pierce,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, “and that was really putting us in jeopardy.” Pierce is having a NBA Finals that creates legends as he has night in and night out played hard and has even come back to hit huge 3s after being taken off the court in a wheelchair.
What I have liked most however about the series has been the use of the bench by both teams to help win games. Players like Chris Mihm and Trevor Ariza getting quality minutes for the Lakers and providing a spark off the bench. While Boston has played PJ Brown, James Posey, and Eddie House more than anyone would have thought before hand.
Game 6 will be held in the new Boston Garden tomorrow night where the Celtics look to put the Lakers away for good at home.
