This Is Boston, Not L.A.

Following last night’s HUGE Celtics win, a victory that put them up 2-0 in the best of seven series, it is important to note that even the most loyal but realistic Laker fans is taking note….

In today’s LA Times, Sports guru Bill Plashke (also of ESPN fame) had this breakdown:

“From my vantage point beneath the basket, it was clear that the Celtics were forcing the action, forcing the momentum, forcing the Lakers to foul.

There was Kevin Garnett, ripping loose rebounds from Pau Gasol, throwing huge picks on Lamar Odom.

There was Pierce blocking Derek Fisher through the lane, elbowing Vladimir Radmanovic out of the paint.

There was everybody bumping Bryant every play, every minute.

The Celtics fought to the basket; the Lakers mostly stayed on the perimeter. The Celtics acted; the Lakers reacted…”

That’s pretty perceptive - even for a guy writing in Hollywoodland. Plashke concludes:

”
Bill Plaschke:
Something foul in Boston

Single Page « Back | 1 | 2

He was really angry that Leon Powe, the Celtics young reserve who scored just four points in the opener, was able to muscle for 21 points while shooting 13 free throws in the process.

He was so mad about Powe, he even mispronounced the kid’s name, calling him “Pow,” as in “Ka-Pow.”

While that would have worked on this night, his name is actually pronounced “Poe,” as in Edgar Allan.

That works even better.

“I’m more struck at the fact that Leon Powe gets more foul shots than our whole team does in 14 minutes of play,” Jackson said. “That’s ridiculous.”

Jackson was so mad, he accused the officials and the loud TD Banknorth Garden crowd of conspiring on some sort of black-and-white-striped magic.

“I have no question about the fact that my players got fouled but didn’t get to the line,” he said.

“It’s the illusion that’s created. The referees referee an illusion.”

Say what?

“Our guys look like maybe the ball was partially stripped when they were getting raked . . . but it was in the crowd, so the referees let that type of thing go,” he said.

I’m not sure what he just said. But whatever he just said, I don’t agree.

From my vantage point beneath the basket, it was clear that the Celtics were forcing the action, forcing the momentum, forcing the Lakers to foul.

There was Kevin Garnett, ripping loose rebounds from Pau Gasol, throwing huge picks on Lamar Odom.

There was Pierce blocking Derek Fisher through the lane, elbowing Vladimir Radmanovic out of the paint.

There was everybody bumping Bryant every play, every minute.

The Celtics fought to the basket; the Lakers mostly stayed on the perimeter. The Celtics acted; the Lakers reacted.

Neither of the two Lakers starting forwards, Odom or Radmanovic, drove enough to get to the foul line even once, while center Gasol shot just one free throw.

“I thought we were the team driving in the paint, and that’s why we shot 38 free throws,” said Celtic Coach Doc Rivers.

Two things to consider as the Finals moves to Los Angeles for as many as three games this week.

First, the Lakers have yet to beat the Celtics this season in four games.

Second, the team hosting the middle three games of the NBA Finals has swept those games just twice in 23 years since the league adopted its current format.

“It’s not the end of the world,” Bryant said, still calm. “We’ve come too far to really sweat being down 2-0. We’re going to go home and handle our business.”

I believe the Lakers must sweep their business at Staples to have a chance of winning the championship.

But don’t listen to me, I picked them to win the series in five games.

So far, they have been knocked flat in two rounds.”

Celtics at Home, in Six. That’s my prediction - but only if LA finds a way to win two at home.

Here’s Plashke’s piece if you want to read it in it’s entirety: LA Times: Something Foul in Boston