The quality of basketball wasn't quite at the level of 2008 or 2010 (or my kids youth league), but the drama was vintage Celtics vs Lakers.
In the end, the Lakers were a smidge less awful than the Celtics. The result – an 88-87 LA victory in overtime.
In a game officiated to their benefit (rough), the Celtics took only 5 free throws. None of those FTs came in the second half. They settled for jumper after jumper after jumper… The offense (39% FG) was putrid. Kevin Garnett (12 points, 12 rebounds) was 6-23. Paul Pierce (18 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) was 7-18.
Pau Gasol (25 points, 14 rebounds) was a greasy killer. His hustle block on Ray Allen's put-back attempt at the buzzer may have saved the game. Andrew Bynum (16 points, 17 rebounds, 3 blocks) was a force too. Is it me, or does Bynum shuffle his feet a lot? Same old story, the Celtics had no answers for the Lakers length.
Kobe Bryant had 12 of his 27 points in the 3rd quarter. Kobe hit some tough shots, but he wasn't the reason the Celtics loss.
The Lakers bench is last in offensive production. Tonight, they held their own against the Cs second unit (BOS 19 pts – LA 18 pts).
The Celtics closed the 1st and 2nd quarters in terrible fashion. A poor decision to not take the last shot allowed Steve Blake to bury a three in the 1st. Jermaine O'Neal let Bynum slide in for an offensive rebound which turned into a 3 point play at the end of the 2nd. Six points that could have changed the outcome of this game.
Derrick Fisher looks like a corpse. He makes JO look agile.
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
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