The Lake Show
The view from Halftime:
Wow I finally get some backup on the Perkins loss, Magic Johnson talks at halftime about how the offensive capability of Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis should offset the Perkins loss on the defensive end. I told you all! Ron Artest is hitting shots from even the corner, he has come tonight with his eye on the prize, and doesnt have that initial “deer in the headlights” look he had on offense to start the Finals. Even breaking my little theory on Artest not being a corner three guy, ok he didnt bust it open but he did make a couple from the side, something he has never been able to do consistently. And hey rebounds are key, as if we didnt know that coming into this game? Rebounding always tells you something as you rebound and youll get more shots then the other guy, even if you cant hit a barn with a beachball, out hustling the other guys for rebounds means you will still be in the game and can with stand the runs. Allen is still dead in the water, everything he has shot in LA this time round has looked like a bad bench player getting unexpected run in a big game, CLANK! Wallace has come up big, and even has played defense, and Rondo is running the floor again. Kobe hasnt showed up yet, he is something like 3-15 in the first half, but hey he will keep shooting and his shots will start falling, I like where the Lakers are sitting at halftime. The Celtics dont have the urgency on the floor that the Lakers are showing and the rebounding numbers show this.
End Game:
Wow I loved the game, such good defense, maybe the gameplay wasnt that good offensively, but hey the defense was awesome. And being a defensive based player myself I loved every second of it, I didnt want to run a game commentary as I wanted to watch the game as a fan and not a wannabe sports writer with no fans ( self digs are always funny, come on give me that one). I called the Artest step up, hell even Odom was alive in this game, and the Sheed/Davis combo outplayed what Perkins gave them in the previous 6 games. Sheed, 11, 8, 2 blocks and 2 assist, and Davis, 6, 9, and 1 steal. I like those numbers, Perkins hasnt given 17 points in a long time. This game was going to be decided by offense as defensively there is NOTHING between these teams, especially when both sides want it more then anything else. Back to Artest, which I believe was my call and the best redemption game ever played, I dont think many non Pistons fans will remember Artest as “The Melee” and now might just give him enough confidence to give LA a decent shot at 2011. If Artest plays like this next year, the Lakers will have the 2 best defensive players in the NBA on one roster. Its scary, the Lakers really need a better bench, but with what they had I think they beat out a Celtic team that was actually far superior 8 or 9 players deep. Artests final line; 20, 5, 5 steals, and 1 assist. Solid. Secretly we all were cheering for Ron, this game might have meant more to his career then anyone else. Especially seeing as Kobe delivered 20+ points every game of these playoffs, that was sick. And I do buy the theory that guarding Rondo, who has been half what he was against the Magic, killed Kobe in the long run and he was just plain tired. He willed himself to the line at the end of the game, especially that near dunk on Pierce, a healthy energized Kobe makes that a poster on Pierce. Kobe was more drained then anyone not named Rasheed Wallace in these finals. I dont think this win means as much to him as it did for Ron Artest and the Celtics, but if Kobe and Co come back for a three peat then Kobe becomes a timeless champion and one of the best Lakers of all time. His game tonight showed his defensive talent and how much he affects a game even when he is not scoring.
Two interesting things I noticed for the game, Kobe never had the death stare that he has become so famous for in these playoffs and yet he just looked like nothing else mattered to him today other then getting the W and he never let his emotions go further then a fist pump. Artest had the same thing going on, played like a true man on a mission, never celebrated a good play, never got in anyones face after a statement (Especially when Paul Pierce tied him up on offense, which was classic PP dickheadedness, which was an indication of how his night was going overall). That three from the extended 17 footer was timely to say the least, and along with his And one on Garnett was a game changer. Now I havent discussed Pau Gasol yet for a reason, this performance was expected from him tonight, he came through in the Pippen role, he has had the stats all Finals long but tonight the Lakers needed more then just numbers, they needed an interior presence, and a force on the inside, Pau was getting rebounds over defenders, blocking shots he was missing in previous games, and offensively having his way with whoever guarded him (Of note Big Baby actually guarded Pau better then I gave him credit for before this game, forced him to hit step back shots and not turnaround post shots).
Ok, the Celtics, disappointment and now Id say, the end of an era. I hope like hell Boston does not sign Allen to a new deal, he is dead, would only be good coming off the bench, but he wont do that. Now I wouldnt say that it is Allens fault, but at a certain stage running around like the energizer bunny gets old and your body cant take it anymore. He has to be just an offensive player to be effective, playing both ends as a starter just kills him. He is not in Reggie Miller stratosphere for shooters but he has been periodically awesome these playoffs. I think he can still be effective as a spot up shooter, but as a number one offensive option, hes effectively done. Rasheed looks to be done, he deserves this to be how he leaves the game as he has been a focal point whether good or bad of the NBA since the TrailBlazers. Thanks for the memories Sheed, your crazy, but in a good way, he just seemed to have spent a seasons worth of energy on one Finals appearance, all he had left in the tank. Paul Pierce, wow he played mostly awful in the Finals, I do feel that his game has changed greatly as a direct response to Rajon being ball dominate and progressing as a player. But Pierce did NOT get the ball in his hands enough these playoffs. Doc Rivers needed to shift the focus off of Ray Allen once his shots werent falling and run pick and roll situations after the Rondo fast breaks failed from time to time. Pierce can still be very effective, he has size and is crafty as hell, he has had to re adjust his game with the diminished first step but has developed a killer side step mid range jumper that is unequaled in the NBA. Kobe has the fallaway, but Pierces side step is almost unguardable and his shot technique is still excellent when he goes to it. I think this team changes drastically in the offseason and I hope they rebuild around a new pick and roll mate and with Rondo and an athletic swingman that he can run with. The Celtics defensively I dont think can recover from this game. It has that far reaching implications. I do believe KG will stick around for another 2-3 years but they need to find a reliable player to back him up, assuming that Rasheed is done and Davis moves into a different role. KG can still be very effective if his minutes decrease greatly and his avoids another annoying injury. As for Rondo, well the biggest whole in his game is SHOOTING, plain and simple, he needs to spend all offseason with a shot doctor. Can someone give Dirk’s guy a call? Or the guy that helped Lebron learn how to turn talent into a shooting stroke. If he can hit the midrange, the occasional 3 and go with a Chris Paul game, say averaging 20points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds a game, then the Celtics can make another run next year. So a huge turning point for the Celtics and with Doc Rivers future being a key to a rerun.
The Lakers plain and simple need to clear the bench and GET RID OF LAMAR ODOM! Maybe trade a couple of guys to clear room for a guy like Kyle Korver, or you sign and trade for Amare or Bosh for Bynum and Odom? An imaginary trade but hey they could make something like that work. And upgrade the backup point, you can still run Fish as the starter but you need him to be playing 18-20 minutes per and have a player that shows promise but can learn off of Fish and step up to run a lethal Lakers offensive unit. Anyway, its late that was EPIC and I am tired. Check in for more on the draft, the offseason, and what moves I would do for the playoff teams as a fake GM. PEACE OUT.
