The Celtics came out with primal screams and a sweaty coach.
Europe’s amazingly terrible song, The Final Countdown, blared in TD Banknorth and the crowd was brimming with hatred for all things Los Angeles. When House Of Pain’s seminal classic Jump Around came on, it felt like the roof was gonna blow off the joint.
Then the game started. And for the first five minutes, Boston maintained that level of intensity.
Kevin Garnett, time traveling back a decade, sprinted up and down the court for dunks and lay-ins.
Ron Artest picked up two quick fouls. Phil Jackson had to call a timeout to wake up his shell-shocked team, which couldn’t score or get stops, trailing 12-5.
Luke Walton came in for Artest and immediately, Laker spacing and ball movement improved markedly. Bigs got more touches in the paint. Less dribbling, more cutting.
The refs started blowing the whistle, resulting in foul problems for Perkins, Rondo, and Pierce. Surely, those in attendance had to wonder whether Bennett Salvatore was destined to screw them over yet again.
Lamar Odom banked in a ridiculous three that took all the air out of the building. On the flip side, the fugly shots that Boston was throwing up had no such luck, grazing the backboard and the front of the rim.
Laker guards clearly got the memo that it was not, in fact, okay to play under screens on Hall Of Fame sharpshooter, Ray Allen. Forced to dribble out of his sweet spots, Allen never found his rhythm, finishing an abysmal 0-13 from the floor, a game after setting an NBA Finals record for three-pointers made in one contest.
LA maintained control and a comfortable lead throughout most of the 2nd and 3rd quarters.
Kobe Bryant was determined to make his mark on the game and aggressively look for his shot, prompting Mark Jackson t...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
