Boston Talks the Talk, Kobe Walks the Walk

Winners of their last three road contests, the Los Angeles Lakers came into TD Garden and stole one from the Boston Celtics, 90-89 on a fade-away jumper by Kobe Bryant. No other match-up in the NBA generates as much interest as a Lakers-Celtics game based on the two teams recent clash in the 2008 Finals, as well as their storied rivalry that dates back to the days of tape delayed TV with Chick broadcasting for the Lakers and Johnny Most with his gravelly voice for the men in green. But the hype that leads to these bi-annual, yet hotly contested matches was evident from the get-go. Ghosts of former Celtic greats, Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Red Auerbach may not inhabit the new confines of TD Garden as they did at the old Boston Garden with its uneven parquet floor, but the chippyness that prevails when these two foes meet was as clear and present as it was in the past.

Things got off to a typical Boston/LA start with Ron Artest (11 points, 3 steals, 1 blocked shot) and Paul Pierce (15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist) jostling and pushing for position before the ball was even thrown up for the tip. Artest sank an early three pointer from the top of the key as Boston countered with a mid range jumper from first time All-Star Rajon Rondo (21 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals). Play was rougher than expected, perhaps both teams railing from recent criticism that they were soft, and in the Celtics case, old. Pierce picked up two quick fouls and although the Celtics were loud and trying to incite the crowd through their antics, the Lakers remained calm and collected in their actions. Ray Allen’s (7 points on 2-10, 5 rebounds) jumper gave Boston its first lead at 8-7, but Andrew Bynum’s (19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocked shots) offensive rebound at the other end quickly made it 9-8. Artest picked up his second foul on a backcourt grab and was replaced by a stunned Sasha Vujacic. KG (10 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot) scored on a nice baseline reverse, but Kobe (19 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds) retaliated with a double-pump, pull-up from the elbow in Rondo’s face. Derek Fisher’s (9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal) free throws after baiting Allen into a stupid foul outside the arc pushed the advantage to 13-10.

Sloppy pick-and-rolls by the Celtics cost Kendrick Perkins (8 points, 10 rebounds) to pick-up his second foul on a moving screen and sent him to the bench to give Pierce some company. Bynum’s hook on the baseline gave the Lakers a 15-10 advantage as the Celtics faithful sat on their hands. Kobe’s deep three followed by a Celtic turnover that resulted in a fast break lay-up for Pau Gasol (11 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists) made it 20-10. Garnett’s bucket inside finally broke the drought for the Celtics but Gasol countered with a soft hook of his own. Garnett score again on a post move inside and had choice words for Bynum all the way back up the court. But Bynum, guarded by Garnett on the block, made a quick move into the lane and slammed one down with authority to shut up the talkative forward. The Celtics had pushed and the Lakers had responded back to the Eastern Conference bullies by flexing their own muscles. The Celtics were trying to establish their physical presence and the Lakers withstood the trash talking by taking a 30-19 first quarter lead.

Eddie House (9 points, 1 steal) converted a trey to pull the Celtics to within 30-21 to open the second stanza. A Tony Allen (14 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals) bucket cut the lead to seven points but Jordan Farmar (8 points, 1 assist, 1 steal) responded with a floater down the lane. Rondo scored on a quick move to the basket and got the conventional three-point play as the Lakers bench looked a little unsteady. The Celtics were much more aggressive than their Laker counterparts and they began getting to the rim with relative ease. Rondo’s second three-point play of the quarter cut the lead to 34-29 as the fans finally had something to cheer about. Luke Walton picked up his third foul trying to defend the swifter, lighter-of-foot Rondo. Rondo found Glen Davis inside but Lamar Odom (7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocked shots in 22 minutes) hit a top of the key three-pointer to push the lead back up to 38-31. Another jumper from Tony Allen cut the lead, but Gasol took the ball off the dribble for an uncontested jam down the middle. Allen scored again from outside for his 12th point of the game. Rondo’s bucket inside the key off a steal pulled the Celtics to within 40-38. He then drove the lane and found Perkins cutting to the basket to knot the score at 40 apiece with 5:18 left in the first half. The Lakers had hit the wall and it seemed as if adrenaline alone was not enough to power them through as the Celtics grabbed hold of the momentum.

Pierce got his first score of the game with a three-pointer at the top of the key and a 43-40 lead. Kobe drew the chopping foul on Allen but could not convert any of his free throws. Then Rondo got clipped driving to the basket and made 1-2 for a 44-40 lead with 4:11 left. Perkins got loose inside for a thunderous jam that finally prompted Phil Jackson to call a time-out after the Celtics had run off 12 consecutive points. Rondo was the key in the period as he got to where he wanted where ever on the court. Pierce’s second three had the crowd pumped and the Celtics gathered in every loose ball as the Lakers continued to struggle on offense. Kobe’s short hook in the paint finally stopped the bleeding but another three for Pierce, off a Rondo steal made it 52-42. Fisher’s top of the key three-pointer narrowed it to 52-47 and a stop by the Lakers gave them the ball with :22 seconds left. But Kobe was unable to score on a short baseline fall away and the Celtics headed to the locker room with the clear momentum and the lead.

Rondo got the first score of the second half with a floater down the lane over the outstretched hands of Gasol. Artest picked up his third foul guarding Pierce, and The Truth converted on both charity attempts for a 56-48 lead. Fish’s jumper closed the gap but KG found a cutting Rondo for an easy lay-in. Fish drained another jumper in an attempt to get Rondo to pay more attention on the defensive end. Gasol’s two free throws then cut the deficit to 58-54. KG picked up his third foul on an illegal screen as Fish sold the call to the refs but the Lakers came up empty at the other end. Perkins then picked up his third with an offensive foul and the Celtic crowd moaned in unison as Artest drove hard to the hole and scored with his left hand as Doc Rivers called time out to regroup. A turnover by Pierce and the Celtics suddenly looked rattled. Artest drained a long deuce to knot the score but Rondo hit a mid-range jumper for a two-point lead.

A bucket by Perkins gave the Celtics a 64-60 lead but Bynum came back with a sizable dunk to keep the score close. The Celtic bigs appeared to tire, especially Garnett, but the Lakers were not able to take advantage on offense, losing the ball on numerous occasions. KG’s layup in transition had Phil burning another time-out in an effort to remind his team to get the ball inside where Bynum was controlling the paint. Artest took heed and attacked the basket and drew the foul on what should have been a goal-tending call. The Celtics, recognizing Kobe’s penchant for closing out quarters, began double-teaming him each time he touched the ball. And as the Lakers faltered on their outside shots, Rondo made them pay with quick waltzes to the basket for a 71-64 lead. Pierce drew the foul on Gasol and his two free throws gave Boston a commanding 9-point lead. Kobe hit a solid baseline jumper, then the Celtics played for the last shot of the period but Pierce’s off-balance three-pointer was well short of the mark. Although the lead was extended to 73-66, I liked how the Lakers sustained Boston’s onslaught. They survived the hard push by the Celtics in their attempt to blow the game wide open, and it spoke volumes as KG and Perkins sat on the bench in near exhaustion.

House drained a three and the Boston lead matched its biggest at 10-points. Farmar countered with a runner in the key as both teams played with mostly their reserves. Odom’s bucket underneath closed the gap to 76-70, but a pair of free throws by Tony Allen and another three from House as the shot clock wound down, and suddenly it was 81-70. The Lakers trimmed the lead back down to seven points on a short jumper by Shannon Brown (6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot) and an Odom jam as the Celtics began coughing up the ball. Kobe’s drive down the middle drew them to within five as KG re-entered the game. Farmar’s reverse lay-up over Rasheed Wallace (3 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 rebound) closed the gap to 81-78, but Sheed nailed a trey to push it back to 84-78. Brown drove hard through the gap and was rewarded with two free throws, which he converted. The Celtics threw it away again, and again the Lakers failed to make them pay. Finally, Brown’s follow-up jam made it a two-point game. KG answered with his patented fall-way but Bynum followed with a sweet turnaround in the paint. Rondo found himself being guarded by Bynum at the top of the circle, and when he left to help on Perkins in the post, Rondo took off like the Road Runner and was promptly called for travelling. Another Celtic turnover and the Lakers were nipping at their heels down by a deuce.

Perkins converted 1-2 for an 87-84 lead, but Kobe countered by driving the lane, picking up the foul on Ray Allen along the way. Kobe nailed both and it was 87-86 with just over 90 seconds to play. The Celtics called time out after getting a lucky break off an errant shot that bounced off Perkins hand into the camera mounted on the basket support. Ray Allen drew the foul on Fisher for a 89-86 lead. Artest scored on an off-balance lay-up and the Celtics were called for an offensive foul after pushing off on Artest. The Lakers got the ball back and Kobe gave the Lakers the lead with his tough jumper over Ray Allen with 7.3 second left. Allen’s three-point attempt over the out-stretched hands of LO bounced harmlessly off the rim as the Lakers celebrated on the checkerboard court as the disheartened Celtics walked off the floor. Kobe’s go-ahead basket was the first Lakers lead of the second half and the latest in a long string of game winning heroics.

dEDGE Post Scriptum

The tone was set early as the Celtics clearly wanted to send a message. And that message came across loud and clear, that they are older and need to use their swagger as a weapon because their 3 superstars can no longer rely simply on their talents. Perhaps not that long in the tooth, but definitely no longer feared, it was almost comical at times as the Celtics tried to puff out their own chests. KG always talked the talk, but he can no longer back it up, as was evident as Andrew Bynum posterized him. The Lakers merely shrugged each time the Celtics barked. And as I can attest, the older you get, the louder your game gets. The Black Mamba looked at Ray Allen like he was a pet mouse, and he devoured him in one swift up-and-under gulp. Sheed is a shadow of his former self, or for that matter, two shadows now. Only Rajon Rondo proved to be their sole warrior capable of dismantling defenses as he scored almost at will.

Rivalries die hard, and for some never end. But when the opposition doesn’t strike any fear in their latest incarnation, is it still a rivalry? Fans may want it to be, but the play of its participants dictate what tone the game will take. The Lakers took Boston’s biggest shot to the mouth, and came out victorious. In order for the Celtics to regain their past glory, they will have to make some hard decisions in the near future. Ray Allen, no longer the feared threat from outside, could be a valuable trading piece to a team looking to dump some salary. And Amare Stoudemire may fit that bill. Although he can bolt after the season, KG can no longer do it alone and the window of opportunity for these older Celtics is now, if not last season. They need another offensive presence and Perkins inability to hit free throws was the difference in the game.

Artest proved why he was such a good addition this season, providing the Lakers with needed muscle and timely offense. His play on Pierce down the stretch clamped Boston’s outside offense shut. And with his ability to score on the drive and from deep, Boston was unable to leave him to help out on Kobe. And with Allen left alone to try to guard Bryant, it was no contest.