Friday, June 11, 2010

The Best NBA Finals Since ...

Ok, before I get started on my thoughts on game 4 of the NBA finals I just want to say this is already one of the most exciting playoff series in recent memory. Already guaranteed of going to a game six for the first time since 2008 these two teams are so evenly matched that I’ve been on the edge of my seat for the last three games. I understand if you’re a Lakers fan or a Celtic fan, but if you’re a basketball fan and you don’t enjoy what you’ve been seeing so far, see a physician.

Back in 2008, after the Celtics had defeated the Lakers in the finals the question of the day was “so what will the Lakers do to beat the Celtics.” When I was asked I always attempted to answer as honestly as possible admitting that there really was not very much the Lakers could do with regards to making any big changes. The Lakers were already over the Salary Cap and another big trade following the Pau Gasol deal was highly unlikely. But I did bring up the fact that the squad that lost the title to the Celtics was missing an injured Andrew Bynum and Trevor Arriza had not really recovered from broken foot. I felt those two players would have made a substantial difference in the outcome of that series. Although the Celtics were unable to get back to last year’s NBA finals for a re-match, the Lakers did and Andrew Bynum played a big part in containing Dwight Howard in the middle and Trevor Arriza shot 48% from the 3-point line as the Lakers won the championship. The Lakers replaced the sleek Arriza with bulky defensive specialist Ron Artest who has done a very good job of containing Paul Pierce. But Arriza fans haven’t forgotten that Trevor made a number of key defensive plays in crunch time throughout the 2009 post season.

That brings us to Game #4 on Thursday night and of course after the Celtics pounded the Lakers down low leading to 36-points in the 4th quarter, getting 21 points from their bench all the talk in Los Angeles was about Andrew Bynum’s injured knee. Glenn “Big Baby” Davis was dominant during a stretch of the 4th quarter as he repeatedly went to the basket or grabbed offensive rebounds and followed-up with easy scores. That was not happening earlier in this series as Bynum & Gasol were combining to dominate the inside wiping away those types of baskets with blocked or changed shots. Without Bynum the Lakers were unable to match the Celtics strength inside leading to the big 4th quarter and ultimately, the victory to tie the series at 2-2. However it should also be noted that Andrew Bynum only played 12 of the first 36 minutes in Game #4 and the Lakers held the Celtics to 60 points. He only played a total of 2 very ineffective minutes in the third quarter and yet Boston scored 18 points.

I had a little problem with Coach Phil Jackson’s rotation once it was apparent that Bynum would not be able to go in the 2nd half. I know these are highly conditioned athletes, but Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant played every minute of the 2nd half and Lamar Odom played all but 2 minutes in what are turning out to be extremely physical, grueling contests. In particular if it turns out that Bynum will not be able to go on Sunday or has to drastically reduce his minutes or effectiveness, Jackson is going to need to find at least one more Big Man off his bench that he can turn to to give him 5-7 minutes in the 2nd half and get Gasol and Odom a rest. Same for Kobe, I don’t know if it’s Shannon Brown who I believe Coach Phil has confidence in or Sasha Vujacic who he doesn’t but somehow Jackson has to find a way to sit Kobe down during the end of the 3rd quarter beginning of the 4th so he can be fresh for the stretch run of the game. In my opinion the starters, including Odom spent too much time on the floor and they all looked fatigued in the game’s closing moments.

Last, and of course not least it wouldn’t be a complete article without at least one blast across the bow of the SS David Stearn and the officiating crew. It’s a shame too because this officiating crew actually called a very good game despite all the boos from the Boston fans. BUT, there was one absolutely mind blowing call in the middle of the 2nd quarter that in the words of Arsenio Hall would have been put into the category of “Things that make you go hmmmm”. It wasn’t a big call and it didn’t impact the outcome of the game in any way, but about halfway through the 2nd quarter Boston inbounded the ball to Rajon Rondo who headed up the floor. It seemed like Rondo had barely crossed half court when the whistle sounded and either Greg Willard or Scott Foster (I’m not sure which official it was) pointed the other way while giving the signal for a 3-second lane violation on the Celtics and Kevin Garnett. Garnett, Doc Rivers, and about Boston 19,000 fans went bezerk especially when Rivers indicated that the 24-second shot clock … still had 20 seconds on it! Essentially, it was mathematically, theoretically, and physically impossible for the Celtics to have been charged with a 3-second lane violation and the crowd really got into it after seeing the replay which even in slow motion showed that KG had barely entered the Lane when the whistle sounded.

Game 5 on Sunday, for the sake of the Lakers and also for the sake of the series I’m hoping the extra day of rest benefits Andrew’s knee and he’s able to play 20+ minutes. We may see a Game 7!

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