Celtics make opening statement, lead 2-0

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 6/12/2008

   BOSTON — There’s something about a rivalry that brings out the best in you. The Boston Celtics have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the 2008 NBA Finals after taking game one 98-88 and game two 108-102 Sunday in Boston.

 Paul Pierce has been the MVP in both games, scoring 22 and 28 points in games one and two. In game one, after scoring just three points in the first half, he injured his right knee in the third quarter; he was carried off the floor in pain by teammates and escorted to the training room in a wheelchair.

 Remarkably, just minutes later he returned to the game, made two critical three-point shots, and scored 15 of his 22 points in the third quarter to erase a 62-58 Lakers lead.

 That spark and drama ignited the Celtics and the crowd, and the Celtics have been able to sustain that momentum. Boston’s big three of Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combined to score 65 points in game one.

 Garnett matched Kobe Bryant’s game-high 24, and Ray Allen added 19. The Celtics also out-rebounded the Lakers 46-33 in game one. Garnett led all rebounders with 13.

 These longtime rivals have waited 21 long years to renew this historic legendary battle. Usually, when the Lakers play an opponent they seem to have the edge; that is not the case when they play Boston.  

This is year 62 of the NBA, and the Lakers remarkably have missed the playoffs only four times.

 Former Gophers great Mychal Thompson, the school’s all-time leading scorer, picked the Lakers before the Finals.

 “I see this series going five games,” Thompson said. “People look at me cross-eyed like you’re doing right now when I say that. But I see the Lakers being too deep, too big, too versatile. They’ve got Kobe Bryant, the best player in the game. They’ve got a great coaching staff in Phil Jackson, who’s been here so many times before.

 “The Lakers have the experience on their side, with Kobe and Derrick Fisher leading the way,”

  Thompson continued. “They have a better bench, and with all that versatility, I just don’t see the Celtics handling that. And, if the Lakers bring the same defensive intensity in this series that they brought against San Antonio, the games will be competitive. But I see the Lakers winning in five.”

 In NBA Finals history, the team that wins the first two games has gone on to win the NBA Championship 29 times. Only three times have teams been able to come back and win it after trailing 0-2 — the 1969 Celtics, the 1977 Portland TrailBlazers, and the 2006 Miami Heat.

 In game two, the Celtics big three of Pierce, Garnett and Allen combined to score 62 points. The Celtics bench, led by Leon Powe, who was sensational scoring 21 points in 15 minutes in game two, have punished the Lakers, outscoring them (17-15 and 35-23) and out-rebounding them (12-7 and 8-4) in both games.

 The Celtics have out-worked the Lakers — they’ve been aggressive taking the ball inside first and then making shots from long range. Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has been very good running the Celtic offense, scoring 15 points with seven assists in game one and 16 assists and six rebounds in game two.

 In game one, the Celtics attempted 35 free throws and made 28; the Lakers attempted 28 and made 21.

 In game two, the Celtics shot 38 free throws to the Lakers’ 10. The Celtics are 7-0 all-time in the Finals when they lead 2-0, and the Lakers are 0-5 all-time when they trail 0-2 in the Finals.

 Games three, four and five are in Los Angeles this week. If the Lakers don’t come up with an answer for Pierce and the Celtics bench, this will be a short series.

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and biweekly he commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-record er.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.