Game 3: A Fish named Derek

After losing home court advantage to the Celtics, the Lakers had some questions to answer as the series was heading to Boston. The Lakers themselves told everyone that they were a team that can execute but on Sunday it was the complete opposite. With a boisterous and at times hostile crowd awaiting them, could the Lakers show the heart of a champion and respond to another case of adversity?

Tonight, that answer was answered with a relieved yes for one game. They played just good enough to pull out the victory. It was a see-saw game in the second half that just made you feel that Boston was gonna pull it out. Yet, the heroics of Derek Fisher slammed the door shut on the Celtics and their rabid fans looking for purple and gold blood.

For most of the first half, the Lakers controlled the game while the Celtics shot blanks most notably Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. The Laker defense and offense were humming. Yet, the Celtics grinded it out with their defense to get in the game. It stalled the Laker offense and led to Kobe shooting ridiculous shots that had no prayer going in. In addition, it led to the mugging of Gasol as well as the Laker big men. Soon, it was a one point game and the Celtic fans were going nuts ready to stick it to the Lakers once again. The Lakers needed a hero and Derek Fisher answered their calls.

Every time the Celtics got close, Fisher was there to shut the door back. He made the big shots and was fearless in the face of the Green Goliath that was turning the majority of his Laker teammates into a cowering, slobbering mess. His 11 points in the fourth quarter were life saving for the Lakers. None more bigger that when he drove to the basket as three Celtics were trying to stop him from a getting an easy lay in with just under a minute to play. He hit the lay-in and converted a back breaking three point play that has the Lakers with a 2-1 series lead rather than being down 2-1 heading to Game 4.

Time after time, Fisher in his career especially last season in Game 4 of the 2009 Finals has come up big for the Lakers. He has been consistently derided by most as slow, past his prime and a liability. Tonight, he was the little engine that could and with the heart of a lion to boot.

As for the rest of the Lakers, Lamar Odom finally showed up to the big stage as he made two crucial baskets as well. Each were timely as the Celtics were within a basket of tying or taking the lead. He scored 12 points and was 5-5 shooting, which was evident by his crazy three point shot that banked in. For the first time all series, Lamar showed up. Now, can he do it again in Game 4? Only he knows.

Kobe Bryant had 29 points but was shrouded by the Tony Allen, Ray Allen and anyone the Celtics threw at him. He was a man on fire earlier in the game but then became a brick layer in the fourth quarter much to the delight of Celtic fans. It was a rough night for him but his team took the victory.

Pau Gasol was routinely abused by Kevin Garnett and the Celtic front line. He grinded it out and made a tough basket against Glen Davis that gave the Lakers a four point lead with two minutes to play. Ron Artest had a quiet game but he was big defensively as he shut down Paul Pierce and made a timely defensive play that caused Glen Davis to turn the ball over at half-court.

As for the Celtics, they came out strong early but petered out. They were out-rebounded 43-35 and were awful from three point land with 4-22 shooting. Their free throw shooting was terrible in the first half but they were able to turn it around but those misses in the 1st half would later hinder their comeback chances.

Kevin Garnett had a vintage KG game as he attacked Gasol with impunity. He was hungry and made some big baskets in the fourth quarter as the Celtics tried to pull it out. Garnett took it to Gasol for easy lay-ins and was spry as evidenced by his alley-oop slam in the first quarter. Unfortunately, his 25 points and 6 rebounds were wasted.

Paul Pierce could not go off in front of the hometown faithful. He got Ron Artest in foul trouble early but could not take advantage of it. It was his moment to make his presence felt in this series and he wasted it. He made 3-4 three pointers but it could have been more.

Ray Allen had a game to forget as his three point shooting prowess that he displayed in Game 2 was a mirage in the comfy confines of the new Boston Garden. He was 0-8 from three point land and was an absolute liability on offense. It was a game to forget for such a prolific three point scorer. Every Celtic fan, will be playing the what-if game wondering if Ray had at least a couple baskets fall.

Rajon Rondo was quiet despite putting up ok numbers. He could not penetrate nor run the team in transition. He was forced to play half-court basketball and it stunted his brilliant creativity. In fact, he nor Allen did not attack Fisher when he had five fouls. They could have put more pressure on the Laker defense but never took advantage of it.

Glen Davis was big for the Celtics as he scored 12 points and was the sparkplug that brought the Celtics to life. He was a terror for the Laker bigs as he used his girth to power his way for baskets and getting to the line. Yet, he never got the ball in crunch time when the Lakers had no answer for him in the post.

Heading into Game 4, the Celtics need to find a way to manufacture some baskets. Their offense was stalling and choking in the third quarter. They could have easily have been down 20 points had it not been for their grind it out defense. They need to get Ray Allen of Game 2 to show up and Rondo needs to play like the triple double threat he was on Sunday. Boston needs to find the hot hand and feed it constantly.

As for the Lakers, they need to run their offense by moving the ball rather than letting Kobe bail them out with desperate shot after desperate shot. They were very lucky to win this game considering how their offense stalled for nearly the entire second half. The Lakers must continue to play good defense and rebound. Through three games, the only certain thing is to expect the unexpected well unless you count the three blind mice officiating the game.