Back to L.A., Back to Themselves

That can change.  L.A. will embolden them.  Gasol played well in game two but didn’t appear too often, only taking 12 shots (though he hit eight of them).  If he and Odom, who only shot 5-11, can up their attempts by three or four, and have Kobe reduce his, their offense will go back to its more balanced approach—one the Celtics will have a more difficult time defending.

When you know exactly where the ball is going, naturally stopping becomes easier.  Boston knows the ball is headed directly for Kobe, especially when L.A. needs points quickly, so they prep for that.  Double teams are frequent, but even the single defenders are causing problems. 

If Kobe drops the win-without-Shaq attitude and in favor, adopts the win-with-my-teammates attitude, he will find more opportunities to score, as Gasol or Odom can’t be left alone in favor of stopping Kobe (if Kobe is spreading the ball).

Plus, his teammates’ confidence will only increase when the star player displays his belief in them, and their play will improve as a result.  Because they’re so much better in L.A., the Lakers’ bench doesn’t need to improve drastically, just shed the aversion to the abundance of green. 

Pretty soon they’ll see nothing but yellow, and if Kobe is just another yellow spot and not the entire Sun, they will feel comforted and relaxed, able to handle the pressure from their hometown and the rest of us.  They just need to think of how close they were to winning the last game and how much easier it will be back at home.

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