Can the Los Angeles Lakers Come Back in the NBA Finals?

Probably not. But Lakers fans shouldn’t give up hope—at least not until 9:00 PM tonight.

The Celtics have proven that they are stronger, quicker and tougher than the Lakers.  Considering the up and down season they have had, the Celtics are also more resilient and certainly more energized.

I’m not saying this because I’m some kind of Boston homer. I’m not. But I do enjoy watching them play this game, sadly enough against the Lakers. Nevertheless, I love how the Celtics play. 

And even more, I love how Doc Rivers strategizes this game and coaches his players. In fact, he has out-coached Phil Jackson in every game except Game One.

There! I have dared to say it.  It’s anathema to the ears of all Lakers fans to say that someone coaches better than Mister Ten-Rings.

But it’s true.

I don’t know how many of you are boxing aficionados. But the fact is Doc Rivers in a way reminds me of little Ivan Calderon, the World Junior Flyweight Champion.

Every time the five-foot tall Calderon goes into the ring, his opponent usually has a huge height and reach advantage. Yet, Calderon still manages to get inside those long reaches of his opponents and deliver winning blows. Just like the Celtics’ smaller big men are doing to the taller Lakers.

When asked how he does it, Calderon replies that it is the angles.  He outmaneuvers his opponents, finds an angle and punishes them inside. 

That is exactly what Doc Rivers has taught his smaller big men, both starters and reserves, to do—find the angle and get inside Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum.

And the Celtics' little big men have simply schooled their taller Laker adversaries.

The other thing about Ivan Calderon, unlike all of his opponents, who go into a fight with just one plan, Calderon goes into the ring with a Plan A, a Plan B, and a Plan C.

That is another huge difference between Doc Rivers and Phil Jackson. Rivers and his staff always seem to have an alternative plan. If Plan A doesn’t work, toss it and go onto Plan B.

They rarely need a Plan C, especially against the one Phil Jackson game plan that seems to be etched in stone instead of scrawled on a whiteboard.

That has been the big difference in the series. That is why Kobe Bryant has been forced to put the entire team and the game onto his overloaded and extremely well-guarded shoulders.

Jackson has not found a strategy for getting Bryant open without the ball. Just look at what has been happening on the court. The Lakers bring the ball down and two Celtics, oftentimes three, are ready to converge on Bryant.

The result: Bryant has to find a way to get his own shot. Jackson hasn’t designed any part of a game plan that will get Bryant in the open for a decent look that is not a 24-footer.

What Bryant has done, he has done on his own.

Just a couple of hours before game time, I don’t suppose is time enough for Phil Jackson to figure out the angles. I suspect he will come up with the same game plan he has used the entire series: try to work the ball inside to Gasol, Odom or Bynum.

If they cannot score, then go with Plan B—Kobe Bryant desperately trying to find a shot with Celtics draped all over him.

Sure Lakers fans, I know, I know. Phil Jackson is 47-0 after winning the first game of a playoff series. That’s all well and good, but Ivan Calderon is 34-0-1 when going into the ring with a Plan A, a Plan B, and a Plan C and knowing all the angles.