Celtics-Lakers: Los Angeles Struggles in Game One

In the first game of the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics proved to the basketball world that the Los Angeles Lakers could be beaten.

In their 98-88 win over the Lakers, Boston tried focusing more on the defensive side to shut down Kobe Bryant, which they did. At the same time, the Celtics put enough points on the board to get the “W.”

The Lakers' Game One loss wasn’t a result of the Celtics playing their best.  We have all seen Boston on a roll—and that was not the case on Thursday. The Lakers played well in the first half, holding a comfortable 51-46 lead going into halftime.

It was the second half of the game where the Lakers imploded. As a team, the Lakers only scored 37 points in the third and fourth quarter combined, whereas the Celtics recorded 52. L.A shot a lousy .214 from the three-point range, and only scored nine points from beyond the arc.

When Kobe is held to only 24 points, you know the Lakers were in trouble. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and James Posey were all thrown at Kobe to defend him—giving him trouble, because all three play different styles of defense. This is exactly what the Boston Celtics were looking for coming into this game.

Mixing up the defense against Kobe proved to throw off his game, which in the long run could mean the end for the Los Angeles Lakers unless other players, such as Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol, step up—which they didn’t last night.

As an acquisition who was supposed to help lead the Lakers, Gasol did not prove himself last night. In the pivotal second half, Gasol only recorded three points and no rebounds. As a seven-foot center, you are expected to grab boards. Gasol didn’t—which is why the Lakers had 13 fewer rebounds than the Celtics.

Fisher and Gasol combined for 30 points in Game One. If we were to take the “Big Three” from both squads and match them up points for points in Game One, the Celtics (Garnett, Pierce, Allen) outscored the Lakers (Bryant, Odom, Gasol) 65-53. Garnett led Boston with 24 points, but following close behind Pierce had 22 and Ray Allen got 19.

Garnett, Pierce, and Allen continue to be an ongoing problem for the every team they play. Down low, Garnett can dominate anyone he plays against, as he proved last night against Pau Gasol. When Garnett is continuously putting the ball in the basket, the Lakers have no other option than to double-team him—but this leaves Pierce and Allen wide open for long-range shots.

These three will have to be contained in the upcoming games if L.A wants a shot at another championship ring.

Game Two is Sunday night at 9:00 pm EDT, and is a MUST WIN for the Los Angeles Lakers. There is no way Los Angeles can come back home down 2-0 to the Boston Celtics. If the Lakers do not win Game Two, say goodbye—because the series is pretty much over.