Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals: How Boston Let One Slip Away

Shortly after the Lakers closed out an 87-81, Game Three victory over the Celtics, Boston has to be wondering “what if,” as the C’s had a number of chances to win this game.

Instead, the Lakers got back in the series (improving to 9-0 at home in the playoffs).

At the start of the fourth quarter, this game was there to be won by the Celtics.  But there were a number of key plays and moments in the final 12 minutes that stopped Boston from being able to win the game and take control of the series. Five in particular stand out to me:

1. The Celtics lineup to start the fourth quarter: As the game unfolded, it almost became a must-win for the Celtics. The Lakers allowed Boston to hang around in the first half, and then the Celtics outplayed L.A. in the third, leading to a 62-60 edge entering the fourth.

Boston didn't show that sense of urgency in the fourth, though. That was epitomized by the Celtics not going with their best players to begin the quarter.

Both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were on the bench. Pierce had foul trouble, but Boston needed him to start the fourth. KG struggled offensively for the first half. He finally appeared to get going in the third, scoring seven of his 13 points, but never got back into the flow once he finally returned to the game with nine minutes to play.

Boston's lineup to start the fourth was Ray Allen, Eddie House, James Posey, Leon Powe and P.J. Brown. Unsurprisingly, the Celtics struggled to find offense. Instead of building on their third quarter lead to start the fourth, Boston only made one field goal over the first six minutes of the quarter (for six total points).

When Rajon Rondo finally made Boston’s second field goal of the fourth, the Lakers had already regained control of the game.

2. Paul Pierce: Going into the fourth quarter, I thought the Celtics needed Pierce to take over, especially on offense. However, Pierce continued to struggle on the court. He had four points in the final quarter, and only six for the game. He also committed three crucial fourth-quarter turnovers, including turning the ball over on consecutive possessions when the Celtics had the chance to add to their lead.

I don't know if it was the Lakers defense, lingering effects from the injured knee, the pressure of playing in the Finals in his hometown (or maybe a combo of them all), but Pierce had maybe his worst game of the postseason.   

3. Failure to box out: Following the Rondo jumper with 5:41 left, the Celtics cut the Lakers lead to 73-70. On back-to-back Lakers possessions, Lamar Odom missed shots close to the hoop. Boston, however, allowed Pau Gasol, who had been missing in action for most of the game, to grab the offensive board and make an easy put-back both times.

Instead of boxing out and trailing by only three, the Celtics found themselves down by seven, 77-70, with four minutes left.

Every time someone other than Kobe Bryant shot in the fourth quarter, it was a defensive victory for the Celtics. But it was then imperative that they grab the rebound in those instances, and those two hoops by Gasol proved crucial to the Lakers win.

4. The Eddie House jumper: Boston climbed back into the game following Gasol’s two hoops, though. Pierce made a jumper and then knocked down two free throws, followed by a Garnett hoop. 

Then the Celtics got the ball back after a stop, down only two, 78-76, with two minutes to play. Instead of running a play with Garnett on the block, or setting up Ray Allen, who led the team with 25 points (but zero over the game’s final 11:30), neither touched the ball. Pierce got the ball early in the shot clock and the ball swung to Eddie House.

House is a great set shooter, and had he had an open look on the catch, it would have been a good shot. However, House took a jumper on the move, which is not his strength.  The shot missed, and the Lakers grabbed the rebound.

With two minutes left and a chance to tie the game, the Celtics had to come up with a better look. With Bryant guarding Pierce, my preference would have been to run the play for KG on the block. Instead, he stood behind the three-point line, and House wound up taking one of the biggest shots of the game for the Celtics.

5. The Celtics' attempt at a trap: As it always seems to occur when a team has an opportunity to tie the score late in a game and fails, the other team then comes down the court and hits the big shot. The Celtics made it easy for the Lakers to do this with a poor attempt at a trap to try to stop Bryant.

Taking the ball out of Bryant’s hands makes sense. But, Garnett came out to trap Bryant near half court, in the middle of the floor. Bryant easily saw the trap coming, and passed the ball to Odom near the foul line. This left far too much court to be covered by the rest of the Boston defense. The time to trap is later in the shot clock when Bryant gets closer. This would have made the rotations easier.

Yet, with so much court for Boston to cover, Sasha Vujacic moved to the corner. Odom immediately saw Vujacic by himself and got him the ball. Vujacic then knocked down the wide open three for a five-point lead with 1:53 to play.

In the final minute, twice, Boston decided not to send a trap as Kobe Bryant made his way toward the basket. Bryant was able to make two tough baskets and seal the win.

I don’t want to overreact to one game, but I know the Celtics let a game slip away that was there to be won.  

Bryant had 36 points, and Vujacic 20 off the bench. No other Laker was in double figures.

The game could be seen as a must-win for the Lakers at home. Bryant was great throughout, while Garnett and Pierce both struggled. Even with all of that, the Celtics had a chance to win. If they play just a little better, they are in good shape.

The other way to look at the result is the Celtics had a chance to win a game on the road and essentially end the series. Instead, they let the Lakers up off the mat. When you have a chance to knock out a team as talented as the Lakers, with a player like Kobe Bryant on their side, you take it. If you don’t, that inability can come back to haunt you. 

I tend to be a bit of a pessimist, so right now I am a little concerned that the Celtics let a game get away from them. I guess we will find out the impact of this game Thursday night.