Celtics-Lakers Game Three: Kobe Bryant Plays the Hero
The only major adjustments the Lakers made in Game Three were self induced.
With Vladimir Radmanovic tripping over himself on defense, Trevor Ariza got some minutes here, Luke Walton got some minutes there, and Sasha Vujacic got all the important minutes, helping to lift the Lakers over the Celtics 87-81.
The biggest adjustment was the offensive mindset of Kobe Bryant. While Kobe’s jumper was operating better in Game Three, Kobe was much more aggressive in attacking the Celtics defense and not settling for jumpers.
Besides shooting 12-20 from the field and scoring 36 points, this new ultra-aggressive Kobe put maximum pressure on Boston’s defense, and was rewarded with a parade to the free throw line. If Kobe had hit more than 11 of his 18 free throws, the game would have been wrapped up much earlier than it actually was.
Kobe also passed the ball well, grabbed a number of tough rebounds, and made Paul Pierce look like a second-class citizen.
Kobe wasn’t alone in his hero status.
Less Radmanovic meant more Sasha Vujacic, and the young man delivered. Sure, most of his big threes were answered by Ray Allen, but there was no answer for his clutch corner three with two minutes to go after the Celtics double teamed Bryant.
In fact, with so many important Lakers having off-nights, Vujacic (7-10 FG, 3-5 3FG, 4 REB, 1 BLK, 20 PTS) was entrusted as the Lakers second banana, and filled the role admirably.
Surprisingly, the Lakers didn’t have too many other heroes.
Ronnie Turiaf hustled on defense and blocked a pair of shots. Trevor Ariza hit a jumper, and drove in for a layup in his eight minutes of action. Jordan Farmar was quick, confident, and found the open man (5 assists).
Other than that, the majority of key Lakers never showed up.
Derek Fisher had no impact on the game whatsoever—1-6 FG, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 TO, 6 PTS.
Luke Walton overhandled and missed two layups.
Lamar Odom was abhorrent—2-9 FG, 9 REB, 4 AST, 5 TO, 5 PF, 4 PTS. Not included in that tally are four missed layups, and an inability to bang around with Kendrick Perkins under the basket.
Pau Gasol was another toothless wonder near the basket—3-9 FG, 3-8 FT, 12 REB, 3 AST, 3 TO, 9 PTS. But Gasol did convert two tip-ins late in the fourth instrumental in the Lakers not relinquishing the lead.
It should be noted that all the close calls that went Boston’s way in Games One and Two went Los Angeles’ way in Game Three. Hey, the Lakers played at home and stayed aggressive, so Boston’s own aggressive defense was the one often punished. This is a fact of life in the NBA and the Lakers took advantage.
In general, the Lakers countered Boston’s strength with quickness, speed, and outside shooting; their recipe for success against Utah, San Antonio, and now Boston.
Meanwhile, the Celtics, like the Lakers, got little from their own “Big Three.”
Ray Allen certainly had a clutch performance—8-13 FG, 5-7 3FG, 5 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK, 25 PTS. Allen was able to shoot when open, pump and go to his right for layups and mid range jumpers, and he even brought the ball up during key stretches in the fourth.
The majority of his jumpers came on the backs of Sasha Vujacic threes, preventing the Lakers from grabbing too much of a momentum advantage. Plus Allen’s defense on Kobe was Grade A material. Allen deserves a gold star for his overall efforts.
Kevin Garnett was on the verge of pulling out one of his classic all-time playoff choke jobs, but he did hit a turnaround banker with three minutes left to keep the Celtics close. He also grabbed 13 rebounds, played excellent defense, and set moving screens all game long.
The funny thing was that KG’s screens were moving all game long. Why whistle him for a moving screen with 30 seconds to go and the Celtics down six?
Paul Pierce was also horrendous—2-14 FG, 6 REB, 3 AST, 5 PF, 3 TO, 1 STL, 6 PTS. His 3 assists are neutralized by his three turnovers. His six rebounds are neutralized by his three missed layups. His one steal is neutralized by the fact that he missed an open court layup on the other end.
Pierce was passive against Radmanovic, timid against Kobe, and reckless when trying to bull his way to the hoop. Pierce never played with a sense of urgency, an alarming trend stretching way back to the Atlanta series.
Since the Celtics are unquestionably Pierce's team, any subpar effort level from him will definitely result in the Celtics staggering in any game against any quality team, much less the Lakers.
Leon Powe’s cape came off—one point, two rebounds.
P.J. Brown was a step late on his rotations.
Sam Cassell jacked up quick shot, after quick shot—1-4, 2 PTS.
Eddie House struggled to bring the ball up and initiate the offense. The Lakers closed out on his threes hard and House couldn’t create off the dribble—2-8 FG, 2-3 3FG, 6 PTS.
James Posey was tough, strong, and never stopped hustling, but again was a half step slow in defending Kobe.
Kendrick Perkins terrorized Lamar Odom at both ends of the court—4-5 FG, 6 REB, 3 STL, 2 BLK, 8 PTS.
The Lakers got the memo and didn’t provide any help on Rajon Rondo’s drives. Plus, the Lakers dared Rondo to beat them with his jump shooting. While Rondo didn’t have an awful game (4-8 FG, 4 AST, 2 TO, 8 PTS), he was never allowed to get his teammates into any offensive rhythm.
When so many players from both teams play terribly, the team with the player playing the best almost always wins. So chalk Game Three up to Kobe Bryant’s brilliance.
Game Four will be decided by which stars decide to join Kobe by playing at the level they’re capable of.
