Celtics-Lakers: Lakers Stay Alive!

The Lakers survived Game Five and won 103-98 to force a sixth game. Kobe Bryant came out extremely hot at the start, knocking down four three-pointers en route to his 15 first quarter points.

Bryant finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and five steals. The rest of the team fed off his energy.

The Lakers were aggressive and played hard. They shot 65 percent from the field, and couldn’t ask for a better start.

Pau Gasol contributed seven first quarter points. He finished the game with 19.

The Lakers led 39-22 at the end of the first. I had this eerie feeling of déjà vu, knowing all too well that we’ve been here before.

The Celtics were in foul trouble all night, and it put the team on their heels. Boston also missed the defensive presence of Kendrick Perkins, who didn't play due to a shoulder injury suffered in Game Four.

The player of the game was Paul Pierce, who finished with 38 points, six rebounds, and eight assists, and was personally responsible for torching whoever was guarding him.

Paul Pierce is a great player, and he put the complete package on display using a full array of moves. He had it going all game long, and single-handedly kept the Celtics in the game as a scorer and as a playmaker.

After another slow start, the Celtics began to turn up the heat in the second quarter, and proceeded to clamp down on the Lakers defensively.

Boston went on a 15-0 run while holding the Lakers to six points in eight minutes during one stretch.

Lamar Odom scored with 4:03 remaining in the quarter to end Boston’s 15-0 run. The Celtics outscored the Lakers 30-16 in the second quarter.

The Lakers, who squandered a 24-point lead in Game Four, had a 19-point lead in this one, and almost lost it as well, but led at halftime 55-52.

The Celtics, once again, controlled the pace of the game and the Lakers (again) failed to identify their shooters. Despite the fact that the Lakers were the more physical team, Boston continued to show their mental toughness.

Early in the third quarter, the Celtics tied the score at 57. The score was tied three times in the third period. The air was starting to go out of the building, but then the Lakers showed some life and went on an 11-2 run to take a 73-66 lead.

The Lakers were able to increase their lead, and, in the process, win their first third quarter of the series, 24-18. Lakers reserve Jordan Farmar played for 22 minutes, and his 11-point contribution was huge.

Boston continued to chip away the Lakers' lead in the fourth quarter. Paul Pierce showed that he wouldn’t be denied, and the Celtics went on a 16-2 run, cutting the Lakers' lead to 90-88.

After exchanging four free throws, the game was still close and up for grabs. Kevin Garnett could’ve tied the game by knocking down two free throws, but he made one of the two.

Kobe Bryant's two fourth quarter steals against Paul Pierce were big. The play of the game was the second huge steal Kobe Bryant made against Paul Pierce.

Bryant deflected the ball towards Lamar Odom, who recovered it and threw it to Bryant, who then went in for the breakaway dunk—99-95 Lakers.

The dunk essentially sealed the game. The Lakers were able to hold on for the win despite playing terrible screen-roll defense, failing to identify shooters, and not finishing quarters.

One of the keys to this game was Lamar Odom and Gasol playing well and combining for 39 points, 24 rebounds, eight assists, and six blocked shots. Los Angeles will need them to repeat that performance in Game Six.

Gasol didn’t back down underneath the basket tonight, and being able to get Kevin Garnett and PJ Brown in foul trouble was huge. He needs to remain aggressive, sacrifice his body, and continue to attack the basket in this series.

The Lakers did what they had to do, but as a team, they can’t be satisfied.

Kobe Bryant shot 8-21 after his fast start. The Celtics, as usual, played excellent defense. Kobe had a bad game,  he’ll own it, and play better. He has been accused of many things, but he can thank his teammates for forcing a Game Six.

The Lakers have a long uphill battle ahead of them because of the fact that no road team has won the last two games of NBA Finals series since the league went to the 2-3-2 format in 1985.

It is blatantly obvious that the Celtics refuse to allow Kobe Bryant to beat them by himself. They’ve been throwing several people at him defensively, which forced him to be more of a facilitator. The Celtics believed that the Lakers' role players won’t knock down shots.

The plan has worked all season, and for the Lakers to change it, they’ll need to play way better than they played tonight. They’ll need a concentrated effort by everyone wearing purple and gold.

The Celtics have been the better team and have showed a deeper bench. I’m not buying the notion that the Celtics are banged up, and Kendrick Perkins will play in Game Six.

This was Boston’s 25th playoff game, which tied the record for most playoff games played by a team in a single season. They’ll have two chances to win the championship at home.

The Lakers need to concentrate on playing tremendously better and winning Game Six in a hostile environment.