Lakers vs. Celtics Game 4: Boston Has Los Angeles Figured Out

At first one would think that sitting Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett during the fourth quarter of an NBA Finals game would be a terrible decision by Doc Rivers.

But after the effort players like Nate Robinson and Glen Davis gave in Game Four, the coach looks like a genius for letting them play.

Although Robinson and Davis had one of their best quarters of their careers, luck wasn't the reason for their great play.

The pair, along with other reserve players like Tony Allen and Rasheed Wallace, just had the sheer will and desire that caught the Lakers off-guard as the Celtics closed out the game.

This was especially evident when Davis was consistently able to muscle his way in the post as he fought to put in layups. Big Baby's girth proved to be too much for the Lakers' tall triumvirate of Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom.

Davis might not have the greatest height, but he proved last night that he knows how to use his wide body. The skinny post players for the Lakers couldn't match his size, as he consistently pushed them around while battling for rebounds and layups.

This, along with many other factors, shows that the Celtics seem to have the Lakers' number as the teams move towards Game Five this weekend. With Bynum struggling to play well with his injury, the Celtics will continue to pound it in the paint with players like Davis, Garnett, and Perkins.

Davis' performance will undoubtedly leave him and the other Celtic big men motivated to force the ball down low. Garnett and Perkins will want to get their own points and should be chomping at the bit to go at the Lakers forwards and centers this weekend.

If they can continue to push around Los Angeles in the post, they will exploit it as long as possible.

Robinson also showed some chinks in the Lakers' armor with his constant penetration of their defense. While he might have been outdone statistically by Davis, the tiny point guard's great effort should be put in the same category.

He was a huge spark plug for Boston.

The Lakers couldn't find an answer as he blew by them at the top of the key. With Robertson consistently scoring on layups or dishing to other players after penetrating the Laker D, he found another element the Celtics should exploit.

Like Garnett and Perkins, Rajon Rondo has to be motivated by the play of the guy he starts over.

Rondo saw the effect of Robertson's aggressive play. The Celtics' star point guard should take a page from Robertson's fourth quarter performance as the series moves on.

Robinson's play knocked the Lakers back on their feet as the Celtics wrestled the momentum from them.

On top of that, Tony Allen played hard-fought defense on Kobe Bryant. Allen forced the Black Mamba into uncomfortable shots throughout the fourth quarter. Bryant was noticeably rattled while trying to get the Lakers back in the game.

With all the success the reserves had, the Celtics' main focus moving forward has to be to keep the aggressive energy going. They swung momentum back in their favor with the win last night.

On top of that, Los Angeles will come out hungry this weekend. Boston can't be phased and needs to keep its foot on the peddle with LA trying to battle back.

Boston also needs to exploit the weaknesses Los Angeles showed late last night. Rondo has to try to get in the lane like Robertson did. Garnett and Perkins have to play with the same effort Davis showed when he pushed around people in the post.

The fourth quarter might be the turning point for the Celtics in this series.

It showed they can find ways to exploit Los Angeles that maybe they didn't think were possible earlier in the series.

With all the success of the reserve players, look for the Big Three and Rondo to try to channel this same energy as they try to gain the upper hand in the series.

If they can take some pages from their backups' notebooks, they will continue to have the Lakers' number as the series continues.