Editor's Note: Adam Meyer recently joined VegasInsider.com as a professional handicapper. His analysis and expert selections have built his reputation in the sports gaming industry.
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Don’t bury the cadaver just yet!
It’s not like the Celtics thought Los Angeles would lie down and hand them Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Instead, they now head home for Game 6 Tuesday and a possible seventh tilt Thursday to try to close out their first championship in 21 years.
They’re still in great shape – they need one win in two home games – but there are some dangerous signs. For the second straight game, the Lakers came out more aggressive and built a big lead. True, the Celtics manage to climb back into each game – winning Game 4 in miraculous fashion, but it’s a trend they need to halt for good on Tuesday.
Boston guard Paul Pierce was annoyed at what transpired in the fourth and fifth matches of this series, saying the Celtics don’t thrive on letting teams get way ahead of them and then having to get back into the game.
The 48-hour turn-around to the next game works against the Celtics. Boston’s Kendrick Perkins, diagnosed with a strained shoulder was not on the active roster for Game 5 and is listed as “doubtful” for the sixth tilt. Two team spokespersons refused to speculate whether or not he’d play on Tuesday. His loss would be a blow to the Celtics vaunted defense around the basket and make life a little easier for both Gasol and Odom.
Adding to Boston’s woes is the fact Ray Allen, one of the “Big Three” for Boston, left the Staples Center right after game five due to an unspecified illness to one of his children. His status remains unknown for Game 6. His loss could be a devastating one to the home-town favorites.
Rajon Rondo was hobbled again with his sprained ankle and Paul Pierce’s banged up right-knee does not help matters for the suddenly vulnerable Celtics, even though he poured in 38 points in Game 5.
Kevin Garnett once again was an enigma on offense, scoring just 13 points on only 11 shots. Garnett, unselfish to a fault, has been an early focus of the Celtic guards, who continue to try to get him involved early and in transition. On Sunday, constant foul trouble kept him in check when the Celtics desperately needed him to be more of a factor.
Finally, the Lakers won the physical battle Sunday for the first time in this series, perhaps sending a message that they’re ready to match the Celtics’ more assertive style of play. This was evidenced best by both Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom putting up “double-doubles.” Gasol had 19 points and 12 rebounds while Odom scored 20 points and pulled down 11 boards.
The fifth game of this series was a fight of who could invade the other team’s “space” on post-ups. It was also a battle of where they wanted to catch the ball in the course of setting up their respective offenses. The Lakers clearly won this showdown.
If Kobe Bryant puts together a solid four quarters and if the Lakers as a team can remain the aggressors in a hostile environment, they have a great chance of winning Game 6. And, unless Kevin Garnett steps up and plays like an All-Star in crunch time, the Celtics could very well be looking at a winner-take-all Game 7, where anything could happen.
As the tide ever so slowly turns in the Lakers’ favor, some words of advice to the Boston Celtics about hoisting that 17th Championship Banner in Boston --- “not so fast, my friends.”
