It's really fitting, isn't it? A game seven between the Celtics and the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Although the two have only played such a match (sorry, I'm in 'soccer mode' right now), everyone kind of had a feeling that it would be the outcome of the 2010 series.
If you read my last Celtics post, I said that the Celtics would probably come out flat, leading to a Lakers win and an inevitable game seven. What I didn't see coming (and what Rhett deftly pointed out - I guess Boston media forgot to mention it) was the injury to Kendrick Perkins early in the first quarter of Sunday's game. The incident itself was deflating enough, but the ramifications of the big guy's torn MCL and PCL (as reported by Perkins himself) could be far worse. It could be a field-day for Bynum and Gasol.
Rasheed Wallace will be the one mostly responsible for filling Perk's absence. For me, this is a hit or miss situation. I can't question 'Sheed's effort in the playoffs, and I have no doubt that he'll come out guns blazing tonight. What if he gets hurt though? It wasn't too long ago that he suffered back spasms in the Conference Finals, and he could be just another awkward landing away from a repeat occurrence.
I agree with Rhett though (and most of the sports media nation) when I think that this game seven is going to come down to the stars of each team playing well. The key matchup of the game will be Pierce vs. Kobe. The two are the respective hearts of their teams and are the most likely to lead their squads in points. If Pierce wins that matchup though, Ray Allen finds at least a happy medium, and 'Sheed pesters Pau Gasol enough, I believe the Celtics can escape LA with another NBA title.
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