Game 7 Bound

Facing elimination the Los Angeles Lakers came out like gang-busters in front of their home fans and beat up on a lifeless Boston Celtics team from the opening tip to the closing whistle to earn a much needed 89-67 victory last night to force a Game 7. The Lakers got production from everyone on their bench including Ron Artest and Derek Fisher who struggled in the games played in Boston. There was an electricity in the Staples Center in Los Angeles that we have seen before in these playoffs as the Lakers’ fans would not their team’s season end last night. On the other side Boston came out like a team playing with a 1-game cushion. There was no effort, no hustle, no urgency and simply no heart as they got outplayed by Los Angeles for the entire contest.

Personally I don’t think many people were surprised (except for a particular correspondent on this blog who may now not be so certain of an upcoming Celtics victory parade this coming weekend – maybe he should stop getting all of his material and ideas from Boston Barstool – but I digress) as you knew the Lakers were going to put together their best game in a win-or-go-home situation, especially when everyone besides Kobe mailed it in the past two games. This is the kind of series that really needs 7 games to be solved and we weren’t disappointed.

I think there is a much bigger story from last night that a lot of people may be overlooking as we head to Game 7. Celtics C Kendrick Perkins went down with a knee injury in the 1st and did not return, his status for Thursday remains uncertain which is a bad sign for C’s fans as no matter what Perkins will not be at 100%, maybe not even close. Perk has anchored the Celtic defensive effort that got them this far and was the sole reason they were able to shut down Orlando Magic C Dwight Howard time and again during the Eastern Conference Finals. Lakers big man Andrew Bynum may be playing hurt but will be posed to have a big day tomorrow if Boston if forced to start Glen Davis. Their only depth behind Davis is former Duke standout Shelden Williams who looked pretty awful last night including botching a wide-open dunk under the basket on his first touch.

Despite all of that this Game 7 will come down to the stars. I’m personally excited for a showdown between Kobe and Paul Pierce. I’ve been saying that Paul Pierce will decide this series and it really looks to be shaping up that way. I think most people can agree that Kobe is going to have another great game tomorrow night, this is his 7th trip to the NBA Finals in 14 seasons as a pro. If Pierce can flip that proverbial switch I’ve been talking about than everything will fall into place for Boston: Rondo will only be asked to make his handful of electric plays in transition, KG will only be called upon for his mid-range jumper and Ray Allen will be able to chill on the perimeter and drain killer 3’s. No matter what these teams are too good and too experienced for this game to be anything but an instant classic.