And that’s why the Lakers head back to Tinseltown down 3 games to 2

SCOTT JACOBS

Kobe Bryant is a stone cold killer on a basketball court.  That much we know.  But like his Pre-Pau Gasol days, we also know that he can’t single handedly win games against the NBA’s elite without at least a little bit of help.  Last night Kobe played assassin at the TD Garden, but it wasn’t enough, as his supporting cast failed to show up in a pivotal series swinging loss to the suddenly surging Celtics.

Black Mamba did more than his fair share, lighting up Boston for 38 points– including an otherwordly 19 in the 3rd, but it barely put a dent in Boston’s lead, because the rest of his team was completely and utterly useless on this night.

The Lakers shot under 40%, a terrible time to have an off-shooting night, and missed 9 foul shots, an awful time to brick free points and it cost them dearly in the end, because their defense simply could not stop the ever-confident leprechauns from Beantown.

Boston shot nearly 57%, but it  was their overall team effort that shut the door on L.A.’s late attempt at a come from behind victory.  Four Celtics scored in double figures, paced by Paul Pierce who led the way with 27 as Boston inched closer to banner number 18.

But sealing the deal and winning another title in what seems like an endless series of parades for Boston, won’t be easy.  They’ll have to do it in L.A. where the Lakers have two home games left in their season– if they’re lucky that is.

To even get to a series deciding game 7 the Lakers will need to shore up their defense.  Boston simply outclassed them to every loose ball in the fourth quarter, including a series of big time rebounds– one which included Pierce ripping the ball from Bryant as Kobe steamrolled into the lane off of a missed Ron Artest foul shot.  Simply put, Boston wanted this one just a little more than L.A.  And that’s why the Celtics head back to L.A. as the first team in this exciting finals series to reel off two consecutive wins.

There were a few dynamite plays, but the one that truly epitomized this game came in the closing moments with the Celtics clinging to a 87-82 lead.

Garnet chucked the ball to a streaking Pierce who caught it in stride, but found himself running out of room on the sidelines.  With a split second decision to make and the game still in question, Pierce lobbed the ball to an open Rondo, who beautifully put it in the whole, cementing the victory.

The common theme to the game, and that play?  Teamwork.  Boston used it all night to their advantage.  L.A. was a one man show.

It’s no mistake that the Lakers are on the verge of elimination.

Simply put, they no longer look like the better team.

Photo: Getty

Popularity: 4% [?]