Lakers can’t handle the Truth
The Boston Celtics are just one win away from their 18th NBA title after Paul Pierce put in his best performance of this year’s Finals to help the Celtics beat the LA Lakers 92-86.
Pierce, nicknamed ‘The Truth’, scored 27 points to put the defending champions Lakers on the brink as the series shifts back to LA for the final two games. Just to put some perspective on the matter, the Boston Celtics have never lost an NBA Finals series when leading 3-2.
"It was our biggest game of the year, we're in a good spot. We have two games in L.A.; now we have to get one."
Despite Kobe Bryant’s best efforts, the Lakers came up short again and will surely be relieved to be back home. The shooting guard scored 38 points with five rebounds and four assists, but with Pau Gasol the only other player to score in double figures (12), Bryant’s effort was wasted.
Contrast that to Boston who had four players score over 12 points and you can see how the Celtics have managed to take a hold of the series.
Kevin Garnett scored 18 points with 10 rebounds and five steals, Rajon Rondo had 18 points and eight assists and Ray Allen chipped in with a valuable 12 points.
Asked whether his teammates should be motivated by the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, Bryant responded with some tough words.
"Just man up and play. What the h**l is the big deal? If I have to say something to them, then we don't deserve to be champions. We're down 3-2: Go home, win one game, go into the next one. Simple as that,” Bryant said.
Bryant scored 23 straight points taking over for his teammates but in that time the Celtics managed to extended their lead from one to 13 points.
"He's the kind of guy [where] you ride the hot hand, that's for sure. We were waiting for him to do that. ... He went out there and found a rhythm,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.
Jackson’s counterpart Doc Rivers wasn’t too concerned about Bryant’s hot hand given the fact that the other Lakers had problems scoring.
"I just tried to keep telling them, it's only 2 points each time he scores. It's not 10. It's just like if someone else was scoring. ... I love that our guys for the most part, they understood what he was doing. But we defended everyone else. And I thought it was big,” Rivers said.
Boston might be worried about Allen going into game six. After setting an NBA Finals record in game two for most three-pointers, Allen has failed to make one since and if the Celtics are to take one of the next two games, they will need their shooting guard to start shooting.
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