Lakers demolish Boston Celtics in game 6
It was do or die for the Los Angeles Lakers last night in game six of the NBA Finals, and they came through with flying colours, battering the Boston Celtics 89-67.
The game was seemingly over after the second quarter when the Lakers built up a 20-point lead at the half, and that lead was extended to 25 after the third. As a result the NBA Finals are going to a game seven for the first time since 2005.
Kobe Bryant once again led the Lakers in scoring with 26 while adding 11 rebounds and four steals, and once again Pau Gasol was the Lakers’ second top scorer with 17. Gasol finished the night just one assist shy of a triple-double and if he can reproduce that in game seven, the Lakers might have too much for their greatest rivals.
“We want to carry everything we did tonight to [Game 7], and then I think we'll be in a very good place to win. When you bring the intensity we did tonight, good things are going to happen,” Gasol said.
After voicing his displeasure at his team’s performance in the previous game the Lakers stepped it up on both sides of the court, especially on defence. The Lakers managed 13 steals and right blocks, limiting the Celtics to their lowest ever NBA Finals score.
"I was very happy. We did a great job defensively. We kept them out of the middle, kept them out of the paint, did a good job on the boards. It was a solid effort by us,” Bryant said.
That sentiment was shared by Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who is a 10-time NBA champion as a coach.
"Our defence was good, our rebounding was better, it's really a high-tension situation. Players have come down to putting a lot on the line at this particular point. It's not about the coaching at that point. They've already got it in them. It's about who comes out and provides the energy on the floor,” Jackson said.
The Finals will be decided on Thursday night and no matter what happens history will be made. If the Lakers lose, Jackson will lose his 47-0 record when winning the first game of a series. If the Celtics lose they will lose their 4-0 record in game seven against the Lakers and will have their lead in championships over the Lakers cut to one, something’s got to give.
And as Boston point guard Rajon Rondo said: "We have one game [left]. They have one game. All or nothing.”
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