Lakers beat Celtics 110-109 in Boston – The picture below tells the story!
What more needs to be said about this win for the Lakers than this; the Lakers go into Boston on the second game of a back to back without their center Andrew Bynum due to injury and beat the Boston Celtics in overtime 110-109! You want to talk about statement wins? This was a statement win for the Lakers. Two times the Lakers have played the defending champs this year and both times they have won. Some things to point out that stood out in my mind during this game:
1) The Lakers Toughness
The Lakers answered the “toughness” bell when it rang this go around. Led by Kobe and Pau Gasol, the Lakers look undettered and unintimidated in the TD Northbank arena. It was good to see after a few scirmishes between players that the Lakers showed the celtics physically that they would not be pushed around in this game, and in the NBA finals should they meet again.
2) The Arrival of Lamar Odom
People have been bickering about Lamar Odom’s lack of performance almost non stop lately. Tonight he showed up in an important game on both ends of the floor. Then with under a minute to go in Overtime he calmly sank 2 free throws as if he would be considered a “clutch player”. Beautiful game by Lamar Odom. Way to disprove the naysayers Lamar!
3) The Lakers Played Horrible, Yet Still Won The Game!
This is always the sign of a championship team. Kobe did not shoot the ball well tonight. The Lakers as a team went 17-29 from the free throw line, and Rajon Rondo somehow had the game of his life with 16 points, 8 Rebounds and 12 assists. All in all the Lakers still found a way to win the ball game and Kobe Bryant came up big in the 4th Quarter hitting 3 huge 3-pointers.
Final Thoughts: If you were to tell me that Kobe Bryant shot 10-29 from the field and went 4-8 from the free throw line and the Lakers still won against a championship contender I normally would not believe you. This spells bad news for the Boston Celtics because you know that Kobe Bryant will not continue to have nights like these if you see him again in the NBA finals.
