Lakers-Celtics

Some thoughts on last night's game:

1. Why does Doc Rivers continue to play Sam Cassell? Every time the Alien gets minutes, he hogs the ball, takes rushed and unnecessary shots and plays lack-luster defense which the Lakers notice! It's as if Cassell knows he shouldn't be out there so he takes advantage of Doc's stupidity by heaving up shots whenever he has the ball. Cassell is probably thinking: I am near the end of my career, might as well take advantage of the minutes while I have them. The problem is that the Alien is terrible and shouldn't be out there wasting opportunities for the Celtics offense.

The other problem is that the Lakers know he's old and can't play defense. As a result, they set up plays to target Cassell and exploit his obvious weaknesses. I think that happened three different times last night - once with Kobe, once with Farmar and once with Fisher. Note to Doc: if Rondo is hurt PLAY EDDIE HOUSE at all costs. (Maybe someone sent him that memo in the second half?) Or, as Van Gundy suggested, play Allen at the point and let him handle the offense; if Allen has open shots or chooses to force them, I'd rather have him shooting than the Alien. Cassells should be sitting the rest of this series. Period.

2. Paul Pierce had a horrendous game last night. As did the Big Ticket. You could argue that's why they lost the game and suggest that once they start playing better, the Lakers will lose again. But you're ignoring the other side of the coin: both of the Lakers forwards had horrific games (Odom and Radmonivic) and the Lakers bench was anemic minus Sasha V. Gasol also had a horrible game, while Kobe Bryant essentially won the game single-handily. The key question, for me, is which team will win when the big three are firing on all cylinders, or at least partially? Or, which team will win when the Lakers' big-men start playing well and the Celtics get production from their top players. I don't think we've seen a game with these circumstances yet and it should be interesting to see the outcome when this occurs.

3. I want the Celtics to win this series, but I did feel nervous when the Celtics staged their comeback. As an NBA fan, a part of me wants to see this series go to 7 games. Ideally, I'd like to see the Big Ticket win game 7 with a clutch fourth quarter performance thereby validating his greatness; ditto for Ray Allen. But if the Celtics had won last night, this wouldn't have happened since we all know what happens when teams are up 3-0 in the finals (70% of them win?). Lakers win the next two games, we go back to Boston for an epic two game mini-series. It will be the stuff of legends.

4. Kobe Bryant needs to stop complaining about foul calls. Did you watch his reaction to the refs last night? His responses alternated between utter disgust to extreme anger to resigned hopelessness. If you're trying to win an NBA finals, shouldn't you use your mental energy to focus on the game and not on the refs? Isn't that what coaches are for? Giving the refs crap so players don't risk technicals? I read so much about how Kobe is the ultimate competitor and how badly he wants to win. So why doesn't he use his mental energy to focus on the game and leave the refs to his coach? Vacillating between a hundred emotions during the course of game has to affect your performance or at least prevent you from playing your best. Note to Kobe: chill the f-out!

5. Babcock is right: Gasol is a huge wimp. Every time he goes up for a rebound, tip, or lay-up, he ends up on the ground, crying like a little girl. This guy needs to hit the weight-room or grow a pair.

6. I liked how Tafoya and the camera-man followed Rondo into the locker-room while his ankle was being checked out. I think ABC wanted to make up for their lack of coverage on Pierce when he went down the other night. At least they're learning from their mistakes. Maybe now they will realize that Jackson needs to be fired and Breem put on street. Van Gundy should be disbarred from jokes, too.