Celtics Look to Retain Home Court Advantage in Game 3

The Boston Celtics showed that they belong in the 2010 NBA Finals Sunday night. The stifling defense that has been shutting down teams in their run to the Championships showed up as they held the Los Angeles Lakers below 100 points. After a blowout win in game 1 by the Lakers, many basketball handicappers were writing this series off as a potential sweep for Los Angeles. Vegas point spreads can be deceiving as they set the line for game 2 even higher than it was for game 1. This may have fooled the average gambler as well as many expert handicappers, but I for one did not take the bait.

It’s natural for teams to have a slight let-down after a huge win, but game 2 wasn’t about the Lakers letting up as much as it was about the Celtics stepping up on the defensive end of the floor. Just like I had talked about in my game 2 pick on the over, Rajon Rondo set the pace early on both ends of the floor. He ended up with a triple-double recording 12 rebounds, 10 assists while scoring 19 on 8 for 18 from the field. On defense, Rondo held the Lakers guards (Derek Fisher, Shannon Brown, Jordan Farmar) to 15 points combined. His attacking style of play was too much for the older and slower LA guards to handle.

Rondo’s penetration allowed his outside shooters to get good looks, and they took advantage of the extra time. Ray Allen set an NBA Finals record as he poured in 8 3-pointers including 7 in the first half. Allen was definitely the difference maker Sunday as he kept putting daggers in the small Laker runs throughout the course of the game.

Kobe Bryant played well, but he will need to take over games like he’s capable of if the Lakers are to breakthrough against this stout Celtic defense. Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 25 points and 8 rebounds. He did more than enough inside the paint on both ends of the floor, but he was incapable of helping as Rondo and Allen shredded the Lakers from the outside.

Tuesday game will be back in Boston. Expect this game to be played at a much slower pace as the Celtics like to lock down their opponents in “The Garden”. Bryant has the ability to make even the best defensive teams look bad, and he will need to do just that. Tune in as this series is setting up to become one of the all-time best!

Related posts:

1. Cavaliers Look to Maintain Home Court Advantage in Game 5
2. Phoenix Looks to Defend Home Court in Game 3
3. Lakers and Celtics Go To Battle in Game 1 of NBA Finals
4. Magic Try to Take Advantage of Banged Up Celtics in Game 6
5. Rondo is key for Celtics in Game 3

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