HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Eddie Johnson

Why the Lakers won Game 5? Here’s why…

Lakers showed off their Big Three

Finally the Lakers got production from Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol in unison. They were outscored 67 to 64, but it was close enough to make a role players’ game and the Lakers won the battle 39 to 31. Boston’s top two role players, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo, are banged up and L.A. took advantage.

Backs against the wall

The Lakers are the mouse in the corner and they have no choice but to fight. And they did. They were extremely physical against a beat up Boston team and they took advantage early and late in a game they had to win. Their energy was huge again and this time despite another Boston comeback they held on in Game 5.

Garnett foul trouble

Kevin Garnett picked up quick fouls because the Lakers attacked the rim. Gasol and Odom were extremely physical with Perkins out of the lineup. That put a lot of pressure on Garnett and he picked up two quick fouls and was a non-factor the whole game because of the fear of fouling out. The Lakers got big hoops at the rim because of it.

Kobe aggressive at the start

I think this is imperative that Kobe gets going first. The Lakers cannot afford to allow Kobe to coast into any more games. The Celtics’ defense gets better as the game goes along. Hence coming back from two large deficits in Games 4 and 5 and Kobe being held to 10 points after scoring 15 in the first quarter. Those 15 points got the Lakers in a better groove than they had when they did it without him in Game 4.

Picking up 94 feet

The key to beating Boston is to make them use a lot of the shot clock getting into their offense and the Lakers have done a great job in the last two games. This takes away options offensively for the Celtics and has forced Paul Pierce to run the offense, which will tire him eventually if this series goes to a seventh game.

Star of the game: Pau Gasol took advantage of not having to battle Perkins and Garnett because of injury and foul trouble. He had his best stat line of the series: 19 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks. This will have to continue if the Lakers want to win in Boston.

Turning point: Kobe Bryant’s gamble defensively on Paul Pierce was huge. If he does not execute that defensive move, Boston probably ties the game and we could be talking about the Celtics winning another banner today.

Unsung heroes: Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar share the honors in Game 5. Fisher’s 15 points helped the Lakers role players have a plus 8 in scoring and Farmar’s pressure defense on Sam Cassell and Eddie House forced Doc Rivers to use Pierce and Allen to bring the ball up the court.

Who needs to step up in Game 6?

Boston Celtics:

Leon Powe and PJ Brown have to play huge in Game 6. Kendrick Perkins takes up space and allows Garnett to guard Odom. The Celtics signed Brown for this sole purpose and he has to play big and consistent. Powe teased everyone with a huge game early in the series and has disappeared since.

Rajon Rondo has given into injury and confidence issues. The Celtics need his energy at home. That’s the difference between a Paul Pierce on a bad knee and a young player with a tender ankle. Experience means everything.

Los Angeles Lakers:

Sasha Vujacic has struggled after a great Game 3. He needs to find his rhythm and bring productivity off the bench in Game 6.

Vladimir Radmanovic is due to have a huge game. He does not get many looks, but look for him to get some shots in Game 6 if he can stay out of foul trouble.

Game 6 strategy

Boston Celtics:

- Get off to a good start in the first quarter.
- Get Rondo to attack the rim early against Kobe Bryant’s scrambling defense.
- Post Garnett early. They seem to get great looks when they do.
- Continue to squeeze Bryant and make things difficult.

Los Angeles Lakers:

- They will look to speed the game up with Boston looking like the tired team.
- They must get some production from Radmanovic and will look to maybe work.
- Paul Pierce early on the defensive end.
- Kobe coming out ultra aggressive to settle the young Lakers.
- Attack Garnett especially if Perkins is out for Game 6.

Prediction

It’s hard to fathom the Lakers pulling off two wins in Boston, but they can definitely get Game 6 if they get off to the kind of start they have in the last two games. Bryant still has not had the type of game megastars
have to secure a huge win and he is definitely due. The Celtics know that they need to finish this off now or they face the challenge of having to win a Game 7 with a tired, beat up team.

I expect the energy to be ferocious with the hyped crowd and if the Celtics keep it close in the first quarter, they will win by double digits.

The Celtics will celebrate in Game 6 and make me look as if I knew what I was talking about in my preview article.

Why Boston won Game 4?

Focus and desire

The Celtics refused to lose Game 4 and a ton of credit goes to Doc Rivers. He remained positive throughout and did not panic. His smooth demeanor in the face of a huge deficit gave his team a base to build up from. And boy, did it work.

Celtics know how to ride that roller coaster

The one thing a fan will never understand is the emotional ride a player competing at this level goes through. The great thing about the NBA is that the 24-second shot clock allows that ride to be even more emotional.

The Lakers and their fans were having a good time in the first two and half quarters. Kobe Bryant was smiling and talking smack, Lamar Odom was dancing, Pau Gasol was strutting. Meanwhile the Celtics were looking grim as can be. They were spooked and embarrassed and their body language showed it.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter when the Celtics finally took the lead (after trailing by 24 points) on an Eddie House jumper and the looks were magically transferred to the faces of the Lakers and their fans.

Now you know why this game puts wrinkles on coaches’ faces and induces players to leave their skin and act out of character in anger. That’s the part of basketball I will never miss and the Lakers paid a serious price for falling into it.

Kobe had no rhythm

Although the Lakers were rolling early, I had a problem with the fact Bryant was not in the flow. Why? Because the same players that were rolling early for the Lakers were not closers and historically those guys become resistant to shooting when the game becomes intense. So by Kobe having no rhythm, I felt the Celtics had a chance if they got the deficit to 10 by the fourth quarter. Well, they got it to two and that spelled doom for the Lakers with Kobe struggling to carry them home.

Celtics’ bench continues to dominate

There’s one big difference between Eddie House, James Posey and Sam Cassell and the Lakers’ bench (with the exception of Sasha Vujacic)… The Celtics guys don’t care if they fail. Those guys could miss 10 straight shots and still shoot. They are tough minded and strong willed and that is why I felt they would hold the edge in this series. And they have. 29 points combined from House and Posey were huge in the comeback and solidified who has the most productive bench in this series.

Celtic defense

I told my wife at halftime that if the Celtics could hold the Lakers to 90 points, they would win the game. She looked at me like I was crazy, but I knew that the Celtics are the only team in the league other than San Antonio that could shut the Lakers down and still have the ability to score enough to make up a huge deficit.

This win was incredible. They held the Lakers to 33 points in the second half and yet everyone claims that they are the best offensive team in the league. I guess we now know who has the best offense. The Celtics have cold-blooded scorers in Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, House, Cassell and Posey. These guys don’t care about shot attempts whereas Kobe, Vujacic and sometimes Derek Fisher seem to be the only aggressive-minded scorers for the Lakers.

Ray Allen shuts up his critics

Allen has been huge and is making a run at securing MVP honors for the series after averaging 20 points and 6 rebounds over the first four games. Allen made two huge drives down the stretch to get the win. His effort on defense against Kobe this series has been great.

Star of game: James Posey was huge because he kept the Celtics in range with three-point shots during a period when the Lakers would build the lead back to high-double figures. He has been the unsung hero for most of the playoffs, but his 18 points in Game 4 elevated him to star over teammate Paul Pierce, who did double duty by giving Ray Allen a breather guarding Kobe in the second half.

Turning point: The second quarter was significant because the Celtics started making runs and although the Lakers would repel them, they would come right back. I felt these runs and the calmness of Doc Rivers finally got them a 21 to 3 run late in the third quarter that made it a two-point game entering the fourth quarter. They never quit and the Lakers paid the ultimate price.

Unsung hero: Eddie House is the perfect offensive role player. He reminds me so much of… Well, me! He has never met a shot he didn’t like and he has supreme confidence. I understand why Doc Rivers contemplates at times if he should use him, but I think Rivers realizes now why he shouldn’t contemplate. House is not afraid to fail and that is why he has survived in this league and was huge in the Celtic comeback scoring 11 points.

Who needs to step up for Game 5?

Los Angeles Lakers:

Kobe can’t wait any longer. Although the Lakers built a huge lead, they did it with non closers and when those same guys needed to continue they shied away and deferred to an out-of-rhythm Bryant. Jackson can’t afford to ignore Kobe within that triangle for a half and expect him to be ready to finish the game with confidence against this stingy defense.

The Lakers’ bench has turned out as I expected. I said in my preview that inexperience would do them in and it has been true to form.

Boston Celtics:

If Kevin Garnett wants to solidify his career, here is his opportunity. Paul Pierce has stepped up big, Allen has been great and now the icing on the cake is for Garnett to have the game of his life and live up to the
greatness everyone has expected of him.

Game 5 strategy

Los Angeles Lakers:

- Must play a solid 48 minutes against a hungry Celtic team.
- Kobe must be aggressive from the start.
- Pressure guards continuously full court thus taking time off the shot clock.
- Crash the offensive glass, especially with Kendrick Perkins hurting.
- Gasol and Odom must stay aggressive

Boston Celtics:

- Stay focused and not think the Lakers will fold.
- Apply tremendous pressure on Kobe
- Defensive rebounding and getting to loose balls.
- Play off Garnett in the post.
- Stick with House and Posey to negate Kobe’s scrambling help defense off of Rondo.

Prediction

History says teams don’t come back from 3-1 deficits, but Kobe is a fighter and the Celtics will find out this game will be the most difficult to close. I believe if they get an early lead and put tremendous pressure on those struggling role players, they will win. The key for the Celtics is that they have two players in Posey and Cassell that understand Finals’ closing games and that will be the difference. The Celtics are the better team and they should end the series in five games.

Why did the Lakers win Game 3?

Lakers shut down two of the Big Three

Defense played a big part in the Lakers’ Game 3 win. I have said all along that if the Lakers could negate one of the Big Three, they would have success. Well, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett shot a combined 8 for 35 and to make matters worse got to the free throw line five times. The Lakers held the Celtics to 35 percent shooting and although Boston scored more baskets in the paint they missed a ton of shots outside the paint. Garnett drifted further and further away from the basket with each shot attempt. Phil Jackson’s decision to let Kobe Bryant roam off of Rondo effectively caused Boston’s offense to sputter all night long.

Sasha steps up with 20 points

Sasha Vujacic was huge with his 7 for 10 shooting. If he doesn’t step up, the Lakers would be looking at a 0-3 deficit this morning. Jordan Farmar gave a solid 20 minutes, but other than that the Lakers’ most publicized bench has been all hype and no show in the first three games. Sasha hit timely shots all night long and proved to be enough with Kobe being Kobe

MVP took over

Kobe was expected to be aggressive from the start and he did not disappoint. He took great shots all night long and got to the line 18 times. He also had seven rebounds which helped the Lakers fight off a team that was bricking shots from everywhere. He must have thought it was his birthday when Doc Rivers decided to stop trapping him late in the fourth quarter and left Ray Allen on an island with him where there is only one survivor – Kobe. That was caused by Vujacic nailing a three, but Doc should have continued to trap Kobe.

Plus 14 on the free throw line

This was big for two reasons:

1. It helped ease the pain of Boston’s dominance in the first two games.
2. The Celtics tied the Lakers on field goals made and were a plus 14 in field goal attempts. The plus 6 free throws made was the difference in the game.

Rondo sprains ankle

Although Rondo was a liability because Kobe was creating havoc by guarding him, the Celtics struggled down the stretch to get into their offense and find good shot attempts.

Star of the game: Kobe was dominant from the start and put pressure on the Celtics defense the whole game. He didn’t get to the rim a lot, but he got there enough to solidify a great effort from the free throw line. He took great shots the whole game and his help defense disrupted Paul Pierce’s ability to attack the rim and that was the deciding factor.

Turning point: Boston was trailing 78-76 with 1:53 remaining in the game. Vujacic made a three-point shot to put the Lakers up five points. This turned the tide because Doc Rivers decided to guard Kobe with only Ray Allen and he made the final two baskets to win the game.

Unsung hero: The Lakers’ bench was in trouble but Vujacic came through when it was needed most and he became the Leon Powe of L.A. This is how this series will be decided and the Lakers will need another effort from Sasha in Game 4.

Who needs to step up?

Boston Celtics:

Sam Cassell or Eddie House, especially if Rajon Rondo’s ankle will hamper him in Game 4.

Paul Pierce cannot afford another mail-it-in effort in Game 4 and Kevin Garnett has to stop thinking he is only a jump shooter and attack Pau Gasol.

Los Angeles Lakers:

Listen, I have said it since the trade and I will continue to say it… Pau Gasol is highly skilled, but soft as two wet pancakes. He is withering away from the constant beat down of the playoffs and he better find a way to step up or the Celtics will end this series in Los Angeles.

Someone once asked me if I had to pick a player that had the perfect size, height and agility in the league, who would that player be. I immediately said Lamar Odom. Lamar still has not figured out he could be a defender’s worst nightmare. He thinks too much and gets himself out of sorts – or as Phil Jackson said, “looking confused.” The Lakers will not win four games without Odom playing well. That has to be a huge concern right now.

Game 4 strategy

Los Angeles Lakers:

- Jackson realizes he was extremely lucky in Game 3. He cannot count on Vujacic to have another great game against the Celtics’ stingy defense. He has to get Gasol and Odom more attempts.
- Continue to apply pressure to Paul Pierc,e who could be affected by the bad knee.
- Pressure the Boston guards 94 feet, especially Cassell and Eddie House.
- Get off to a good start and make Boston climb uphill.

Boston Celtics:

- Convince Garnett his Jumper is AWOL and to attack the rim.
- Counter Kobe’s roaming defensively off of Rondo
- Keep Kobe out the paint because it got them in foul trouble and got Kobe to the line 18 times.
- Continue to be physical with Odom and Gasol.

Prediction

I do not expect Paul Pierce to have another terrible game. The Lakers barely beat the Celtics when they shot 35 percent. The Lakers’ bench has been outplayed the first three games as a whole and I expect it to continue. Boston will recover and win Game 4, but it will be a barn-burner!

Why did Boston go up 2-0 in the series? Here are the keys…

Celtics hold the Lakers to 61 points in first three quarters

The Celtics are playing lock-down defense on every player in a Lakers uniform. I thought going into this series that the pressure perimeter defense would work against the young Lakers and it has in the first two
games. The Lakers are a good shooting team, but the Celtics are keeping them out of big runs with one exception – the fourth quarter. The Celtics run at every shooter with great rotation. So even a head fake cannot give them an avenue to get layups or attack the basket and draw fouls. There is a serious reason why this team won 66 games and critics who chose the Lakers to win this series better take notice. They are so good I saw them switch four players off on Kobe Bryant on one play in the fourth quarter. They are determined to force the Lakers’ others to beat them and so far the plan has worked.

Leon Powe huge off the bench

Historically the team that wins a championship has a player that gives them a great game when least expected. Powe was the guy in Game 2, scoring 21 points. Powe sent a message to every young player in America and that is “Always be ready to play.” He was huge with his scoring and ability to get the Lakers in foul trouble. Powe shot more free throws in 15 minutes (13) than the entire Lakers team (10).

Consistent Big Three

Another 60-plus combined effort is huge by Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Pierce was the best player on the floor, especially early when the Lakers where trying to get a big lead. Allen, who struggled in the Eastern playoffs, has regained his touch and confidence. He has also made Kobe work extremely hard for every basket. Garnett has effectively opened up the middle for uncontested drives with his shooting. If this continues, the Lakers will find it hard pressed to win one game.

31 assists on 36 baskets

Wow! Although Doc Rivers can’t be happy with the Celtics meltdown in the fourth quarter, he has to be ecstatic with the ball movement and unselfish play spearheaded by Rajon Rondo, who had 16 assists.

Star of the game: Leon Powe. Leon Powe was spectacular in 15 minutes. He changed the flow of the game and gave the Celtics’ bench another victory over the more touted Lakers’ bench coming into this series. This despite not even knowing if Doc Rivers will use him or Big Baby Davis from game to game. You want to cheer for Powe, who fought odds beyond basketball to put himself into this position. A wonderful accomplishment for a young man who grew up in foster homes with his siblings when their home burned to the ground and just one parent to care for them. Hooray for Leon Powe!

Turning point: Leon Powe entered the game with the score 22-21 with 11:21 left in the second quarter. The physicality of the game increased and the Lakers seemed to wither under the pressure. With Powe getting to the line and putting pressure on the Lakers frontline, the lead grew to double figures and the Lakers were climbing up hill all night long.

Unsung hero: PJ Brown has become the huge pickup the Celtics thought he was. His defense on Pau Gasol has been solid and has allowed Garnett to keep Lamar Odom under control.

Who needs to step up? I am not picking on Lamar Odom, but he’d better step up quickly or he will be fodder for every critic with a pen. Odom must know now what Scottie Pippen felt like playing next to Michael Jordan. The difference between the two is Scottie figured it out and performed. Odom seems to be headed in reverse.

Gasol can’t be left out. He shot one free throw in Game 2. He is as soft as they come, but showed some heart with a few strong moves. The Lakers need more.

Game 3 strategy

Boston Celtics:

- Doc Rivers will treat this game like a Game 7. He knows if his team goes up 3-0 it’s over, so expect a hungry Celtic team for game 3
- The Celtics have realized that the Lakers cannot beat them if their bench matches the Lakers.
- They must continue to make the Lakers shoot jumpshots. They had a 38 to 10 free throw advantage in Game 2.
- Run the offense through Paul Pierce. The Lakers have no one who can guard him except Kobe and Phil Jackson would be making a huge mistake if he tried that matchup early in Game 3.

Los Angeles Lakers:

- Get Odom some post-ups and isolations early
- Double Paul Pierce early and often and live with Allen and Garnett taking jumpshots.
- Find a way to make it a fast game, although Rondo has been great with his pace.
- Hit somebody in the mouth and play Ronny Turiaf more minutes, especially since Luke Walton has been AWOL.
- Kobe needs to take 30-plus shots if that’s what it will take.

Prediction

You would expect the Lakers to pick it up at home, but it doesn’t matter where you play if you don’t fight. The Celtics have slapped them around despite a fourth quarter meltdown in Game 2. I honestly think the Celtics will take more from that fourth quarter than the Lakers because they won Game 2 and will go into Los Angeles and win Game 3. No way I would be thinking this could happen before the series started, but as I stated in my preview article, the Lakers are a soft unit and the Celtics are sensing it and will go up 3-0 in the series.

Why did Boston win Game 1? Here are the keys…

Celtics’ Big Three scored 65 points and Kobe shoots 9 for 26

When the Celtics’ Big three is scoring as a group it will be difficult for the Lakers to win one game. The Lakers had Paul Pierce under control until he caught fire. When all three are playing well, it puts tremendous pressure on the Lakers’ defense to scramble – which will allow players like Rajon Rondo, Sam Cassell and James Posey to have wide open looks.

The Celtics’ bench outscored the Lakers’ bench 17 to 15

The Lakers’ bench has been touted as a big advantage, but the Celtics’ bench won the first battle. The factor I noted in my series’ preview article was the Lakers bench was good but young – and it showed big time Thursday. Luke Walton looked lost and struggled all night. And he has Finals experience!

Boston dominated the glass 46 to 33

The Lakers are not a physical team and the Celtics abused them on the glass. Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom will have to average close to 10 rebounds per game in order to negate the Celtics on the glass.

The Celtics held the Lakers to 41 percent from the field

The Celtics did a great job of packing in their defense and scrambling to the shooters. Derek Fisher got loose early, but he was the only consistent threat. Kobe will definitely shoot better than 9 for 26, but he needs help from Fisher, Sasha Vujacic and Vladimir Radmanovic to open the paint so he can attack the basket.

Boston shot 35 free throws and Kobe got to the line only six times

The Celtics’ plan is to keep Kobe off the free-throw line and it worked in Game 1. That allowed the Celtics to have a +7 advantage.

Star of game: Rajon Rondo. His 15 point, 7 assist and 5 rebound night was huge. He also put pressure on the Lakers in that big third quarter, when he found Pierce for two three-point shots.

Turning point: Paul Pierce finding his rhythm early in the third and then continuing it when he returned to the court after suffering a sprained knee.

Unsung hero: PJ Brown was huge with his defense and rebounding. He had a big block on Odom late in the game and seemed to grab every big rebound down the stretch.

Who needs to step up? Lamar Odom has to look to score more, especially when Kendrick Perkins and Brown are guarding him. Phil Jackson benched him late because he needed shooters on the floor or was that a message to get aggressive? Perkins looked lost and nervous. He cannot put the pressure on PJ Brown to continue to have big games. The Celtics need more production in Game 2.

Game 2 strategy

Boston Celtics:

- Continue to keep the ball in the hands of the Big Three early, especially Garnett.
- Get Pierce to move the ball quicker out of the double teams.
- Encourage Garnett to attack the rim more, especially against Gasol.
- Encourage Rondo, Perkins and Brown to be ready and shoot open shots.
- Continue to squeeze Kobe and keep him out of the paint. Kobe only scored one bucket in the paint.
- Run the Lakers shooters off the three-point line.

Los Angeles Lakers:

- Find a way to get inside that Celtic defense for easy scores.
- Get Lamar Odom involved early offensively.
- Negate one of the Big Three on the offensive end.
- Look for Kobe to start the game extremely aggressive offensively.
- Try to get Fisher, Vujacic and Radmanovic some jump shots to force the Celtics to extend that defense.
- Be extremely physical with Garnett and a sore Paul Pierce.

Prediction

The Lakers have shown a great ability to rebound from tough losses all year, but the Celtics are great at home and I see this series going 2-0 headed back to Los Angeles.

The Finals are here and the league could not be happier. The Celtics vs. Lakers series brings back so many memories of the best era of basketball. Bird against Magic, Kareem battling Parish, McHale fighting the athleticism of James Worthy, Michael Cooper showing what defense is all about, Dennis Johnson doing his Oscar Robertson imitation, Pat Riley wearing his Italian suits,  etc, etc…

Every year these teams met, they where the best teams in the regular season and this year is no different.

The Celtics and the Lakers are the best and now they face off against each other just like in the 80s.

The characters are different but if this Finals go as expected and these two teams stay fully equipped and injury free over the next few years, they could be facing each other a few more times in the future.

This series gives us two of the best one-on-one players in the league in Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce, the two most versatile seven-foot players in Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol and most importantly the two most storied franchises in all of sports.

Do I have a prediction? Yes. But first I will give six reasons why each team could win the series.

LAKERS WIN IF…

1. Kobe Bryant dominates the series with his scoring and defense. Boston’s defense is geared toward smothering star players and taking the ball out of their hands. But if Kobe is still scoring regardless, the Celtics are in serious trouble.

2. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol keep Kendrick Perkins on the bench and forces Doc Rivers to play James Posey, which then allows Phil Jackson to isolate and post Odom when Garnett has to guard Gasol. Odom is the Lakers’ key player in this series and Jackson will focus on taking advantage of this matchup. PJ Brown will give a solid few minutes, but it still helps the Lakers with a very good rebounder like Perkins on the bench.

3. Pau Gasol matches the production of Garnett, which would be devastating for Boston. The Lakers are a great offensive team and Gasol equaling Garnett would give them a tremendous advantage. The Poodle will have to play like a Doberman against the hyper Garnett.

4. Kobe, Derek Fisher and Sasha Vujacic continue to keep Ray Allen inconsistent. The key is to take away one of the Big Three and Allen seems to be the most vulnerable coming into the series.

5. The Lakers bench, led by Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic, continue to dominate in the middle quarters when Kobe is resting. Phil Jackson is counting on this unit to win the plus-minus against Boston’s bench, which has been up and down.

6. They score over 100 a game. If that happens, the Celtics will go away quickly. The Lakers will try and force tempo and if that happens this series will be over in a hurry.

CELTICS WIN IF… 

1. Kevin Garnett spends equal time in the post as he does on the perimeter and averages 20 or better for the series. We know his defense will be solid, but the Celtics need his interior scoring and if he gives it to them the Celtics will have success in this series.

2. Paul Pierce forces Phil Jackson to defend him with Kobe. Jackson will try every avenue to keep Kobe away from the physical Pierce. But if he is having his way with Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton, Jackson will have no choice and that would spell trouble for the Lakers. Pierce draws fouls better than any small forward in the league.

3. Ray Allen, quite frankly, becomes Ray Allen. Allen showed some signs in the latter stages of the Pistons series and if he catches fire the Lakers are in deep trouble. The Lakers have one player that can virtually carry a team for a game. The Celtics have three and Allen is due.

4. Kendrick Perkins finds a way to stay on the floor and dominates the glass, especially on the offensive end. This would negate the Lakers getting easy transition baskets and most importantly slow down the pace of the game. The Lakers will give Perkins open shots and he has to be ready to knock them down.

5. Rajon Rondo continues to grow and be steady on the offensive end. He will definitely give Derek Fisher problems with his defensive pressure, but he must make the Lakers pay when they use Fisher to roam and provide help defense.

6. Doc Rivers finally relents and gives Eddie House some solid minutes. The Celtics need consistent scoring against the Lakers. House can change the flow of the game with his shooting. Rivers was afraid to use him against the defensive pressure of Lindsey Hunter and the Pistons, but neither Farmar nor Fisher should bother House in this series to the extent Hunter did. 

PREDICTION

I really like both teams and I am sure whichever way I go will fuel some irate comments, but that’s why I write the blog.

I disagree with the comment “Defense wins championships” because the Lakers won a bunch with Magic and they were known for offense. Plus it is a Catch 22 comment. Why? Because good balanced offense gives you a solid defense. It is all about floor balance and teammates knowing when a shot is going up and not being surprised and out of position to retreat defensively. Yes, defense wins. But offense sets the table, so both should be praised.

Boston comes into this series as a great defensive team and the Lakers are getting high praise for their smooth productive offense. Yet all these prognosticators that preach defense are going with the offensive team. Go figure!

I have always believed that veterans win in this league because when times get tough they dig out and produce when needed. Also veterans are hungrier because the window is closing and they see the end. Young players think it will happen again and again, which makes them close their ears to advice to the contrary.

My prediction is the Lakers will succumb to inexperience and struggle, thus forcing Kobe to try and take on too much responsibility. Radmanovic, Farmar, Gasol, Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf (all key players for the Lakers) will struggle against the pressure of the Finals and the Celtics’ defense.

The Celtics have three players that can carry the load of the inexperience of Perkins and Rondo. My key player for the series will be James Posey. He has experience with the Finals as a Miami Heat player, he is a great defender and he has been deadly with his three-point shooting in the playoffs.

The Celtics will win in six games and hang another banner in the Garden.

I must admit that I am extremely disappointed that we are not seeing more competitive series so far. I thought this could be a playoff season where we would have at least three or four series go seven games deep. I never thought it might involve the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Eastern Conference, much maligned during the year, is giving us the most thrills while the West has been quite boring and uneventful.

But it’s not over yet!

San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns

The Suns were unable to accomplish something no team has ever been able to do and that is win a series after being down 0-3. This series will become an example for every coach to preach to its team about the importance of playing 48 minutes to secure victory. The Suns have every right to believe this series should at least been longer, just based on the blown opportunities in games 1 and 5.

Tony Parker and Boris Diaw grew up together and are best friends and played key roles. Ironically it took Boris to cool Parker down in the Suns’ Game 4 win, in which Parker refused to say Boris had any effect on him. Parker proved it with a huge plays down the stretch in Game 5 and was the best player in the series.

The sad line in this series is the fact Grant Hill could not play at full strength. Hill worked all year to get back to the playoffs after signing as a free agent. Life is never fair and if any player deserves good health and a chance at an NBA title, that’s Grant Hill.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are in a sad state. How can so much talent be so bad together? George Karl is a very good coach, but he changed his combative attitude at the wrong time and his players proved inept at leadership.

The me-first attitude of the Nuggets would not allow them to be competitive against the unselfish Lakers and they were swept and embarrassed. Carmelo Anthony claimed the Nuggets quit after Game 3, but what he fails to realize is that he and Allen Iverson quit on their team every time they hold the ball for eight seconds of the shot clock and hoist up tough shots when a teammate stands wide open.

The Nuggets are too talented to be a two-man show and there the problem lies.

The Lakers are in a serious groove and if Kobe continues to play at this insane level, it will be difficult for anyone to beat them.

Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz

The Rockets are fighting as hard as any team can, but it will not be enough without Yao Ming. Tracy McGrady has played extremely well despite a bad leg and constant double and triple teams. Deron Williams has been the best player in the series and continues to get better.

The Rockets big win in Game 5 has given them hope, but the Jazz are stellar at home and a Rocket victory will be tough.

Rick Adelman and Jerry Sloan should be applauded for developing role players and having the confidence to play them. We are seeing players like Paul Millsap and Ronnie Brewer for the Jazz and Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes for the Rockets be big contributors in this series.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks

OK, I was wrong by saying the Hornets would suffer because of experience. They have looked like the more confident team. The Mavericks have proved again that pressure is not their friend. The last three years have been a test of pressure and they have continued to fail. The Hornets close-out of the Mavericks in five games looked extremely easy. Dirk Nowitzki wanted the Hornets. I guess you should watch what you wish for.

What is up with Josh Howard? I once thought the stupidest statement I would ever hear was Latrell Sprewell saying he did not like the Minnesota Timberwolves offer of $21 million because he had to feed his family. Josh Howard just bypassed Sprewell with his statement of marijuana use in the offseason and stating the fact that everyone knows NBA players use it.

I am wondering how Howard could be thinking of coming clean about his drug use and also throwing the NBA under the bus while being down 0-2 in a series.  That 26 percent shooting shooting by Howard in the series will not help his cause either.

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Celtics have just entered the twilight zone. Winning 66 games during the season guarantees you nothing. The Celtics look tired and confused and better solve Joe Johnson and Josh Smith soon or they will become this year’s Dallas Mavericks.

The Hawks are a better defensive team than the Celtics realized and now they are searching for answers back in Boston.

Mike Woodson has done a great job all year with the Hawks and now it’s paying dividends. Maybe now management will back off and realize Woodson is one of the best young coaches in the league. Word has it that Woodson wanted the Hawks to draft Chris Paul or Deron Williams instead of Marvin Williams. I hate to imagine how good they would be if management listened to that plea.

The Celtics are playing with fool’s gold if they think all they have to do is show up. They have done it with defense all year and now they are trying to outscore the Hawks.

Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers

I feel so sorry for Flip Saunders. He has the best and worst situation of any coach in the league. On one hand, he has a talented veteran team that understands the game and knows how to win. Then on the other hand, he has a group of guys that think they know everything and are beyond instruction.

That’s the view I get when I watch the Pistons play. They play with no emotion and as George Karl would say, “They play with a coolness that disrespects the game of basketball.” They have not taken the 76ers seriously and now they find themselves in a long series against a team they should have dispatched easily.

The 76ers, on the other hand, are exciting and loaded with exceptional athletes. Andre Miller is having his best year of his career and has been the best guard in the series so far.

Maybe Detroit’s Game 5 blowout win will get the team more focused.

Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors

When Dwight Howard is playing at this level, he immediately becomes the best big man in the NBA. The Raptors had no answer for him and that makes the Magic a serious threat to reach the Finals. The Magic’s size advantage with Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis at the forwards was too much for the Raptors.

The Raptors did not live up to expectations, but they have a solid future ahead of them and Sam Mitchell should be safe for a few more years.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards

This series has been hampered by all the smack talk between LeBron James and the whole Wizards team.

The Wizards have failed to realize you must play instead of yapping. The latest is Brendan Haywood saying LeBron should stop whinning and expect to get hit. I agree with Haywood in that LeBron should just play and not worry about the physical play, but if I was still playing I would be glad LeBron is whining because that would mean he wouldn’t have extra time to whoop my butt even more than he already is.

Message to the Wizards: Let that man alone. The angrier he gets, the better he gets. LeBron is the best specimen the game has seen since Karl Malone and he will hurt you before you hurt him. Just play and see if you can win a road game.

The NBA has probably enjoyed its finest season since Magic, Bird and a young Air Jordan were dominating the league and bringing new fans by the day. I have to admit that we are starting to see players littered around the league that finally get it. What is it? Well, it is the ability to play the game at a fundamental level the game deserves. We are seeing players that actually care about their field goal percentage, teammates, winning and respecting opponents with honest and kind comments.

This is what has been missing. This is what the old school players have been criticizing. Finally we have a product again that allows you to sit down and watch a game and appreciate the way the players compete and respect the game.

Just take a look at the MVP candidates. How can you choose between Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James? All of those guys play the right way. All of them make their teammates better and they compete with effort and passion every night.

If you have not gotten my drift, just look at how competitive the Western Conference has been all year and although the East was not up to par prove to me that Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington and Toronto are not worth watching and rooting for against the higher seeds.

This was the best season I have witnessed in a long time and I can’t wait for the postseason to get started. One warning: There will be no sweeps in the first round and we will have three lower seeds win.

Here are my picks for Round 1.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Celtics have been the best team all year in regards to consistency. I have always said individual defensive accolades are overrated. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen just proved my theory, because they have become defensive stalwarts in the tight team defense of the Celtics. It will be hard for the Hawks to win this series just based on the rapid fire offense of the Big Three. Plus Kevin Garnett is on a mission. But Celtics beware if you think this is a cakewalk.

The Hawks match up with you quite nicely with the likes of Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Josh Smith. I did not even mention one of the best clutch playoff performers in Mike Bibby. The Hawks have the firepower to win two games in this series and they will.

Projection: Celtics in six.

Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers

The Pistons have been built for the playoffs for a long time and they always seem to use it to their advantage – except for last year against Cleveland. The key is Rasheed Wallace. The question is, will he or won’t he show up early in this series? If he does, the Sixers have no chance. But if he resorts to shooting 10 three-point shots a game… Well, this first-round series will venture to six games.

The Sixers are the most exciting team on the East Coast. They do it with speed and unselfishness and all the credit is pointed towards Andre Miller and head coach Maurice Cheeks. The play of youngsters Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young will be crucial for the Sixers in this series.

Projection: Pistons in five.

Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors

The Magic were one of the most exciting teams before the All-Star break and then became very boring right after. Howard can dominate and should in this series. Hedo Turkoglu has become the go-to star and has not disappointed.

The Raptors have not lived up to expectations and injuries played a part. Chris Bosh better bring it big time if the Raptors want to upset the third seed. Key player in series is TJ Ford. He is virtually unstoppable when on a roll.

Projection: Magic in five.

Washington Wizards vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

This will be the most exciting series in the East. The Cavaliers defense better be air-tight, because if not they are in serious trouble. Also, LeBron will need some offensive help from at least two other Cavaliers – namely Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Daniel Gibson.

The Wizards, if healthy, might be the most dangerous offensive team in the league. If you don’t believe me, then go ask Boston. Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison and Gilbert Arenas are a load and they will exploit Cleveland in this series and finally beat LeBron.

Projection: Wizards in six.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

On paper, this series looks like it could be very competitive. But here is the problem: Denver doesn’t play good team defense. That is a serious problem when you face those 200 years of coaching experience on that Laker bench. The trio of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom will score in bunches and then allow role players like Derek Fisher to flourish with wide open shots.

The Nuggets have a chance in this series if they keep defensive focus for 24 seconds and Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony realize that they will not beat the Lakers by themselves. The Nuggets have some serious fire power in JR Smith, Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin if allowed to play. They can’t just stand and watch. I say the Nuggets will scare the Lakers and win two at home.

Projection: Lakers in six.

New Orleans Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Hornets are America’s team. They play great team basketball and have supreme confidence. Chris Paul is downright sick. He is the single reason why this team is even on the map right now. I love David West, Peja Stojakovic and Tyson Chandler, but the credit all falls in the lap of Paul and head coach Byron Scott. The Hornets have one negative and it will cost them… That is experience. Players that have never been to the playoffs think the experience talk is overrated, but the young Hornets will find out fast that it is not.

The Mavericks are still trying to find themselves since the Jason Kidd trade. They couldn’t have picked a better opponent to face. The experience of Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd and Josh Howard will be too much. They will still need some stellar defense and rebounding from Erick Dampier, but I think they will find a way to upset the Hornets and move on to the second round. I personally will be rooting for the Hornets to prove me wrong.

Projection: Mavericks in six.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Phoenix Suns

Here we go again! The Spurs are still the champion and the Suns understand that champions never beat themselves. The Spurs have fought hard through another long season and are now trying to conjure up some energy to make another I-told-you-so run to the championship. The problem the Spurs face is that historically they have never won back-to-back. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will give the Suns fits as usual, but would that be enough to get it done?

The Suns are hungry, mad and determined to finally climb the Spur Mountain. They will get it done if Amare Stoudemire and Shaq stay out of foul trouble early and attack Duncan consistently to wear him down. Leandro Barbosa and Boris Diaw will have to score close to double figures off the bench thus negating Ginobili’s production. Steve Nash will have a great series and I think he will be the difference in the Suns finally eliminating the Spurs.

Projection: Suns in six.

Houston Rockets vs. Utah Jazz

Simple fact the Jazz don’t lose at home, so the Rockets better take care of home business against a terrible road team with a great overall record. The Rockets have bulletin-board material because they saw the Jazz virtually give up home court advantage to play them and avoid the Spurs and Suns. Tracy McGrady has to be lights out the entire series and the Rockets must dominate the offensive glass for second opportunities. Luis Scola will be the key to the series defending Carlos Boozer.

The Jazz should have mailed in their final game with the Spurs. They wanted the Rockets and they got them. Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are the keys and do it extremely well every night. The Jazz will steal one game in Houston and win all three at home.

Projection: Jazz in seven.

This year’s MVP winner will be the most scrutinized of any year we have seen.

Steve Nash coming from out of nowhere to win back-to-back was definitely an eye opener two years ago, but with so many teams and players having great seasons the lucky winner this year will be treated like an  elected official because he will not have over 51 percent in favor of his nomination.

Why?

This season is sick with great stories involving players and teams. Everyone has their own formula in deciding who the front runner with one month to go is. So I came up with my own formula to come to my pick as  MVP.

Once I came up with this formula I voted without looking at statistics the first time to see who would come out on top. The second time I looked at the stats and I still came up with the same player.

I am sure readers will beat up my method and abuse my choice if their favorite player did not get the nod, but I will tell you just like the NCAA told Arizona State when they got omitted from the 64 team field… This is  my formula and you have to live with my pick – well at least in this article.

I think we all can agree that five players stick out brightly when it comes to the finalists. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady are the strongest candidates.

McGrady beat out Amare Stoudemire, Baron Davis, Tim Duncan and Deron Williams for the fifth player just based on what the Rockets have done in regards to this 22-game winning streak.

I took 11 categories and graded each player with a rating of 1 to 10 and then added the total. Then I saw who the winner was.

That seems so simple, right?

Well, without these so-called calculations… If someone asked me who I thought was the best NBA player on the planet? Without hesitation I would declare Kobe Bryant and then follow it up with a statement like,  “LeBron James will past him very soon like a locomotive once his defense continues to improve.”

I would also mention that Amare Stoudemire might give both of them a run for their money if he continues the torrid pace he is on.

That would be my basic armchair fan response, but I should get credit for researching further and not voting with my heart.

So I did and here it is.

My categories are.

1.  Offensive stats.
2. Passing.
3. Rebounding.
4. Overall defensive ability.
5. Effort.
6. Attitude.
7. Making teammates better.
8. Crunch time.
9. Showmanship.
10.  Wow factor.
11.  Team record.

Although not proven by numbers, categories like crunch time, showmanship and wow factor are a major part of the greatness of a player.

Example… Even though LeBron has scored more points than anyone in the league in the fourth quarter, which player would you feel comfortable with taking the last shot?

I would say Kobe without a doubt.

What player makes you say “Wow” on a consistent basis?

Well, I guess it depends if you like the high-flying acts of Kobe, LeBron and McGrady. Or maybe you enjoy the dribbling exploits and crossovers of Chris Paul in the land of the giants?

Which player gives you the impression that his attitude an effort is like Groundhog Day in that every time you watch him you notice it.

These are the things I think about when I pick my MVP and now you have the chance to dispute my choice or agree wholeheartedly that Chris Paul should win the MVP if the season ended today.

Paul (100 points) narrowly beat out Kobe (99) and Lebron (97) in my voting. And as I stated earlier, I voted twice without looking at stats and then taking them into consideration. He edged Kobe in the winning record  category for the simple fact the Hornets have blown out the defending champion Spurs twice this season. That was the difference.

LeBron has to improve his individual defense if he wants to jump over Kobe and Paul in the next few years. He also suffered with the subpar record the Cavaliers have at the moment. Yes, they have had injuries. But  didn’t McGrady lose Yao Ming and they still have kept winning with virtually no other stars in the more difficult Western Conference.

Bottom line… Chris Paul is such a joy to watch and observe. I really love the way Paul leads his team. He is constantly communicating with teammates and coaches and will confront them without hesitation. I have  not seen a little man do that since Isiah Thomas led the Pistons to back-to-back championships. The reason Paul can command this audience is because those players realize he not only leads by example, but he  makes them better. I can recall only a handful of players that had this ability. They are Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Steve Nash.

They all have one thing in common. They have MVP awards. Chris Paul should receive his this season.

TRACY MCGRADY

1. Offensive stats: 7
2. Passing: 7
3. Rebounding: 6
4. Overall defensive ability: 6
5. Effort: 8
6. Attitude: 8
7. Making teammates better: 8
8. Crunch time: 8
9. Showmanship: 8
10.Wow factor: 8
11.Team record: 10

Total: 84

KEVIN GARNETT

1. Offensive stats: 8
2. Passing: 6
3. Rebounding: 9
4. Overall defensive ability: 9
5. Effort: 10
6. Attitude: 10
7. Making teammates better: 8
8. Crunch time: 7
9. Showmanship: 9
10.Wow factor: 7
11.Team record: 9

Total: 92

LEBRON JAMES

1. Offensive stats: 10
2. Passing: 8
3. Rebounding: 9
4. Overall defensive ability: 7
5. Effort: 9
6. Attitude: 9
7. Making teammates better: 9
8. Crunch time: 9
9. Showmanship: 10
10.Wow factor: 10
11.Team record: 7

Total: 97

KOBE BRYANT

1. Offensive stats:  10
2. Passing:  7
3. Rebounding: 7
4. Overall Defensive ability: 10
5. Effort: 10
6. Attitude: 9
7. Making teammates better: 8
8. Crunch time: 10
9. Showmanship: 10
10.Wow factor: 10
11.Team record: 8

Total: 99

CHRIS PAUL

1. Offensive stats: 8
2. Passing: 10
3. Rebounding: 5
4. Overall defensive ability: 10
5. Effort: 10
6. Attitude: 10
7. Making teammates better: 10
8. Crunch time: 10
9. Showmanship: 9
10.Wow factor: 9
11.Team record: 9

Total 100

I will use one of the funniest quotes I have ever heard in sports and only because it’s in reference to my beloved Chicago Bears. Dennis Green, the former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals went into a postgame tirade in reference to the Cardinals blowing a huge fourth quarter lead to the Bears last year and conducted a press conference for the archives, which is now a national commercial. He said, “The Bears are who we thought they were and we had them right where we wanted them, now if you want to go and crown their ass go right ahead, but we had them right were we wanted them.”

That’s the same feeling I have about the Chicago Bulls. They are exactly what I thought they were and that is good team that will fight and claw but always come up short. Still, some prognosticators were crowning them to win the Eastern Conference this year.

The Bulls are 1-5 and could conceivably be 1-9 after the first four games of a six-game road trip playing against the Suns, Clippers, Lakers and Nuggets.

Chicago fans are wondering what is wrong with the team that swept Miami last year and was beaten 4-2 by the Pistons in the Conference semifinals.

Let’s backpedal for a moment to last year…

Everyone thought the Cavaliers got a break when the Bulls blew an opportunity to play the Wizards last year in the first round, but Chicago caught a break too. The Heat proved to be just as bad as the Wizards and the proof is the fact the Heat have lost 19 out of 20 games going back to last season and counting seven preseason losses this year.

Also add the fact that the Pistons were vulnerable and the Bulls couldn’t take advantage. Just look at their meltdown against Cleveland in the Conference Finals.

So here is my point… The Bulls are not as good as advertised and it’s because of two fatal flaws that never seem to work out come winning time.

The first flaw is obvious and I wrote about it when Chicago signed Ben Wallace much to the chagrin of Bulls fans who peppered me with insults via e-mail. The Bulls have zero interior scoring with not one player on their roster that can command a post position and create high percentage baskets for him or his teammates. Wallace offers nothing offensively and his strengths are rebounding and blocked shots. Well, I am embarrassed to even mention that he is averaging 4.8 rebounds and 1 block per game.

That’s why the Bulls are shooting 38 percent as a team and rank 29th in the league in that area… Because teams are suffocating the perimeter players and daring them to drive or throw it down low to any big man the Bulls have on the floor.

Secondly, their go-to scorer is a 6-foot-2 guard, Ben Gordon , who is shooting 35 percent from the field and is averaging a paltry 2.2 assists per game – thus adding proof of how they are being defended. The Bulls have a team of hustlers and players with no star ability to score consistently and dominate. Yes, they can play defense. But really, what other choice do they have? That is exactly what Scott Skiles and John Paxson have been preaching, but this way of thinking is wrong – especially when it involves Paxson, who played on multiple championship teams and was nothing but a shooter himself.

They drafted Gordon, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng – all of them outside scorers that can create problems. And then they signed a non-scorer in Ben Wallace and draft back-to-back non-scoring big men in Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah.

I look back at all those Bulls championship teams and see virtually all of their players with the ability to shoot the ball.

That’s why I am having a hard time understanding the method to this madness. Why do you pay Ben Wallace most of your payroll and then go and draft two clones? (Especially Noah, who might be a worse scorer than Wallace. Did I just say that?)

Listen, here is the remedy!

Paxson, you blew the chance to trade for Kevin Garnett and he might win his second MVP this season based on early season projections. And now you are hesitant to trade for Kobe Bryant.

Paxson, you need to listen to your conscience and stop listening to head coach Scott Skiles, who is intent on having 12 players who played like he did – diving on the floor and running through brick walls. Four or five of those players are enough.

You need Kobe Bryant, so put a package together including Luol Deng and stop thinking you are going to build a championship with draft picks. Superstars win championships.

The only wild card team with enough savvy and talent without a star player is Detroit and although I picked them to win the East, they will not win the championship. Boston has the best chance right now in the East.

Make your job easier and go with the superstar. Build around him. Kobe has a solid 5 to 6 years left in him to at least give the Bulls a fighting chance to win a title. If you don’t, “The Bulls will be who we thought they were, but they will never be crowned.”