Lakers Assure Game 7, Stomp Celtics

Playing with their backs against the wall, the defended champs ran away with game six to set up an expected epic game 7 between the leagues premier teams. The Leprechauns actually started the game and led by 2 on a couple of occasions. With the champs trailing 12-10, Lakers responded with a 8-0 run and never again trailed. Things would get worse for the Celtics as their big man would land awkward during that run and stay on the floor in obvious pain, he would not return and is likely out for the series. Sensing a tide turner the Champs attacked without pity, leading by 10 at the end of the first, 20 at halftime, and 25 to start the 4th, they would lead by as many a 27 points and looked very much like a team on a mission, amazing what home court can do. With the Celtics physical presence out, the Lakers big man Bynum, took the night off and hardly played, more than likely to have him rested for game 7. Lakers dominated across the board holding the Celtics to 33% shotting overall, 21.7% from 3s, and only 60% from the stripe on way to the second lowest score in Finals history. They also outrebounded them by 13, doubled their blocks total, and forced 14 turnovers including 13 steals, it was an all out ass kicking, showtime style. Leprechauns also lost the battle of the bench 25-13, not a HUGE gap, but all 13 points came in the 4th in extreme garbage time, for the first 3 quarters, the Leprechaun bench was scoreless. Even though LA would have an advantage with Grumpy out, I hope he can play, it always sucks to be missing a key element on your team and Perk is an important piece to the Leprechauns, it also concerns me that LA may get too comfortable and get blind sided by the Celtics. If Perk can't go, LA should attack without pity as Celtics did to them 2 years ago, but do not force the issue, Boston still a good team defender if they prepare to counter Bynum,LA should not force it, if the advantage is not there. The champs looked great and should ride the momentum to the next game and erase the ghosts of 2 years ago and claim the franchise's 16 title. Hell yeah!

Leprechauns.

Piggyback Finley - 3 minutes 0/1 from the floor, +3 for the game, 3rd highest for Celtics, strange.

Marquis Daniels - 5 point in 4 minutes, not really great he did it in the final seconds of extreme garbage time.

Candece Parker's Hubby - Somehow had the highest+/- with +7, yet he contributed only 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 turnovers, and a missed dunk, this was a forgettable game for the boys in green. Only person I've ever seen that has missed more dunks than his girl.

'Sheed - Worst game of the finals as he went 0/7 including 0/6 from downtown and more fouls than rebounds, played extra minutes due to Perk's injury, not good on his back and bad news for the Celtics as they will need all the big bodies they can have.

Tony Allen. Never seemed to get into the flow of the game offensively. Defensively he had decent numbers, don't know if you can have decent numbers in a blow out though. 3 steals 2 blocks.

Krypto-Nate - Bench's leading scorer with 6 points, 2-8 shooting, overall a terrible game the Celtics.

Big Baby - Has taken 4 shots since his big game and missed all of them, did get 9 rebounds, probably due to more minutes, but will be needed much more now that they will be short a big man.

Grumpy - Bad break for the Leprechauns as their big presence went down and will likely miss the next game. Perk only logged 7 minutes and seeing that who ever wins the rebounding battle wins the game, he will sorely be missed. It sucks doesn't it Boston fans?

Rondo - 5/15 shooting for 10 points, and only 6 dimes. As mentioned in the preview, if Lakers can keep Rondo from distributing they will win. Rondo is shooting 26% from the stripe, that has got to be the worst free throw % by a guard. "Best" All around guard, what you smoking Magic?

KG - 12 pts 6/14 shooting, only 6 rebounds, without Perk, the other big men for the Leprechauns must win the rebound battle, KG has only had 1 game with 10 rebounds, 2 years ago KG average 20.4 pts, 10.5 rebs for the playoffs, his numbers this year are 15.0 pts, 7.4 rebs., still decent, but not enough to beat LA, especially if Perk is a no go for game 7. Did I mention the Lakers big center was out most of the game?

The Lie - 6/14 shooting, no free throws (wow!), 5 turnovers, 13 pts, had some flashes but not enough. I guess he's do a big game, but with Ron Ron sticking to him like stink on shit, not likely, unless the refs feels this is a WNBA game and protect him from breaking a nail and get Ron Ron in foul trouble, let them play refs.

Ray Allen - Led Leprechauns with 19, finally hit a 3 after his record setting night 3 games ago, the only bright spot for the Celtics. Wonder if the momentum will carry to the next game.

Champs.

Mbenga - 3 mins 1 rebound, 1 foul, no points, garbage time, chances he played as a Laker for the last time.

Luke - All career lows for the son of Walton 6 minutes, 1 block is all he contributed to this bitch slapping.

Powell - Has 9 total points in the playoffs, has not scored since game 1 of the West Finals, I like Powell I hope he comes back next year, but unlikely, probably played his last game as a Laker seeing he probably won't get any playing time in game 7 unless is a blowout.

Farmar - Glad to be back home, Farmar had 3 steals along with 4 points, and a dunk over KG.

'Drew - Took the night off after Perkins went down, good move especially since he was not needed this time, he should be rested the next game and Lakers should milk the mismatch if Bynum can take advantage of it. Bynum had 2 pts, 4 rebs and a steal before calling it a day.

Shannon - What can Brown do for you? 4 pts, 2 rebs, 2 assists in 19 minutes, his both buckets were some rim rattling tomahawks that send the crow in a frenzy, especially his second one off a lob pass that had Brown climbing the elevator almost reaching the rim with his head.

Machine - Led the reserves in scoring, career high in the Finals with 9, hit 50% from all angles, slowly Sasha seems to be getting back to the old pesty Machine, you got one more year inked Sasha, don't blow it.

Odom - X-Factor did not shoot well 3/9, for 8 pts, he did however made up for the loss of 'Drew and collected 10 rebs and 2 denials. At times he's an All-Star level player, others kind of like Tony Allen that he does his work beyond stats, then others he's just a waste of God given talent, now can he do it for 1 more game.

Fisher - Perfect from the floor, 1/1 from the floor and 1/1 from the stripe, 2 rebs, 2 steals in only 15 minutes mainly due to foul trouble, but with the Lakers in control and the bench not blowing it this time, looks like the Champs are saving him for game 7.

Ron Ron - Game high +26, bounced back nicely, Boston kept daring him to shoot and Ron came through for his team mates scoring 15 points including 3/6 from treys. He still found time to do what he's paid to do and harassed Pierce constantly forcing to 6/14 shots, 1/4 from 3s. Ron tied his high for the series from game 1, he failed to get into double figures the next 4 games, hopefully that won't be a trend.

Spaniard - All in a day's work for the Champs second best, Pau came 1 assist from registering a triple double, 17 pts, 13 rebs, 9 assts, 3, blks, 1 stl. Without Bynum, Boston should have neutralized him, but with Perkins down, no one outside KG can push Gasol around and as the game went on KG looked tired, Davis may have the weight but he cannot contain the Spaniard.

Mamba - Game high 26 pts, 13 rebs and 4 steals, made it look easy, and now is one win from a fifth ring, one more than the Big Once Was.

Player of the game: Pau Gasol, with a near triple double, Pau is showing that he's more than just size with his all around game in and outside the paint and as the focal point of the offense or as the supporter, offensively I don't think there's a better big man.

X-Factor: Ron Artest, defensively he was solid, offensively his 15 points were a nice surprise as Boston gambled and lost in letting Artest get clean looks. To do that while keeping Pierce in check is not an easy task.

Should Have Been Benched: Well actually he was, 'Drew shot 1/4 in limited time and only pulled 4 rebounds, insists in operating from the low block when he should be a cleaner and an enforcer on defense.

Laker Hater: Hard to find in an ass kicking, but I guess Marquis Daniels will do, he saw Finals action for the first time and actually shot well, 1/1 from 3 2/2 from the stripe, damn it Marquis, you shaved points from the lead, hater.

Overtime: This is the 5th 7 game between the rivals, the previous four all won by Boston, most recently in 1984, the famous "Tragic" Johnson series known also for the clothesline by McHale. That was the last time Boston played a game 7 in the Finals, Lakers last played and won in 1988 vs. the Detroit Bad Boys. This is the third time I'll be watching a Finals game 7 in 23 years, I actually didn't see Detroit/San Antonio in 2005, so the last one I watched was in 1004 between Olajuwon's Rockets vs. the Ewing led Knycks.

My first NBA Finals experience in 1988 has some similarities to today. The Lakers split the first 2 games, won game 3, lost the next two, and went back home trailing 3-2. Unlike this year, game 6 of '88 was not a blowout but a very close game that ended in a controversial call allowing Hall of Famer Kareem to seal it at the free throw line. Like Boston now, Detroit got hit by an injury that had significant repercussions on the series. Isiah Thomas severely sprained his ankle, but still returned to set a still standing record for most points in a quarters on basically one foot, he put on a hell of a show. I don't think it's a stretch to say Pistons probably would have won if Thomas had not gotten hurt. Isiah was clearly affected by the ankle and Pistons were not able to overcome the Lakers in game 7, they made a late run, but in the end, Lakers becoming the first team to repeat in 20 years. The Lakers of now are in the same boat only it's an 8 year drought only. Lakers/Celtics Game 7 for the NBA Championship, it just sounds right.