LAKERS TAKE GAME 3 IN BOSTON

The Celtics returned to Boston Tuesday night, after  Game 2 where everything seemed to click, promptly allowed the L.A. Lakers to have their way with them in route to dropping Game 3, 91-84. The Lakers played a complete game from start to finish in making the Celtics look a step slower all game long.



As Derrick Fisher awakened from his old man slumber he also started to make shots. Fisher led L.A. in the 4th quarter when Kobe Bryant couldn't find the bottom of the basket. Scoring 11 of his 16 pts in the 4th quarter Fisher certainly played outside of his 35 year-old body. “To come through tonight again for this team, 14 years in, after so many great moments, it’s always quite surreal,” Fisher said. “It’s quite humbling to experience it again and do it again. But it’s like being a kid, man. You just never get tired of candy.” L.A. led the game for most of the night behind the leadership of Bryant that was displayed on and off the court, as he was seen coaching the team during timeouts as well as up and down the court. "Black Mamba" led the Lakers with 29 pts., Pau Gasol 13 pts. & 10 rbs. and Lamar Odom added 12 pts off the bench in clearly his best game of the series.


Boston fell behind the Lakers early by as many as 17 points and did not seem to have the wherewithal to come back and even make the game interest until the 3rd quarter when Rajon Rondo joined the much maligned Kevin Garnett in attempting to will their team to victory. Garnett, scoring 25 pts. and pulling down 6 rbs. was the only Celtic to play with a sense of urgency from the beginning of the game. 

The other four starters played unmotivated on the offensive end of the court and uneducated on the defensive end of the court as they allowed the Lakers easy baskets while running a flawless offensive game. Paul Pierce was the second leading scorer with 15 pts but was only 5-12 from the field. Ray Allen, after setting a new NBA Finals record for 3 pt. shots, finished the game with 2 pts. and was 0-13 from the field. None of his shots had the rainbow that he is known for as he continued all night to try and find the bottom of the cup without any success. In the same manner that the Boston globe listed the APB for Kevin Garnett after Game 2, they may need to do the same for Ray Allens missing jumper.
“He won the game for them,” Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said. “Derek Fisher was the difference in the game.” Game 4 is set for Thursday June 10 in Boston @ 9:00.