Friday, June 4, 2010

Observations from Game #1 - Don't call it a rematch

If there is one thing to be learned from Game 1, it's that this series should never again be referred to as a 'rematch' of the 2008 Finals. With the addition of Ron Artest and a healthy (well, standing) Andrew Bynum, this Laker team is bigger and nastier than the 2008 incarnation, whilst this time around the Big 3 of the Celtics will only go as far as a 4th year point guard who barely averaged double figures two years ago can take them.

-In my Finals preview I discussed the importance of the Pierce-Artest matchup, and it took all of 20 seconds before Paul Pierce well and truly got the message that Vladimir Radmanovic was now in Oakland as Artest demonstrated the best takedown since Danny Zuko’s ill-fated attempt to make the school wrestling team in Grease. Pierce finished with an impressive line - 24pts, 9reb, 6-13 from the field - but 13 of his points came during the 4th quarter with the Laker win all but wrapped up, and he spent much of the game wearing a look of frustration and a suit made of Ron Artest. The Celtics simply don’t have the offensive firepower to outscore this Laker team 4 times out of 7 if Paul Pierce is kept relatively quiet, and if he can’t shake Artest and breakout as soon as Game 2, this series is over.

-There has probably never been an athlete in sports history so happy to see a teammate playing in pain than Pau Gasol, because the mere presence of Andrew Bynum in the paint renders Gasol essentially unguardable. In '08 Gasol was battered and bullied by Garnett, Kendrick Perkins and P.J. Brown, much to the delight of fans, commentators and bloggers the world over with an innate predilection for labeling white, European big men 'soft'. Back at his natural position of power forward and playing alongside a 7 foot behemoth with a silky smooth touch around the basket of his own, the Celtics had no answer for Gasol in Game 1, and it was Garnett who was made to look like a mere mortal. If Bynum can last the series, Gasol may even claim the MVP.

-What made the Laker’s convincing win all the more impressive was the fact that it was achieved without the aid of bench production. Neither Shannon Brown nor Jordan Farmer were called upon to hit the big 3s that have punctuated both player’s respective playoffs, and Odom had as many fouls as points (5) which means that next game he’ll probably have a 20/20 outing. The Celtics bench was equally ineffective, but there is little hope for Boston fans that it was merely an aberration. Big Baby Davis tried hard but is simply too short to challenge the Lakers length, Rasheed Wallace is big enough to challenge the Lakers length but hasn’t tried hard since the last Football World Cup, Tony Allen has a bad ankle and a worse jump-shot, and Nate Robinson plays the same position as the Celtic’s best player.

I know it's only one game, but I am having a hard time believing that Phil Jackson's 47-0 record after winning Game 1 is about to come to an end. Lakers in 6.

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