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Lakers force NBA Finals back to Boston
Lakers force NBA Finals back to Boston
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angles Lakers didn't blow it this time, though they certainly seemed to try to let the Boston Celtics end the NBA Finals in Game 5 by allowing two big leads to slip away. Now the series shifts back to Beantown with the Celts still just a game away from claiming their 17th NBA Championship. Boston remains the bettors' favorite with ATS wins in all five contests to date.
Kelly green is the new color of money.
The Boston Celtics have beaten the Los Angeles Lakers against the spread in each of the five games during this year’s NBA Finals. The Lakers ensured there would be a Game 6 in this series with a 103-98 victory, but it was Boston defying the betting odds as a 7½-point road dog.
That’s not the only pattern emerging from the Finals. Just like Game 4, Sunday’s matchup saw the Lakers build up a massive first-quarter lead (17 points this time) only to fritter it away. Then Los Angeles went ahead by 14 points in the fourth quarter. On cue, the Celtics tore off a 16-2 run to tie the game with less than five minutes remaining. But they never did take the lead down the stretch.
There’s very little motivation for handicappers to switch allegiances at this point. Boston got paid Sunday even with Kendrick Perkins (shoulder) missing the game and Rajon Rondo (ankle) playing all of 15 minutes. That’s testament to both the strength of the Celtics bench and their Big Three. Paul Pierce had 38 points in Game 5, Kevin Garnett had another double-double, and Ray Allen was 3-for-8 from downtown. Textbook offense for the C’s.
At the other end, Kobe Bryant had 15 points in the first quarter but only 10 the rest of the way, finishing the night 8-for-21 from the field. Bryant attempted seven free throws compared to 19 for Pierce. However, the league MVP did connect on four of nine 3-pointers, and his five steals included the decisive picking of Pierce’s pocket with 40 seconds remaining.
Boston supporters will be even more encouraged to bet on the home side after the Celtics opened as rather small 4-point favorites for Tuesday’s Game 6. That’s up marginally from the three points the C’s laid during the series opener at the Garden. The total edges upward to 193½ after Sunday’s matchup went over 192; the Under is still ahead at 3-2 in the series.
Los Angeles has taken a serious beating in the press since coughing up a 24-point lead in Game 4. That drumbeat of criticism didn’t stop in Game 5; it only grew louder when Chris Mihm made his postseason debut. The oft-injured center played his first three minutes of the postseason, picked up two quick fouls, and went back to the bench.
If there is a case to be made for supporting the Lakers (and there’s always a case for both teams), it’s based almost entirely on the value generated by this misguided criticism. Mihm was on the floor with the Lakers reserves at the start of the second quarter with Bryant taking his customary rest. The Celtics outscored Los Angeles 10-2 during those three minutes; Pierce had eight of those points as he played virtually the entire game. That extra workload may add to Pierce’s legacy, but it will also take away from what he can offer Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, as much as Bryant’s image in the media has improved (enough to win the MVP for the first time), now he’s questioned for not being a finisher like Michael Jordan was when the Bulls were winning six NBA titles. This is a giant red herring. Bryant’s Lakers and Jordan’s Bulls are simply not the same collection of players; more importantly, none of the teams the Bulls beat in the Finals was nearly as good as these Celtics.
The tenor of the media coverage between now and Tuesday night will play a significant role in the betting patterns for Game 6. Continued Laker bashing will only enhance their value. But like many things in Los Angeles, the Lakers could use a lot of enhancement.
Game time is 9:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC.
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Originally Posted by Tsoprano
