DesignRJC

I should have turned the television off after the first quarter of Game 4 of the NBA finals.  I was just too enthralled by the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers were demolishing the Boston Celtics.  I wanted the Lakers to keep this intensity up and take their morale out.  As it turned out, it was just a false sense of security the 24 point lead the Lakers had had.

The Lakers riding on all their emotions came out tremendously.  Especially the once thought to be ‘confused’ Lamar Odom, came out going 6 of 6.  Once again, the Lakers had peaked too soon running on all cylinders too early in the game.  It went so smoothly that Kobe Bryant did not even have a field goal in the first half.  Perhaps all that distribution made KB24 too passive and when it came time to require his rhythm, he could not shoot at all.  (I got to give it up to the Boston defensive intensity and the never give up mentality).

These Lakers were not built for defense; and they so lacked effort as well.  They may be an offensive force running on all cylinders and capable of blowing any team in the league out; they are not able to hold their league.  This tends to remind me of the Phoenix Suns… big bummer.  Hate to say it, but the better team won out in Game 4.  It was a pure mental breakdown on the Lakers part, a lack of on the defensive effort as well in key plays of letting the Celtics get back into the game.  Another key is the Lakers did not play smart to keep their huge lead.  Instead of slowing the game down, running their plays, they kept shooting 3’s.  It did not fall for them any more and ball movement became stagnant, the crowd was quiet and Boston took advantage.

Time and time again, Kevin Garnett outplayed Gasol in the post.  Gasol cannot guard Garnett.  Period.

Ray Allen blew by his defender to get to the rim for easy layups.  Paul Pierce got to the line.  The Celtics found their touch in the end and the Lakers could not match the baskets nor get stops.

It is a huge upset.  The Lakers need to drain those wide open shots.  Gasol needs to make his freethrows and open jumpers.  If not, he needs to be somewhat effective in the post as opposed to trying to lay it up to feet from the basket and missing.  What happened to Odom?  He must have gotten confused again.

No more excuses; the game is played for 48 minutes, not the first 12.  There is no blame on why the Lakers lost and the Celtics did a wonderful job to win it.  I give it up to them.

The only blame here I can find is to blame it on broadcaster, ex-coach, Jeff Van Gundy for calling the game and series 2-2 after the first quarter.  He jinxed us and hope ABC takes him off the air.