On The Door Step : 2010 NBA Finals

At this point in the game (Celtics up 3-2) the finals have come to the same conclusion that they did two years ago. Everyone loved the Lakers going in and are suddenly bewildered by the fact that the Celtics have taken a scary lead. Coming in everyone thought Kobe and his crew were rolling to fast and looked to good for the old, tired, not-quite-world-beating Celtics. Well the problem is people can't seem to realize the Celtics have an army of guys who are confident with the ball, can make their own shot, and defend like their careers depend on it. The Lakers have good pieces, some really smart players, a quality defense, but when things start to look sketchy the ultimate Alpha Dog Kobe decides he needs the ball and all the other Lakers shrivel up an lose their confidence.

The announcers pretty much foreshadowed what the second half of last nights game was gonna be. Kobe needed to dominate. Why? Hasn't anyone learned anything from Kobe's domination? When he dominates it is him with the ball, ruling the roost. The difference between him and Artest is that Kobe makes shots. Players freak out and lose confidence when Artest gets the ball because he is a black hole and will miss shot after shot. Kobe does the inverse; players sitback and watch him dominate completely forgetting they are in the game. It's almost like hypnotism. They don't even realize they aren't gonna get the ball back because they have supreme confidence that Kobe is gonna make his shot. Then all of sudden when Kobe has iced everyone on his team because he's hit 17 shots in a row for his team without facilitating anyone else no one understands why the role players are bricking up a 100 shots? Come on.

Artest 2 for 9, Gasol 5 for 12, Fisher 2 for 9

As a Bulls fan this team puts me in a tough spot. I hate the Lakers but it's hard to not love Kobe's skill and Phil Jackson will always have a soft spot in my heart for the six rings he won in Chicago, but he is coaching like a fool. You cannot let Kobe try and win the game in the 3rd quarter. He may hit 20 shots in a row but it kills the rhythm of everyone else on the floor. Fish and Gasol are good and letting Kobe do what he wants is wasting their talents and advantages. I still think this team could steamroll if Pau was the #1 option. Take it to the paint and let the undersized Celtics foul him all night. Instead Phil pushed his team from down 6 at the half, to down 13 going into the 4th.

I hate to go there but I think MJ and Lebron are the perfect example. In the third you play team ball and let the other team worry about when the superstar is gonna unleash his wrath. If let the bull out of its pen before it is necessary, the opposing team could weather his assault and gain confidence. You want that tension and worry to last until it's showtime in the 4th quater. Phil iced his own team and instead of understanding that he called the Celtics brutes and lucky. Say what you will but they are a game away from winning and now your entire roster is gonna be anxious in the definition of a "must win" game 6.

Go Celtics.