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http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/204116
The Los Angeles Lakers come into Game 4 going for the 2-2 series tie, and had an opportunity to do so, but flat out blow this game Thursday Night as the Celtics comeback from a 24 point first quarter deficit get the "W" 97-91. This game was "unbelievable". The Lakers come out hot in the first quarter go up 20-6, 24-7 on two 3 pointers by Radmanovic early. The Celtics miss 8 straight shots in that stretch. KG gets two early fouls in the 1st quarter, and the Lakers offensively were making the transition hoops. Everything was looking good, the Lakers were looking good. Lamar Odom comes out on fire running the floor going 5-5 FG's early. The Lakers take a 35-14 first quarter lead, and 21 points were the most points a team has ever led by in the 1st quarter in NBA Finals history. The Lakers take a 37-14 lead on a Ariza dunk. Early in the game the Lakers bench players were playing well.
In the 2nd quarter, the Celtics go on a 12-0 run to bring the score at 45-33. Fisher makes a hoop for the 3 point play opportunity gives the Lakers a 47-33 lead at 2:36. The Lakers at the half lead 58-40 by 18, and Lakers fans all carried smiles expecting that this series is going to be at 2-2. The Lakers were outscored the 2nd quarter 26-23. The Lakers in the 3rd quarter go up 68-48, and it was just a matter of playing better defense to close this game out. Instead, the Celtics go on an "unbelievable" 21-3 run, like lightning, and the score goes from Lakers 72-61, by 11 to 73-71. It was "nervous time" (ref C Hearn-Laker Broadcaster).
The Celtics defense forced the Lakers players to miss their field goals, and at 73-73 Powes hoop ties this game Game 4. The Lakers during that stretch missed on 9 straight positions.
Paul Pierce for the Celtics made some key drives to the hoop, one that was for a 3 point play on the lay up. Ray Allen was also a key factor in this ball game. Kevin Garnett was starting to play more of an inside game, and made some hoops on the low post, in the paint, and on defense was strong. The Lakers were unable to make the outside shots, nor were they affective inside against the front court of the Celtics with KG, Perkins, and Posey all contesting the shots. Early in the game, the Lakers challenged the Celtics to make the outside shots. In the 2nd half, the Lakers were unable to contain the Celtics in the half court game, and off Lakers turnovers, the Celtics on the break played incredible. Coach Rivers continued to motivate the Celtics never giving up in this game, and the Celtics found a way to stay close in this game.
The Lakers lead 75-73, and the Celtics tie the game at 75-75. It was a back and forth game, an in your face game, offensive/defense, Pierce and Allen, KG, going up against Lakers defenders with high percentage shots making the big hoops in the 4th quarter. Kobe scores on offense on a drive as the Lakers go up 77-75. KG comes back on a turn around and at 7:10 left in the game, this game was tied at 77. Lamar comes back to score giving the Lakers a 79-77, so the Lakers were fighting off the Celtics during that stretch. Lakers go up by 4 on a Kobe Bryant fast break dunk making the score 81-77 at 5:47.
The biggest hoop of the game comes next where Posey scores from the left baseline for three points falling away on an assist from the extra pass. The Celtics swing the ball to Posey for 3, and the score at 5:17 goes 81-80. Gasol comes back to score at 4:55 score goes to 83-80.
KG comes back strong and draws a foul on the play, scores both free throws makes the score 83-82 at 4:45.
The first lead in the game for the Celtics comes at 4:07 on House's make for his 10th point score at 84-83 the Celtics hold the Lakers on defense. Ray Allen, who played a marvelous game including playing all 48 minutes, scores on an up and under lay up putting the Celtics up by three 86-83. The strength of the Celtics defense making plays on steals, strips, loose balls, and being intimidating inside were all key factors why the Lakers were unable to make field goals when they needed to late in the game. KG comes back to score puts the Celtics up 88-83 at 2:10 left in the game where Boston went on an 8-0 run. That 5 point lead was the cushion the Celtics needed to hold off the Lakers late in the game after making that miraculous comeback after 68-48. The Celtics went on runs in the first half being down as much as 24 points, but the Lakers would come back with runs of their own. Late in the game, it was not the case.
Kobe gets fouled at 2:03 and makes both free throws brings the score to 88-85 taking off only a few seconds, Kobe for his 15 point at 5-18 FG's. Pierce comes back for the Celtics and draws a foul scores one of two brings the score to 89-85. Kobe comes back on offense to make the hoop brings the Lakers within 2, 89-87 with 1:30. The Lakers needed a stop.
Instead, it was lightning striking twice, James Posey, from the corner again left side makes a three pointer for his 18 point. Derek Fisher comes back for the Lakers and it looked like a three, but it was a two. His foot was on the line, Fishers hoop brings the Lakers down three points 92-89 at :57 seconds left. Kobe makes an assist to Gasol for the dunk and the Celtics lead 94-91. Ray Allen scores right back on a lay up for his 19 point ices the game for Boston leads 96-91.
Lakers Blow Game 4. The Lakers needed to win Game 4 to bring the series 2-2, but instead it is the Celtics who get the "W" 97-91 and take a 3-1 NBA Finals series lead. The Lakers totally, totally, totally, totally, totally, totally, totally laid an egg after 68-48 in Game 4 and "Blow" a golden opportunity this series to give the team a chance to win. The Celtics won on Heart, won as a team from the Big 3 to the bench players come back Game 4 and now have a 3-1 series lead. No team has ever come back from a 3-1 series lead in the finals. The way the Lakers played Thursday Night was unbelievable playing so well in the first half, then to play so rotten in the second half laid an egg this game get beat by 6 points.
re box scores http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=280612013
Highs for the Lakers: Kobe Bryant scores 17 points, Lamar Odom scores 19 points on 8-11 FG's but late in the game was not a factor, Gasol scores 17, Fisher scores 13, Radmanovic scores 10. Both Odom and Gasol get 10 rebounds. The Lakers bench production scores 15 points. For the Celtics: Pierce scores 20 points, Allen scores 19/9 rebounds, K Garnett scores 16/11 rebounds, Posey scores 18, and House scores 11 points. The Celtics bench outscored the Lakers bench by twenty points 35-15. The Lakers were outscored 31-15 in the 3rd quarter, and
26-18 in the 4th quarter. The Lakers are down 3-1. Game 5 Sunday at Staples Center 6pm PT.
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http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/204116