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The Most anticipated game thus far for the 2008-2009 NBA Season between the hosting Los Angeles Lakers and visiting Boston Celtics was a game to remember. This Game was all that and more, and with something on the line and some meaning, the Lakers surprise most people by winning the basketball game 92-83. The Boston Celtics come into Staples center with a 19 game winning streak, but that streak stays at 19. Tremendous basketball game, and good basketball played by both teams, but other than playing spoiler to that winning streak, this game means little. Lakers fans continue to smile after the win, and it feels good yes to win this game, and especially not to have Boston winning 20 in a row. The Lakers win the Christmas Contest and everyone and their mom's were watching this game. And what a game. Lakers fans still remember the last time these two teams played so it was important to come out of this game with a new attitude, and I think the Lakers showed that.
This was a close game throughout, and both teams stars had there scoring spurts. The Celtics outscored the Lakers in the first quarter by one 24-23. The Lakers outscored the Celtics by seven 28-21 in the 2nd quarter to take a six point halftime lead. Still, the feeling is that Boston can score points at any time, so the feeling of the game for the Lakers was anxious while playing poised. The Celtics outscored the Lakers by two 22-20 in the 3rd, and the Lakers outscored the Celtics by five 21-16 in the 4th quarter to win the game 92-83. The Lakers won it by playing good defense and converting hoops in crunch time at 5 minutes left in the game. Pau Gasol, the Co-MVP of this 2008-2009 team played a strong charismatic game and his play and hustle, and most of all points in the paint late in the game was a big factor in this game for the Lakers getting the win to break that 19 game streak.
This game was more about and for pride the fact that Boston did come into Staples Center with that 19 game winning streak, and beating the Lakers in last years finals for the NBA/World Championship.
The first half for the Lakers the played well as a unit. Kobe Bryant leads all scorers with 27 points going 13-23 FG's, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists on 43 minutes played. Pau Gasol scores 20 points on 7-14 FG's and 6-6 FT's. The Lakers played well as a team, and made some crucial hoops off turnovers. Andrew Bynum who didn't play in last seasons finals was a big presence in the middle contesting shots and he scored 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocked shots. Luke Walton scores 8 points, Derek Fischer 6 points, Lamar Odom scores 10 points, Vujacic scores 10, and Ariza scores 2 points. The Lakers did it in spurts scoring on team defense/play, and making the extra pass. It was Kobe in the first half, and Pau Gasol down the stretch in the 4th.
For the Celtics, Pierce didn't start to score until the 2nd half, and that was a big factor for the Lakers defensively to win this game. Kevin Garnett in the second half starts to go off, and playing that KG style of basketball running up and down the court, getting rebounds, blocking shots, and running back on the other end to get the slam dunk. Garnett was all over the place getting that alioop, and other fast break points. Without James Posey, the Lakers seemed to match up better against their bench this game. KG scores 22, Pierce scores 20, Ray Allen scores 14, and Perkins gets 8 points. The Lakers shot the basketball 46.2%, and the Celtics shot the basketball at 46.8%. The Lakers go 36-78 while the Celtics go 36-77 FG's, but on the 3 point FG's the Lakers go 8-20 while the Celtics go 5-22. The Lakers go 12-15 from the free throw line and made some big FT's down the stretch while the Celtics 6-8 FT's. The Celtics out muscled the Lakers in the defensive paint I thought and from the stats out rebound the Lakers 40-35. The difference of the game comes down to turnovers where the Celtics turn the ball over 17 times to the Lakers 11. Some of that attributes to the good defense particularly Derek Fischer out on the floor giving up his body for those offensive fouls. There were 13 lead changes and 9 times this game was tied.  Although the Lakers win this game on Christmas 92-83, this game doesn't mean anything more than the Lakers ending that winning streak. Still in the back of the minds of the Lakers players and fans is the result of the game 6 feeling, and that doesn't just go away with a win on Christmas. Ya the Lakers won and it feels good, but there are some things I noticed that the Lakers can improve on and must improve on in order to compete against this same Celtics team if they do make the finals. The two teams will play at Boston Feb 5, 2009
(ref Thu 05 BOS vs LA Lakers [BUY TICKET] 8:00pm TNT
For Now, it's gotta hurt the Boston Celtics players, their coaches and their fans expecting to keep that winning streak going,coming into Staple Center expecting to win, and to get beat by whom else, the Los Angeles Lakers concluding that streak at 19. Now the Lakers have won 3 games in a row, win 7-9, and have Golden St. Sunday. When this game was over, it didn't feel as if it was really over. The Celtics lead the Eastern Conference with a 25-4 Standing. The Lakers lead the Western Conference with a 24-5 Standing
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(the Celtics just were defeated by the Warriors 99-89 Friday Night. Coach Jackson you need to beat the Warriors on Sunday in order to preserve the good win against Boston Christmas Day)
http://www.nba.com/lakers/
James Channels Late Night Entertainment Show 4 http://www.youtube.com/jamestownncarolina http://www.myspace.com/jamestowncalifornia
James Sports Links http://www.nba.com/dleague/anaheim/
James A. Joher Channels/Updates Daily for News, Sports, Entertainment, Radio Shows, Video Broadcast Comedy http://www.youtube.com/jamestowncalifornia Lakers/Sports/News http://www.youtube.com/jamestownncarolina
(Also a Note: Halftime Magic Johnson on the show tells the viewers his favorite five Lakers of all time naming West, Wilt, Kareem, Kobe, and Shaq. Magic snubs Big Game James Worthy in my opinion. Not counting Magic, I mean how can you have Shaq over Worthy for all time best Lakers. Worthy pound for pound is Top Five Lakers Player.
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