Kevin 'KG'/'Big Ticket' Garnett generated 4 blocked shots, 17 points, and a meager 3 rebounds.He went for 11 points and 8 rebounds-pretty good numbers for a player relegated to the bench at this later portion of his career.Members of the Celtics who shone most brightly include Rajon Rondo, Rasheed Wallace, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen.Rasheed Wallace stepped in for the Celtics' injured center, Kendrick Perkins, and hit another late 3 and shot 5 for 11 from the field.In the world of shooting percentages, 40-50% is generally considered 'good', 30th percentile shooting is 'bad', and anything less is eyebrow-raising-least of all, when it comes from the finest scoring shooting-guard in the NBA.It is pathetic that he gathered in only 3 rebounds, him being 7 feet tall and, historically, a great rebounder.Throughout the Finals, I had been making disparaging comments about them and showing little confidence in their ability to compete with the Lakers.In spite of great play from Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and their comrades, the Celtics lost to a just-slightly better Lakers team on Thursday.In traffic' rebounds are difficult to come by when your opponents are playing hard, as I can attest to from playing pick-up and intramural basketball.Teammate Ray Allen shot decently,
but chipped in 45 minutes of great, tough defense.Kobe Bryant played brilliantly as usual, if one can look past an atrocious 25% shooting percentage.Yet and still, Wallace fouled out the game, having committed 6 personal fouls, which makes me think that his propensity for fouling keeps him from playing more minutes.Expect to see several more little Kobes and Paus and Rons being born around mid-March in 20 The Los Angeles Lakers secured the most important victory of the year, defeating the Boston Celtics in the decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals, on Thursday evening.LA accomplished the feat with much assistance from Pau Gasol and Ron Artest, who had not been playing up to their true potentials in games prior.Not to mention, the man won the 2008 Finals MVP trophy against this opponent, thus knowing about the pressure of the moment and how to channel it properly.But he did just that.
The first thing I'd like to say regarding the victory of the Lakers is, congratulations to the Celtics.Relentless effort was expended by their players to grab rebounds 'in traffic'-meaning that the player had to jump up and grab the ball, fighting through outstretched arms of opponents.Throughout the night, he grabbed rebounds and ran the ball up the court, utilizing his good speed and the element of surprise.As for the comments made about the players, I do not, however, take back anything negative said about Glen 'Big Baby' Davis or Nate Robinson-each of whom played, at times, without class or respect for the game and their opponents.KG's effort may Chicago White sox Jersey have been there, but his positioning and explosiveness were not, apparently, when going for rebounds.Sure, it is the Finals-but nobody expects the opponent's point-guard to be trying to grab lots of offensive rebounds and score off of them.At times, they showed more 'grit', or demonstrations that they wanted to steal another Finals trophy from the Lakers, as in 20 Players dove on the floor to secure 50-50 balls [a soccer term that is somewhat more appropriate than 'loose balls' --DB].He shot 8 for 13 from the field.Paul Pierce chucked up the ball many-a-time to create 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds.
For a defense-intensive game, these are great statistics.However, the Celtics were completely capable of playing at a high level against the Lakers, often overmatching Wholesale MLB Jerseys them with superior rebounding, hustle, and scoring.Rondo hit a late 3-pointer that narrowed the gap to -2 in the closing seconds of the game, and in the process induced severe strain on my heart.
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