Twenty four point lead ain't no thang!

My dad always says that NBA games aren't worth watching until the fourth quarter. While that may be true for most games, (and strictly regarding results, last night counts too) I think Game Four could be appreciated that much more by watching that awful first half. Sure the Celtics looked fairly despondent after the first quarter but then they just started chipping away. You could sense it going into the fourth, and then, LEON POWE ties the game for the first time at 73 all.

He had another relatively quiet game stat-wise but with Perk and Rondo but hurt big time, the bench played quality ball while The Big Three took their play into the stratosphere. Powe was strong on the glass, Posey nailed some dagger three pointers, and House cooly ran the offense. I still can't believe that the Lakers put zero pressure on Eddie bringing the ball up the floor. Zen Master indeed.

By how does a team come back from two dozen on the road? Simple.

The Lakers didn't have home court advantage in their own arena.

It's a well known fact that LA crowds aren't the most boisterous in the league, but last night was embarrassing. Simmons talked about it after Game Three but Game Four was much, much worse. You can talk all you want about how these guys are grown men and should be focused on what's happening on the court. But if 19,000 of your "fans" are lifeless when the opposing team is mounting a ginormous comeback, it'll get to you. This Laker team is pretty soft as it is, but getting outscored 57-33 in the second half of a Finals game? Incredible. The crowd was like the bizarro Golden State crowd from last year when they beat Dallas. By the time Leon hit the tying shot, I think rigor mortis had set in.

I still remember watching the press conference introducing Kevin Garnett as a Boston Celtic. He, along with Pierce and Allen sat at the table with huge smiles on their faces. I thought how nothing short of getting to the Eastern Conference Finals would be a huuuuuge disappointment. After they put Detroit away in 6 games, it was sort of like playing with house money. Sure it would be great for those three to finally win a championship, but the West was just so dominant. Right? So here we are now. One game away from the greatest franchise in NBA history adding yet another banner to their already impressive collection. It's been a long road for Leon and I'm pretty stoked he's gotten to where he is. It's also been a long road for Pierce, Allen and Garnett. It would make quite the statement if they all came out and dominated Game Five. But I don't think anyone would be complaining if the Celtics won their 17th championship back on Causeway St. on Tuesday...

Leon's line from Game four:
9 minutes
3 points
5 rebounds
1-4 FG
1-2 FT
1 turnover



P.S. Ray Allen played the entire game. Holy crap!