The 2010 NBA Finals, Game 7 Thread (Sports Thread #5) For 7/17/10
It's Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
The Keys
Work For Perk By Powing Pau
It's not just his 7 point, 7 rebound average that the Celtics will miss tonight from their injured center Kendrick Perkins. Gone from Doc Rivers' side is the stuff you don't see on the stat sheet. Weak side defending, clogging the lane, altering shots, and offering that key enforcer downlow that gave the Celtics the slight advantage in the paint, where the Lakers couldn't dominate them like they did their Western conference brethren through these playoffs.
Rahseed Wallace and Glen Davis must facilitate Kevin Garnett on Pau Gasol tonight, as well as containing the order ailing center in this series, Andrew Bynum, from getting off down low. The rebounding in this game will obviously be a telling factor at who will pop champagne and who will feel pain tonight.
Odom and Artest: The X-Factors:
Now with Perkins out for this game, it is paramount that the Lakers overwhelm the Celtics bigs down low with Lamar Odom. The 6'10 versatile man has got to have one of his best games ever tonight, especially with the Celtics down arguably their best rebounder and certainly their best defender down low.
And Ron Artest should certainly be thinking about snatching key rebounds himself to add just another man for the Celtics to think about boxing out tonight. Obviously though, Artest's main job always is whether he can contain Paul Pierce like he has down for 5 out of the 6 previous games in this series. You don't need me to tell you the importance of this matchup is key, as Pierce is a big game performer, always seeming to rise to the occasion in the intricate moments. The Lakers got Artest for these moments, so Kobe Bryant would not have to guard Pierce and tickle down a set of potential mismatchs for Boston. This match up will shape a lot of things in this game, especially.....
The Paint, The Paint, The Paint:
The all important aspect of tempo and who will have the crucial dominion over it is paramount to whether the Celtics will win title #18 or the lakers to win #16.
How many times will Rajon Rondo go to the basket? How many times will Kobe Bryant make sure not to be denied the lane? The relentless battle at controlling the interior tonight as been a key faucet for both of these now physical rugged teams (because you can say that about the Lakers now, surely.)
Prediction: Despite needing just needing one game to survive his loss, the absence of Perkins gives Gasol the further belief downlow that he can control the paint at the free throw line and down on the baseline with both fitness and his now improved power. Just on that factor alone disrupts the Celtics very capable ability to win on the road anywhere, at anytime, or any stage.
And with that facet, I do believe that loss will just be enough to allow the Lakers to win the paint tonight, control temp with sound shot selection from inside and at the 3-point line, force Rando to make enough jumpshots, and secure a massive 16th title tonight and 1st ever clinched in the Staples Center.
Final: Lakers 95, Celtics 88
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