A lopsided game one victory injected new life into Los Angeles' championship pursuit, while the Boston Celtics know they have to derail the Lakers at home before they can gain a psychological edge. Labelled as passive in a 102-89 loss, the Celtics will be seeking to get their edge back in today's game two at Staples Center arena. Boston forward Paul Pierce was one of the most vocal Celtics after game one both inside and outside the team's dressing room.
"You are talking about the last series in all the basketball for the grand prize," said Pierce at Friday's practice at the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo. "So if guys aren't willing to give it their all or sacrifice whatever they need to do at this point in the season, then shame on them truthfully." Celtics said on Friday they are not discouraged at losing the first game on the road as the talk centred on execution, performance and doing the little things on defence well.
"I know our execution is going to be there," said Pierce, who grew up in Los Angeles and is known as the Prince of Inglewood. "The defensive scheme is going to be there. But it's just about how hard and how willing you are to sacrifice your body to go out and do it for 48 minutes." A win today would give them a split in Los Angeles heading back to Boston for games three, four and five. A loss certainly would not improve their mood said power forward Kevin Garnett.
"I think we're all kind of distasteful at this time, knowing what's at stake and it being the finals," said Garnett said. "No one here has to come out and say a heroic speech or get in anyone's face. It's all self-explanatory." Heading into the finals, Garnett was Boston's leading rebounder (18.7 average per game) and was second in block shots with 11 in 17 games. He had just four rebounds and one block in game one and took the brunt of the criticism.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers rushed to defend his star player on Friday and took exception with Lakers Pau Gasol's comments on Thursday that he thinks Garnett has lost a step. "That's what Gasol said, that he (Garnett) can't do what he used to do. I don't think Kobe believes that. I don't think Kevin believes that," Rivers said. "He's not injured, I can tell you that. He just didn't have a good game."
Rivers then verbally blasted those who claim the Celtics, with three starters over the age of 30, are too old to run with the Lakers. "Well, I don't mind the two-day break at all," Rivers said the long rest between games. "For us a two-day break has to have some benefit, especially as you guys have all said we were old the last 24 hours. Hell, we need this break, we're so darned old." *AFP
