2 down and 2 more to go for the sweep will they do it ?
Paul Pierce's knee wasn't 100 percent. But he sure played like it was. Pierce fired off 28 points, including two key free throws with 22.8 seconds left as the Celtics held off a late comeback from the Lakers for a 108-102 Game 2 home win Sunday and a 2-0 series lead.
For Pierce, you'd have never guessed he couldn't bend his knee all the way just two days prior. The good vibes from Game 1 kept flowing as he shot 9-of-16 and 4-of-4 from downtown on his way to a team leading 28 points. Since many of Pierce's outside shots were catch-and-shoots, the verdict is still out on his ability to physically elevate off the knee.
Leon Powe, the Celtics' second-year power forward, scored 21 points in 15 minutes off the bench, pushing his team to a 108-102 victory over the Lakers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Powe nailed six of seven shots from the low post and garnered 13 free throws from his repeated assaults upon the basket.
Over the course of the fourth quarter, with Bryant egging his team on, the Lakers slowly chipped away at the Celtics' sizable advantage, reducing it to single digits by the two-minute mark. The lead dropped to four with a minute remaining, but the Celtics had possession and time to draw up their next play. The best laid plans fell through, however, as Rajon Rondo subsequently launched an off-target jumper with the shot clock winding down. Bryant collected the rebound, and, drawing a foul from Paul Pierce on the other end, cut the lead to 104-102. Pierce then put the Celtics back up by four with two clutch freebies of his own.
I can't help but wonder if Red Auerbach is watching from above and he is proud as he's ever been of his team. (Go Celtics)
The 131-92 win of the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night ended a 22-year championship drought for Boston. But “drought” is a relative term here.
On Thursday, they were treated like royalty in Boston, complete with the now obligatory Duck Boat tour and parade through the meandering downtown streets to celebrate their 17th NBA championship.
(L-R) Legend Bill Russell, Ray Allen #20, Head Coach Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett #5,and Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics pose for a portrait with the Larry O'Brien trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 17, 2008 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
