What a game 2 it was tongiht at STAPLES Center. Game started at 5 which was good on this Sunday night. Dodgers also played at 5 at home against the Phillies in a national TV game on ESPN. Game 2 of the NBA Finals and it was an amazing game in many different ways. This game was at least more well entertained than the boring game 1 blowout. I think the NBA set this game up so there would be more drama. Anyways Lakers won in overtime 101-96 and now take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.
1st quarter was so low scoring. 15-15 at the end of one and it was the lowest combined score in any quarter in NBA Finals history. No one could get their offense going and it was a slow start as both teams shot around 30%. Anyways both teams woke up eventually in the second quarter. At halftime, Lakers led by 5. Rashard Lewis kept the Magic in the game in the second quarter with 4 three pointers. Lamar kept Lakers in this one in 2nd quarter. In the third quarter, Lakers kind of let the Magic back into the game a bit and Lakers didn't play that well defensively but stuck in there down by 2 at the end of three.
Then the fourth quarter began and from that point on till the end, the score was within 6 points until Lakers pulled away late in overtime. Magic scored and the Lakers would repsond with a field goal. Lakers got lucky that Courtney Lee didn't toss in that lob to him with 0.6 seconds left in regulation. Lakers dominated in overtime and played good team basketball. Lakers played pretty good defense and didn't allow Magic to make many shots. Most of the Magic's shots were all tough.
Kobe Bryant had 29 pts 8 ast and had many good dishes to Pau Gasol down the stretch. Kobe had 23 pts in the second half. But he tried to do too much. That last play of regulation, if Kobe had passed it to Trevor Ariza, who knows what could've happened. Kobe made a bad gesture when he pointed his finger at Shannon Brown but its ok. This is Kobe's team and he responded well as a leader in leading the team in situations. Kobe was guarded pretty tightly by Magic defenders so it was tough for him which explains those turnovers he had.
Anyways, Lamar "Candyman" Odom played another good game, his 4th straight good game. L.O. finished with 19 pts and 8 reb. He help set the tone in the fourth quarter and second quarter by making many shots and driving aggressively to the basket. He had a nice play in the second quarter when he blocked J.J. Redick's layup as it appeared he couldn't get him. L.O. had 2 blocks.
Pau Gasol was consistent yet again with 21 pts 10 reb. His layup + 1 helped clinch the game for Lakers. Pau Gasol played good defense on Dwight Howard and made things tough on him. Trevor Ariza made a couple of threes and Derek Fisher nailed some shots. D-Fish had a nice charge in the second half. He is so good in taking charges. So the starters played pretty well overall with exception to Andrew Bynum, who was in foul trouble the whole game.
The refs looked a bit shaky again. On some plays when a foul was called on the Magic, it wasn't a foul but the refs did the same to Lakers so it became even. Such as the fourth quarter when Kobe drove and Hedo Turkolu tipped the ball out of bounds. But it was Magic ball. On the next play, there was a physical play in which a Laker player slapped at the Magic but no call. Free throws were in favor of Magic but they eventually made it pretty even down the stretch. But it wasn't too bad and they did a great job controlling the game and making it a great game to watch.
Lakers did not box out well enough today. Magic outrebounded L.A. 44-35 and had too many offensive rebounds. Also, Lakers were lucky that Magic missed some foul shots and had 20 turnovers and had a bad shooting game. For game 3, Lakers have to cut down on their turnovers and rebound better. Rebounding will be the key for game 3 to see if Lakers can put a damper on the Magic.
Bottomline, Lakers won so now its 2-0. Lakers are 2 wins away from their 15th NBA championship. So 14 down 2 to go for the championship. This game 2 was a true nail bitter and a real "Finals" game. Down to the wire. This is playoff basketball.
Game 3 in Orlando on Tuesday night at 6 on ABC. I picked Lakers in 6 and will stick to it. I think LA will lose game 3 but win game 4 and lose game 5 and close it out with game 6 win at STAPLES Center next next Tuesday.
Go Lakers! Almost there...
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