From hero to heel

Boston Celtics star Ray Allen was sensational in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, scoring 32 points to lead coach Doc Rivers’ troops to a 103-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center last Sunday. He hit 8-of-11 triples to punctuate his explosion.

Lakers guard Derek Fisher took a lot of flak from LA partisans for failing to stifle Allen. Because Lakers coach Phil Jackson likes to put Kobe Bryant on Rajan Rondo, Fisher is matched up against Allen in the title series even if he’s four inches shorter. Paul Pierce, playing small forward, is defended by Ron Artest.

In Game 2, Bryant and Shannon Brown had their turns to guard Allen who was held to just five points in the second half. But on the whole, it was Fisher against Allen and the 35-year-old veteran, the Lakers senior statesman, was burned at the stake. Worse, Fisher contributed only six points in 34:40 minutes and the other man he was assigned to, Rondo, delivered a triple double.

So in Game 3 last Tuesday, Fisher had a point to prove, particularly as his contract is expiring. He’s in his 14th NBA season like Bryant and Fisher isn’t thinking retirement just yet. Fisher and Bryant were both drafted in 1996. Bryant was the 13th overall pick by Charlotte and Fisher, the 24th by the Lakers. They wound up as rookies on the same LA squad after Bryant was traded.

Jackson’s cross-matching has created some confusion with the Celtics. Rivers prefers Allen on Bryant and Rondo on Fisher to even up the size issue but in the mix-up, they sometimes fall into the trap of the Lakers matchups. That’s why there are instances when Bryant and Fisher break free to score. Additionally, Jackson uses a lot of motion in the halfcourt and picks create defensive switches where the Lakers are at an advantage.

Fisher was dead-set to stop Allen at all costs and got the job done in Game 3. Allen was hounded by Fisher from the start. Bryant and Brown also tracked Allen but it was Fisher who took the assignment like a soldier on a mission. Allen fired blanks all game long, finishing with only two points on free throws. He was 0-of-13 from the field, 0-of-8 from three-point distance.

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Boston’s consolation was with 7:57 to play, the Celtics trailed by just a point and Allen hadn’t scored a field goal. But Allen did worse than just not scoring. He caused a turnover when the Celtics had a chance to take over the lead in the fourth period. And he failed to stop Fisher who scored back-to-back baskets to make it 76-70 for the Lakers, time down to about five minutes.

Late in the contest, Kevin Garnett was whistled for a moving pick which allowed Allen to go for an uncontested layup. Alas, Allen missed with the left hand although the basket wouldn’t have counted if he made it.

Fisher ended up with 16 points, 11 in the fourth period, as he put the Lakers on his back and left Allen biting the dust. He was emotional after the game, expressing his love for the game, his teammates and the Lakers organization. It was almost an appeal to be renewed. For what it was worth, Fisher looked like he earned another contract as the Lakers won, 91-84.

Jackson made a key adjustment in Game 3 by going to his bench earlier than usual. He brought in Luke Walton, Lamar Odom and Brown in the first period. Odom, playing four, was paired with Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in separate combinations. Jackson probably thinks Odom is too much of a finesse type to play physical defense on Pierce at the three-spot. Just the same, Odom earned his minutes in Game 3, contributing 12 points, including a triple. In Game 1, he had five points in 21:17 minutes. In Game 2, Odom scored three points in 14:38. In Game 3, he logged 27:51 minutes.

The Celtics could’ve still pulled it off but lacked the poise to close out the Lakers down the stretch. Boston started like a house on fire, erecting a 6-0 lead then fell behind by 17 at 37-20 on Odom’s bucket. Slowly, the Celtics chipped away at the deficit, finally bringing it down to one twice, 68-67 and 70-69, in the fourth quarter. Garnett converted to slice it to 82-80, with 1:59 to go, but Bryant scored and Fisher completed a three-point play to settle the outcome with 48.3 seconds left.

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Jackson was masterful in controlling the matchups and setting the pace of the game. The Lakers won the battle of the boards, had less turnovers and shot at a higher clip from the field, .447 and .438. LA also scored five more free throws as Boston missed eight and the Lakers, only three.

Bryant compiled 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists but got a huge lift from Fisher, Gasol with 13 points, Odom and Bynum with nine points. Gasol and Bynum had 10 rebounds apiece. Garnett was Boston’s bright spot with 25 points. Rondo went from 19 points in Game 2 to only 11.

Now, the Celtics are in a must-win situation in Game 4 this morning (Manila time). Another Lakers win will put Boston in a 1-3 hole with LA gaining three chances to clinch, twice at home. 

Moving into the three middle games, the consensus was the Lakers would win at least once on the road. LA did it in Game 3. Boston can’t afford to lose another one at home. The Celtics must win not only Game 4 but also Game 5 to get a chance to clinch in Game 6 at the Staples Center. To return to LA just a loss away from a eulogy would be almost like signing a death warrant. If there’s such a thing as Celtic Pride, the men in green must show it in Game 4 or else.

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