The Truth hurts
Pierce returns from injury, Lakers feel pain
The 11th edition of a Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals - the first in 21 years - was renewed at TD Banknorth Garden June 5. There were reports the Celtics had limped into the matchup after two grinding seven-game series against Atlanta and Cleveland, followed by an equally difficult six-game series with Detroit, the only playoff team to beat the Celtics in Boston.
But the only limping Celtic was Paul Pierce after a third-quarter collapse. What followed, though, was legendary.
When teammate Kendrick Perkins ran into Pierce after trying to defend a Kobe Bryant drive, Pierce crumpled to the floor, holding his right knee. Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen carried Pierce off the floor and placed him in a wheelchair, which took him to the locker room.
"I thought that was it," Pierce said. "A lot of things [were] going through my mind. I thought I tore something. Once I heard the pop, and I couldn't move it at first, I thought that was it."
Exactly 1 minute 45 seconds later and in shades of Willis Reed in 1970 or Larry Bird in 1991, "The Truth" returned to hit two crucial 3-pointers in a 22-second span to give the Celtics a 75-71 lead, one they wouldn't relinquish in the 98-88 win. Pierce finished with 22 points, 11 after his injury.
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who was trying to win his NBA-record 10th title against the team that was once led by the coach who also has nine titles, late Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach, poked fun at Pierce's injury/comeback.
"You know, you don't know what happens," Jackson told reporters. "Guys can break a shoelace and go out, the pants break down, a drawstring falls apart."
Each team boasted a Big Three: The Celtics had Pierce; 2008 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett, and sharpshooter Ray Allen; the Lakers had 2008 MVP and three-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, 7-footer Pau Gasol, and former University of Rhode Island star Lamar Odom.
Led by Garnett's 24 points, Boston's trio combined for 65; Los Angeles's combined for 53, including 24 from Bryant.
Offense wasn't the key factor for the Celtics, though; their No. 1-ranked defense was.
The Lakers boasted the highest-scoring offense in the playoffs (105.9 points per game), while the Celtics had held teams to a playoff-best 87.3.
The Lakers' offense seemed to win the matchup early. In the first half, the Lakers scored 51 points behind 50 percent shooting and 11 free throws. But in the second half, the Celtics' defense dominated, holding the Lakers to just 37 points and 33 percent from the field. Boston held Los Angeles nearly 18 points below its average, allowed just three 3-pointers, and had a 46-33 advantage on the boards in establishing its home dominance.
