2008 NBA Finals, Game 5 Coverage

Delivering sports news, team/player info & the latest jerseys.

Home » NBA

2008 NBA Finals, Game 5 Coverage – Lakers & Celtics

15 June 2008 25 views

Ongoing coverage of the 2008 NBA Finals, Game 5:

Final result: Lakers force Game 6 after a tough showing on their homecourt. After nearly blowing a huge lead again, they held on in the end and delivered in a must-win game.

1st half…

Lakers take huge lead again, reminiscent of Game 4. As in that game, LA has already given up most of the lead and were fightining for their life late in the 2nd quarter. The entered the half w/ the lead, but just barely.

Kobe Bryant was on fire in the 1st quarter, but didn’t score in the 2nd. For Paul Pierce, it was just about the opposite… he scored very little in the 1st and took over in the 2nd. Lamar Odom has gotten a few layups from high pick ‘n rolls w/ Kobe and Pau Gasol, but other than that, he’s been playing about the same. The Lakers looked super-aggressive in the 1st quarter, led by Kobe, but went more than 5 minutes in the 2nd quarter without scoring.

The Celtics defense improved greatly in the 2nd quarter – one big reason the Lakers couldn’t score. Kevin Garnett was playing well early (8 pts), but got in foul trouble and played minimal minutes – only 13 seconds in 2nd quarter. He as 3 fouls (should be 2), so it will be interesting to see how LA attacks him and tries to get him out of the game. What’s really interesting, however, is that Kobe and the Lakers gave up the lead w/ Garnett on the bench.

Halftime show featured a story on Bill Walton and son Luke Walton. Seriously, they could have just done a story on Luke and I would’ve been happy. Is Bill Walton semi-mental? Granted it’s Father’s Day, but what a sappy ass monologue to his son. Btw… did you see the look on Luke’s face, like “do I really have to be here”?

2nd half just starting…

8:00 remaining in 3rd quarter; Celtics tie the game at 62.

7:16 remaining in 3rd quarter; Garnett picks up 4th personal foul… stays in the game. Gasol fouled on the shot & hits free throw. Lakers up 65-62.

6:50 remaining in 3rd; Garnett travels and turns the ball over. Lakers miss, Pierce delivers on the other end – has 24 pts and has played entire game.

Celtics are getting a lot of calls on charges, including two late incidents involving Kobe Bryant (4 fouls). Very questionable calls – 2 involving James Posey (who was still moving).

5:00 remaining in 3rd; Radmanovic hits 3-pointer on 6-0 Laker run. LA leads 71-64.

Lakers looking at 9 point lead entering the final quarter; they have maintained control of the 3rd quarter and kept the Celtics from taking over. This is the first time in the series that LA has outplayed Boston in the 3rd quarter. Much of the credit should go to Gasol for some “tough” play in the paint – yes, tough is a subjective term when discussing Pau-Pau

4th quarter…

Kobe has struggled scoring so far since the 1st quarter – only 3 points since. Coach Phil Jackson indicates that Kobe just needs to find his shots and figure out a better way to stop the Celtics D’ on him.

11:47 remaining in 4th; Immediately, Pierce drives in the paint and gets fouled by Odom… Odom also took a knee to the groin (ouch!). Pierce continues to attack the basket at will – the Lakers have had no answer for him.

11:04 remaining in 4th; Lamar Odom hits huge 3-pointer to give Lakers 84-72 lead.

10:00 remaining in 4th; After several exchanged layups by both teams, Pau Gasol blocks layup attempt by Ray Allen and draws the foul after rebounding the ball.

8:50 remaining in 4th; Sam Cassell abuses Jordan Farmar in the post, but Lakers still lead 88-76. Cassell wrestles Vujacic for a jump-ball on the next possession – pulled down by Kobe. Vujacic gets great look at 3-pointer, but ball spins in & out.

8:04 remaining in 4th; Cassell on Farmar once again, sells the ball fake, gets the contact and knocks down the jumper. In 11 minutes, Sam-I-Am has 9 points.

7:40 remaining in 4th; Kobe gets first points of the 4th quarter on 2-pt shot from deep.

Very physical game – a lot of no-calls on both sides of the ball. Great game to watch on a Father’s Day. The rebounding advantage appears to be on the Lakers’ side, but the Celtics are holding their own.

6:22 remaining in game; Pierce (falls) flops over Luke Walton after Walton hits the floor. Pierce hits both free throws, but Lakers still lead 90-83.

5:44 remaining in 4th; Pierce trips in the lane, but dishes to James Posey outside, who drains the 3-pointer.

Two quick turnovers by the Lakers have Boston right back in the game, only down by 4 points. Give credit to Paul Pierce for some great defense on Kobe and for his aggressiveness on offense.

About 4 minutes left in the game and the Celtics have come back from 14 down, to tie the game. Gasol followed up w/ a shot over Garnett and KG is at the line for a 92-91 score.

3:37 remaining in 4th; Garnett is called for his 5th foul away from the ball. On the inbounds, Bryant drives and draws Pierce’s 5th foul as well. There is enough time remaining for LA to continue attacking and get at least one of them to foul out, but I don’t think they’ll be aggressive enough to get it done.

Kobe Bryant is only 1-8 since the 1st quarter and has only scored 5 points since then; give a lot of credit to Pierce and the help defense on trapping and preventing Kobe from scoring. Bryant has done a good job, however, of passing the ball and getting easy shots for his teammates.

3:07 remaining in 4th; Kobe pokes the ball away from Pierce and Derek Fisher goes on the break for a layup, but gets fouled. Fisher only makes 1 of 2 foul shots. Lakers up 95-91.

2:56 remaining in 4th; Pierce gets fouled on the drive and hits 2 free throws. Paul has played the entire game.

2:31 in 4th; Gasol does like 50 moves on Garnett and still misses the close shot. KG is fouled on the rebound and misses both foul shots – he is 1-4 from the line in the 4th quarter. Lakers up 95-93.

Under 2 minutes to go and fans are on their feet. Kobe dribbles down the clock and takes an off-balance floater in the lane, but misses. Gasol rebounds and passes out to Fisher w/ a new 24-second clock. After a missed shot, Odom picks up the foul and Paul Pierce goes to the line.

1:14 in 4th; Pierce hits 2 foul shots to bring Celtics within 2 points, 97-95. Pierce has 38 pts.

37.4 seconds left in 4th; HUGE steal by Kobe Bryant leads to a two-hand dunk on the other end. Posey chased him, but couldn’t catch up in time to make a play. Lakers up 99-95.

Celtics looking to go for a 2-for-1 opportunity to close out the game. The Lakers are already in the penalty, so they cannot foul. After a missed shot, Odom rebounds and gets trapped by Celtics players, nearly turning the ball over, but the Lakers will get the ball w/ about 26 seconds left. Paul Pierce fouls out of the game on the play.

24.8 seconds left in 4th; Celtics immediately foul Fisher on the inbounds and send him to the line. Fisher makes 1 of 2 free throws to give the LA a 5 pt lead, 100-95.

16.7 seconds left in 4th; After a 3-point miss by Eddie House, Gasol rebounds and outlets to Kobe. After crossing halfcourt, Ray Allen fouls Bryant – it was Allen’s 6th foul and he’s out of the game. Kobe hits 1 of 2 free throws for a 101-95 lead.

14.3 seconds left in 4th; Eddie House hits a fadeaway 3-pointer from the corner. Inbounds nearly stolen by Celtics, but Fisher ends up with th ball and is fouled a few seconds later. Fisher hits both free throws for 103-98 lead.

9 seconds left in 4th; Derek Fisher steals the inbounds and runs out the clock.

Lakers win 103-98 in Game 5 of the 2008 NBA Finals.