NBA Finals BIG 3?  Better make it the BIG 4!  Rajon Rondo out of the University of Kentucky is going to be a future all star point guard, his job isn't very hard this year but 16 assists and 2 turnovers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals is a good start.  Rondo has blown past expectations like he blows by defenders, dropping dimes like an inebriated cashier.  Boston now is up 2-0 in the NBA Finals after a big win on Sunday night over the LA Lakers, 108-102.  The Lakers were down 24 points with less than 8 minutes left, the Lakers got all the way to a 2 point game before Boston ended up winning.  This series goes to LA now for three games in a row, where the LA Lakers have not lost in this NBA Playoffs.  The oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com set the NBA Finals odds for the LA Lakers -9.5 favorites to Boston for NBA Finals Game 3.   

Celtics fans, stop saying this series is over, and remember what happen to the New England Patriots this year when they were perfect going into the Superbowl.  This series can easily go back to Boston 3-2 in the Lakers favor.  In Game 2, Boston had three amazing quarters, one terrible one.  The Lakers trailed 95-71 with 7:55 remaining but used a 31-9 run to pull to 104-102 on two free throws by Bryant with 38.4 seconds left.  LA's Sasha Vujacic had his shot blocked by Paul Pierce in the closing second and both Pierce and James Posey made two free throws to ice the game.  Some may wonder if the comeback at the end of the game was good for the Lakers.  The Lakers may use it for a confidence booster in Game 3, or could this be a wake up call for the Celtics?  If they want to put the Lakers away, they have to play all 4 quarters.  If Boston plays 48 minutes instead of 36 minutes there's no reason why they can't steal a game in LA.  "I think they learned a lot, because we are a young team and I think that shows you're never really out of a game," said Kobe Bryant, who scored 13 of his 30 points in the fourth and lit into his teammates with a parental discretion-advised tirade. "Think being down 24, if you find yourself down eight or 10, that's not something that should discourage you."

Boston outshot LA 37-9 from the free-throw line Sunday night.  Not to worry though, the Lakers will be getting all the calls in LA in Game 3 starting Tuesday night.  That way the series returns to Boston for Game 6.  Anyone who thinks that Sunday's game officiating wasn't horrendous needs to be hit in the face with a sledgehammer.  So many bad calls on both sides, calling ticky-tack fouls and then not calling obvious ones.  The Lakers are also banking on getting a lift on their home floor, where they are 8-0 in the postseason and unbeaten in 14 home games since March 28.  Who will win Game 3, will the Celtics take a commanding lead or the Lakers get back in the series?

NBA Angle plays for this NBA Finals Odds Matchup When LA LAKERS team played as a Home team - with 1 day off - After a non conference game - Coming off 2 ATS lost - Coming off a 2 game losing streak 11-1 SU in this spot.  When ANY NBA Team played as a -9.5 to -12.0 Home Favorite - with 1 day off - Scored between 101 - 105 POINTS FOR in their last game LA LAKERS 88-18 SU in this spot

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Did everyone know that Boston's Leon Powe, with 7:27 left in the NBA Finals game, was outscoring Kobe Bryant, 21-19?  In NBA Finals Game 2 when all the focus is usually on the BIG 3 and the league MVP Bryant, the attention was on Leon Powe getting his name chanted inside TD Banknorth Garden at the NBA Finals.  He only played 15 minutes and scored 21 points for the game, leading Boston to a 108-102 victory.  Powe, who played a total of 68 seconds during one stretch of 13 games during the season, scored six points to close a 15-2 run ending the third quarter that gave the Celtics a 22-point lead.  After the game Celtics coach Doc Rivers said "He was terrific."   The oddsmakers at sportsbetting.com currently have the LA Lakers -9 favorites to Boston heading into this NBA Finals Game 3.   

People don't know Powe because no one has talked about him this series.  He was a superstar in high school and his first year at Cal.  Powe was selected in the second round of the 2006 draft by the Denver Nuggets (with the 49th overall pick), and his rights were acquired by the Celtics on draft night in exchange for a future second-round pick.  You always have to be concerned with injuries, but I thought he would be an okay player coming out of the NBA Draft like a Detroit's Antonio McDyess or Abdur Rahim of the Sacramento Kings in his prime before he got hurt.  Powe is a hard worker on defense and on offense he is taking after Kevin Garnett.  After Game 2 Sunday night, when Jackson mispronounced Powe's name, it should be noted that the coach quickly corrected himself and apologized.  Jackson also pointed out that Powe had more free-throws then his whole team did for the whole game.  You have to give Leon Powe his props for the hustle, intensity, points, rebounds, and presence he established down low.  He was a beast in Game 2 and the Celtics would not have gotten it done without him.

Celtics fans chanted "Leon Powe! Leon Powe! Leon Powe!"  Who would have thought you'd ever hear those words shouted from the rafters by Boston fans? Powe? Powe?  After the game Powe had this to say to the media “I just know coach (Doc Rivers) called my number.”  Powe said. “He put me in the game and he called a couple post-ups for me, and I knew I had to deliver.”   We will see if he will continue to deliver in Game 3 on Tuesday night, and hopefully get some more minutes.

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Boston outshot LA 37-9 from the free-throw line.  I don't think I have ever seen an NBA playoff game where there was a 4 to 1 differential in free throws taken.  Celtics didn't just have the BEST defense in the NBA this year, they had one of the best defensive seasons in HISTORY!  LA has played Boston 4 times this year and Sunday night was probally the best they have played against Boston in those games.  Paul Pierce scored 28 points in the game, a lot of it has to do with Kobe's poor defense though.  All I have been hearing is how good Kobe is on defense, what a joke, Pierce dominated him again.

Disgusting win by Boston, the Lakers can go home with a lot of pride.  Celtics dominated the whole game only to blow a huge lead and almost lost.  They really can't be proud of this victory, final margin should have been 16, not 6.  On the positive side, Boston did manage to blow LA out of the water before their epic collapse, so Celtics can be confident that they can play with LA and pile on a big lead, and not just grind out a low-scoring win.  If Boston plays 48 minutes instead of 36 minutes there's no reason why they can't steal a game in LA.  If they are going to win in LA, Boston needs to come out with a ton of energy because LA is going to get the refs' whistles back home.

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After two days of rest, the 2008 NBA Finals resume, as the Celtics and Lakers will meet for Game 2 at the TD BanknNorth Garden tonight at 9:00 p.m. ET.  Pierce, who sprained his knee and made a dramatic return in Boston's series-opening win over the Los Angeles Lakers, after being carried off the floor in the second half, said Saturday that he will 'definitely' play in Game 2 on Sunday.  The Celtics kicked off their first NBA Finals appearance since 1987 in style, winning an eventful grind-out game on their home floor, 98-88. Boston fans were hit with a scare mid-third quarter, when Paul Pierce fell to the ground grimacing in pain, but the Celtics captain was not about to let his first Finals outing end that way.  Minutes after being wheeled out on a wheelchair Pierce came back into the game and brought energy to the Garden floor.  Moments later, number 34 assured his wellbeing with back-to-back three-point bombs to lift the moment to its furthest extremes.  The oddsmakers at bodoglife.com currently have the LA Lakers -1 favorites to Boston heading into this NBA Finals odds prediction. 

A Game 2 victory is crucial for the Celtics to obtain, as the following three games will be played at the Staples Center, where the Lakers have not lost a game since March 28.  The Celtics have proven they can win on the road, taking two games in Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals.  These are the LA Lakers and they haven't lost at home yet in these playoffs and all they want to do is take one in Boston and go home.  Celtics need this game tonight but it will be tough.  Anything is possible on the road, as we’ve learned this postseason.  Get your popcorn ready for a dogfight, folks.
 
All eyes will be on Paul Pierce tonight as the Celtics try to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the finals.  Three more wins and the Boston Celtics are going to make us all very, very happy.  After a thrilling Game 1 victory in the NBA Finals, there is a great deal to feel good about, particularly the play of Paul Pierce.  However, Pierce's near catastrophic knee injury had a lot of Celtics fans fearing the worst, but a Larry Legend sequel return to the floor five minutes later energizing the team and the fans to victory.  Kevin Garnett has promised to make amends for his poor finish, and Pierce is sure the ultra-intense KG will keep his word. "He's so hard on himself.  He wants to play the perfect game,"Pierce said.  "We're all like that in our ways.  And if a bad game is 24 points and 13 rebounds, I can't wait until he has a good game."

NBA Angle plays for this NBA Playoff Picks Matchup When LA LAKERS team Played as Road team as a Favorite - playing on Sunday - Last 4 years 9-2 SU in this spot.  When LA LAKERS team Played as Road team as a Favorite - After a non conference game - playing on Sunday 17-4 SU in this spot.

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