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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The Lakers Know Powe's Name Now after dominating Game 2 (06-09-08)

Celtics Leon Powe Dominates Lakers in Game 2 of NBA Finals (06-09-08) 

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