NBA Finals – Now Betting for Grins and Giggles

It isn’t very often one historic event takes place in a sporting event and Thursday night, two such things occurred in the absolutely most unlikely of circumstances. The Los Angeles Lakers played what was essentially a perfect first quarter, building a 35-14 lead after the first 12 minutes of Game Four. This was the largest point differential ever after one quarter of basketball in the NBA Finals. For Lakers fans, and those having wagered the -7.5-points, if only you could have seen what was ahead.

Approximately two hours later in real time (as opposed to surreal time for L.A. and Boston fans) the Celtics pulled off the greatest comeback in Finals history, coming back from 24 points to defeat, deflate and harpoon the Lakers 97-92. This for-the-ages comeback will be what defines these Boston Celtics and shows what the Lakers 2007-08 lacked, heart and character.

As the years pass, people either hang on to the past or embrace what is happening today, conveniently forgetting what they already knew. Many people have recently talked about Kobe Bryant as being as good as or better than Michael Jordan, because he played spectacular all season long, has been coldly efficient in the playoffs and become more of a team player. However, in three of four games in this series, Bryant has not been up to M.J.’s standards. It should be noted, nobody on this Lakers roster looks anything like Scottie Pippen, which certainly plays a factor, but Bryant has been defended incredibly well, being contested like a pork chop to a group of hungry dogs.

Let’s not kid ourselves, this series is OVER. Whether the Lakers muster enough gumption to show any heart is unknown, but they are not going to beat a Boston team, that plays better defense, has greater desire and like a shark, smells the blood in the water now.

What’s fascinating is the Lakers have only themselves to blame. Starting in the second quarter, after moving the ball deftly for cuts to the basket and easy scores, they started getting full of themselves, as Kobe and others drove down the lane and kicked out to open shooters for three point attempts. While they made a number of these shots in the first 18 minutes, the Lakers started settling for them. This style of offense is fine if you are Steve Nash and Phoenix playing the Clippers; however the Celtics are the best defensive team in the league and started forcing turnovers on sloppy passes and made a few shots of their own.

Suddenly, the Lakers were putting up shots like Russian weightlifters, clanging everything and losing confidence faster than Barry Zito. Paul Pierce was dud in Game 3, but he was the man on both ends of the floor in Game Four. Pierce was Boston’s leading scorer, shutdown Bryant and was emotional leader. Ray Allen only sat during timeouts, playing all 48 minutes and Kevin Garnett ruled the 10 feet under both baskets in all directions the last 24 minutes.

Boston is a seven-point road underdog at most wagering, yet after covering the first four games of this series and having 9-1 ATS record as dog of 5-10 points, would it be wise to go against them? The C’s are up to 28-6 against the supposedly superior Western Conference this entire season, covering last 13 of 16 games played.

The Lakers have already talked about just focusing on Game Five and not worrying about the rest of the series. Those purple and gold backers will even point to the L.A. being 19-8 ATS revenging a home loss. Yet in MSNBC Keith Olberman mad guy commentary style, there is no debating the Lakers are now 0-8 ATS versus defensive teams with a defense percentage of 43 percent or less this season. Nor can one argue Phil Jackson’s team is down to 2-6 ATS in last eight as favorites.

Somewhere, Red Auerbach is getting ready to light another victory cigar.