Pre-Game Report:
Thursday night’s game 4 is a make or break game for the 2008 Finals. It may appear that all the pressure is on Kobe Bryant in this game to lead the comeback, and after his 36 point performance in game 3, the stage is set. I feel the pressure is NOT on Kobe, but it is on #16 Pau Gasol… Kobe will do his part night after night, he needs his teammates to step up tonight and help carry them to a victory. Pau Gasol had an obismal performance in game 3 after finishing 3-9 shooting and 3-8 at the line. For the celtics, KG can’t hit that jump shot he insists on hitting shot after shot. Pierce and Ray will do their job, but the matchup between KG and Gasol is the depending factor.
Prediction: If Pau Gasol scores 17+ Lakers and hold Garnett under 17, the Lakers win.
Halftime Report:
With the lakers leading by 17 at halftime, everything has gone right for them. The momentum is with the Lakers after that 25 foot 3 point buzzer beater. Lamar Odom has 15 first half points while shooting 7-7 and 1-2 from the free throw line, he has finally came out of his shell in game 4 of the series. Kobe has 3 points while shooting 0-4 from the field, and 3-4 from the line. Kobe has been effective from other parts of the floor this first half, 4 steals and 6 assists. The second leading scorer of the Lakers is Pau Gasol, scoring 10 points and 6 boards. In game 3 Odom and Gasol combined for 13 points, in the first half alone, they combine for 25.
For the Celtics, it feels they have not even shown up…. They were chasing a 21 point first quarter deficit the entire second quarter. Posey is leading the Celtics with 10 points, while 6 of them are from outside the arch. Ray Allen has contributed 9 points, while Pierce only has 6. Kevin Garnett also has 6 points in the half, also grabbing 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
At this point, I can’t see the Celtics making a comeback, It seems that they forgot there game back in Boston.
Second Half Report:
I guess I was wrong….
After being down by as much as 24 in the first half, the Celtics made an unbelievable 17-3 run, and eventually tied the game up at 77 with about 6 minutes remaining in the game. The Celtics took their first lead of the game with 4 minutes remaining from a 18 foot jumper from substitute Eddie House who is one of the factors in this in-the-making comeback. With 2:10 minutes remaining in the game and the Celtics up by 5, I would love to see the Celtics pull off this win. This is in the making to be one of the greatest comebacks in NBA finals history. Lakers cut the lead to 2 with 1:30 left in the game with Kobe driving the lane, and a great shot by Posey for a 3 pointer to push the lead back to 5. A crucial shot by Fisher was called a 2 pointer due to the fact that his foot was on the line. Fisher’s decision could come back to hurt them in the ending. Pierce nailed to nerve wrecking free throws to pus the lead back to 5 again. Pau Gasol dunked the ball, and then Ray Allen came back with a unbelievable drive to the basket after calling an Iso.
Final Thoughts:
The Celtics Just pulled off the second greatest comeback in NBA finals history. This was an unbelievable game to watch, I feel bad for those that turned the game off at halftime. Celtics now lead the series 3-1, and have dominating control in one of the greatest rivalries in NBA history. It is going to be a rough road for the Lakers to make a comeback after this devastating loss. Finally, my bold prediction of Lakers winning of Gasol had 17+ and Garnett under 17 seemed to fail. As Gasol finished with 17 and Garnett finished with 16…
Celtics 97 - Lakers 91
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