Green means stop
BOSTON -- The legends and the history were no longer part of the story, a rivalry peeled away to reveal modern-day gaps between two fabled franchises.
The Boston Celtics were physical and resolute.
The Lakers were not.
The result became predictable, a 98-88 Celtics victory in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
The Lakers were outrebounded, outhustled and outdone on the plot lines, Paul Pierce’s return from what looked like a serious knee injury carrying the night Thursday at TD Banknorth Garden.
The Lakers didn’t lose a Game 1 while cruising through the Western Conference, but this was different, in case the hauntingly familiar “Beat L.A.” chants and loud green-clad crowd didn’t drive home the distinction.
Kobe Bryant had a dreadful shooting night, making only nine of 26 shots on the way to a quiet 24 points, with little help from teammates.
The Celtics hammered the Lakers on the boards, 46-33, and held the top-shooting team in the playoffs to only 41.6% shooting. They were held to 15 points in the fourth quarter as the game got away.
The good news for the Lakers could be found only in the near future. Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday.
“They played a lot more physical than we did,” Bryant said. “It’s a good experience for us.”
The Lakers hadn’t played since booting San Antonio seven days earlier, and it showed. They looked tentative and inactive in a second half in which they were outscored, 52-37.
Bryant experienced his worst shooting night since going an equally awkward nine for 26 in Game 1 of the first round against Denver. That night, he was able to get to the line, making 13 of 14 free throws. On Thursday, he took only six free throws, his familiar drives down the lane cut off by a slew of double teams and a daunting defense.
His mid-range jumper wasn’t falling, compounding the issue. He certainly wasn’t thrilled with his effort.
“I had some great looks. They just didn’t stay down for me,” he said. “It was just pile it in with the other bad shooting games I’ve had and flush it and come back in Game 2. Hopefully I get the same looks.”
After being important pieces of the Lakers’ romp through the West, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom were minimally effective against the Celtics. Gasol had 15 points and eight rebounds, Odom had 14 points and six rebounds.
Neither seemed to be able to stand up to the bruising front line of the Celtics.
“We don’t like to be outrebounded like we were tonight,” said Gasol, who did not have a rebound in the first half. “There were a lot of loose balls that we didn’t get. That’s a big difference. We started shooting a lot of jumpers. Hopefully next time out, we won’t be as anxious and we’ll be more focused and sharper.”
Pierce helped hone the Celtics by returning only a few minutes after being carried off the court in front of a concerned crowd.
He was moving down the lane while trying to defend Bryant before stepping on the foot of Kendrick Perkins with 6:49 left in the third quarter. He grabbed his right knee and yelled out in pain.
After a quick exam, he returned to a loud ovation with 5:04 left in the third quarter, a black athletic sleeve on his knee.
A six-time All-Star, Pierce had 11 points at the time. He drilled a pair of three-pointers later in the quarter, driving the Celtics to a 77-73 edge going into the fourth. He finished with 22 points.
He said he was diagnosed with a strained meniscus and is day to day, though he walked stiffly into the interview room after the game.
“When I first fell to the ground, I heard a pop in my knee, and all I felt was pain when I grabbed it,” he said. “I thought I tore something. Once I felt I could put weight on it, I was like, I had to get back out there to help my ballclub. That was all that was going through my mind, just being a part of it.”
A few minutes after Pierce was injured, Perkins was sidelined by a sprained left ankle. He told Coach Doc Rivers he was only at 60% strength and was also day to day.
The Lakers’ hopes in the Finals will be day to day if they again stagger in the second half of Game 2.
As it became clear the Lakers were on the way to a loss, Celtics fans reveled in a scoreboard clip of Jack Nicholson yelling out, “You can’t handle the truth.”
On Thursday, the Lakers certainly couldn’t handle the Celtics.
--
--
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Paul Pierce, who had to be
carried off the court in the third quarter, then led a Celtics run.
STAT OF THE GAME
Kobe Bryant made nine of 26 shots, the same as in the Lakers’ playoff opener against Denver.
--
Game 1: June 5 at Boston
Celtics 98, Lakers 88
Boston leads series, 1-0
--
Game 2: Sunday at Boston
6 p.m. PDT,
Channel 7
--
Game 3: Tuesday at Staples Center, 6 p.m.
Channel 7
--
Game 4: Thursday at Staples Center, 6 p.m.
Channel 7
--
Game 5: June 15 at Staples Center, 6 p.m., Ch. 7
(if necessary)
--
Game 6: June 17 at Boston
6 p.m. PDT, Ch. 7
(if necessary)
--
Game 7: June 19 at Boston
6 p.m. PDT, Ch. 7
(if necessary)
--
Bill Plaschke: Paul Pierce’s injury hampers the Lakers more than the Celtics. A1
T.J. Simers: As usual, Sam Cassell talks a good game, but he plays one too. S2
Rick Fox: The retired Laker is convinced the series will be won in the paint. S3
Mark Heisler: Lakers get a chance to prove they can play without series lead. S5
Lakers FYI: Andrew Bynum wants to play in the Finals and not just be there. S5
Boston FYI: Celtics still find themselves cast as the underdog against the Lakers. S5
All things Lakers, all the time.
Get all the Lakers news you need in Dan Woike's weekly newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
