Game 5: No More Mr. Nice Guy

Sure some of you might be thinking "but what about Game 4?" And to that I wave my hand and deftly say "There was no Game 4. These are not the droids you are looking for..." And so we move on...

Game 5 was a gut-check for the boys in purple and gold. After having their heart wrenched out in The Game Which Must Not Be Named, the Lakers were left with a decision: give up or come out swinging. Happily for the fans of La La Land they chose the latter. And for the first time in the series it looked like they played with a chip on their shoulder. As if to defiantly say to the big bullies from beantown "Not Anymore! You will NOT push us around anymore!" Sadly that has really been the deciding factor in the series thus far. Call it aggression or call it toughness; the Lakers have been lacking it up until this win or go home Game 5.

Perhaps the refs took it away from them in the lopsided foul calls of games 1 & 2. Perhaps it was simply their style of play being a finesse passing team. Whatever the case may be, the days of the Lakers getting pushed around and not fighting back are over (hopefully for good) after Game 5. The team made the decision to fight back. And that's not to say the Lakers weren't putting the effort out there or playing hard before. It was the mentality that had to change. The physical nature with which that effort needed to be harnessed. Much like young Daniel Larusso learning the Crane Technique, the Lakers cannot back down from the Cobra Kai equivalent Celtics.
Message received.

The Lakers stopped looking at the refs every time they got pushed and instead pushed back. They knew the contact was coming and they played through it serving back some contact of their own. There is nothing harder than watching your team being punked by another team. Let's face it, that's what the Celtics have tried to do in this series. Could the refs call the games closer? Yes. Are they going to call it that way in Boston in Game 6? Highly unlikely. As in no chance. So the Lakers better adjust and keep giving it right back.

It all starts with Kobe Bryant. From the first tip back in Boston Game 1 Kobe Bryant has been all too friendly with the opponents. This is the NBA Finals. And this is LA Lakers versus Boston Celtics. This rivalry spans over 5 decades. There is more heartache and animosity between these two franchises (and their fans) than arguably any other two in any sport. Period. And the Lakers' Star and league MVP is out there joking with the Boston players at crucial moments in the game? I'm sorry but that is just not the right message to send to your young teammates. If Kobe comes out in Game 1 and shows his team that he is not going to take any crap from these Celtics then it filters down to the rest of the guys. He is NOT buddies with these guys when they are out on the court. He is NOT gonna let them push his guys around.

Because if there is one certainty that I have learned from this series it is that the Celtics are not your friend. They may smile and talk with Kobe but the second that ball is inbounded they are sucker punching and pushing at every turn. And until Game 5 the Lakers were letting them do it with no repercussions. Not only were they letting them step all over them on both sides of the ball but they were doing it with our star smiling all the while. Again, not the message you want to send to your young teammates Kobe. Besides, he is one of the few players that actually plays BETTER when he is angry. That fire and intensity only ratchets up his game that much more. I want to see that fire and controlled anger towards his opponent in this series.

I have NEVER seen more uncontested drives to the basket for dunks in a Finals than the number Boston has had this series. I don't condone dirty plays but the Lakers need to give a hard foul or two (maybe get Rick Fox incarnate out there). Show that they are in this thing for real. The Lakers had an image of being a "soft" team heading into the finals and they have done very little to change that perception with their performance thus far until Game 5. Can a team change their identity? Does it require more than just saying No Easy Baskets? Yes it requires action. I want to see Kobe get in the face of KG or Pierce and send a message that WE (the Lakers) are not standing for that stuff. There is no knockout punch you can throw at US. Gasol has adjusted to the physicality and played much stronger in Game 5. Odom has managed to play more effectively without fouling and asserted himself as a force inside. Stand up for yourself. That's the message.
Game 6 should be another heavyweight fight with the team that asserts themselves better coming out on top. If the Celtics want to run that small lineup (especially with Perkins possible out again due to injury) then the Lakers must pound the ball in the paint. Show that they are not afraid to take it strong in there and go with a sense of purpose. Post Gasol up and get a touch inside EVERY POSSESSION. Give Odom the rock with deep position ALL DAY long with Posey trying to check him down there. Put Kobe down there too. If they shoot threes then they need to be inside-out threes. If they can get out in transition the more the better but be sure to take it to the rack. Don't settle.

And in response to popular demand: Here are the results from the So You Think You Can Draw A Foul? (or Who Wants To Be A Flopper?) Contest
1. Vlade Divac
2. Manu Ginobili
3. Derek Fisher
4. John Stockton
5. Sasha Vujacic