NBA Finals Game 2: Second Quarter Thoughts

Boston has gotten off to a great start here in the second, with ten straight points before a Phil Jackson time out. When you have a mix of starters and bench players going up against the entire second team for the Lakers, you better take advantage if you are the Celtics, and they indeed have.

Why did the Lakers have a second team 5 to start the quarter? When three of your starting five guys, including Odom and Bryant, are in foul trouble, you have no choice. But once again, the bench doesn't show. Poor offensive play was a big help.

Let's give credit to Leon Powe for the Celtics. I like his agreesiveness, drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. He's a big spark off the bench for Boston so far.

I wanted to go back to something that Jeff Van Gundy said back in the first quarter. He said that there should be a rule change on fouls, either having 7 fouls as the limit, or having no fouling out at all, because it penalizes players, including some of the best players in the game.

I disagree. If you can't play clean and can't play within the rules, you shouldn't be on the floor.

Paul Pierce doesn't even look like he has a knee problem. But, at the same time, he is getting most of his points from beyond the ark, as he is 3-3 from 3-point land, and 12 points at this point. He's just spotting up, taking his time, and knocking in his shot.

Kobe is taking the last 1:53 off of the second quarter. 9 points, but 3 fouls. The Lakers at this point need to get on a big run, and it will be interesting to see who decides to fill Kobe's leadership shoes on the floor.

Answer: No One. Two points in the final 1:53 since Kobe left. That was from Gasol. Bad shots, tough misses, and no one crashing the defensive glass, and the Celtics close out the first half well.

Boston 54 - L.A. Lakers 42