They're Playing Basketball

Kobe's late jumper lifts Lakers, sends Celtics to 6th loss in last 8 games
AP

BOSTON -- The Los Angeles Lakers are doing their best to forget all those awful memories of playing in the Boston Garden.

Kobe Bryant sank the go-ahead basket with 7.3 seconds left, and the Lakers won 90-89 on Sunday for their third consecutive victory over the struggling Celtics. Boston has not been able to make good on the traditional "Beat L.A.!" chant since winning 131-92 to clinch the 2008 NBA championship here in Game 6 of the finals.



"They smacked us two years ago," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "It was a big game for us. This is a team that's going to be battling to be coming out of the East."

Winners of 32 NBA titles between them -- including the last two -- the Lakers and Celtics have met in the finals 11 times, from Bill Russell against Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain, to Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird and on to the current matchup of Bryant facing the New Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

But while the Lakers' superstar came through in the stretch for them, Boston's couldn't.

The Celtics led by as many as 11 points in the fourth quarter and nursed a one-point lead until Pierce was called for an offensive foul for pushing off as he jumped to shoot with 28 seconds left.

"At that point, I think it's got to be unbelievable, but I didn't see it so I really can't give an opinion on it," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "You know, I do know Kobe pushes off a lot."

I wasn't feeling very good going into Sunday as I fell victim to an ebrasive chest cold but the best medicine was seeing the faces of the unwashed Irish masses after Kobe drilled that jumper. That's why Black Mamba is the best clutch shooter in the league. Lebron is learning how to do these things but he's not quite there yet. The fact that Artest drew the foul against Pierce the previous posession was just the icing on top of the cake. The Lake Show got this guy to play the physical East teams and he did just that. Great win and a great road trip for the Lakers despite being swept by the Cavs.