L.A. Breaths A Sigh Of Relief, Take Game 3

In Games 1 and 2, Boston was the undisputed aggressor. In Game 3, the Lakers finally grew a pair and took the initiative that they so desperately needed to do. They got to the line for 34 free throw attempts (Kobe Bryant shooting 18 of them), and rightfully so. In Game 2, the Celtics were the attackers while Los Angeles settled. Tonight, it was the complete opposite.

* Adding to LA’s added toughness, the rebounding differential was nowhere near as large this time around. Throughout the first two games of the series, Boston was a combined +14 on the glass. Tonight, they were just +1 (45-44), as LA crashed more often than usual.

* The Celtics were completely out of place offensively, and that really was not as much attributed to the Laker defense as much as it was to their overall mindset. Simply put, the Celtics played soft in Game 3. They settled, they did not attack the basket as much as they could/should have, and the numbers prove it. The green shot just 34.9% from the floor, and did not do the things that got them here nor won them games in Boston last week. Ray Allen (25 points, 8-13 FG, 5-7 from beyond the arc) was virtually the only Celtic to get it going.

* Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were the leaders of the “settle, don’t attack” notion, as the All-Star duo combined for an atrocious 8-35 (22.9%) clip.

* The Celtics were, for the most part, themselves on the defensive end. They held Los Angeles to just 43.5% from the field, which is usually a sign of victory for the green. Tonight, however, it was the offensive struggles that held them back.

* Kobe Bryant, as expected, broke out of his shell.