PRO BASKETBALL — June 8
L.A. LAKERS at BOSTON
NBA Finals – Game 3
(Celtics -2.5, Total 191) — [private] Have you noticed that Kevin Garnett seems to be deteriorating a little as the playoff has progressed into the final round. He was only able to manage 23 minutes in Game 2, and that is the way it sometimes happens, when you are getting on in years and you’ve had knee issues and the muscles don’t always respond the way you’d like. When he is ailing, so is the overall Celtics’ defensive concept, and that means easier baskets for Pau Gasol. That might count for Lamar Odom too, because he has only scored eight points in two games thus far. Odom needs to get some different defensive assignments, because he has committed five fouls in each game. Maybe Phil Jackson will have a talk with Ron Artest about taking those awful shots, and Paul Pierce will be able to find the mark, as Odom leaves him alone a little more to cut down on his fouling. With the exception of Ray Allen’s marksmanship, these teams did not shoot well in Game 2 (40.8% for the Lakers, 42.9% for the Celtics), yet still went over the total.
THE PLAY: OVER 191 ***
(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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