Mon Jun 9 13:05:12 2008

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Lakers will be in attack mode

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(Sports Network) - After losing Games 1 and 2 to Boston in the NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers will be a different team when the series resumes at the Staples Center.

The Celtics did what they were supposed to on their homecourt, improving to 12-1 at TD Banknorth Garden in the postseason. Now, it is the Lakers turn to do their thing in front of the home fans.

The Lakers, a perfect 8-0 at home in the playoffs, are two Staples Center victories short of the NBA record for most consecutive home victories in a single postseason. The 1977 Trail Blazers, 1986 Celtics, 1987 Lakers, 1990 Pistons, 1996 Bulls and 1997 Jazz all won 10 straight in a single postseason.

Phil Jackson's team won't be focusing on that record, but will need to tie it in order to have a chance to win the series.

The time has come for the Lakers' top three players - Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom - to match the intensity and production of Boston's "big three."

Paul Pierce has averaged a team-best 25 points per game, and his emotional impact on the Celtics in Game 1 can't be understated. When Pierce returned to the court moments after leaving with what appeared to be a serious knee injury, you just knew Boston was going to win Game 1.

Kevin Garnett's impact has come in the form of 20.5 points and 13.5 rebounds through two games, while Ray Allen has helped out with 18 points per Finals contest.

Meanwhile, regular season MVP Kobe Bryant is averaging 27.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists to lead the Lakers, but needs to become more selfish and take over the series. Bryant and company did not play like a desperate team until the fourth quarter of Game 2, when they reduced a 24-point deficit to two, but fell just short in a 108-102 Boston victory.

Bryant is shooting 40.8 percent from the floor, but is just 16.7 percent from beyond the arc, and needs Gasol (16.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists in the Finals) and Odom (12.0 points, 7.0 assists) to make more of a contribution in order to find his own rhythm. Gasol does not look like the same player he was in the first three series. He was dominant in the paint at times, and looked primed for a big showing in the Finals, but neither he nor Odom have been aggressive or productive enough.

Gasol and Odom figure to produce more if Bryant gets his swagger going for a full 48 minutes. He needs to force the Celtics to have to stop him from beating them single-handedly.

The Lakers must also begin playing like a desperate team, which by any historical measure, they should be.

Only three teams have ever recovered to win the NBA Finals after dropping Games 1 and 2. The 1969 Celtics, 1977 Trail Blazers and 2006 Heat all won the title after losing the first two contests.

It's time for the Lakers to go into attack mode from the opening tip. They have to start fast and not let up. Bryant and his cohorts must make their shots, while defensively, the Lakers have to contest every shot and be very physical in the interior. They need to push the Celtics away from the hoop and stop them from penetrating, which has forced LA to collapse and leave someone open for a jumper.

If that doesn't work, it will be a short series.

Not exactly what the NBA was hoping for in this historic matchup.

WAS PORTER THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR PHOENIX?

Surprised Terry Porter is the new head coach of the Phoenix Suns? Porter was a solid player during his playing days in the NBA, and obviously knows the game. However, the 45-year-old Porter, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach in Detroit, was just 71-93 in two years as the general of the Milwaukee Bucks. Porter did guide Milwaukee to the playoffs in 2004, where it was eliminated in five games by the Pistons.

Phoenix was not aggressive enough in searching for a replacement for Mike D'Antoni, and should have targeted a coach with a history of winning. The Suns are built to win now with aging center Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Nash as two of their main pieces to the puzzle, and can't afford a transition period with a coach who has never molded premier talent.

Former Dallas leader Avery Johnson or ex-Rockets and Knicks guide Jeff Van Gundy are two coaches who have been to the finals during their coaching days. What has Porter done to suggest he'll be the answer in Phoenix?

Porter will try to get the Suns to play defense, but it's not going to be enough.

Poor decision by general manager Steve Kerr, who may have put himself on the hot seat with this hire.