NBA: Lakers role players stepping up at right time

BOSTON—The Boston Celtics are making life more difficult for Kobe Bryant in the NBA finals and while he may have to work harder for his points the wins keep coming.

"I wouldn't say they are defending me any different," said Bryant who is a post-season low 39.4 percent in the 2010 NBA Finals.

"I think we are a better team and that enables me to continue to be aggressive put pressure on defenses. I made shots in stretches and missed some in stretches."

Bryant had 29 points and missed 19 of 29 shots as the Los Angeles Lakers took a 2-1 series lead with a 91-84 win over the Celtics in game three on Tuesday.

The Lakers needed plenty of help off the bench from players like Lamar Odom and a throwback performance down the stretch from veteran Derek Fisher to blunt a fourth quarter rally from the Celtics and get the win.

"They are really getting up underneath him on his shot," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of Bryant. "So he is having a hard time getting a clear hit.

"It keeps him from turning his body so he can't get the right turn on it."

Fisher scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth and Pau Gasol had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Andrew Bynum chipped in with 10 rebounds for the defending champion Lakers, who weathered an early assault, jumped out to a 17-point lead in the second quarter before allowing the Celtics to climb back in it in the second half.

Game four is also in Boston on Thursday as the Celtics host the Lakers three games in a row.

Fisher's defining moment on Tuesday was a drive to the basket and layup before being knocked down by a trio of giant-size Celtic forwards.

He dusted himself off, got back to his feet and made the next basket for a three point play that swung the Lakers lead to seven points late in the game.

Fisher has won games before for the Lakers like the time he sank a buzzer beating shot with 0.4 seconds left in the 2004 finals against San Antonio and the shooting clinic he put on against Orlando in game four of last year's finals.

Asked at the Lakers practice Wednesday what he likes most about Fisher's game, Bryant said, "His toughness. His toughness. He's very, very, very, very tough, mentally and physically. He doesn't back down from anything or anyone."

Boston forward Kevin Garnett finally busted loose in the series, finishing with 25 points and six rebounds for the fourth seeded Celtics who are trying to become the biggest underdog NBA finals winner since the sixth seeded Houston captured the crown in 1995.

"I wasn't in foul trouble and I was patient," Garnett said at Wednesday's practice. "I took what they gave me, and I didn't think about a lot of things. I was just patient, a lot more patient than the first two games versus game three.

"But for the most part, the theme is to stay aggressive, move the ball and share the ball. So that's been the thing."

The last time the Lakers were in Boston for a finals game they left with their tails between their legs after a 39-point Celtics rout that clinched the NBA title two years ago.

"Obviously when you go to sleep with a win you sleep a lot better than you would if you would have lost," Lakers forward Pau Gasol said Wednesday. "So I was happy about the win, just really satisfied about our effort, and it should lead us to do it all over again tomorrow."

This is the second time in three seasons and the 12th time the Lakers and Celtics have met in the NBA finals since their first meeting in 1959 finals.

The Lakers are seeking their 16th NBA title and are second all-time behind Boston's 17 championships.

Source: Inquirer