Settling the Score

With an impressive 109-96 victory over the Lakers Sunday afternoon in LA, Paul Pierce and the Celtics have their eyes on home-court advantage come playoff time. 

Heading into Sunday afternoon's primetime showdown at the Staples Center against the hated Lakers, the Boston Celtics were struggling. Despite grinding out an ugly 88-78 victory at Portland on the first leg of their four game West Coast trip, the Green stumbled Friday night in Phoenix, scoring just 71 points in an embarrassing loss against one of the NBA's worst defensive teams. Throughout the contest, the Celtics seemed to battle the officials as much as the Suns. Even though referee Steve Javie made numerous questionable calls against the Celtics, Boston lost its composure and was never able to regroup. After being ejected for arguing a call midway through the second quarter, coach Doc Rivers could be heard repeating "It's all about you" in Javie's direction.

To make matters worse, Kevin Garnett only solidified his reputation as one of the league's dirtier players. With just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, KG went out to challenge a three-point attempt by the Suns' Channing Frye. However, instead of putting a hand in his face, the Big Ticket decided to deliver a less-than-sportsmanlike low-blow to Frye's groin. After falling to the ground in pain, Frye's adrenaline shot him back up to his feet and directly into Garnett's face. After the two were separated, Garnett was ejected from the game and Phoenix was awarded a plethora of free throws.

"We kind of lost our composure when we tried to get back into the game," said Paul Pierce about the team's lackluster play. "Shots weren't falling for us tonight. I don't know if that was because of fatigue or not."

Speaking of fatigue, the Celtics didn't arrive in Phoenix until nearly 5 AM on Friday morning after losing to Portland the night earlier. However, while commentator Mike Gorman believed this played a significant role in the Celtics no-show, guest color man Bill Walton quickly dismissed the excuse, stating what many of us already believed to be true; these guys are multimillion dollar professional athletes traveling in a private team plane and staying in the most luxurious hotels: a tough travel schedule had nothing to do with it.

As a result, Celtics Nation was anything but overconfident entering Sunday's NBA Finals rematch against the streaking Lakers (LA came into the game 10-3 in their last thirteen contests). Nevertheless, the Celtics reminded us all exactly why they are favored to hoist Banner 18 this June, overcoming a 41-point-performance by Kobe Bryant to hang a 109-96 beatdown on Phil Jackson's Lake Show.

After trailing 54-50 at halftime, the Celtics game out firing on all cylinders in the second half thanks in large part to the steady guidance of point guard Rajon Rondo. It was a welcome sign because, for the past several games, Rondo seemed to be going through the motions. In both Portland and Phoenix, the Celtics lacked rhythm and poise on offensive simply due to the fact that Rondo did not look like himself.

Walton, who always tells it like it is, remarked that Rondo looked lethargic. He seemed content to walk the ball up court, waste precious seconds off the shot clock and then pass up open shots in favor of more difficult passes to teammates. As a result, the game became a one-on-one, half-court contest that completely neutralized Rondo's greatest asset: speed. Walton even pleaded with Rondo to pressure Andre Miller as soon as he touched the ball. Instead, Rondo sagged back and allowed Miller to walk to the ball past half-court without being contested.

But then, suddenly something clicked in the second half of the Lakers game and Rondo turned it on. Instead of walking the ball up court he took the inbound pass and immediately attacked the defense. Instead of being a part of the play, Rondo reverted back to his old ways and began to dictate it. He looked like Tom Brady in the pocket, scanning all possible options before finding the open man in the best possible position for a good look at the basket.

As a result, his offensive game opened up as well. With the Lakers forced to respect the pass, Rondo took advantage and blazed by Derek Fisher for several easy lay ups. He even hung around in the paint, sneaking in to grab key offensive boards and either laying them in or bringing the ball back out to reset the offense. While Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 32 points, 5 boards and 3 assists, it was Rondo who paced the victory, finishing with 10 points, 5 boards and 16 assists (15 in the second half).

"I told Rondo, in front of the team, that I thought it was one of his best games of the year," said Doc Rivers after the game. "I think he called an absolutely perfect game. He's our pitcher....[We] lost our senses in the second quarter for a stretch. We got into complaining about everything except for playing basketball, and I told them at halftime just keep playing through everything."

The Celtics did just that. And nothing personified that attitude better than Garnett. After battling over a loose-ball with Pau Gasol in the second quarter, KG split his head open and began oozing blood. Nevertheless, Garnett threw on an extra-sized bandaid and finished with 18 points and 13 boards. Talk about fighting through everything.

So, some seven months after blowing a 13-point third quarter lead in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, the Celtics proved to us all Sunday that nothing can derail them in their pursuit of glory and revenge this season. Not bloodied foreheads. Not questionable officiating. Not high-scoring efforts from Kobe Bryant.

At 36-11, the Celtics own the second best record in the NBA, trailing only the 40-7 Spurs for the top spot. And after losing Game 7 on the road last season, Paul Pierce and Celtics know how important it is to continue to play well during the regular season and secure home-court advantage come playoff time. After all, it can be the difference between hoisting the trophy and nursing a broken heart.

"If we had home-court last year, who knows what maybe happens in Game 7?" said Pierce after the win. "We're not looking ahead, but maybe if it comes down to another Game 7, maybe we'll have it at home."

After Sunday's complete performance, it looks more and more likely that Pierce's wish comes true.