Tonight I’ll be providing in game updates of the NBA Finals Game 3 between the Celtics and Lakers tonight at the Shawmut/Fleet Center TD Banknorth Boston Garden.  I am currently day to day with a finger injury (on a glass measuring cup of all things), so expect some typos.  Hey, I’m only human.  Vince Carter would be sitting this one out if he were me, and JD Drew would be getting an epidural.  Check out my Game 1 observations here.  For my Game 2 in game observations I only have this:  Listening to a basketball game on the radio sucks.  Listening to your favorite team in the NBA Finals on the radio by candlelight because your power out is downright turrrible.

Pregame Notes

*Keys for the Celtics tonight will be to push the ball and have Rondo be aggressive.  When he’s going to the hole, it opens up the court for everyone else.  When he doesn’t, the offense is stagnant and turns into 4 guys watching Paul Pierce go 1 on 1.  The Celtics also need Kevin Scalabrine, err Garnett to show up on the boards.  He doesn’t need to score and he’s not going to completely stop Pau Gasol, but he absolutely has to hit the glass.

*Keys for the Lakers is finding someone to slow down either Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo, whichever one Kobe isn’t covering.  They will do their best to get the Celtics in foul trouble and will likely be successful, as the series so far has been marred by fouls, and the Celtics are the more physical team.  They need either Ron Artest or Lamar Odom to play strong, likely Artest as Odom struggles on the road, and is in a Boston Baked Bean induced coma.  The man loves his candy.  Andrew Bynum was huge in Game 2, but how will his knee hold up, especially after a 3000 mile plane trip.

*Bill Kennedy, who has been punished by the NBA for his treatment of Doc Rivers somehow gets the call tonight.  Wouldn’t you think in the NBA Finals they would do their best to avoid any known conflicts (like Joey Crawford vs. Tim Duncan, Kennedy vs. the Celtics, Big Baby vs. the postgame spread, Rasheed vs. anyone?).  I still don’t quite get why the NBA has gotten such a pass in the Tim Donaghy scandal.  Call him what you will, but like Jose Canseco in baseball, a lot of what Donaghy says is true and shouldn’t be taken lightly.  Speaking of Donaghy, he said today that the refs selected for tonight’s game would favor the Lakers, and he’s been dead on so far in the playoffs.

*It’s so funny to remember Pat Riley as the Lakers coach, with Magic and Showtime, and then remember him as the Knicks coach when the first team to 80 won.  That’s a hell of a coach, not so steadfast in his system that he tries to fit square pegs in round holes, but instead adjusts the system for the players he’s given.  Most coaches seem to have way too much ego to do that (and I’m sure Riley has a big ego) but Riley was smart enough to realize it’s not just the system, but the players.  Much like Bill Belichick turned from a 3 yards and a cloud of dust running coach to a 50 passes a game passing coach when he surrounded Tom Brady with good receivers.

*This is a huge game(though aren’t they all?), as the winner of Game 3 in a 2-3-2 series format just about always wins the series.  Considering the travel it’s a pretty quick turnaround, expect the Boston crowd to give them a boost early.

*I hope Pierce gets fouled early.  When he gets hit hard he gets the Eye of the Tiger going.  Need him to play much better tonight.

First Quarter

*That was 2006 Garnett shit.  Did I really just see that?

*Here’s hoping there are some good Bill Simmons inspired chants tonight.

*KG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Great pass by Kobe, good to see Artest screw it up.  There was no need for that.

*Time for Pierce to abuse Walton.  I’ll say it again, I think Bill Walton is rooting for the Celtics here.

*I have to wonder, do Knicks fans look at Nate Robinson like a crazy ex-girlfriend?  Sure things were only good like 14% of the time, but when they were good, they were great.  Now she’s moved on to her new boyfriend, and things seem to be great like 87% of the time.  Are you totally bitter, or happy for him/her?  I say all of this only because he was just standing rooting from the bench.  I bet that never happened once in his years with the Knicks.

*Lots of energy early from the fans, can’t have asked for a better start from the Celtics.  KG is involved, Artest is in foul trouble and the crowd is alive.

*If Kobe is supposed to be the best player in the world (I still take Lebron) why is it that Gasol has been far and away the Lakers best player through 2 games?

*Adam Morrison was once the #3 pick in the draft.  Wow.  Reason #23,469 why great players does not equal great judge of talent.

*Celtics fans were chanting MVP to Kobe in 2007.  That seems like 50 years ago.  And I don’t care if they were 0-82, it was dead wrong to chant.

*Even though he hasn’t done much yet, it’s good to see the Celtics moving Ray Allen around screens and trying to get him involved.  Considering he might be the greatest shooter in history, they seem to forget about him quite a bit.

*Nice look by Sheed.  I think next year the Celtics shouldn’t even make Sheed show up until the playoffs.  It’s tough to watch him be so poor in the regular season and so good now.

*Holy shit KG.  Holy shit.

*KG making Gasol work on defense is key.  Nevermind the offense he is providing, but anything that can take away from Gasol’s energy on the offensive end is a positive.

*The Lakers have to be thrilled to have withstood the strong start for the Celtics and now have a lead (even if aided by a bank shot 3).

*I want to personally thank Big Papi for introducing KG to his Doctor.

*Pierce and Allen have yet to score.  That needs to change quickly.

*I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Jackson, Van Gundy, and Breen are great, and I guarantee they could do a better job than any of the ESPN baseball announcers.  They could know absolutely nothing about baseball (you know, like Joe Morgan) and be more enjoyable than the rest of ESPN’s guys.  Well, Rick Sutcliffe when drunk (which is always) is pretty funny.

*I think Tommy Heinsohn needs to tape himself at home watching these games.  I would love to hear what he has to say.  Shit, I would pay for it.

*A Nate Rob sighting.  Things could get great or terrible very quickly.

*OMG, Sheed’s mustache/beard/goatee is absolutely terrible.  That may spell the end of the Celtics title hopes.  At least it’s not Michael Heil Jordan’s.

After 1 it’s 26-17 Lakers.  After a hot start for the Celtics, the Lakers took over.  KG and Rondo have 16 of the Celtics 17 points.  In other words, time for Allen and Pierce to get it going.  Free throw disparity is 11-4 Lakers, which will be something to follow.

2nd Quarter

*Is Bill Belichick in the house tonight?  If so, time to show him on the jumbotron.  Crowd gets more fired up for him than anyone else.  Seriously.

*Did Paul Pierce miss the plane back from LA?  Dude, show up.

*Nate Rob just became the 3rd Celtic to get a field goal.  Not good.

*The Celtics aren’t just missing shots, they are missing badly.

*I have as many points as Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rasheed Wallace.  Combined.  They have a 36 minute head start on me.

*Walter McCarty is in the house?  I love Waltahhhhhh!!!!

*Get this to 7 or so by the half, please.

*Someone send out an APB for Paul Pierce.  He’s supposed to be at the Garden, but he’s missing.

*Rondo is an interesting cat.  Great piece on ESPN about him today.

*Derek Fisher just got Rondo’d.

*Someone please foul Paul Pierce.  Hard.  He needs something to wake him up and get him in this game.

*Strasburg had 18 swings and misses tonight.  I think John Lackey has that many all year.

*Celtics need to close this half strong.

*Paul Pierce is alive!!!

*That was a nice bailout there.  They threw the ball away and the ref blew the whistle.  Bullshit call.

*Great defense there by Ray, but Kobe totally forced that shot.

*Ray Allen is still scoreless.  Unfathomable.

*Paul Pierce needs to show up in the 2nd half to have a chance.  If he gets it going, especially slashing, it opens things up for Ray Ray.

*The Celtics had a chance to get this in the 6-8 range before the half but couldn’t quite do it, they need a strong start to the 2nd half.

At the half it’s 52-40 Lakers.  The Celtics got off to a quick start but the 1^st half was for the most part dominated by the Lakers (and the refs).  Kevin Garnett is having a strong performance, but it’s not enough.  The Celtics need Paul Pierce to get it going in the 2^nd half to have a chance.  The Celtics need to make their free throws, as they are just 6-12.

3rd Quarter

*Big missed 3 there from Ray, could have gotten it to single digits and he was wide open.

*Come on Pierce, get it going.

*Hopefully these free throws get Allen’s shot back on.  Misses have been bad.

*Can someone please help KG out.  I don’t know how much longer he can keep this up.

*Ray Allen is absolutely lost out there.

*Every mini run the Celtics make ends on a poor play by them, not necessarily a good play by the Lakers.

*Kobe is forcing a TON of shots tonight.  The 18-6-4 looks good but the 6-18 doesn’t.

*That ball was definitely off Bynum.  Nothing going the Celtics way.

*Kobe has 1 foul.  Not surprising.  After last game he can probably commit 15 fouls tonight before they call his 2nd.

*The Celtics are getting blocked more than Kobe in a Colorado hotel room.  I hope they have a good lawyer.  Wait, what?

*KG gets a well deserved round of applause.  He and Rondo are the only 2 guys who have really showed up tonight, and Rondo has been merely good, not great.

*They really have to get either Allen or Pierce going, they will not win the game otherwise.

*Good to see them still looking for Allen.  Shooters need to shoot their way out of slumps, and they don’t have enough offensive weapons tonight to ignore him despite his struggles.

*Shouldn’t Lamar Odom be a lot better than he is?

*Tony Allen taking jumpers is decidedly not the answer.  Unless the question is how can we help the Lakers win.

*That’s what Tony Allen needs to do.

*First time the crowd has been alive in a while, but the off the ball foul doesn’t help things.

*Allen made all of the right moves on defense until he bit on the last fake.

*Kobe with another bad shot

*Celtics within 4 and the crowd is ALIVE.

*Does Gasol ever miss that shot?

After 3 quarters it’s 67-61 Lakers.  Strong quarter for the Celtics who are now within striking distance.  I’ve been saying all night, and I’ll say it again, the Celtics do not win unless Allen or Pierce step it up.  They are 2-20 combined and yet the Celtics are right there.

4th Quarter

*Is Marquis Daniels going to get any time in this series?  Is Tony Allen that much better at him, essentially playing the same role?

*Is Big Baby jealous of Lamar Odom for being so svelte despite his candy addiction?

*Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.  x2

*Big Baby!!! 68-65 Lakers

*If Nate Rob were in he’d fire up a 3 from half court to go for the tie.  And probably make it.

*68-67 Lakers, Big Baby bringing the energy tonight.  Love to see it.

*Here’s hoping Kobe keeps forcing it.  Shots, forcing shots.  He’s been off tonight and it hasn’t stopped him from gunning.  Both Allen’s playing him well.

*Tony Allen is the new Ruben Patterson.

*Another forced shot by Kobe.

*Crazy to say it, but we can’t afford to lose Tony Allen here.

*Does Adam Morrison feel bad cashing his check every two weeks?

*I think Jeff Van Gundy was thisclose to saying Phil Jackson was calm coming out of the womb.

*Chad Finn: “If Allen and Pierce are still on West Coast time, the good thing is that they should be showing up for the game any minute now.”

*Why does it seem that every team that comes back from a huge deficit can always get close, but just can’t ever get the tie or the lead.  Not saying the Celtics won’t, but a few chances to tie and they couldn’t do it.  Big swing now with the offensive foul.  Lakers 74-70 with the ball.

*Big Baby with the big and 1.  Of course Kobe is bitching about it.

*Again, if Kobe is the best player in the world, why is Derek Fisher taking over for the Lakers?

*Kobe is hurting the Lakers right now.

*Vintage KG offensively tonight.

*Oh, Kobe is in the game? 84-80 Lakers

*This new review rule sucks. (It was the right call though)

*This new review rule is awesome. (As long as they correctly overturn this one)

*MLB are you watching?  Instant replay is instant.  And works.

*They can’t review the foul right?  This has to be Celtics balls.  Has to be.

*Bud Selig is happy about that replay.

*Bad foul by KG, but what a dive by Gasol.

*It’s just about over here in Boston.

It’s a final, 91-84 Lakers.  So people keep telling me that Kobe Bryant is the best player in basketball, but he was bad for 3 quarters and invisible in the 4th, and yet the Lakers still win.  Give Lebron Kobe’s teammates, please. Horrible night for Pierce and Allen.  If they had gotten anything out of them, they would have won.  Rondo, KG, Big Baby, and TA showed up, that’s about it.  Derek Fisher is crying after winning Game 3 of the NBA Finals?  Ok.