Kleeman's Last Word

Celtics-Lakers: Celtics' dangerous living may cost them

We can debate for hours what Kobe Bryant is and isn't. We can compare him to Michael Jordan and say that he will always fall short. This columnist would argue that modern day Jordan comparisons are baseless and need to stop immediately.

We, not reason, numbers or statistics, have decided that no one will ever top Jordan's accomplishment and sheer skill. When we compare players to Jordan, we are effectively going to see an opposites attract romantic film and expecting something other than an opposites attract romantic film.

As the Boston Celtics try seizing a second closeout opportunity tonight at TD Banknorth Garden, they need compare Bryant to only one player: Bryant.

It doesn't matter whether the Lakers' closer is better or worse than a player who no longer plays. Kobe Bryant is Kobe Bryant and that is lethal enough. The Lakers don't need Jordan to suit up to overcome a seemingly insurmountable 3-2 lead. The Celtics, likewise, don't need Bryant to become Jordan to choke away the series lead owed to their 66-win regular season record.

Even if he is not Jordan, or Magic Johnson, is Bryant a player you want to give more opportunities to extend a series? In a true test of Doc Rivers' coaching, his Celtics will either hoist banner no. 17 tonight or risk completing the greatest collapse in NBA Finals history.

If the Celtics can hold off the unpredictable Bryant and his squad of misfits and underachievers, the Lakers will still boast that dubious honor for their implosion in the second half of game four.

Make no mistake: The Celtics coughed up a tremendous chance to dry up the Lake Show in game five and blew it. If we are going to call the Lakers loss in game four, after leading by as many as 24 points in the third quarter, a choke job, the Celtics loss in game five deserves the same insult.

Kevin Garnett did not play a fantastic game, sure, but he still managed 13 points and 14 rebounds, one of which on the offensive end led to a Ray Allen three that tied the game for the first time.

The Celtics can listen to Jon Barry quip that Paul Pierce nearly beat the Lakers by themselves, but they know it's a 38-point lie. The Celtics scored 98 points and had a chance to win the game in the final minutes.

Call me a poor mathematician but 98-38=60, right? That means the rest of the team scored 60 points, which may not seem ideal, but was enough to almost clinch the series. Even with Garnett, and the rest of the front line minus the ailing Kendrick Perkins, playing with foul trouble, the Celtics had done just enough to win and blew it.

Garnett clanged two free throws and Pierce let Bryant steal a potential game-tying possession from his hands.

We do not know what Bryant will do or how much he will score in game six. He may explode for 50 on 60 percent shooting or he might fail miserably and score 17 points on 33 shots. Which scenario unfolds tonight is the big question.

The confident Celtics may regret allowing Bryant to give them an answer.

The Celtics' players and Rivers keep saying the team has not played a 48-minute game yet. With five missed opportunities in the books, what makes anyone think they will suddenly do that tonight? Can you just turn on a 48-minute performance whenever you want?

What might Bryant do in a game seven on the road in the new Garden?

The Celtics had better hope this series doesn't get there.

posted by Robert Kleeman @ 12:26 PM