Lakers 103 - Celtics 98 * Lakers are still alive and send the NBA Finals back to Boston

The Lakers were in a do or die situation in game 5 of these 2008 NBA Finals at Staples Center. With Boston leading the season 3-1 the Lakers were not going to let the Celtics celebrate on their home floor. The Lakers came out looking great in this game, especially Kobe Bryant who had 15 points in the first quarter. This game kind of reminded you of game 4 when the Lakers came out looking great and took a big lead. In this game when the first quarter was all said and done the scoreboard read Lakers 39 - Celtics 22. This was great but it just reminded all Laker fans of what happened in game 4 when the Lakers went up by 21 points at the end of one but still ended up losing the game! Boston didn't lose hope and why should they after the comeback they had in game 4. This time they didn't wait until the last minute though and won the second quarter 30-16 and were down by only three points 55-52 at the half. As the third quarter started you could not help but think about all the other third quarters in this series in which the Celtics dominated. The third quarter has just not been real friendly to the Lakers! This time though the Lakers did OK and came out of the quarter with a nine point lead. In the fourth Boston once again chipped away at the Lakers lead and with 1:14 left int he game Paul Pierce made two free throws that put Boston down by only two points 97-95. Derick Fisher then missed a jumper and this seemed like it would be just like game 4. Boston had the momentum going their way and Paul Pierce was dribbling the ball up court so the Celtics could try and tie the game. All of a sudden though Kobe Bryant poked the ball from behind Pierce for the steal, the ball ended up in Lamar Odom's hands who threw the ball back to Kobe who was racing toward the basket and Kobe Bryant dunked the ball to give the Lakers a comfortable 4 point lead with 33 seconds left in the game. The Celtics then failed to score and then fouled Fisher with 24 seconds left, Fisher made 1 of 2 free throws to give the Lakers a comfortable 5 point lead. Eddie House then missed a three point attempt for the Celtics and Kobe was fouled and made one of two free throws to give the Lakers a comfortable 6 point lead with 16 seconds left in the game. OK, I know I've been saying comfortable alot here but it really was not comfortable with this Boston Celtics team. Eddie House hit a tough three pointer from the corner with 13 seconds left putting the Celtics down by 3 and then the Lakers sloppily inbounded the ball to Kobe and Eddie House almost stole the ball. Kobe was trapped in the corner falling to the floor, passed the ball to Fisher who got fouled with 9 seconds left. Fisher then made two free throws, stole the ball from Boston and the Lakers are sending this series back to Boston for a game 6 on Tuesday.

Many Laker players had good games but the Lakers still had to work hard for this win. Bryant had 25 points, Odom had 20, Gasol had 19, Fisher had 15 and Farmer gave a boost from the bench scoring 11 points.

Well, I've called it in my last post here. I said that this game would be a give me for the Lakers and though it was not a give me, (Boston made it real tough) the Lakers still won like I said they would. The decisive game of this series will be game 6 on Tuesday. If the Lakers win game 6 they will win this series. If these two teams have to play a game 7 the Boston Celtics will have so much pressure on them that they will choke.

Is it just me or do the ABC announcers seem like they are on the Celtics side in this series. Seems like Jon Berry, Marc Jackson and the rest of them are hoping for the Celtics to win this thing. Even when the Lakers win the game these guys are criticizing the Lakers.

Remember game 6 on Tuesday! When the Lakers will tie this series up 3-3