NBA Finals: Celtics vs. Lakers - Game 2

After almost blowing a 24-point lead last night, the Celtics held on to win Game 2, 108-102 putting Boston comfortably up 2-0 in the series over Los Angeles. The Celtics are a record-tieing 12-1 at home in the 2008 playoffs and know they are just two wins away from bringing back a World Championship to Boston for the first time since 1987.

Los Angeles was having problems against Boston's tough defense like in Game 1, but the Lakers biggest problems in Game 2 were free throws and Leon Powe. That's right, not Kevin Garnett, not Ray Allen, but Leon Powe. Boston attempted 28 more free throws (27-38) than Los Angeles did last night (10-10) and Powe was a huge spark off the bench to score an unexpected 21 points in just 15 minutes. In each game of this series Boston's bench has outplayed Los Angeles' bench like in Game 2, when Powe helped the Celtics outscore the Lakers' bench, 35-23.

The Celtics dominated the Lakers in every faze of the game for the first 40 minutes leading Los Angeles 95-71, looking like Game 2 was going to be a blow-out. Then the Lakers went on a shocking 31-9 run knocking down seven 3-pointers and getting as close as two points, 104-102 with 38.4 seconds left. Luckily Boston made some stops on defense and some clutch free throws to win the game, but the Celtics need to finish off the Lakers much better if they want to win a World Championship.

The loss last night may have put Los Angeles down 0-2 in the series, but after scoring 41 points in the 4th quarter, the Lakers now have something they didn't have in the first three quarters of Game 2: Hope. It looked like the Celtics had the game in the bag but after almost pulling off what would have the greatest comback in NBA Finals history, the Lakers can go back home for three straight games with a game plan and a little hope to make this series an interesting one.

Kobe Bryant had a better game in Game 2 knocking 30 points and dropping 8 assists, but even the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player cannot beat Boston alone. I expect the Lakers to find a way to win Game 3, because no team in NBA Finals history has come back to win the series after being down 0-3 and I don't see Los Angeles losing three games in a row with Bryant on their team. The Lakers should win Game 3, but if Los Angeles doesn't get something from their bench and get to the free throw line more there will be no more home games in Boston until next season.