A different Laker team!

This is so entirely different from what we saw in the 2008 finals match-up! Where did all the Boston toughness and oppressive defense go? That’s right, it was overshadowed by an equally tough defense and stubbornness down low , with Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum proving to be the trump cards for LA. Together, they have brought that rigidity quotient and headstrong will not to be intimidated by this Boston team,that has been known for its mauling defense all throughout the playoffs. For a change, it was the Celtics’ best offensive player who was feeling manhandled and pinned down by Artest.This is evident from the fact that Paul Pierce scored 0 points in the whole of second quarter. Same can be said about Andrew Bynum as well,whose very presence seemed to bother the Celtic bigs, especially Kendrick Perkins,who was nowhere near his usual stubborn self in the paint.And Gasol, yes he remembers the beating he took at the hands of Kevin Garnett 2 years back.And he responded in kind , showing the Celtics his renewed self and beating them to the board every chance he got.Today’s victory for LA was an indicator of the missing Laker components in 2008, a soft Gasol, no Bynum, no Artest. And together, they willed down the Celtic D, hammered them on the board, in the paint, snatched rebounds, made second chance points,and did basically everything that a team possessed to win for payback has to do.For the Celtics to win now, its not about No.24 anymore.Its about all the numbers and all the yellow/purple jerseys.