Normal Rotation

[Redz]

Last night was the first time all series that the Celts haven't had to sit a starter out early with foul trouble.  The results spoke for themselves.  The only plus side to the starters getting quirky minutes is that the bench seems to have completely settled into a solid set of roles that are functioning beautifully. 

Here's hoping for a regular rotation in Game 6.  If so, I smell a pretty easy victory for the clincher.

[guava_wrench]

Bynum really doesn't look like he can bring it. It is really hard for LA to win without him contributing much because defense is much harder when he is playing garbage man.

I don't want to see any gratuitous KG shoulders in the open court in the first quarter. Save those for the second half when you have fouls to spare.

The biggest change since game 1 though is that the Lakers have not been able to repeat their easy penetration.

[the_Bird]

It's not just the C's not being in foul trouble; the refs allowing a more physical game clearly benefits the C's. 

First time all series when it looked like pretty much everyone was playing up to their potential.  Didn't have any one player playing way above normal (like BBD and Nate in game 4).  Ray Allen was pretty much the only player *not* playing up to their usual standard.  Should bode well for game 6; if the C's play up to our standard, we're just a better team.

[nickagneta]

It all comes down to how the games were officiated.

In the first three games, the officials called very tight games with very little to no incidental contact allowed with lots of fouls. Lakers average 96 points per game. Advantage Lakers. Lakers win 2 of 3.

In the next two games, the officials called very loose games with loss of contact and much less fouls called. Lakers average 87.5 PPG. Advantage Celtics. Celtics win 2 in a row.

The officiating in the first three games threw the Celtics rotations into chaos. Over the last two games the C's rotations have evened out and the Celtics are playing much better playing their style of ball.