There is a saying that is attributed to a former L.A Lakers coach, Pat Riley. The saying is “no rebounds, no rings“. It was Pat Riley’s way of saying that winning basketball games relies on rebounding. In Game One of the NBA championship series, the Lakers were out-rebounded by the Boston Celtics: 46 - 33. Pau Gasol had a team high eight rebounds and Lamar Odom had six rebounds. When the Lakers have lost in the post season playoffs, Pau Gasol has had low rebound numbers. And the Lakers fell in Game One: 98 - 88.

link: Game One

Further, the Celtics were more efficient with the three point shot than the Lakers. Boston shot at a thirty one per cent efficiency ( 6 for 19 ) while the Lakers shot a lowly twenty one per cent ( 3 for 14 ) from three point land. Two of Boston’s three point baskets were made by Paul Pierce, after he returned to the count from his injury. That gave the Celtics the lead which they never relinquished. It seemed that the Paul Pierce injury was a greater distraction for the Lakers than the Celtics.

In the end, it is really back to basics for the Lakers. They need to rebound the ball, defend the three point line and make their foul shots. It may be, in this series, that the Lakers truly miss their young center, Andrew Bynum. A total of fourteen rebounds from the combined efforts of Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom is not going to be enough to beat the Celtics.

Catherine