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Behind The Scoreboard
By Claude Vinson NBA title series heats up This
NBA championship series between the Celtics and the Lakers continues to
gather more and more press. If you notice practically 24 hours
following a game, the coverage is almost non-stop. One has to admit
that these contests between the two historically great teams at the
highest level have been anything but dull. And one doesn’t have to wait
long to find a lively discussion on the subject. Wayne
Stinson, formerly of Auto Zone, has taken the reins of Raines Grocery
on Hernando Road on the outskirts of Holly Springs. Wayne is always
ready to discuss whichever sport is in vogue. And beware, he will try
to pin you down. He is leaning toward a Lakers victory. We certainly
wish him well in his latest venture. Some time
ago, this columnist offhandedly conceded this series to the Lakers and
Kobe Bryant (or was that Kobe Bryant and the Lakers? Whatever!).
However after Sunday’s game in Boston, some of the soothsayers are
slightly lowering the Lakers’ banner and inching in the direction of
the Celtics. Actually, some of the unofficial polls on Sunday
overwhelmingly preferred the Shamrock boys as winners – a series win
which would give them their 18th NBA title. One
point on which everyone seems to agree is that the boys from Bean Town
just don’t up and quit. A few for instances – in game three, the first
tie-breaker of the series, Boston battled right down to the last
second. Unlike the Cavaliers, they conceded nothing. Their position has
strengthened since the double-barreled victories on Thursday and
Sunday. Even with the changing venue (back to L.A.) for Tuesday,
Celtics coach Doc Rivers says that they will still have to rely on
their defense. Rivers just might be on to something. They have held the
Lakers below 100 in three consecutive games. However, Bryant went back
to his 30-plus scoring (38). Game five really
came down to a contest between Bryant and the Celtics’ Paul Pierce. At
one point, Kobe asked his coach (Phil Jackson) to change his defensive
assignment to Pierce, but Phil opted to stay with his choice (Ron
Artest). The coach just might have to rethink his stance on Tuesday night (after press deadline for this week’s newspaper). Number 24 is going to be pretty upset if they don’t knot this series in a 3-3 and force a seventh game.
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