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BOSTON -- The first attack was a Kevin Garnett dunk in the faces of two Los Angeles players.
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| Kobe Bryant finds his path to the basket clogged with Celtics defenders. (Getty Images) |
Then came Rajon Rondo, charging hard up the middle, when an opening blew wide apart. Rondo went to the basket and was fouled, falling to the ground. He made his free throws.
Later, when Kobe Bryant got close to the basket and was fouled, one of the Boston players bodied him hard.
The Celtics attacked the basket on offense and attacked any Laker who went near it on defense.
Boston's plan was clear. Beat L.A., indeed. To a bloodied pulp.
Boston's defense kept Bryant below his season and playoff averages. He had 24 points.
The Lakers entered the Finals averaging a postseason-high of 105.9 points but their 88 points was the lowest output of this postseason.
"Nice little kick in the ass," said Bryant of the game.
The Celtics are trying to attack the only significant weak spot on the Lakers -- the middle. In there, it's as soft as Star Jones' belly button.
How are the Lakers going to adjust to Boston's physicality?
"You just get used to it," Bryant said. "I think playing Utah is -- it took some getting used to after we played them two games in Utah and San Antonio is a different kind of physicality. Each team kind of has their personality that you have to adjust to as the series goes on. It's a good experience for us."
The main victim of this Boston strategy is Pau Gasol, a brilliant shooter, but who possesses the toughness of a supermodel on a Caribbean photo shoot.