matt weighs in

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SISTER! Sure, we’ve both lived 30 years or more (31+ for me), but there are plenty more ahead. Hope you’re looking forward to all your cards from jokester friends saying how old 30 is. It’s not. You’ll do great.

I’m glad I’m in the mood this morning to send birthday wishes. I want the Celtics to win the NBA Finals, so the game on Thursday night was a tale of two emotions for me. It’s a good thing the kids are in bed by the time the games start, because I was cursing very early on, which lasted about an hour-and-a-half. I’m pretty sure it sent Laura to bed early.

However, once again, I found myself standing up in the 4th quarter and hitting my hand on the ceiling when Posey hit that ridiculous three pointer from the corner. Unlike game 3, in which the Lakers won, the Celtics actually made shots down the stretch, matching the Lakers just enough to maintain their lead once they got it.

I think Doc Rivers finally found his offense when he really needs it – KG, Pierce, Allen, Posey and House. There are 3 sharp-shooters, along with Pierce who can shoot from mid-range or drive, and then KG, who can draw attention in the post, and if he has to, find one of the shooters on the outside. Thursday night, he did both in the 4th quarter.

I thought LA found something at the end of game 2, when they pressured the Celtics full-court in the 4th quarter and almost won the game with their own huge comeback. Once the Celtics were making their run in game 4, I don’t recall the Lakers putting the pressure on to help stop the bleeding. Token pressure doesn’t do it, especially if they were shocked from the shot in the mouth they were taking.

I’m still trying to understand how a Phil Jackson coached team let a lead like that slip away. I’m very surprised. Odom was the main reason the Lakers built their big lead. He was playing well for the first time in the series, with 15 points in the 1st half. However, he scored four after that, and he was on the bench for much of the 4th quarter. Some foul problems, but he needed to be on the floor.

A year ago, no one would have thought it, but the Celtics, coached by Doc Rivers, are going to be the 2008 NBA Champions. Doc and Pierce should buy KG and Allen cars.