By Ben Hubner
May 14, 2008: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY
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PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Despite the loss, AK can take solace in one thing: Never has a dunk looked so serene.Lisa Blumenfeld/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
"This is not about me coming in here with my style. This is about fitting the style to the personnel.''
-- Mavs coach
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Wednesday's top play: Paul Pierce takes the handoff from Kevin Garnett and throws it down.
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NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
The Spurs tend only to win every other year, so it stands to reason that their elimination game on Thursday night could ultimately be just that: an elimination game. They have a 2007 banner in the rafters already, so a 2008 one probably isn't in the cards. Knowing this, you have to think Tim Duncan is a sound Drive to the Finals pick. But, if you think you're too good for my advice (fine), feel free to take a look at our expert's selection.
SHOOTING STUDS
Lamar Odom, Lakers111-104 win vs Jazz
22 pts, 8-12 FG
Kevin Garnett, Celtics
96-89 win vs Cavaliers
26 pts, 12-19 FG
Rajon Rondo, Celtics
96-89 win vs Cavaliers
20 pts, 9-15 FG
STAT SHEET STUFFER
Rajon Rondo played out of his gourd on Wednesday night in Boston. He played a trustworthy 42 minutes (and was so dependable, in fact, that Sam Cassell played on five) and scored 20 points in his Celtics' Game 5 win over the Cavs.
In addition to the points, which came on 9-of-15 shooting, he handed out a game-high 13 assists and added two blocks and two steals.
SHOOTING DUDS
Sasha Vujacic, Lakers111-104 win vs Jazz
6 pts, 1-11 FG, 1-8 3-pt FG
Carlos Boozer, Jazz
111-104 loss at Lakers
16 pts, 6-16 FG
Ray Allen, Celtics
96-89 win vs Cavaliers
11 pts, 4-11 FG
CELTICS COMEBACK AT HOME, RECLAIM SERIES LEAD
Three times, previous to Wednesday night, LeBron James had played in a Game 5 that would break a 2-2 series tie, and in those three games, he had scored an average of 41.7 points. (Pretty good.) His Cavs, of course, won all three games. So, basically: whenever he had the chance in a 2-2 series, even if it meant scoring 40-plus points, LeBron had never failed to give his Cavs a 3-2 lead. Until now.
It looked redundantly like deja vu all over again at first, when he scored 23 by halftime, but he faded quickly thereafter and managed only eight more pointless points. Meanwhile, Kevin Garnett controlled the game on both ends of the floor and Rajon Rondo had the best playoff game of his life as the Celtics erased a 14-point second-quarter deficit and took what would become a permanent lead in the third – they won 96-89. Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds, Rondo did a bit of everything, and Paul Pierce scored a Boston-high 29. Pierce also made 8-of-9 free throws in the final 1:23 to keep Cleveland at a safe distance.
LAKERS LEAD THROUGHOUT, RECLAIM SERIES LEAD
Kobe Bryant was brilliant, and as discreet as can be about it, as his Lakers beat the visiting Jazz on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 series lead. Bryant scored 26 (I know: big whoop) (but it gets better) and needed just 10 shots from the field to do it (told you). Obviously, anytime a player finishes with more points than field goal attempts – a points per shot average better than 1 – they've had a pretty efficient game. In Game 5, Kobe managed an average of 2.6. This means, of course, he did some damage at the line (13-of-17) but he occupied himself elsewhere, too, adding seven assists and six rebounds.
Deron Williams had a game-high 27, but with the exception of double-doubles from Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer (and, okay: a nice flurry from Ronnie Brewer), he didn't get nearly the help Kobe did – all five starters for L.A. reached double figures. Pau Gasol had 21 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four blocks, and Lamar Odom had 22 and 11 on 8-of-12 from the floor.
COMING HOME AGAIN
By the time the night came to a close, home teams in the four semifinal series had improved to a record of 19-1. Boston took care of business in Boston; L.A. did the same in L.A. That number – so kindly presented to you in bold red font, beneath the phrase one sees most often on a throw pillow – is so lopsided, though, it almost seems that teams are taking turns, doesn't it? As if the observed advantage a home team possesses is quickly becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Pistons are the owners of the lone road win in this round.
ROOKIE WATCH
Obviously, the pickin's are slim these days. The cream of the rookie crop has been eliminated for the year (excepting, perhaps, Rodney Stuckey) and is left with nothing to do but dream of a slump-free sophomore season. Glen Davis is one of the few still standing, and he hardly plays. Surprisingly, though, of his unusually-abundant 12 minutes of action on Wednesday night ... all of them came in the last 15 minutes! The game was semi-close, too! But Doc believed in him, and rightfully so: Davis scored six points on 3-of-4 from the floor.
LOCKDOWN OF THE NIGHT
Carlos Boozer may have had 18 points and 12 rebounds on Wednesday night, but for the fourth time in five games against the Lakers, he struggled from the field. This was a bit of an issue a week ago (same square), when yours truly made note of the fact that he had been held in check by the Lakers' frontcourt – namely, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. After poor shooting in Games 1 and 2 in L.A., he shot 6-of-16 in Game 5, with most of those attempts coming in close range.
