Game 2 overview

NBA Finals Game 2- Celtics 103 Lakers 94
Celtics won, so what. Home court advantage has been taken from the Lakers and the Celtics have a chance, if they hold home court, to win their next three games at home. This would win them the series and their NBA record 18th championship.

But they made one key mistake. They provoked Kobe Bryant.

Actually, Paul Pierce provoked Kobe Bryant. Confident after one win where they blew a 14 point lead to the defending champions, nearly lost the game after a record performance from Ray Allen, who hit 8 three pointers, and needed a triple double from Rajon Rondo; Paul Pierce opened his mouth. And mistakes followed from his mouth smoother than his jump shot, which isn't saying much, for the second time in the 2010 playoffs.

After winning a different game 2 versus the Orlando Magic, Pierce predicted that they were not coming back to Orlando and they would finish off the series with a sweep by winning two games on their home court. The Celtics won the first game, and lost the next two.

Not only lost the next two, but they let the big man on the Magic, Dwight Howard, turn into the best player on the court. He averaged 27.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3 blocks in the last three games after he was provoked by Pierce. So the Celtics struggled with a determined, 7-footer. The Lakers now have two.

We have seen what Andrew Bynum can do when he is aggressive and stays out of foul trouble, 21 points, 6 rebounds and 7 blocked shots, and Gasol can put up 30 points and 15 boards versus a slow Kevin Garnett.

Now Kobe Bryant. He will strive to prove himself as the best player on the court after the bogey he shot on game 2. His 21 points will not earn him the finals MVP award, and it will not get him a ring for the only open finger on his hand.

It's okay that Paul Pierce doesn't want the series to come back to LA. Kobe will make sure it does. The Celtics do not back up Pierce's talk and they will not be able to, even in Boston. The Lakers may lose a game in Boston, but they will not lose game 3. With the 2-3-2 format, the team that has won game 3 has won the series 100% of the time.

The Lakers will win game three and Kobe will be Kobe again. No more saves from superhero performances by Allen and Rondo. A more determined and smarter team will shut them down. I know I was wrong about game 2, and I can't see into the future, but I believe that the Lakers have to win game three. A "must-win". Phil Jackson doesn't lose those games, and neither does Kobe.

Paul Pierce needs to learn to shut his mouth, and even though he is from Inglewood, he is not welcome in LA. So when he gets back here for game 6, he will not be "home" because he is not welcome.