Lakers on the brink
June 16, 2008
They held on for a win in game 5, but as the series heads back to Boston the Lakers are fighting to become the first team to ever win the NBA finals from 1-3 down.
Kobe Bryant finally got some help from his big men in game 5, with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol combining for 39 points and 24 rebounds. Although they still did not play well, the Lakers defense somehow managed to keep Kevin Garnett relatively quiet.
Celtics captain, Paul Pierce went for 38 points and 8 assists, single-handedly keeping his team in the contest. If Boston does go on to win the championship, he is a short favorite to win Finals MVP honours.
BetUS has the home team as 4 point favorites to win game 6 on Tuesay night. The moneyline is paying -200 (1.50) for the Celtics win, or 1.65 (2.65) for the Lakers.
At Bodog & Sportsbook.com the line is set at 4.5 points.
The series price at Sportsbook.com is -600 (1.17) for Boston, or +400 (5.00) for the Lakers.
We give the Lakers a pretty good chance of beating the odds in game six, but no matter how much we want them to, we just can't see them winning two games in a row in Boston Garden. Even if the Celtics do not get Kendrick Perkins back again this year.
But then again the Lakers do have Kobe Bryant....
If they do manage to take this to seven games, it would be one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the NBA.
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