Celtics Bracing for Bryant's Big Game

Filed under: Celtics, Lakers, NBA Playoffs, NBA Finals

BOSTON -- His center is hurt. One forward has disappeared. His sixth man doesn't look all that capable anymore. People are starting to doubt him again, too. And the grandest stage -- NBA Finals, pivotal Game 5 -- awaits.



Yes, it's now Kobe Time.



And no one knows it better than the Boston Celtics, who are bracing Sunday for Kobe Bryant to try and stamp his signature on this series, expecting to give the Los Angeles Lakers all the momentum they need to claim back-to-back NBA titles.



"You brace for a big game from Kobe Bryant every time you play against him,'' Celtics guard Tony Allen said Saturday before practice. "But we all have to have our antennas up even more now because he's due for a real breakout game.''



To no one's surprise, Bryant has been the best player in the Finals, averaging 28.3 points, but not by the expected margin. He hasn't shot very well (40.9 percent). He hasn't been very consistent. There have been no heroics. He failed to prevent the Game 2 letdown in Los Angeles. He committed seven turnovers that led to the Game 4 loss on Thursday.



And he bristled when Lakers coach Phil Jackson told everyone that Bryant was tired.

 

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/06/12/celtics-bracing-for-bryants-big-game/