BOSTON CREAM PIE CELTICS NO CHALLENGE FOR LAKERS LAKERS 109, BOSTON 96.Byline: Steve Dilbeck Staff Writer They don't make them like they used to, not that the Lakers complained. The Boston Celtics were in town Friday, which used to be big news and get the Lakers' juices all flowing. Now the once-storied team is reduced to another easy mark on the schedule. The Lakers tried to act interested, which took some doing, what with their breaking out to a 22-point lead in the second quarter, but they eventually muddled through for a 109-96 victory before a Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. crowd of 18,997. ``They were kind to us,'' Celtics coach Rick Pitino Rick Pitino (born September 18, 1952) is the head basketball coach at the University of Louisville. He has also served as head coach at Providence College and the University of Kentucky, leading that program to the NCAA championship in 1996. said. ``It could have been a lot worse. They used a lot of reserves.'' It was the Lakers' 10th consecutive victory, again tying Portland for the best record (44-11) in the NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= . The Lakers weren't at their world-beating best Friday, but against the 23-32 Celtics, it clearly wasn't required. This once-passionate rivalry is the stuff of black-and-white reruns to today's hip-hop NBA followers. Lakers backup Travis Knight Travis Knight (born September 13 1974 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 1st round (29th overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft. , previously a member of the Celtics, said neither team gets too worked up over the other now. ``Other than `Classic Sports,' I think that rivalry might be a little bit dead,'' Knight said. The Lakers did their part Friday, flexing their muscles when needed, rolling out to a quick lead and playing solid team basketball. They had an astonishing a·ston·ish tr.v. as·ton·ished, as·ton·ish·ing, as·ton·ish·es To fill with sudden wonder or amazement. See Synonyms at surprise. 35 assists on their 41 field goals. Glen Rice Glen Anthony Rice (born May 28 1967, in Flint where he played for Flint Northwestern High School, Michigan) is a retired American NBA basketball player. Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star small forward well known for his pinpoint shooting accuracy, ranking 4th in NBA history with , knowing he'll be a Laker to the season's end Season's End are a British band based in Hampshire. They describe themselves as playing Progressive symphonic metal[1], although they are often tagged as a gothic metal band by reviewers and reference sources[2][3]. now that Thursday's trading deadline passed uneventfully, acted like a guy happy to still be around. He scored 12 of his 20 overall points in the first quarter as the Lakers broke out to a 30-17 lead. The Lakers are now 19-0 when he takes at least 10 shots. Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). (estimated average distance of his shots: six inches), had another impressive night, scoring 28 points against the Celtics army of outmanned centers while pulling down 15 rebounds and passing out six assists. O'Neal started like a man not truly focused, hitting just one of his first six shots, before regrouping and knocking down 12 of his last 14. ``I think I just got caught up in a little jet lag jet lag Period of adjustment of biological rhythm after moving from one time zone to another, experienced as fatigue and lowered efficiency. It reflects a delay in the synchronization of changes in the level of blood cortisol, the major steroid produced by the adrenal cortex ,'' O'Neal said. ``I was very, very tired. ``That was the ugliest 28 points I ever had.'' Fresh off their impressive 6-0 road trip, the Lakers managed to return to the Staples Center and look much like a team that plans to continue this winning routine at home. They were up 46-24 with 5:49 to play in the first half and Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. sat O'Neal and all the rest of his starters. The Celtics, or at least what passes for Pitino's current unit these days, mounted a minicharge against the Lakers ``B'' team and Jackson sent Rice and Kobe Bryant Kobe Bean Bryant (born July 23 1978) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. back in to calm the waters. Still, the Celtics trailed by 12 at the half and closed within 10 early in the second half before the Lakers began to pay attention again. The Lakers didn't beat the Celtics, so much as dispatch them. Slowly the Lakers again pushed their lead back up to 20, the Celtics really having little with which to answer. This is the fifth year of Pitino's rebuilding program, which mostly has been marked by consistent rebuilding. Forward Antonie Walker scored 25 points for the Celtics and guard Paul Pierce Paul Pierce (born October 13, 1977 in Oakland, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the NBA. He has been a starter every season since he was selected by the Celtics in the 1998 NBA Draft, and in 2002 he helped lead Boston to an added 19 (but that on 6-of-17 shooting). Led by Robert Horry, Bryant and O'Neal, the Lakers continued to play solid defense - particularly early - in holding the Celtics to .416 percent shooting from the field. ``We grounded it out,'' Jackson said. ``Our defense was OK until the middle of the second quarter, then we just kind of flattened out.'' The Lakers never could turn their lead into blowout proportions, not that the Celtics ever managed to make them actually feel nervous. The Lakers let Bryant (17 points, six rebounds, five steals) loose for several highlight-reel dunks, took an 84-66 lead into the final quarter and then just rode it home. Even Knight, who gets precious little action these days, got into the game long enough to score a season-high nine points. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) The Lakers' Kobe Bryant, who had some highlight-reel dunks, momentarily loses the ball in the first period. He recovered in plenty of time to help L.A. thump Boston 109-96 at Staples Center. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News Box: Game recap |
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