With his mouth wide open sucking air and slobber running down his chin, Glen “Big Baby” Davis was not a pretty sight, unless you happen to be a Boston Celtics fan.
So far in Boston’s two wins in the NBA Finals, a different player has emerged as the hero. In Game Two at Staples Center it was Ray Allen and his eight three-pointers. That was a must-win game for the Celtics.
Thursday night in another must-win game, Davis emerged off the bench with 18 points, eight of them coming off four very key offensive rebounds and put backs.
Without those put backs, the Lakers, who controlled the game until midway through the final quarter, would have gone up three games to one, and the Celtics would have had their backs against the wall.
But as it turns out, Davis’ efforts boosted Boston to a 96-89 win and enabled them to tie the series at two games apiece. The pivotal fifth game is this Sunday evening at the TD Garden. A must-win for both teams as neither one wants to head back to Los Angeles down three games to two.
Although the Lakers’ big men, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom, have been effective against the starting front court of the Celtics, Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett, they have had a difficult time trying to keep Davis off the boards.
When Davis is in along with Rasheed Wallace off the bench, they are able to do an excellent job of boxing out Odom and Gasol.
The only Laker to have any effect against them has been Andrew Bynum, even though he is playing on a torn meniscus. But tonight, his injury proved too painful as he was late coming off the trainer’s table for the second half and only remained in the game for a few minutes in the third quarter.
After Bynum left, Davis had his way on the inside, and that was the big difference in Game Four.
Paul Pierce did a little better Th...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
