Efficient play, trends put Celtics in command of Finals
By John Schuhmann
NBA.com

Game 5 of the 2010 Finals wasn’t an elimination game, but it was certainly the biggest game of the season. Since the Finals changed to the 2-3-2 format in 1985, 13 of the 15 teams who have held a 3-2 lead have won the series, and 12 of them have finished it off in Game 6. But only four of those 13 teams (the 1985 Lakers, the ’93 Bulls, the ’98 Bulls and the 2006 Heat) were on the road for Games 6 and 7.

The Celtics still have a lot of work to do. Their sense of urgency should be high for Game 6 (because the prospect of a Game 7 on the road is not ideal).

As the teams head back to L.A., here’s a look at some key numbers from Game 5 …

1. Three ways to efficiency

The Celtics shot 56.3 percent from the field, which is the best they’ve shot in a postseason game since 2005. But overall, their offense was more efficient in their other two Finals wins.

Boston scored 112 points per 100 possessions in Game 2, 112.9 per 100 in Game 4 and 109.5 per 100 in Game 5. How can that be? As always, you have to look at the other three factors that determine efficiency.

The biggest issue was turnovers. The Celtics turned the ball over 17 times on Sunday, including eight times in the second quarter. Of their first 19 possessions in the period, they either scored or had a turnover.

The second issue was their inability to get to the free-throw line. The Celtics attempted 13 free throws in Game 5, which matched their second-lowest total of the season and the lowest they’ve had in the postseason since 2002. Since attempting 36 free throws in Game 1, Boston has attempted fewer every game: 26 in Game 2, 24 in Game 3 and 23 in Game 4.

Finally, with just seven offensive rebounds, the Celtics didn’t give themselves as many second opportunities as they did in Game 2 (13 offensive boards) or Game 4 (16).

2. A one-man show

Kobe Bryant was certainly brilliant at times on Sunday, but none of his teammates was very involved in the game. Bryant hit some incredible shots as he scored his team’s first 19 points of the second half, and he had a game-high 38 points overall. But he missed more shots (14) than any of his teammates attempted. Bryant was 7-for-9 in the third quarter, but just 6-for-18 the rest of the night.

Pau Gasol was the only other Laker to score in double figures or attempt more than nine shots, but he wasn’t a big part of the offense. Six of Gasol’s 12 shots were a result of his own offensive rebounds.

The Lakers aren’t a high-assist team (they averaged 21.8 in the regular season), but their 12 assists in Game 5 was their second-lowest total of the season. It was the sixth time in the postseason that the Celtics have held their opponent to fewer than 15 assists and the third time they’ve done it to the Lakers in The Finals.

3. Celtics shift some trends

The Lakers crushed the Celtics in a few key categories in Game 1. They had 48 points in the paint to the Celtics’ 30, 12 fast-break points to the Celtics’ five, and 16 second-chance points to the Celtics’ zero.

The first two stats were very un-Celtics-like. Boston ranked third in paint-point differential this season, outscoring their opponents by 6.5 points in the paint per 100 possessions. They also allowed the third-fewest fast-break points per 100 possessions (12.2).

Since Game 1, Boston has improved dramatically in both categories. They’ve outscored the Lakers in the paint by 14 points a game and they’ve held L.A. to 4.3 fast-break points.

4. Truth and K.G.

Game 5 was a nice time for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to have their best games of the series.

Ron Artest had kept Pierce under wraps for the first four games, holding him to just 42 percent shooting on just 12 shots per game. But Pierce broke out in Game 5, connecting on 12 of his 21 shots for a team-high 27 points and didn’t record a turnover. Bryant may have had a huge third quarter, but the Celtics—led by Pierce’s 11 points—won the period by matching Bryant shot-for-shot.

Garnett had more points in Game 3 (25) than he did on Sunday, but this game was his most active. After averaging just five rebounds through the first four games, he had twice that in Game 5. He also blocked two shots and picked up five steals (the second most he’s recorded in 94 career postseason games).

Quick Hits

• The total score of the series thus far: Celtics 464, Lakers 462.

• Including Game 5, the Celtics are 20-0 this season when they hold their opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. They’ve done it seven times this postseason.

• Game 5 was Bryant’s second-best shooting performance in 11 Finals games against the Celtics. The only time he shot at least 50 percent from the field in the two series was Game 3 of the 2008 Finals, when he made12 of 20 shots.

• The Lakers had 28 blocks through the first three games. They’ve had four in the last two, with Bryant notching the only block in Game 5.

• Ray Allen shot a Finals-record 8-for-11 from 3-point range in Game 2, but has shot 0-for-18 from outside since.

• Ron Artest scored 15 points on 5-for-10 shooting in Game 1, and has averaged 6 points on 8-for-33 (24 percent) shooting since.

• Andrew Bynum played almost 32 minutes on his injured right knee and had zero defensive rebounds. It was the second time in his career that he’s played at least 25 minutes and failed to grab a defensive rebound—the other time came on Feb. 23, 2007 against Boston.

• If the Celtics win the series in seven games, they’ll have the same record on the road as they did at home (33-20).