Who really thought that we’d be trying to figure out who the Lakers could survive in Game 6?

Boston’s defense and complete team contributions have the Lakers’ backs up against the wall tonight.

After an awe-inspiring effort from Kobe Bryant left the Lakers short of winning on Sunday night, what does L.A. have to do tonight to force a Game 7?

1.  Put Bryant in a Bottle- Most importantly, Phil Jackson has to control his superstar.  The 2008-2009 NBA MVP will need to get lots of support from his teammates.  And to do so, Bryant will have to take a step back and curtail his instincts to take over the game.  Let’s face it – the other Lakers are nowhere near as talented as Bryant (not many are), and they cannot be expected to convert field goals without being in the flow of the game.  Bryant exploits needs to be harnessed when all other options have been exhausted.  So, Jackson needs to put the genie in the bottle and save his wishes until the game’s most critical moments.

2.  Dictate the Tempo- Now that the Lakers are returning home, they should have an easier tim dictating the tempo of the game.  L.A.’s Game 5 total of 86 points was the lowest in their 2010 playoff run.  After their rough and tumble opening round matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Lakers found their rhythm and averaged 109 and 113 points per game in their following two series.  They may not be able to duplicate that level of offensive success against the Celtics, but they desperately need to speed up the pace of the game to give them a legitimate shot at triple figures.

Kobe Bryant desperately needs to get his teammates involved.

3.  Take Away Pierce’s Mid-Range Game- 2008 NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce woke up in Game 5.  Pierce was an efficient assassin, shooting close to 60% (12-21, 27 points) and committing zero turnovers.  Pierce feasted at his favorite spot on the floor.  The Truth loves to handle the rock somewhere around the free throw / top of the key area.  When playing there, he likes to comfortably execute his series of backdown dribbles followed by a spin in accordance with any contact made with the player defending him.  Los Angeles has to keep him out of his comfort zone.  Also, they need to turn Pierce into a passer.  Pierce is not a bad passer, but if you’re the Lakers you want to do this because there’s only one knockdown shooter on Boston (Ray Allen).  So, any resulting shot from any other Celtic would have a high probability of being a brick. 

4.  Start “The Goods”- Productive bench play is a big part of what makes the Celtics successful, but it is not critical.  The Lakers simply need to get some production from someone other than #24.  I think Lamar Odom – who plays remarkably better at home – could turn the tables in Los Angeles’ favor.  Word has it that Odom has come down with the flu.  But with Ron Artest proving that he is not capable of slowing down Pierce, starting “The Goods” could work out for the better for L.A.  At 6’10″, Odom has the length (and quickness) to make things difficult for Pierce on the offensive end.  But Odom is a much more versatile offensive threat of his own.  His handle is magnificent for a player just a hair shorter than seven foot.  He’s creative with the ball, crashes the boards well and has an above-average basketball IQ that often places him in the right place at the right time.  Giving him the starting role should allow him to establish a rhythm that might make a big difference if the game hangs in the balance in the final quarter.  And he’ll just have to worry about that flu later.

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