No better time than now
Neither the Celtics or Lakers have won consecutive games in this series to this point. The Celtics can be the first to do that with a win tonight in Game 5. And as Doc Rivers pointed out moments ago, the Celtics literally cannot win this series without winning two games in a row.
“That was the first thing I talked about after [Game 4] was that at some point someone has to win two in a row,” said Rivers. “And actually we’re the only one that has to win two in a row. So I’m hoping that hits home with us, and we have the edge going into the game, the mental edge.”
In addition to winning two games in a row, Rivers said the Celtics would have to win a game in which Kobe Bryant plays well.
“Hell, he’s Kobe Bryant,” said Rivers. “We’ve talked about it before. We are going to have to win a game eventually in this series where he goes off for a big number. But that number, whatever it is, is still not the final number. Other people still have to score for them.
“We’re not going to overreact to it, and I think that’s where the great players get you, the LeBron’s and the Wade’s and who we’ve already faced. They have that big game and everybody overreacts and wants to change the defense and watch to change things. We’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Bryant isn’t having a bad Finals: He’s averaging 28.3 points per game during the series, shooting 40 percent from the field. But he hasn’t gotten off for any huge games. His series high — 33 points in Game 4 — came on 10-of-22 shooting.
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