Kobe’s solo act in need of support
While putting together his personal highlight reel Sunday night, Kobe Bryant created his usual array of incredible plays en route to scoring 38 points for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Through it all, two points became obvious: Bryant’s individual brilliance is always amazing; Bryant by himself is definitely not enough to carry the Lakers to a championship.
The Lakers’ latest one-man show was a flop, sure to be panned by critics for a lame plot.
Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics outnumbered Bryant and thoroughly outplayed the rest of the Lakers in a 92-86 victory in Game 5 that changes the complexion of the NBA Finals.
The Celtics, for the first time, are the favorites to win the series at minus-120 on the adjusted price.
“If the Lakers are going to win it, somebody has got to help out Kobe,” M Resort sports book director Mike Colbert said. “He can’t do it alone.”
Boston took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series that will conclude in Los Angeles either Tuesday or Thursday. The home court is a powerful advantage in the NBA, and that’s why Bryant isn’t reacting like a man blindfolded and told to stand against a wall.
The Lakers are favored in Game 6. The line opened 6 1/2 at the M Resort and 7 by Las Vegas Sports Consultants. If there is a Game 7, and I’m relatively certain there will be, Colbert said the Lakers would be favored by about 5 1/2 points.
The money line on the Lakers to win straight up will be about minus-300 (bet $300 to win $100) in each game, but the Lakers are even money to win the series.
“If you like the Lakers, I think even money is a good price,” Colbert said. “I’ve picked the Lakers all the way, so I’m still going to say Lakers in seven.
“But the Celtics have definitely showed me they’re for real. The Boston defense is second to none. It’s definitely not going to be easy for the Lakers. If anyone thinks they’re going to go back home and cruise, I think they’re wrong.”
At this point, I like the Lakers at even money to win both games. But hedging — and trying to middle — that bet by taking the Celtics and the points is also worth consideration.
No longer are the Lakers dominant in the middle. Andrew Bynum played 32 minutes on a bad knee Sunday and grabbed one rebound. Pau Gasol and Derek Fisher combined to shoot 7-for-21. Ron Artest and Lamar Odom combined to make 1 of 6 free throws and score 15 points.
The Gold Sheet handicapper Bruce Marshall, who recommended a play on the Celtics minus-3 in Sunday’s Las Vegas Review-Journal, was dead on in his assessment of the Boston defense.
“The triangle has been disassembled, and as the recent games have progressed what points the Lakers are scoring have come outside of their offensive sets. It’s all isolation and one-on-one stuff,” Marshall said.
That point was proven as Bryant went off for 38 points, and worked extremely hard. The tougher Celtics allowed few easy baskets, pushed Gasol out of the lane and shut off every option but Bryant, who poured in 19 points in the third quarter.
Bryant scored 23 straight points for the Lakers between the 4:23 mark of the second quarter until late in the third. Still, the Celtics expanded their lead.
The Lakers stumbled down the stretch. Artest missed two free throws in the final minute, and twice failed to foul Boston’s Rajon Rondo, who has been throwing up prayers at the free-throw line.
“I would treat Rondo like Shaquille O’Neal. …Foul him,” Colbert said. “Artest was a major problem. He looked overwhelmed by the whole situation.”
Pierce finished with 27 points and Rondo and Kevin Garnett had 18 apiece. The Celtics’ stars stepped up while reserve Glen “Big Baby” Davis, the key player in Game 4, was held scoreless.
In what was essentially a must-win game for Boston, the sports books were seeing heavy action on the Lakers.
“It was the first game of the series when the public really switched over to the Lakers. It was a good game for us. Every bet was Lakers points and Lakers money line,” Colbert said. “The Celtics impressed me. I really thought the Lakers would win.”
The Lakers are still even money to take the title. That’s the good news. The bad news is Bryant’s one-man show does not scare the Celtics one bit.
Contact sports betting columnist Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.
