Los Angeles at Boston

The Boston Celtics did what they needed to do by winning game two. It has basically now become a best of five series with three of the games in Boston. The Lakers have to be gripping a bit wondering if it's a case of "here we go again." In 2008, the Lakers had home court advantage and were supposed to be the better team. Boston beat them down. Now, Boston is again trying to quiet the critics who think they are the second best team in this series. What it all boils down to now is a crucial game three, with both teams Championship caliber and realizing the door to the trophy comes with a commitment on the defensive end. I expect both teams to come out bringing their "A" level defense and to try to impose their defensive will on the other team. There is an elongated history of game three's that shows the first halves of a playoff game has decidedly been defensive oriented. All game three's in the playoffs over the last 205 occurrences have seen the first-half UNDER prevail to a 124-81 mark, which is over 60% of the time. The Celtics are 75-55 UNDER in the first-half the last two seasons when coming off a win. They are also 21-10 UNDER over that span when playing an very good opponent (.600 to .700). Boston has been tremendous in this spot as well. They are 11-1 to the moneyline in the game following  an upset win as an underdog the last three years. They have simply been better than the Lakers in recent history having won eight of the last 14 games including four of the last six here in Boston. They say defense wins championships. In 2008 Boston had the better defense and won. In 2010 they have the better defense and they have stolen home court advantage. Will this series be a repeat of 2008? Lots of basketball left, but right now Boston looks like the better team and I'll take them at home in what I expect to be a defensive battle.