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A lot of people thought the Lakers missed their shot in Game 1, that the game was there for the taking.
Not true. Game 2 traditionally is the time when the team with the home-court advantage is most vulnerable. The Celtics had nearly a week to rest after three tough series to get out of the Eastern Conference. The Lakers, quite frankly, did not get pushed that hard by San Antonio in the West finals.
Bottom line: the Lakers have their best chance to take control of the Finals tonight. Paul Pierce’s injury will make him something less than 100 percent. And don’t underestimate the impact of Kendrick Perkins’ sprained ankle. His absence wasn’t felt in Game 1. But it will make life tougher on them the longer that Perkins is limited.
Another factor is Ray Allen. He was a force in the opener, but he has not had a great playoff run overall. Will he come back with a dull effort?
Still another issue is the rebounding that has nagged at the Lakers periodically throughout the playoffs. They were hammered on the boards in Game 1 and that is one statistic that almost always carries a lot of weight, particularly in the playoffs. That’s where Lamar Odom must assert himself. He had six rebounds in 39 minutes on Thursday. that won’t cut it.
Lastly, the Lakers have to do two more things better than they did in the opener. They must shoot the ball better from the perimeter. They were 3-of-14 from 3-point land. And the must defend the Celtics better, starting by not allowing 10 offensive rebounds.
If you’re looking for a prediction, take the Lakers. This is the game they have to get. Going home for three games in a 2-0 hole is asking for trouble because it’s asking a lot to sweep the middle three games.

mavsblog.dallasnews.com