Allen puts on historic shooting display
The script seemed tailor-made for a stocky guy styling courtside in the designer shades. Yo, that guy, “Rocky’’ Stallone.Three nights after Ray Allen sat helplessly foul-ridden on the Celtics bench while his teammates pursued an NBA title, Allen last night played the avenger, rising from basketball’s version of the canvas with such record-setting force that he changed the course of the championship series.
Pow. Allen all but KO’d the Lakers defense single-handedly as he struck for 32 points, including a Finals-record eight 3-pointers to power the Celtics to a series-tying 103-94 victory in Game 2 at a sold-out Staples Center.
It was a world title fight, as basketball audiences in 215 countries witnessed Allen’s televised masterwork…
Boston Globe
Celtics show late punch
Sylvester Stallone left early, and none too pleased if you could read behind his purple-tinted sunglasses, which matched his faded purple ensemble.
Rajon Rondo had just kicked Rocky to the curb by scoring 10 points in a 16-4 closing run that changed everything for the Celtics.
From the Celtics point guard’s 19-point, 12-rebound, 10-assist triple-double to a record-setting night from Ray Allen – he of 32 points and an NBA Finals record eight 3-pointers – the Celtics were driven by big numbers in their 103-94 win against the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Finals, now tied at 1, head back to the Garden for the next three games. The Celtics wouldn’t be in this position, either, without every drop from both players…
Boston Herald
In Ray Allen’s Shadow, Rajon Rondo Saves Game 2 for Celtics
What do Rajon Rondo and LeBron James have in common?
Well, nearly four weeks ago, when the Celtics eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers from the Eastern Conference playoffs with an impressive Game 6 effort at the TD Garden, James recorded what was probably the least-heralded triple-double of the year.
King James piled up 27 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in the Cavs’ May 13 finale — but after the game, no one was talking about his eye-popping numbers. All the buzz was about LeBron playing his last game in a Cleveland uniform.
Why is this relevant now? Because in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, Rondo turned in the second-least-heralded triple-double of this postseason.
Rondo had 19 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for the Celtics at the Staples Center on Sunday…
NESN
Rondo = Clutch
The Celtics used an 18-6 spurt over the final 6 minutes of the 4th quarter to beat the Lakers 103-94 and even this series at 1-1. Rondo (19 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists) was cash money down the stretch. He scored 10 points in the 4th. Had a huge block on Derek Fisher and key strip of Kobe Bryant.
Ray Allen was the hero of the 1st half, where he scored 27 of his 32 points. His 8 3-pointers are an NBA Finals record.
The bench was superb. Nate Robinson had 7 points during a 6 minute stretch at the start of the 4th quarter. It was a key contribution because Rondo needed a blow at the time. Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis combined for 15 points and 14 rebounds.
The officiating was bad, real bad…
Red’s Army
