The truth will come out in Game 2.
One day after pulling a Willis Reed-like return in Game 1 to lead the Boston Celtics to a 98-88 victory over the Lakers before a gushing Boston Garden crowd, Paul Pierce (aka The Truth) admitted he is feeling sharp pains in his right knee and revealed that if Game 2 was played Friday he would be a scratch.
Hmmm. He sure looked fine in Game 1. Heck, he didn't limp around in the fourth quarter. He went from clutching his knee as if he just tore his ACL, carried off the court onto a wheelchair and back jogging on the sidelines in a matter of minutes. Minutes!
Phil Jackson joked about the Pierce's miraculous return at Friday's media session. Jackson said, "was Oral Roberts in the locker room?"
We'll find out soon about the severity of Pierce's injury.
If Pierce has a noticeable limp, shows up with a thick knee wrap and looks very limited in his movement early in Game 2, then the Lakers should be able to steal one in Boston, return to L.A. 1-1 and deal a crushing blow to the Celtics' title hopes.
However, if Pierce starts taking the ball to the basket and makes half of his mid-range shots, then I guess miracles do happen.
Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals will go down in history as the Boston Knee Party.
Keywords: Celtics, Lakers, NBA Finals, Paul Pierce
