Ray Allen sett the NBA Finals records for 3 point shots made with 8 during game 2 of the NBA Finals. In game 3 he missed all 8 3 point shots taken. Making matters worse is that his horrendous shooting ended up a blasphemous 0-13 total from the field in game 3.

The end result is that the Celtics again find themselves facing a one game deficit to the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers for the second time of the series.

Can anyone tell me what just happened?

If Ray Allen hits 3 of those 8 pointers, which anyone who think is possible when Ray Allen is shooting, the Celtics win the game.

Not to discredit the leadership and amazing play of Derek Fisher during the 4th quarter, but seriously, what in the world happened to Ray Allen?

Derek Fisher, according to AP Sports Writer Jimmy Golen, attributes the poor shooting by Allen to his legs:

“We obviously didn’t expect him to go 0 for 13, but it’s a tough gig for him to run around offensively the way he has to and then have to guard Kobe on the other end,” Fisher said. “I mean, that takes anybody’s legs out. It takes my legs out chasing him. So there are going to be nights maybe when his legs aren’t there because he’s having to work so hard on both ends, but we won’t see 0 for 13 on Thursday night, that’s for sure.”

That is sweet of D Fish to make excuses on Ray Allen’s behalf, but this is the time of the season where you are not allowed to be tired, not allowed to take a play off, and for someone who is famous for shooting the ball at an unbelievable level, and having jsut made NBA history the game before, you must do just that.

You must deliver, or else your record will fade into the fog of the minds of fans of the team that lost the series.

This ebb and flow from game 2 to game 3 by Allen has to mark one of the worst regressions in the caliber of performance coming after the game in which an NBA history is made.

Really though, if you think about the bright side, the only possibly direction Ray Allen has to go at this point is up, so the potential odds for the Celtics to show their resilience and bounce back in game 4 for a win is seemingly in their favor.

Kobe Bryant wins his 4th NBA Championship (photo by AP)

At the start of Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Orlando, we expected to see the Magic come out of the gate like gangbusters. Dwight Howard’s claim of a game 6 led us to expect fighting, clawing, and intimidation in forcing their way  into a game 6 at the Staples center.

In reality, the Orlando Magic played as if they did not want to fly west.

Kobe Bryant had a compelling all around game with 30 points, 5 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 blocked shots. His supporting cast played wonderfully. Odom scored 17 points, Ariza had 15, Gasol 14 and 15 rebounds, and Fisher, whose clutch 3s in Game 4 lifted L.A., finished with 13 points.

Orlando started the game matching the Lakers pace, but  faltered in the second quarter being outscored 30-18 by the Lakers.

At the start of the second half the Magic were unable to gain ground. Orlando showed some fight, but costly turnovers  were then converted by the Lakers and defused Orlando’s chances at a run. It became apparent things were going the Lakers way in the 3rd.

Due to Dwight Howard’s limited offensive repertoire, the big and athletic Howard was called for an offensive foul  with 7:12 left to play. Lamar Odom then converted a high arching 3 from the corner which squandered and deflated the Orlando Magic.

The Lakers then rolled over the Magic, basically matching Orlando bucket for bucket until the buzzer sounded in an otherwise unexciting 4th quarter.

Mark Jackson of ESPN brought up a very intelligent point during the fourth, directed towards Dwight Howard:

“If I am Dwight Howard…..after this game…… I am going to seek out a big man camp”

Dwight Howard needs to learn more than a dunk. (Photo AP)

Truer words could not have been spoken. Dwight Howard must realize the short comings of his game. How hard can it be to develop  a 10-15 foot jump shot, or even a baby hook?

I am sure we have all had that friend, who tries to play a pick up game after never playing ball before.  You watch them, the form of the shot is horrible, and  no real clue or basketball sense.  Time passes, and that person does get better. Some eventually become actually fairly decent.

How is it that a kid who gets paid gobs of cash with nothing but free time does not use his time to develop an all around game?

Andrew Bynum  adhered to a work regimen after Kobe Bryant called him out, and he has a ton of moves now.  Beset by injuries over the past couple seasons, he still has a leg up on Howard’s offensive sets.

Maybe it is time these players are paid less cash. Reflecting upon the old Lakers and Celtics rivalries, and further back, we see how players cared more about winning and losing. Players refined their games.

Nowadays  players would rather make predictions in the media while drinking vitamins, spending the off season stroking a superman cape preparing for the photo shoot to be on the cover of NBA Live 2010.

It would be nice if there was time for learn some jump hooks, an elbow jumper, and perhaps a few other valuable fundamental elements for the game of Basketball.

Kobe's Lakers have what it takes (Chris Carlson -- AP)

I do remember the 2004 ALCS, (The Red Sox won the series four games to three having been down three games to none in the best-of-seven series.) but with the Lakers up 3-1 in the 2009 best-of-seven NBA Finals, it appears a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ Kobe wins his fourth ring, but his coveted first without that famous guy with all those Twitter followers.

Yes, he’ll finally win without Shaq, but it’s not like he’s leading the Cavs to the title.

Don’t get me wrong, Kobe is a great player—in everyone’s top two—but he’s also on the best team. It’s not pure vindication. His team is superior.

This shouldn’t be about Kobe. It’s about an amazing organization that pulled all the right strings and had some luck along the way. The stars are aligned for the Lakers—nearly lost Kobe, Pau Gasol fell into their laps, Derek Fisher comes back—in winning their first without Shaq.

Kobe has been the best player on the floor, but the supporting cast has been every bit as championship-caliber.

So skilled in the post and not intimidated by anyone, Gasol is the most Tim Duncan-like player since Tim Duncan, maybe better than Duncan at this point.

Derk Fisher is Steve Kerr and John Paxson rolled into one, plus he’s a good ball-handler, great defender, and leader on the floor.

Trevor Ariza plays in control, hits shots when it matters, and is a physical, yet quick-footed defender.

These three players have all been instrumental in L.A.’s playoff success.

Put LeBron on the Lakers and they don’t lose. Put Gasol on the Cavs and they don’t lose.

Kobe got his first without Shaq, but he had almost as much help this go around as he did winning three to start the decade.

Proves it takes more than one great player to win. Then again, LeBron could tell you all about that.

Players win games, but Lakers management put those players on the court. General Manager Mitch Kupchak deserves recognition.

So you’ll no longer be able to say Kobe can’t win without Shaq. Now we’ll say he can’t win without Derek Fisher.

Now maybe next year we’ll get that Kobe versus LeBron battle we all crave.

It seems that everytime Stan Van Gundy makes  a smart coaching coacing decision, he proceeds to take two steps back. In Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Van Gundy had Jameer Nelson on the court for the entire 4th quarter and  overtime period.

In Nelson’s postgame interview he states “Obviously, uh, I think I let Fisher get into a rhythm…….I was there….. He shot a good shot.”

Jameer Nelson was defensively out of position, and unable to locate his defensive rhythm.  His floor spacing was nonchalant, and he gave up enough room that Phil Jackson could have taken that shot.

The other question to ask is why didn’t Jameer Nelson commit the no brainer foul on Derek Fisher, and let the home crowd pressure him at the line for 3 game deciding foul shots?

When David Aldridge asks him if he game him too much room, Nelson replied “I don’t know”.

Had Ray Walston’s character Mr. Hand from Fast Times at Ridgemont High was in the room he could have given Jameer Nelson a lesson for saying something this rediculous. Mr Hand: “Gee Jameer, will the Orlando Magic have a chance to win the series?” Jameer: “I don’t know.” Mr Hand: “Do you think Rafer Alston should have been in there for part of the 4th quarter, or overtime?” Jameer: “I don’t know.” Mr Hand: “I like those words Jameer. I am going to leave them up in my locker room so that all my players can read them, giving you full credit for them of course” Jameer: “Well allright.”

Mr Hand would know how to handle Jameer Nelson

The point  is  Nelson is not playing at the game speed that the NBA Finals game demands from  a player. His decisions are all over-thought. He is not reacting, but rather  thinking too hard on the court. Rafer Alston has played the majority of minutes in the lone victory the Magic have had thus far.

If Stan Van Gundy could keep his composure, not pannick, he only then might realize  the wrong guard is playing at the wrong time. You cannot play the game of favorites and expect to win in life. So Why would you in basketball?

Either way, Jameer Nelson would probably say “I don’t know.”