Celtics plan a few tweaks for Game 2

LOS ANGELES – A lopsided Game 1 victory injected new life into Los Angeles' championship pursuit, while the Boston Celtics know they have to derail the Lakers at home before they can gain a psychological edge.

Labelled as passive in a 102-89 loss, the Celtics will be seeking to get their edge back in Sunday's Game 2 at Staples Center arena.

Boston forward Paul Pierce was one of the most vocal Celtics after game one both inside and outside the team's dressing room.

"You are talking about the last series in all the basketball for the grand prize," said Pierce at Friday's practice at the Lakers' training facility in El Segundo.

"So if guys aren't willing to give it their all or sacrifice whatever they need to do at this point in the season, then shame on them truthfully."

Celtics said Friday they are not discouraged at losing the first game on the road as the talk centred on execution, performance and doing the little things on defence well.

"I know our execution is going to be there," said Pierce, who grew up in Los Angeles and is also known as the Prince of Inglewood. "The defensive scheme is going to be there. But it's just about how hard and how willing you are to sacrifice your body to go out and do it for 48 minutes."

A win Sunday would give them a split in Los Angeles heading back to Boston for games three, four and five. A loss certainly wouldn't improve their mood said power forward Kevin Garnett.

"I think we're all kind of distasteful at this time, knowing what's at stake and it being the finals," said Garnett said. "No one here has to come out and say a heroic speech or get in anyone's face. It's all self-explanatory."

Heading into the finals, Garnett was Boston's leading rebounder (18.7 average per game) and was second in block shots with 11 in 17 games.

He had just 4 rebounds and 1 block in Game 1 and took the brunt of the criticism.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers rushed to defend his star player Friday and took exception with Lakers Pau Gasol's comments Thursday that he thinks Garnett has lost a step.

"That's what Gasol said, that he (Garnett) can't do what he used to do. I don't think Kobe believes that. I don't think Kevin believes that," Rivers said. "He's not injured, I can tell you that. He just didn't have a good game."

Rivers then verbally blasted those who claim the Celtics, with three starters over the age of 30, are too old to run with the Lakers.

"Well, I don't mind the two-day break at all," Rivers said the long rest between games. "For us a two-day break has to have some benefit, especially as you guys have all said we were old the last 24 hours. Hell, we need this break, we're so darned old."

The Celtics are also getting weary of hearing about Jackson's perfect 47-0 record when his teams win the first game of a series.

Rivers reaction was one of disinterest. He likes to point out that records and streaks are there to be broken.

"The last time we were in the finals, no team had ever come down from 24 in the second half. At some point it happens."

In Game 4 of the 2008 finals between the same two teams, Rivers' Celtics rallied from a 24-point deficit to win and take a pivotal 3-1 series lead.

The Lakers aren't buying the theory the Celtics are too old and are expecting to see Boston's intensity level pick up in Game 2.

"We're not expecting another game like that," Lakers small forward Ron Artest said. "First game jitters. I guess it's kind of tough for them being on the road, facing a lot of adversity. The Celtics are special, and we all respect them."

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher said one of the keys to winning the series is staying out of foul trouble.

"I'm not really in that group of people that feels like they (Celtics) just didn't compete," Fisher said. "I think we just played a better game.

"But that doesn't mean that all of a sudden on Sunday it's going to be two totally different teams out there. I think it's still going to come down to which team is going to be able to figure out which way the game is being called, who's in foul trouble, all the little things in the game.

"You have to constantly make the necessary adjustments. We did some a little better, and that's why we won."