Projo Sports Blog

BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- After talking for two days about how he’d play Kevin Garnett, Lamar Odom didn’t carry much of that concern through Game One last night.

Odom began the game checking Kendrick Perkins, not Garnett, on defense. For some reason, Lakers’ coach Phil Jackson chose to give Pau Gasol the unenviable task of shadowing Garnett on defense. That didn’t work out too well as Garnett did anything he wanted against Gasol, knocking down open jumpers after jab steps, flying by him for dunks and generally torturing the over-matched Spaniard.

Garnett made 6-of-9 shots in the first half with almost every hoop coming against Gasol. He has 16 of Boston's first 40 points.

When the Lakers had the ball, Odom saw Garnett’s long, powerful body in his mug at all times. Odom could not knock down his jumper but did get to the rim a few times on his way to seven first half points. More importantly, Gasol hurt Perkins and P.J. Brown in the first half on his way to 12 points with five field goals almost all on jams and flip-ins.

Entering the series, Odom openly talked about defending Garnett. “My favorite word in this series is going to be 'help,' ’’ he said. “A guy like that, you need as much help as possible.”

The Lakers made one slight switch through the game in its defense of Garnett. While Gasol continued to struggle keeping up with his moves, Garnett did see a second defender shad his way once he put the ball on the floor.

As this series moves forward, it’ll be interesting to see if Jackson sticks with Gasol, and not Odom, on Garnett.

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