Tom E. Curran • E-mail

BOSTON - Game 1 was the game the Celtics should have had. Game 2 will be the one they HAVE to have.

With the 2-3-2 format of these NBA Finals, Boston can’t afford to go to Los Angeles having relinquished the home-court advantage they earned with a 66-win regular season.

Think about it. Boston’s been road-challenged throughout these playoffs with their only two road wins coming in the Eastern Conference finals. Think they want to go to L.A. knowing they’re spending more than a week and could conceivably get closed out without returning to the East Coast?

Thursday night’s 98-88 loss was a lot closer than the final score indicates. Despite the fact Kobe Bryant went 9 for 26 from the floor. Despite the fact Boston killed L.A. on the glass (46 boards to 33). Despite the fact the Garden was rocking. Despite all that, the Lakers were in Game 1 until the final two minutes.

“Our rhythm wasn’t there, wasn’t what we like it to be,” said Bryant after Game 1. “Still, we played well enough to almost steal the game. They scrapped and they clawed their way to this victory. They played a lot more physical than we did and I think that’s something we have to adjust to and get ready for Game 2.”

Bryant was downcast about the loss but not because the Celtics hatched some riddle he was hard-pressed to solve.

“I had some great looks, they just didn’t stay down,” he lamented. “Just pile it in with the other bad shooting games I’ve had and flush it. (I’ll) come back in Game 2 and hopefully I get the same looks.”

The Celtics seemed to be aware they dodged a Bryant bullet.

“He’s a great player and he just missed a lot of shots,” said Celtics forward James Posey who split time guarding Bryant with teammates Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. “We just have to do a better job of staying with our game plan and trying to make it tough for him. He just missed a lot of shots.”

Although the intensity and competitiveness of this series announced itself early, there was a feeling-out process going on.

“Each team has their personality that you adjust to as the series goes on,” said Bryant when asked about Boston’s more physical approach. “It’s a good experience for us. A nice little kick in the ass.”

Bryant will be using the other end of his body between now and Game 2 to figure out how he’s going to attack, said Lakers guard Derek Fisher. 

“They’re not going to give him much of an opportunity to break down their defense off the dribble penetration so he’s going to end up in a situation where he’s taking more catch-and-shoot opportunities when he’s coming of cuts and screens,” Fisher explained. “That’s something that he’s going to get used to as the series goes on. He’s so great at breaking down defenses off the dribble. The Celtics defense just doesn’t allow that type of play. As the series goes on, he’ll understand where his shots are going to come from and what spots and he’ll shoot the ball I think at a higher percentage than he did tonight.”

The Celtics had similar success against LeBron James when they beat the Cavaliers. James couldn’t throw it in the ocean from the end of the dock in the first two games at Boston. But Bryant’s offensive repertoire is more advanced than LeBron’s. It’s hoping against hope to think he’ll put up another 9-for-26 in Game 2. 

Video   Matty Blake Show: Beat L.A.! June 5: Matty looks over the NBA Finals with a bit of a bias towards Boston, or so it seems through his interview technique. NBC Sports

Working in the Celtics favor, at least in the opening game, is that the Lakers are not nearly as tenacious on the ball defensively as either Cleveland or Detroit. Ray Allen, MIA in so many playoff games for Boston so far, had the ball in his hands longer with more room to create or drill jumpers in Game 1 than he may have had in the previous 13 games Boston played.

And the matchup between Kevin Garnett on offense and Pau Gasol on defense is lopsided in Boston’s favor. While Garnett was getting pushed out to 15 or 18 feet in the Celtics slog to the Finals, he was able to get deep time after time against L.A. and that doesn’t figure to change much.

Video   Pierce on his knee injury: "Scary" June 6: At Friday's NBA Finals press conference, Paul Pierce updated everyone on the status of his knee injury. NBC Sports

It’s been said that styles make fights. The Celtics' defensive style is going to force Bryant to shoot over their defense. So be it. And the Lakers defensive style is going to allow Boston far easier possessions in their half-court offense than they’ve had so far. It’s fascinating, really. And Game 1 was just cleansing the palate. Game 2, with all the implications it carries for the losing team? That’s going to be steak with extra sizzle.

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