Plaschke on the Foul Disparity

From my vantage point beneath the basket, it was clear that the Celtics were forcing the action, forcing the momentum, forcing the Lakers to foul.

--Bill Plaschke on why the C's got to the stripe and the L's didn't

More from the LA Times columnist

There was Kevin Garnett, ripping loose rebounds from Pau Gasol, throwing huge picks on Lamar Odom.

There was Pierce blocking Derek Fisher through the lane, elbowing Vladimir Radmanovic out of the paint.

There was everybody bumping Bryant every play, every minute.

The Celtics fought to the basket; the Lakers mostly stayed on the perimeter. The Celtics acted; the Lakers reacted.

Neither of the two Lakers starting forwards, Odom or Radmanovic, drove enough to get to the foul line even once, while center Gasol shot just one free throw.

From my vantage point beneath the basket, it was clear that the Celtics were forcing the action, forcing the momentum, forcing the Lakers to foul