Observations while rethinking that prediction of the Lakers in six…

No Entry: Throughout the last five-seven years of his career, Kobe Bryant has enjoyed a fairly uncluttered path to the basket. When he has wanted to drive, he has driven. No one defender has been able to keep him away from the hoop with any kind of consistency. Usually, two defenders find this quest futile as well. Bryant has lived in the lane, something that has made his long-range game more effective. Cheat up on him, and you risk getting burned.

Until now. Because the Celtics have decided no one else on the Lakers can come close to beating them by himself, they have sold out completely in a quest to keep Bryant under control. They attack him with a single defender who is backed by at least one and usually two others, all ready to pounce. Though Bryant scored 30 Sunday night and shot a solid 11-for-23, he has labored for every attempt and has often resorted to fallaway jumpers against aggressive opponents who play up on him, confident in the knowledge that the cavalry isn’t far away, should Bryant get loose on the drive.

Solving this problem isn’t easy, because the best way to keep Bryant clear of extra defenders is to have other Lakers become full-fledged offensive threats. Though Pau Gasol scored 17 Sunday, and Lamar Odom added 13, neither has established himself as a serious full-time option for the Lakers, capable of scoring 20-25 and commanding a double-team himself. Because of that, the Celtics can devote extra attention to Bryant with no fear of retribution. Gasol is particularly disappointing, because he was an All-Star in Memphis and could pile up the numbers on occasion. Since coming to the Lakers, he has almost relished the low-key status as the supporting actor and hasn’t been able to give the Lakers a reliable second scorer. He gets fiery when he thinks the refs have wronged him, but Gasol has to be stronger and tougher, if the Lakers are to come back. Bryant, meanwhile, must remain patient and avoid a repeat of Game One, when he was dismal from the field against the stingy Celts.

No Willis Reed: As soon as Paul Pierce came back on the court a few minutes after suffering a knee injury in Game One and being carried off the court and then ferried to the Celtics’ locker room in a wheelchair (!), the ABC team began the comparisons to Willis Reed. What a joke.

For those of you who don’t know, Reed was the Knicks’ captain in 1970 and led the team to the Finals against the Lakers. During the fifth game, Reed suffered a torn thigh muscle and was unable to play in the next contest, which L.A. won to even the series and send it back to New York for the finale. While his teammates warmed up, Reed sat in the locker room, trying to muster the courage to play. After taking an injection to numb the pain, Reed came onto the court to a thunderous ovation. He hit his first two shots and didn’t score again. But his presence lifted the Knicks to victory.

Equating Pierce’s twisted knee and subsequent return with Reed’s valiant effort is ridiculous. His injury wasn’t anywhere nearly as serious as Reed’s, and his return may have assuaged the fears of the Boston fans, but it didn’t come close to having the effect Reed’s return did. This was just another example of today’s media trying to dramatize something by comparing it to legitimate heroism from the past. It’s all part of the quest to make this moment’s proceedings seem more important, the better to pump ratings. It’s disingenuous, to be sure. Worse, it shows a crashing lack of understanding of history.

Bench Power: Phil Jackson may have mispronounced Leon Powe’s name after Game Two (it’s “Po,” not “Pow,” Phil), but he’s certainly aware of what the backup forward can do, especially after he scored 21 points in a mere 15 minutes of action. When breaking down the series, I gave the edge to the Laker bench, saying Boston lacked scoring pop from its reserve group. Powe made that proclamation look pretty stupid with his breakout performance, and now L.A. must worry about Pierce’s explosive scoring, Garnett underneath and Powe. He probably won’t come close to what he did Sunday night, but he won’t have to. The fact that he showed he could erupt like that has given the Lakers one more thing for which to prepare.

Revised Prediction?: Never. Sure, the whole thing could be over by the time my next column hits the site, but L.A. gets three in a row at home, and Boston has proven it isn’t the best road team throughout the playoffs. Don’t be surprised if the Lakers — particularly Odom and Gasol — snap out of it and win at least two in Los Angeles.

GAME OF THE WEEK: Boston at Los Angeles, Tuesday, June 10

The series hinges on this one. If Boston wins, the teams don’t make it back to Boston. Well, the Celtics will — for the parade. If the Lakers triumph, they can think reasonably about winning all three at Staples Center and heading back to Massachusetts having put tremendous pressure on the Celtics.

IN THE PAINT

Doug Collins’ stunning reversal has left the Bulls scrambling for a new coach. He says he didn’t want to ruin his friendship with Chicago owner Jerry Reinsdorf, but if he had really wanted to return to the bench, Collins would have risked that for the opportunity to lead a team again.

The Heat can’t be too happy that Dwyane Wade has announced the rehab on his left knee is proceeding well enough for him to play in the Olympics. Miami is thrilled Wade’s getting healthy, but he is risking that status by playing in Beijing.

Carmelo Anthony to Detroit? Could be. The Nuggets aren’t actively shopping him, but the Pistons are interested. Since Pistons GM Joe Dumars has said the only “untouchable” player on the roster is Rodney Stuckey, Detroit could assemble an interesting package for ‘Melo.

Don’t expect too much action at the top of the draft, because two of the top five teams, Seattle and Minnesota, are looking to build and don’t have too much to offer to make a blockbuster deal. The team in the best position, other than Chicago? How about Portland, which gets this year’s first-round pick and last year’s, Greg Oden, joining the team at the same time, after a strong ’07-08 campaign.

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