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Gasol little more than a spectator to Kobe showBasketball Betting Lines06/13/2010 - BOSTON (AP) -Pau Gasol finally got the ball with a chance to shoot, and Kevin Garnett sent it back at him. A few minutes later, the same thing happened. Gasol was little more than a spectator of the Kobe Bryant show in Game 5 of the NBA finals on Sunday night. And if he doesn't become part of the offense again, he might be watching something else: another Boston Celtics celebration at the Los Angeles Lakers' expense. The forward from Spain either couldn't get himself involved or the Lakers wouldn't involve him. Gasol got only four shots in the first half and finished with 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting in the Celtics' 92-86 victory that gave them a 3-2 lead in the series. Even worse for the Lakers, he looked passive and pouty, getting overwhelmed by Garnett and often complaining to the officials, just as he did when the Celtics beat the Lakers in the 2008 finals. Gasol was hardly the Lakers' only problem. Nobody else was in double figures until his free throw with 2:25 remaining, and they would've been blown off the TD Garden floor if not for Bryant's sensational third quarter. But Gasol is the one who is most expected to step up and be the No. 2 man, the All-Star big with enough skills to score inside or out. And he had been mostly making up for his miserable 2008 series, averaging 20.5 points on 54 percent shooting in the first four games while largely outplaying Garnett. But he has occasionally expressed frustration when the Lakers forget to throw the ball into the post, and he got few touches in the first half. He put up only four shots, then was swatted twice by Garnett in the third quarter when the ball did come his way. Just for good measure, Tony Allen got him, too, racing in from nowhere to stop Gasol's attempt under the basket. This resembled a Lakers game from the 2005-06 season, when they had little talent around Bryant and forced him to be great nearly every game for a chance to win. He was superb in the third quarter, scoring 19 points on a series of long jumpers. But that's not going to beat the Celtics, who are prepared to deal with big nights from Bryant as long as nobody else has them. ``We are going to have to win a game eventually in this series where he goes off for a big number,'' Boston coach Doc Rivers said before the game. ``But that number, whatever it is, it's still not the final number. Other people still have to score for them.'' Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum couldn't, going scoreless after combining for 15 points in the first quarter. Gasol couldn't do much better in his lowest-scoring game of the series. He needed to be better in 2008, and still does now.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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L.A. LAKERS (86)Artest 2-9 1-4 7, Gasol 5-12 2-3 12, Bynum 3-6 0-1 6, Fisher 2-9 5-5 9, Bryant 13-27 8-9 38, Odom 4-6 0-2 8, Farmar 0-4 1-2 1, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Vujacic 2-5 0-0 5, Walton 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-78 17-26 86.BOSTON (92)Pierce 12-21 1-2
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BOSTON (AP) -Kevin Garnett scored, rebounded and blocked shots.Steal the ball? He did that, too. Five times.Garnett's best all-around performance of the NBA finals lacked one memorable gesture. Boston's emotional leader didn't kiss the leprechaun sy
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Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter JohnsonJUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm. MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season . ''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.'' Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain. He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday. ''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.'' Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia. Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind. With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer. Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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