Ah yes, the fouls.
Given the shooting-chart disparity, our wonderment at the foul disparity is no longer so puzzling, is it?
L.A. took a ton of midrange shots in Game 1, ending up with a 35-28 deficit at the free-throw line. In Game 2, as we all know, that deficit ballooned to 38-10 even though the Lakers took fewer long 2s.
Nonetheless, L.A.'s main gripe has to remain its inability to make the kind of plays that lead to free-throw attempts in the first place. Remember, the problem wasn't a huge disparity in fouls -- it was 28 on L.A., 21 on Boston in Game 2. In fact, the Celtics were called for more offensive fouls and as many non-shooting fouls as the Lakers.
No, the problem was that the Lakers weren't getting the type of close-range shot attempts that generate free throws, and the shot chart offers ample proof. Once they finally did get those looks in the fourth quarter of Game 2, then it suddenly seemed that the officiating wasn't quite so favorable to the Boston cause.
And heading into Game 3, that's the story to watch. L.A. simply must improve its shot quality, because the big explanation for what's happened so far in the 2008 Finals is that both teams are getting exactly the type of shots the Celtics want.
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