LOS ANGELES — Boston’s worst fears were confirmed Wednesday, its chances of escaping here with the franchise’s 18th NBA title now in serious peril.
The Celtics have overcome many odds, tempting Father Time and eliminating some of the game’s elite players during their post-season run, but replacing an indispensable piece such as Kendrick Perkins is an entirely different hurdle.
Glen Davis had his 15 minutes of glory when he took advantage of undersized Lakers frontcourt to ignite a Boston run in the fourth quarter of a Game 4 win.
Rasheed Wallace is more a perimeter presence whose post-up game has been minimal.
Big Baby and Sheed are the two options presented to Boston.
If Shelden Williams is forced into the action, then the Celtics are really in danger.
“We’ll figure out the matchups later,’’ Doc Rivers said Wednesday, when the Celtics head coach officially ruled out Perkins for Thursday’s Game 7.
Rivers said his starting centre and best post defender suffered multiple ligament sprains to his right knee during the first quarter of Tuesday’s blowout loss.
An MRI will be scheduled as soon as the Celtics return to Boston, with or without a championship, to determine the extent of Perkins’ injury.
Perkins entered this best-of-seven series with six technical fouls, one short of the league’s max that results in an automatic one-game suspension.
Perkins has kept his emotions in check, set hard screens each time he hit the floor, provided an intimidating presence in the paint and never forced his offence.
“We’re capable enough to pick up the slack for Perk,” Davis said. “We’re sad to see a player like that go down. We need him so badly but someone has to step up. I’ll have to step up. Rasheed will have to step up. Shelden will have to step up. Kevin’s (Garnett) going to have to step up. Everybody is going to have to step up.”
Step up or be stepped on by the Lakers, who smell blood and are now suddenly the overwhelming favourite to defend their title.
Losing Perkins represents a big blow to Boston, which must now come up with a game plan to match L.A.’s size advantage and edge in length.
It puts more of an onus on Rajon Rondo to make shots, more pressure on Boston’s Big Three to finally play one solid game at the same time.
Wallace’s experience will now be relied on even more, his length capable of giving the likes of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol problems, but Sheed is battling a bad back and hasn’t exactly distinguished himself this series.
Bynum has his own knee issues, but he was able to gain valuable rest during L.A.’s rout in Game 6.
“A couple of rebounds I couldn’t get to because I couldn’t pick my leg up,” said Bynum. “With the (big) lead, I saw it as an opportunity to rest.”
Bynum had swelling in the back of his leg and will have to have therapy before Thursday’s Game 7.
“I’m playing Game 7, no matter what,” he said.
The same can’t be said for Perkins.
frank.zicarelli@sunmedia.ca
