LAL/BOS Game 5: 5 Things you Need to Know…

#1 WE KNEED YOU BYNUM: Andrew Bynum had fluid drained from his knee again yesterday after initially saying he wouldn’t have the procedure done.  Andrew’s own doctors and the Lakers medical staff are doing anything and everything to get the swelling down after Bynum said it ballooned up to the size of a basketball over the weekend.  Best case scenario is Bynum gives us 20-25 minutes of solid presence in the paint; maybe 8 pts, 8 rebs, 2 blks?  I believe that would be enough to get us over the hump in this crucial game 5.

#2 UNFORTU-NATE SITUATION: Nate Robinson was his usual cocky self on Saturday when asked by NBA TV how the Celtics would adjust to the Lakers, knowing Phil Jackson will make adjustments to stop the Celtics bench (mainly Big Baby and Nate).  Robinson said, “Nothing.  We don’t adjust; they’ll have to adjust to us.”  He went on to say that the Lakers “can’t scout energy.”  Thanks for the Bulletin Board material Nate.  I hope the Spaniard Pau Gasol steps on him, seasons him and eats him on a plate of Tapas.

Snoop loves the Greens but prefers Purple & Gold. Oooh-wee!

#3 THROWING’ IN THE POWELL: Josh Powell may see significant minutes tonight and going forward if Andrew Bynum’s knee problems worsen.  Let’s hope that doesn’t happen, but honestly it very well might.  Bynum troublesome knee needs surgery in early July and any wrong move in the course of the game could take him out of the series.  If that does happen, Phil Jackson said that Powell is ready to play.  If Powell is hitting that 12-to-14 foot midrange jumper of his, he could be a spark off the bench for the Lakers.

#4 TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: Celtics bigs Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace are both only 1 technical away from being suspended for the next game of the NBA Finals if they can’t keep their mouths shut.  I had told my buddy that I actually didn’t want Perk getting the tech in Games 1 & 2 because it would mean he would be suspended for a Boston game and Rasheed Wallace would start in his place.  When his 3 is hitting, ‘Sheed scares me and reminds me a lot of Robert Horry.  But now that we’re at Game 5, a 7^th technical from either of these knuckleheads would be perfect as the series moves back to L.A.

#5 SERIES TIE SERIOUS: With the series tied 2-2 in the NBA Finals, the winner of Game 5 has gone on to win the title 76% of the time.  In the 2-3-2 format, the team with home-court advantage won the NBA Championship 100% of the time (9-0) after leading 3-2 in the series.  History is on the Lakers side if they win Game 5 tonight.  Can you say GAME OF THE YEAR???  I’m thinking the game goes into Overtime and Black Mamba goes for 40.  Prediction: LAKERS 99, Celtics 95.