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LOS ANGELES -- Some Boston fans will point to the free throw disparity as the reason the Lakers topped the Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Thursday at the Staples Center. They should know that the free throws wouldn't have even been an issue if it weren't for the 23 offensive rebounds Los Angeles hauled in.

ESPN Stats and Info provides the breakdown on those caroms noting that, off those 23 offensive caroms, the Lakers generated seven made field goals for 17 points and drew three fouls, which generated six of their 37 freebies on the night.

What's more, of the 11 missed second-chance opportunities, the Lakers hauled in five of those misses for a quintet of third-chance opportunities.

That's inexcusable.

"I thought our guys battled down there, but 238 on offensive rebounds, and then the 3717 discrepancy in free throws, that makes it almost impossible to overcome," admitted Celtics coach Doc Rivers.

It's unlikely even the presence of Kendrick Perkins would have negated the way the Lakers dominated the offensive glass. A number as high as 23 speaks to a problem larger than just one player's absence. The Celtics struggled all series long to negate the second-chance opportunities and it might ultimately be the main reason the Larry O'Brien trophy is staying on the west coast.

"We were just active," said Pau Gasol. "I guess they were shorthanded inside and they knew that. But we were just active. We knew we weren't shooting the ball well, so we had to be extra active and extra aggressive going to the boards and giving ourselves more opportunities to be able to score. So, obviously, 32 percent shooting from the field, 66-67 percent shooting from the free throw line is going to give you opportunities to get rebounds, and we did, and it was definitely a big number. Twenty-three offensive rebounds, you don't see that very often, but it just tells how much we wanted this and how much will and determination we put into this."

A closer look at the offensive rebounding stats also showcase just how worn down Boston was in the second half. Los Angeles registered 15 offensive rebounds in the first half, but was 4 of 13 on putback attempts, registering nine points and drawing one foul. In the second half, the Lakers grabbed eight rebounds and went 3 for 5 on putbacks, scoring eight points and drawing two fouls.

Boston had two chances to close out the Lakers on the road. Unlike Los Angeles, Boston couldn't take advantage of its second-chance opportunity in Game 7.

LOS ANGELES -- We can't imagine it's been a very easy morning for Celtics fans back home (and across the world), so as you wake up in this brave new world where the Lakers are repeat world champions, we hope you drop by our day-after Game 7 chat/therapy session.

We'll do our best to get you answers all your questions about the game and the murky future of the Celtics. I'll be joined by ESPNLosAngeles' Dave McMenamin and ESPN.com's John Hollinger to break it all down.

Tip-off is set for noon ET. Click HERE to join us.

LOS ANGELES -- A collection of news and notes after the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Thursday night at the Staples Center:

The rundown (a quick look at postgame headlines)
* Ray: 'I don't want to be anywhere else'
* Players want Doc back for 2010-11 season

RAY: 'I DON'T WANT TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE'



Set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, Celtics guard Ray Allen said it's hard to think about his future until the sting of Thursday's Game 7 loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals wears off. But in the aftermath of that crushing defeat, he suggested his preference is to be back in a Boston uniform next season.

"I'll deal with that when the times comes, but it's obvious that I don't want to be anywhere else," said Allen, who labored through 3-of-14 shooting, while scoring 13 points in 45 minutes of action.

Asked if Boston could replicate its postseason success next year with the same aging core, Allen said: "I don't see why not."

The question now becomes how much does Boston want Allen back, and will they be able to offer the same length and money as other potential deep-pocketed suitors?

Allen earned $19.8 million in the final year of an extension he signed in Seattle before being traded to Boston on draft night in 2007. While his salary was second only to Paul Pierce on this year's squad, Allen, who turns 35 this offseason, is likely to see an offer from Boston that runs no more than two years -- the same remaining time on Kevin Garnett's contract -- at maybe half the price he's making now.

Earlier this year, Allen noted he's prefer to be a lifetime Celtic.

"I'd like to be here," Allen said in February. "There's no reason to be any other place. I'd love to retire with this organization. [But] that's up to the team. I want to be here. This team has proven over the decades to be a winner, one of the best in sports, and that's what this organization plans to do. I'm committed to it."

Allen averaged 16.3 points on 47.7 percent shooting with 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game during the 2009-10 season. After three successful seasons in Green, it's hard to imagine him walking away on Thursday's subpar performance.

Asked to describe the scene in the Celtics' locker room following the Game 7 loss, Allen said: "Tears, a lot of tears. It's hard to think about playing. You've got guys that are veteran players that come in and do their job every night. We're here for a reason, it's tough to see it end this way."

PLAYERS WANT DOC BACK FOR 2010-11 SEASON

Allen isn't the only key piece to the Celtics' puzzle that players would like to see back next season. After Thursday's Game 7 loss, players were campaigning for Rivers to return to the sideline for the 2010-11 campaign.

After six years on the Boston bench, Rivers, 48, is pondering taking time off to be with his family, especially as three of his children are set to enter their senior years (two at college, one in high school).

Rivers got emotional after Thursdays' loss, but said he wouldn't rush a decision.

"I am [emotional]," admitted Rivers. "We just lost a Game 7, and with a terrific group. This group, they were awesome.

"I can't reflect on it right now. Probably in a week or so I'll go hide somewhere for a while. But it was the craziest, most emotional group I've ever coached in my life. I told them, they made me reach to places that I never thought I needed to go, I had to go. But through it all, we were the tightest most emotional crazy group that I've ever been with in my life. So that's what makes it tough."

Pressed on his future, Rivers noted: "I don't know. I'm going to wait. I'm going to go and watch my kids play AAU basketball, and I'm going to wait for a little bit."

His players certainly want him back.

Asked what Rivers meant to Boston's success, Garnett noted, "Doc's everything. Everything.

"I think everyone wants him back; that's not even an issue. It's just a matter of whether Doc wants to come back and whatever decision he sees fit for himself and his family."

Echoed captain Paul Pierce: "I'd love to see Doc back. He's one of the greatest coaches in the NBA."

Asked if he had said anything to Rivers to encourage him to stay, Pierce noted he hadn't. But then made an impromptu pitch.

"I'll do it right now," Pierce said, looking into the cameras in front of him. "I hope he comes back."

LOS ANGELES -- As Celtics coach Doc Rivers sat at the podium suggesting Rasheed Wallace might have played his final game of his career on Thursday, the 15-year veteran stood outside the locker room of the game officials trying to talk to a group which has been intertwined with much of his career.

It wasn't clear if he was trying to discuss the calls that went against Boston in its Game 7 loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals or just say goodbye to a couple of veteran officials.

Wallace exited the Boston locker room before it opened to the media and navigated his way toward the team bus before diverting to the official's locker room nearby. He managed to open the door and talk with an unidentified person behind the door, before arena and NBA security ushered him back out.

Wallace stuck his head into the locker room and appeared to say, "Danny, I just want to talk," possibly to referee Danny Crawford, but quickly got removed from the room.

Wallace, wearing sunglasses and carrying his gear, waited about five minutes outside the official's locker room guarded by arena security before departing for the team bus without talking to the officials or media nearby.

The veteran forward, who is the NBA all-time leader in technical fouls, did not appear confrontational. While waiting he muttered again about simply wanting to talk and that it was nothing bad.

But security would have no part of it, likely fearing he was angry about the way Game 7 played out.

Click HERE to read the full story.

LOS ANGELES -- Instant reaction after the Los Angeles Lakers posted an 83-79 triumph over the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Thursday night at the Staples Center:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON: Kobe Bryant shook off early shooting woes to score a game-high 23 points on 6-of-24 shooting as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied to repeat as NBA champions. The Celtics boasted a double-digit lead into the second half thanks in large part to a balanced output by their starting five as Paul Pierce (18 points), Kevin Garnett (17 points) and Rajon Rondo (14 points, 10 assists) shouldered the offensive output. Ray Allen scored 13 points, but was a mere 3-of-14 shooting.

TURNING POINT: Nursing a three-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, the Celtics watched Derek Fisher rip the twine with a 3-pointer that tied the game at 64 and the Celtics' foul trouble allowed the Lakers to pull ahead at the stripe. Bryant connected on two freebies to give the Lakers their first lead since 8:06 of the second quarter, then drilled a 17-foot jumper for a four-point cushion.

LETTING IT SLIP AWAY: The Celtics led by 13 after a driving layup by Rondo with 8:24 to play in the third quarter capped a 7-0 burst for a 49-36 advantage. Boston still led by nine with little more than three minutes to play in the period, but the Lakers whittled the lead to four before the end of the quarter and made their charge in the final stanza.

STAT(S) OF THE GAME: The Lakers dominated on the offensive glass, collecting a staggering 23 offensive rebounds, which negated a dismal shooting performance (27-of-83, 32.5 percent) ... The Lakers also benefited from a hefty free throw disparity, shooting 37 free throws compared to Boston's 17.

UNSUNG HERO: Labeled a disappointment for much of the series due to his offensive struggles, Ron Artest responded by scoring 20 points on 7-of-18 shooting with two monster 3-pointers, including one with a minute to play that helped the Lakers fend off Boston's furious last-minute rally.

WHAT IT MEANS: Boston's rather improbable journey to the brink of an NBA championship ends in heartbreak after dropping the final two games of this series in Los Angeles. The Celtics will undoubtedly look back and lament what could have been after spoiling two chances to clinch their 18th world title, including a Game 6 in which they hardly showed up and a Game 7 in which they led by double digits with little more than 18 minutes to play.

LOS ANGELES -- A collection of pregame news and notes before the Boston Celtics visit the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Thursday evening at the Staples Center:

The rundown (a quick look at pregame headlines)
* 'Sheed to start in place of injured Perkins
* Perk walks in without crutches; dresses in game shorts
* Loose balls: Rivers and Jackson glimpse to the future

'SHEED TO START IN PLACE OF INJURED PERKINS

Celtics coach Doc Rivers kept the mood light before Thursday's epic Game 7 showdown.

Asked the reasoning behind starting Rasheed Wallace in place of injured Kendrick Perkins, Rivers quipped: "He's old. I figured I'd play the oldest guys. I just think it's a good combination with Kevin [Garnett] because of the size, with Bynum's size, I just think it's a better fit for us."

The move is not unexpected. Wallace has provided some physical defense off the bench this series and matches up particularly well with Paul Gasol, which gives the Celtics the option of using Garnett at power forward or center. It also allows Boston to bring Glen Davis off the bench and he'll spend most of his time on the floor opposite Lamar Odom, a matchup the Celtics like more than the Bynum/Gasol combo.

Rivers said the team wouldn't make many changes, even without Perkins.

"We're not going to change a lot," said Rivers. "We could, and if the game dictates that we need to do that, we're ready to do it. Let's just say that we've worked on [going small]. But we're not going to recreate the wheel tonight. We're going to be basically who we've been. Not having Perk we may have to do it a little different, but not much."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson said the Lakers were ready for any matchup the Celtics threw at them. He noted that Bynum will be limited to 10 minutes per half, provided he avoids tweaking his injured right knee any further.

"Andrew, I think, can play 10 minutes per half," said Jackson. "That's kind of what our training staff has said, unless he has a landing or a turn or something that ends up irritating that particular part of his knee that has some loose tissue, and then he gets, of course, lack of function in the muscles. So that could be it. I think it'll all depend on his transition, his ability to get up and down the court."

Jackson noted he wouldn't be surprised to see the Celtics go small at times.

"You try to be prepared," he said. "This team, I think could actually scale down. They played [Nate] Robinson and [Rajon] Rondo together, they could scale down and move down notches, maybe even put [Paul] Pierce at a power forward spot, and Tony Allen at small forward and try to really activate the game. They'll have to play a different type of game tonight than they've played before."

PERK WALKS IN WITHOUT CRUTCHES, DRESSES IN GAME SHORTS

Perkins left reporters wondering if we were about to see a Willis Reed-like moment as he walked into the Staples Center without the aid of crutches, then dressed in his game shorts and warm-up shirt before retreating to the trainer's room, where he underwent treatment until the locker room closed to reporters 45 minutes before tip-off.

Brian Scalabrine soon entered and dressed in full uniform, suggesting he's active for Thursday's game. So unless there's a surprise in store, Perkins is likely to spend the game on the bench in the suit coat and green pinstriped shirt that hung next to his jersey in his locker.

LOOSE BALLS: RIVERS AND JACKSON GLIMPSE TO THE FUTURE

* Jackson on coaching his first Game 7: "I'm keyed up. I mean, I think it's natural to be keyed up. But I think every final game has its own level. But I don't think it's any more than normal about a game that has as much importance as this has."

* Rivers on bouncing back from the emotional loss of Perkins: "We're here and we'll be ready. It is a little emotional losing Perk. He's so important to our team. But he's still in the locker room, he just will not be in uniform. And I think our guys, in some ways, they want to do it for him."

* Jackson was asked about his future and a possible postgame decision, which led to this humorous exchange:

Q. Do the results have any bearing on what your decision will be?
PHIL JACKSON: I won't know that until the night is finished. Then I'll know how I feel about it.

Q. I'm not sure I understand that.
PHIL JACKSON: I'll know after the game is over.

Q. And you'll tell us then?
PHIL JACKSON: No, I won't tell you then, that's for sure. (laughter)

* Rivers on the possible "last roundup" with his team and these players: "You do [think about it], you think about that. I always allow myself to think about that. I don't want to distract [myself], but it could be for some of the players on our team. That's why you want them to do so well.

"It's how they're going to be remembered around here, and so I think that's very important for them. So, yeah, you do allow yourself to think about it, but then you kind of block it out and thinking more about it after the game."

LOS ANGELES -- History suggests Kevin Garnett will be ready for Thursday's Game 7.

Garnett is 3-0 in Game 7s, averaging 21 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks per game. A career 50.2 percent shooter, that number leaps to 53.1 percent (26-for-49) in Game 7s.

Garnett's best Game 7 performance came against Sacramento in 2004, when he registered 32 point, 21 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 steals over a whopping 46 minutes in an 83-80 triumph on his birthday (May 19). He took 23 shots that night and the Celtics probably wouldn't mind if he put up even more Thursday.

During the 2008 playoffs, Garnett posted 18 points and 11 rebounds over 27 minutes in a Game 7 win over the Hawks, then registered 13 points and 13 rebounds over 42 minutes in a Game 7 triumph over the Cavaliers.

Can Garnett who averaged 29.9 minutes per game this regular season -- the lowest since his rookie year -- and 33.1 minutes per game this postseason ramp up the minutes for this title tilt?

"It's all out," Garnett said. "It's for the marbles, it's for everything, all out. You save nothing, you leave nothing. ... I'm prepared to do whatever [Celtics coach] Doc [Rivers] needs me to do tomorrow in order to win."

Rivers admitted Wednesday he's going to get every last drop out of Garnett.

"It's funny, with Kevin, there's still always a limit with all your players because there's only a limit that they can take and play well," said Rivers. "You know, whatever that number is, I'm going to try to get to that exact number. If it's 40 minutes and still be productive -- let's say if you played him 42 and it took away from being productive, then you're playing him too many minutes. We're going to stretch that to the limit, I can tell you that. I don't know what that number is though."

LOS ANGELES -- How much will the Celtics miss Kendrick Perkins in Thursday's Game 7? The wizards at ESPN Stats and Information compared the regular-season numbers based on the 14 games Perkins missed since the Big Three united in 2007-08 and didn't find much of a difference.

The Celtics are 167-65 (.720 winning percentage) with a healthy Perkins and averaged 100.3 points per game, while allowing 93.1 points. Boston is 11-3 (.786 winning percentage) without Perkins and averaged 99.6 points per game, while giving up 93.4 points -- both marginal changes compared with him in the lineup.

But a closer look at the numbers in this Finals series suggests that Perkins' loss is much greater than what the regular-season statistics suggest.

In the 141 minutes Perkins played against the Lakers, the Celtics were minus-5 points in net point differential (minus-1.7 per 48 minutes), while minus-15 points (minus-4.9 per 48 minutes) in the 147 minutes he was off the court.

Zoom in even closer, focusing on the post matchups when Perkins goes against Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, and you see an even bigger impact. Perkins ranked first in points per play allowed (0.62) and second in opponent's field goal percentage (31.2 percent) during this year's postseason (minimum 20 plays).

In post-up situations, Bynum and Gasol were 5-of-14 (35.7 percent) against Perkins, averaging a still better-than-average .90 points per play. But when others defend the duo in the paint, Bynum and Gasol combined to go 55-of-109 (50.5 percent) and average a staggering 1.03 points per play.

Rasheed Wallace has done a nice job defending Gasol near the basket, using his physicality to push him away from post-up opportunities. Both Wallace, Glen Davis and Kevin Garnett must step up their defense around the basket in the absence of Perkins.

LOS ANGELES -- Asked about the magnitude of Game 7, Celtics forward Glen Davis said it's all anyone could have wished for.

"This is what the NBA wants, this is what the fans want, this is what the world wants: Game 7, Lakers vs. Celtics," he said. "It's history."

And what does Davis want?

"I want to be on a float taking my shirt off, screaming and celebrating a championship," Davis said, referencing his shirt-free appearance at the 2008 rolling rally. "I want to be on a float next Monday."

Fortunately for Davis, he's likely to greatly affect whether he gets to shed his shirt in public next week. With Kendrick Perkins sidelined with two torn ligaments in his right knee, Davis is set to be thrust into an increased role on the sport's biggest stage.

"Baby will be great, and just get back to just playing," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "I think Baby, the last couple games, has been doing way too much thinking. Baby is an instinctive intensity player. When he starts playing with thought, that's not what you want."

Then Rivers caught himself.

"Boy, that sounds terrible," he said to laughter. "I don't mean it that way. But it does sound terrible.

"He's an instinctive player and I think he has to get back to playing with the energy and the instincts instead of thinking what [Davis] need to do. That happens. We predicted that a little bit for him."

Perkins went so far as to suggest that Davis will be the most important player in Thursday's Game 7 and has been in his ear for the past 48 hours.

"I've been talking to Baby all day [Wednesday], all throughout our film session," said Perkins "I told him, he's the most important guy right now. Just with his young legs, finishing around the basket, his defense. I think he's the key guy.

"Rasheed [Wallace] is obviously going to play a huge role. But I told Baby, if he can get 11 rebounds tomorrow, we got a good shot to win this game."

Eleven, as in Davis' jersey number. The one he'd like to tear off and go shirtless if the Celtics win another world title.

LOS ANGELES -- Here are 10 facts and figures to keep in mind when the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers clash (ABC, 9 p.m.) in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Thursday evening at the Staples Center (information researched for ESPN by Elias Sports Bureau, Inc.):

1. This is the fifth time that the Celtics and Lakers will be meeting in a Game 7. That is the fourth highest total of Game 7s played between two opposing teams in the three major North American pro sports that use series to determine playoff winners. In the NHL, the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens have met in a Game 7 seven times and the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs have done it six times. In the NBA, the Celtics and 76ers have met in a Game 7 six times.

2. This is the eighth time that the defending NBA champion will be playing in a Game 7 in the Finals. The defending champs are 6-1 in those games, including a perfect 5-0 mark at home. The only team to lose in that situation was the Pistons against the Spurs in San Antonio in 2005.

3. Kevin Garnett is averaging 21 points and 15 rebounds per game in three appearances in a Game 7 in his career. Only four other players in NBA history are averaging 20+ points and 15+ rebounds per game in Game 7 (minimum: two games): Charles Barkley, Wilt Chamberlain, Dave Cowens and Bob Pettit.

4. Andrew Bynum is expected to start at center for the Lakers in the deciding game of the NBA Finals. Only two players have played at least 10 minutes in a Game 7 in the NBA Finals at a younger age than Bynum (22 years, 233 days old today): Seattle's Jack Sikma in 1978 (22 years, 205 days old) and Boston's Tom Heinsohn in 1957 (22 years, 230 days old). (The NBA began tracking minutes played in 1951-52).

5. After appearing in each of Boston's first 23 games of the 2010 playoffs, Kendrick Perkins has been declared out for Game 7. Only one other player has missed Game 7 of the NBA Finals after appearing in all of his team's playoff games prior to that: Bob McAdoo in 1984.

6. Rasheed Wallace went 0-for-7 from the field in Game 6. Only one player has had a worse shooting performance in a game in which his team had a chance to win the NBA title. Seattle's Dennis Johnson was 0-for-14 from the field in Game 7 of the 1978 Finals.

7. The Celtics 22-point margin of defeat in Game 6 marked the third time in the 2010 playoffs that they have lost a game by 20-or-more points. Only two teams in NBA history have won an NBA title in a season in which they lost three games by 20-or-more points during the playoffs: the Rockets in 1995 (three) and the Lakers in 1972 (three).

8. In the history of the NBA playoffs, the visiting team has posted a .200 winning percentage in Game 7 (21-84). But the Celtics have registered a 3-2 record (.600) on the road in Game 7, the highest winning percentage for any NBA franchise.

9. Ray Allen has made 54 3-point field goals in the 2010 playoffs. That is four shy of the record for the most three-pointers in a single postseason. Indiana's Reggie Miller made 58 shots from beyond the arc during the 2000 playoffs.

10. Allen has made all 19 of his free-throw attempts in this series. If he does not miss from the line in tonight's game, Allen will set the NBA record for most free-throws made without a miss in an NBA Finals series. The record is currently held by Vlade Divac, who went 13-for-13 in 1991.

LOS ANGELES -- The NBA assigned referees Joey Crawford, Dan Crawford, and Scott Foster to work Thursday's Game 7 of the Finals between the Celtics and Lakers.

Considering the pool of potential officials, including lightning rods Bennett Salvatore, Eddie F. Rush, and Bill Kennedy, both teams can probably breath a sigh of relief that, on the surface, this is as innocuous a crew as the NBA could have cobbled together.

According to referee stats kept at NBAStuffer.com, this assignment will make Joey Crawford the most worked official in the postseason. His 76.9 winning percentage for home teams will give pause for Celtics fans, but the breakdown of his fouls suggest he's an equal opportunity distributor (52.4 percent of calls against road team).

Dan Crawford has worked 12 games this postseason, with a home-team winning percentage of 50 percent. The road teams are actually averaging 1.3 more points per game in his assignments. Foster's worked 11 games with the home team winning 63.6 percent of the time, though his stats suggest he's more likely to assign a technical foul to the hosts.

Joey Crawford worked Game 1, Danny Crawford worked Game 3, and Scott Foster worked Game 4. Rasheed Wallace did pick up his two Finals technicals as part of those games. Fortunately for Boston, it won't matter if he reaches the league's threshold of seven this evening.

LOS ANGELES -- A collection of news and notes after the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers practiced Wednesday afternoon at the Staples Center in advance of Thursday's Game 7 of the NBA Finals:

The rundown (a quick look at practice headlines)
* Rondo suggests he needed 17 stitches after Artest elbow
* With one final game, Doc pushes minutes to limit
* Loose balls: Doc on leprechauns; Baby on meditation

RONDO SUGGESTS HE NEEDED 17 STITCHES AFTER ARTEST ELBOW

Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo sported an oversized bandage on his gashed chin during Wednesday's media session at the Staples Center, but it couldn't cover up his frustration after absorbing an elbow from Ron Artest in the third quarter of Tuesday's Game 6 loss.

"Just a little cut, a little gash," said Rondo, who was then asked how many stitches it required to close and sounded off on the lack of a call. "Seventeen. Seventeen. No foul; just one of the many, many missed fouls."

After Tuesday's game, Rondo said he needed only four stitches to close the gash and the Celtics confirmed Wednesday night that's all he received.

But Rondo likely inflated the number -- with a nod to the total number of Celtics championships heading into Thursday's Game 7 -- to draw attention to the play. He remained incredulous at the lack of a foul call and, after the initial contact, Rondo even showed the referees his bloody towel during a timeout.

"I don't think it was intentional, but it was definitely a foul, one of the fouls that wasn't called," Rondo said after Tuesday's game. "But that's how it goes. You have to still continue to play the game. It didn't affect the way I tried to play. I didn't play much more after. The game was over obviously."

Rondo seemed focused on Game 7, acknowledging that Boston's biggest problem was a familiar one: A stagnant offense born out of an inability to gets stops on defense.

"We didn't get any stops," said Rondo. "You can't run if you're taking it out every time. We have to do a better job of getting stops."

Rondo has produced some of his best efforts in virtual must-win situations these playoffs, including triple-doubles in Game 4 against Cleveland (after Boston endured the worst home playoff loss in franchise history to go down, 2-1, to the Cavs) and Game 2 against Los Angeles (the Lakers looking to take a 2-0 lead to open the series).

Can we expect extraterrestrial Rondo in Thursday's Game 7?

"I just need him to be him," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "I don't need anyone to be great. Obviously, Rondo is important to our team. First half we really just couldn't get any pace in the game because they just dominated the game so thoroughly. They made every shot, and when they didn't make the shot, they got the rebound. So we have to create some kind of pace for him.

"And then [Rondo] has to create a pace. I thought he was looking for too much stuff instead of being aggressive. One of the things we told him: Rondo has the best instincts that I've ever coached in the open court, and he has to allow those instincts to take over. I thought he allowed his thinking to take over [Tuesday]. He was trying to run stuff, trying to get guys in stuff. And with Rondo, he has great instincts and he has to let those take over."

WITH ONE FINAL GAME, DOC PUSHES MINUTES TO LIMIT

The absence of Kendrick Perkins will force Rivers to shorten his bench that much more as Rasheed Wallace is expected to draw the start in Game 7.

That's likely to leave a rotation leaning primarily on a three-man bench of Glen Davis, Tony Allen, and Nate Robinson, with Shelden Williams, Brian Scalabrine, Michael Finley and Marquis Daniels only utilized in emergency situations. Heck, Rondo might be asked to play the entire 48 if he doesn't get gassed.

"Forty-eight," answered Rivers, when asked about minute limits, though he'd surely stretch that for overtime. "It's funny, with Kevin [Garnett], there's still always a limit with all your players because there's only a limit that they can take and play well. If it's 40 minutes and he can still be productive -- let's say if you played him 42 minutes and it took away from him being productive, then you're playing him too many minutes. We're going to stretch to that limit, I can tell you that. I don't know what that number is, though."

The other wild card is how much Wallace can account for, including whether he can shoulder the typical 25-minute load that Perkins averaged during the postseason. Could Wallace and his balky back log 25-30 minutes?

"It's [Game 7]," said Rivers. "We're hoping he can."

LOOSE BALLS: DOC ON LEPRECHAUNS; BABY ON MEDITATION

* On the eve of Game 7, Rivers was asked if he believed in leprechauns and luck.

"I do. I didn't about four, five, seven years ago, but now I do," said Rivers. "I don't know, I believe that we have to play well at the end of the day. You make your luck. And the more you prepare, the luckier you get, and that's what you have to do."

Asked if he'd rather be good than lucky, Rivers said he wouldn't mind a little of both.

"I'll take good for sure," said Rivers. "But I'll take both if I can get it."

* Glen Davis provided some laughs when asked about the Lakers' practice of meditating the morning of game days. Here's the back-and-forth:

Q. The Lakers say they're going to meditate tomorrow morning, like they do every game day.
DAVIS: They meditate? What's that?

Q. They sit there in the dark and concentrate on their breathing and make their minds calm.
DAVIS: For real? I'm going to try that.

Q. You can paralyze yourself doing that, hurt yourself.
DAVIS: If it's what they do to get ready for the game, hey, whatever floats your boat.

* First it was Shrek and Donkey references, now maybe we'll see a twisting fistpound from Davis and Robinson after the latter made a "Talladega Nights" reference in relation to his team's Game 7 attitude.

"If you ain't first, you're last. It's like Ricky Bobby," said Robinson, borrowing from the main character's lines. "Will Ferrell said so. There's going to be a lot of shake and bake [Thursday]."

ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin contributed.

LOS ANGELES -- Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins told reporters at Wednesday’s media session that tore two ligaments in his right knee in Tuesday’s Game 6 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and will be sidelined for Thursday’s decisive Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Perkins, arriving at the courtside podium on crutches and bandages around his knee, revealed he tore the media collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments. He underwent X-rays on the knee Tuesday night and was informed of the severity by team trainer Ed Lacerte Wednesday morning.

He will undergo an MRI Friday in Boston to further assess the damage.

“Physically, I’m in pain,” said Perkins. “I hurt my knee pretty badly. I’m out for tomorrow, there’s nothing I could do about it. It’s a torn MCL and torn PCL, so I gotta watch from the sideline.

Perkins landed awkwardly trying to haul in an offensive rebound midway through the first quarter of Game 6 and suffered what was originally diagnosed as a knee sprain.

“I knew something was wrong,” said Perkins. “I didn’t know exactly what it was, but I couldn’t get up on my own. I couldn’t walk. My whole leg was hurting and the back of my knee was in pain. I heard something pop, but I didn’t know what it was. It was just painful.”

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The NBA Finals has seen 16 Game 7s, and these are (arguably) the best individual performances from that collection of games. Among these top 10 are a whopping six that feature the Celtics. (Some summaries from NBA.com)

1) Walt Frazier, NY (1970)
In the 1970 NBA Finals, Walt Frazier had 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds in a game best remembered for Willis Reed's triumphant return to the Knicks. New York would win the game 113-99 and the NBA title against the Lakers.

2) Bill Russell, BOS (1962)
In the 1962 NBA Finals, Bill Russell had 30 points and 40 rebounds as the Celtics won 110-107 in overtime. The game famously ended with Bob Cousy avoiding defenders while dribbling the clock out. The 40 rebounds is the most by any player in a Game 7.

3) James Worthy, LAL (1988)
“Big Game James” Worthy may have had his biggest game in the 1988 NBA Finals. He recorded his first triple-double as the Lakers beat the Pistons 108-105. Worthy finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists as the Lakers became the first team since the Celtics in 1968 and 1969 to repeat as NBA champions.

4) Bill Russell, BOS (1966)
In the 1966 NBA Finals, Bill Russell helped coach Red Auerbach retire with a title. After a Game 1 loss to the Lakers, Auerbach stated that he would step down after the season and Russell would take over as coach. The Celtics fought back in the series and forced a Game 7. Russell had 25 points and 32 rebounds in Game 7 as the Celtics won 95-93, and Auerbach retired on top.

5) Don Nelson, BOS (1969)
The Celtics were watching a 17-point fourth-quarter lead slip away against the heavily favored Lakers at the Forum. With the lead cut to 103-102 in the final minutes, the ball was knocked away from John Havlicek into the hands of Don Nelson at the free-throw line. Nellie put up a shot that hit the back of the rim and got the ultimate shooter's bounce: Straight down and straight through the net. From there, Boston held on to win 108-106 as Bill Russell retired with the most improbable of his 11 titles. Nelson finished with 16 points.

6) Tom Heinsohn/Bill Russell, BOS (1957)
If this series had taken placed today, it might be called the greatest ever. It opened with St. Louis defeating the Celtics in the Boston Garden 125-123 in double OT. It ended in Game 7 with St. Louis losing to the Celtics in the Boston Garden, 125-123 in double overtime after Bob Pettit's last-second attempt rolled off the rim. Each of the Hawks' three wins were by two points. With the exception of Game 7, the Celtics never won by less than five points. How did the two Celtics "rookies" handle the pressure of Game 7 in the Finals? Russell had 19 points and 32 rebounds and Heinsohn had 37 points (highest-ever total in an NBA Finals Game 7 win) and 23 rebounds.

7) Bill Russell, BOS (1960)
The Celtics won their second consecutive title, thanks to Bill Russell, who scored 22 points and grabbed 35 rebounds vs. the St. Louis Hawks.

8) Hakeem Olajuwon, HOU (1994)
The Rockets trailed the series 3-2 but came back and won Game 7 behind MVP Hakeem Olajuwon. He had 25 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 blocks in the clincher.

9) Manu Ginobili, SA (2005)
San Antonio's Tim Duncan had 25 points and 11 rebounds, but Manu Ginobili was the shooting star as he had 23 points (8-13 FG, 5-5 FT), 5 rebounds and 4 assists and the Spurs won 81-74 over the Pistons.

10) Dave Cowens, BOS (1974)
The Celtics went on the road in Game 7 against the Bucks and won 102-87 behind 28 points and 14 rebounds from Dave Cowens, who outplayed the much taller Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

This was compiled with information from the ESPN Stats & Information Group and ESPN DB

The Celtics are 7-0 all-time in NBA Finals Game 7s, including 4-0 against the Lakers. A look at the series:

1957: Celtics 125, St. Louis Hawks 123 (2 OT)
Tom Heinsohn led Boston with 37 points, and Bill Russell, just a rookie at the time, had 19 points and a rookie-record 32 rebounds. Bob Pettit led all scorers with 39 points. Cliff Hagan added 24 and Slater Martin had 23 for the Hawks.

1960: Celtics 122, Hawks 103
After trailing 30-29 after one quarter, the Celtics took charge. The Celtics eventually built their lead to over 20 points in the second half. Frank Ramsey tied his series high with 24 points. Bill Russell dominated on the glass, pulling down 35 rebounds to go with his 22 points.

1962: Celtics 110, Lakers 107 (OT) (in Boston)
With the score tied at 100, Frank Selvy missed a short shot from the baseline that would have won the game with about 3 seconds left. Sam Jones scored 5 of the Celtics’ 10 points in overtime, as they would go on to win their 4th straight NBA title. Bill Russell had 30 points and tied his own NBA Finals record with 40 rebounds in the win.

1966: Celtics 95, Lakers 93 (in Boston)
The Lakers rallied from a large deficit to cut the deficit to 2 points with 4 seconds left, but Boston held on to win. The Celtics won their 8th consecutive title, sending off legendary coach Red Auerbach in style in his final game on the Boston bench.

1969: Celtics 108, Lakers 106 (in Los Angeles)
The Lakers had put thousands of balloons in the rafters in anticipation of a win on their home court, but the Celtics prevailed despite a triple double from Jerry West (42 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists). West won Finals MVP despite being a member of the losing team, but the Celtics got the ring, as Bill Russell earned his record 11th NBA championship in his final game.

1974: Celtics 102, Bucks 87
Dave Cowens finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds to lead five Celtics in double figures. Boston held Abdul-Jabbar to just 26 points, matching his lowest point total of the Finals. Oscar Robertson went just 2 for 13 from the floor and managed just six points.

1984: Celtics 111, Lakers 102 (in Boston)
Boston’s Cedric Maxwell told his team before the game to “get on my back”, and he delivered, posting a line of 24 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists in the Celtics’ win. Finals MVP Larry Bird had 20 points and 12 rebounds as the Celtics held on to win despite the Lakers cutting their lead to 3 points with just over a minute left.