If it wasn’t already apparent, this is not the same series as the 2008 Finals. Mostly because of the Los Angeles Lakers.

In their 91-84 Game 3 victory, the Lakers, both as individuals and collectively, fought through a litany of situations that would have left them reeling and beaten. And they were tested from the very beginning.

Behind what was probably the best crowd at TD Garden in a non-series clinching win, the Celtics stormed out to a 12-5 lead. First there were six-straight points from Kevin Garnett (25 points), including two alley oops, and then six more from Rajon Rondo.

In Game 6 of the ’08 Finals, a run like that delivered L.A. a mortal, series-ending wound.

But over the next eight minutes, the Lakers made the painted area their own, earning 10 free throws and three point-blank layups to wrest control.

“We seemed to gather some strength and change the course of the game right there,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said.

By halftime, the lead was 12 and the Celtics, who have not performed well playing from behind in second halves, were left to do just that.

“We kept our poise after that quick start and didn’t get rattled,” Kobe Bryant (29 points on 29 shots) said.

“We didn’t doubt our ability to win here, even though we hadn’t done it in the playoffs,” Derek Fisher said. “We understand that in order to be the best, you have to win wherever, whenever.”

Then the Celtics, whose toughness has rarely been in question, won the second half, 44-39, and had the Lakers so discombobulated offensively in the fourth quarter it looked like Boston was inevitably going to roll over a team that was rolling over.

Not this time.

Though the Lakers continued to operate through broken plays and shortened shot clocks, and neither team could have played more superb defense — the Lakers scoring 107 points per 100 possessions, Boston 98.8 — fortitude won out.

“It’s very frustrating, very frustrating when you don’t play well offensively,” Garnett said. “But defensively, you know, you sort of buckle down and get the stops and things that you want and you get back into the game only to come up short.

“Yeah, that’s real disappointing.”

There was Lamar Odom (12 points on five shots), who had been largely absent from the series before, at one moment snagging an offensive rebound and kissing the ball off the glass, at another driving baseline for a layup. In both instances, the Lakers lead was two or fewer.

There was Pau Gasol, criticized by many for his style of play in the past, posting up Glen Davis with 2:18 to play and again up by a pair. Gasol lost his dribble and fell backwards, just barely punching the ball back out to his guard. But then Gasol re-posted, called for the ball, and rather than settling for a jumper over Davis’ wide body, he drove Davis back to the rim and shot right over the top, creating all the contact.

Not a play Gasol makes in ’08.

And then there was Derek Fisher, criticized so often for his age and difficulties guarding younger, faster point guards. With a little leeway from the officials — it was an ugly, physical, foul-ridden game throughout — Fisher was able to put his body on Ray Allen’s as he chased him through screens, riding his hip and taking out the shooter’s legs.

Allen, after setting an NBA record for threes in a Finals game with eight in Game 2, shot 0-for-13.

“Ray Allen’s not going to miss all of his shots, Thursday night, that’s not going to happen,” Fisher made sure to mention.

Fisher’s defense was terrific, but his offense saved the day, as he scored 11 of his 16 in the final quarter. With the Lakers’ having apparently abandoned all ball movement, Fisher made a number of contested shots, including a coast-to-coast layup for a three-point play in the final minute that gave L.A. a seven-point lead and the game.

“Derek Fisher was the difference in the game,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s just a gutty, gritty player. Fisher basically took the game over.”

It’s 2-1 Lakers now, but it doesn’t quite feel like anyone has taken over. Each team has had its fair share of brilliant and boorish stretches, and Boston has been in this position before — in these very playoffs.

In the second round, Boston split a pair in Cleveland before the Cavaliers handed the Celtics their worst home-playoff loss in franchise history in Game 3. The Celtics proceeded to win the next three games and advance.

“As a team we’re just going to come out and play with a lot of energy, have a great focus,” Rajon Rondo said. “I think we lost our composure tonight in a couple possessions and that hurt us. You can’t really write the story until the next game.”

The difference in this series is: it’s hard to fathom the 2010 Lakers folding like those Cavaliers did, or like the Lakers themselves did two seasons ago.

(nba.com)

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