Plaschke: Pierce Faked His Injury
latimes.com 6/6/2008 — Paul Pierce, the Boston Celtics captain, was carried from the opening game of the NBA Finals in the third quarter Thursday with an apparent serious knee injury that momentarily deadened and distracted the Lakers. At which point, Pierce came running back to finish them off. To nearly 50 years of delicious Celtics-Lakers lore, add a new apparent bit of chicanery. Call it the Fake N'Shake.

Postcards From LA, Vol. 14: One Lakers Fan Tracks His Team Through the NBA Playoffs
emptythebench.com 6/6/2008 — So much hype. So much anticipation. And such a disappointment. Watching Game 1 of the NBA Finals was like suffering through a bad date - you just wanted it to be over so you could go home, go to bed, and start fresh the next day.

Celtics Grab Series Lead, 98-88
soxanddawgs.com 6/6/2008 — The Boston Celtics did in the second half what they do best. They played some great defense and relied on their key players as they took Game One from the Los Angeles Lakers 98-88 at the TD BankNorth Garden on Thursday night. The first quarter saw the Lakers get an early 6-2 but the Celtics never let them get too far in front and were able to take over the lead and maintained it for most ...

He's Guilty This Time
whatwouldoakleydo.blogspot.com 6/6/2008 — How Kobe Lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals for the Lakers

Worst of Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals
basketbawful.blogspot.com 6/6/2008 — Kobe Bryant: Ah, sweet Mamba...how I've missed thee. He struck for 24 points on 26 shots while shooting only 34 percent from the field. He had 6 assists -- most of which came in the first half -- but also committed a game-high (tied with Ray ...

NBA needs Pierce and Celtics to make this memorable NBA Finals — Celtics & NBA - BostonHerald.com 6/6/2008
When evaluating this best-of-seven series pitting the Lakers and the Celtics for the NBA title, don't forget what's best for the league. That's what ran...

He won't admit it, but Mamba met his match — FOXSports.com News for NBA 6/6/2008
Kobe says he missed some "bunnies," but the replay tells another story. Kevin Hench says the Celtics made sure nothing came easy.

Appeal of 'Back-to-the-Future' NBA Finals Crosses Generations — NBA.com: News 6/6/2008
LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS columnist Tom Hoffarth writes, "It is the perfect storm of NBA viewership, starting with Thursday night's opener of the back-to-the-future Finals between the Lakers and Celtics where older viewers might have first looked for it ...

PIERCE PLANS TO PLAY SUNDAY — NY Post: Sports 6/6/2008
BOSTON -– Still-in-pain Celtics star Paul Pierce said he believes he will try to play Sunday in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, but gave no guarantees and doesn't even know the extent of his knee injury. Pierce is being diagnosed with a meniscus strain...

Celts' Pierce expects to play in Game 2 (AP) — Yahoo! Sports - NBA News 6/6/2008
Paul Pierce, whose dramatic return from a knee injury lifted Boston to a win in over Los Angeles in the opener of the NBA finals, said Friday there's a "great chance" he'll play in Game 2 on Sunday. Pierce was carried from the floor by teammates and ...