Finals Game 1 - Big Three don't disappoint, Kobe ineffective
thehoopdoctors.com 6/6/2008 — what a game!

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.

Lakers-Celtics: Pierce the Hero as Boston Takes Game One
ballhype.com 6/6/2008 — Many Celtic fans found themselves jumping off a bridge as soon as Paul Pierce went down to the floor, clutching his knee. There was a collective gasp from the entire stadium, which turned into dead silence as he was carted off the court in a wheelchair. www.rawsportsblog.com

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.

Was Paul Pierce Faking?
dimemag.com 6/6/2008 — Did Pierce dupe L.A.? The LA Times’ Bill Plaschke says the Lakers were duped. Paul Pierce hit the deck as if he’d been shot. Pierce said he thought he heard something pop in his knee. He added at the post-game press conference that he ...

Pierce's return lifts Celtics by Lakers (AP) — Yahoo! Sports - NBA News 6/6/2008
Big moments have defined the Lakers-Celtics blood feud, and in their first get together in 21 years, a kid from Los Angeles gave Boston one to remember. Paul Pierce, who used to sneak into Lakers games as a youngster, came bounding out of the ...

Pierce’s Heroic Return Steers Celtics to Game 1 Win — NBA.com: News 6/6/2008
Paul Pierce, who used to sneak into Lakers games as a youngster, came bounding out of the tunnel from the locker room after leaving with an injured knee and led the Celtics to a tense 98-88 victory over Los Angeles on Thursday night in Game 1 of these tra

Boston's bench gets better of Lakers in Game 1 — FOXSports.com News for NBA 6/6/2008
Paul Pierce was Boston's Game 1 hero, but Rajon Rondo also provided a lift. So did the Celtics' bench, Charley Rosen says.

Celtics 99, Lakers 88: Pierce’s Return Fuels Celtics and a Rivalry — NYT > Pro Basketball 6/6/2008
The Boston Celtics had their first N.B.A. finals victory in 21 years, defeating the L.A. Lakers in the series opener. >

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...