This was everything you could have wanted from an NBA Finals game. It was physical. It was competitive. And it featured two teams playing different enough styles to engender after-the-fact discourse about who was playing the "right way".

Tonight, the "right way" was the path taken by the Boston Celtics, and not only because they beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 92-86, in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. They were tougher, they played together and they prioritized defense, despite shooting 56 percent themselves.

The 6'1 Rajon Rondo attempts to box out the 7-foot Andrew Bynum early in the second quarter.

 Rondo had 18 points, 8 assists & 5 rebounds.

Bryant had game-high 38 points, 4 assists, 5 rebounds (2 OFF-3 DEF) and 1 steal.

"Defensively, we weren't very good at all," Bryant said. "Last game it was the fourth quarter, this game it was the third quarter. We didn't get any stops. They got layup after layup after layup, and you can't survive a team that shoots 56 percent."

It's difficult to deflect criticism off Pau Gasol -- 12 points, 12 rebounds, 12 shots -- just because Bryant took over the team, but after being such a huge part of victories in Games 1 and 3, he was no longer an offensive priority.

Gasol was also thoroughly dominated by Garnett, a subject even Bryant couldn't skirt.

"He's been consistent for us, for awhile, so he can afford to have a bad game," Bryant said.

Bad games, statistics and numbers aside, those are the types of plays that should decide the NBA championship. And whether or not Bryant's offense needs to re-adapt to his team in Game 5, those are the plays he'll need from his team to avoid a repeat of 2008.

"Just man up and play," Bryant said.

 "What the hell is the big deal? I don't see it as a big deal. If I have to say something to them, then we don't deserve to be champions. We're down 3-2, go home, win one game, go into the next one. Simple as that."

 Los Angeles Lakers 86 - Boston Celtics 92

BOS lead Finals 3-2

Damn! LAL better win a Game 7 tomorrow morning! :O