This is supposed to be a “great NBA Finals.” Not the dud it’s turning out to be thanks to a dreadful display of basketball from the Lakers who have proceeded to get blown out by the much better Celtics in Game Two tonight on ABC.

If this is truly the greatest NBA rivalry renewed, how come only one team showed up tonight? Paul Pierce is everywhere on the court and Rajon Rondo suddenly has morphed into a combination of Steve Nash and J Kidd. What’s most disheartening though is the lack of passion and team unity exhibited by the Lakers. They got out to a decent start taking a five-point lead but since have shown no composure forcing bad shots early in the shot clock and failing to get out on the Celtics’ big gunners from the outside. Pierce and Ray Allen have been allowed to drain big three after big three.

What’s most stunning is how much more intensity Boston brought to the table than Los Angeles. I would’ve thought the Lakers would come out better and more determined but that’s far from the case which is why this has been about as watchable as the first pair of games of the Stanley Cup Finals. At least the Pens showed some pride and made that a series forcing the Red Wings to earn a six-game triumph for a fourth Cup in 11 years.

Can the Lakers bounceback from this kind of blowout? The good news is the next three are on their more friendly home court at Staples Center. The bad is that if they don’t win all three, they most likely have little chance of coming back to take this superhyped series.

How in the world do you let reserve Leon Powe slice and dice you for more than 20? Heck. He has attempted a few more free throws than the entire Laker team. Just disgusting.

Kobe Bryant has definitely struggled and really had to work for his points. Every shot is being contested and he’s seeing plenty of doubles by a very aggressive Celtic bunch who has done the job. The problem is the league MVP isn’t getting enough support from second and third options Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Sure. Gasol has scored tonight but he’s also played soft and failed to block out at key instances allowing even the miniscule Rondo to get an extra possession for the Celts which turned into an uncontested trey.

Even though the Lakers are making a last ditch effort with less than four minutes left erasing a 23-point second half deficit to 13, they’re going to come up short and be down 0-2 with the series shifting to Hollywood.

There’s so much they can do better like executing in the halfcourt and not turning the ball over. How about playing the sort of D they have until this series. The Celts have over 30 assists and have nailed nine triples on only 13 attempts. That’s ridiculous. They’re making it look like a video game. This isn’t NBA 2K8! It shouldn’t be that easy for Boston to score. We’re talking easy looks from the perimeter and plenty of lay-ups in transition.

Kevin Garnett has a double/double but hasn’t even had to carry the load in this one because that’s how well the rest of his teammates have played being very unselfish spreading the ball which is what wins at this crucial time of year.

So, can LA get back in this? They sure better get it figured out in a hurry before Tuesday because otherwise, this is going to turn into a complete dud.

Shocking Update: Somehow, the Celts have managed to turn a laugher into a close game. The Lakers have outscored them 29-9 cutting a once huge margin into a four-point game with 63 seconds left. Only in the NBA could something this improbable happen. They were down 24 with seven and a half to go.

Let’s see how this plays out.

Rondo misses an open 17-footer and the Celts foolishly foul Kobe while in the penalty with 38.4 ticks still remaining. He makes both to remarkably make it a two-point game.

The Celts do the wise thing putting the rock in Pierce’s hands and letting him get to the bucket and draw a foul. Their best player knocks both down to make it 106-102 with 22.8 to go.

LA is unable to get the ball to Kobe who is covered tight instead forcing it into Sasha Vujacic, whose three-pointer is blocked with 13 seconds left. James Posey sinks a couple of more free throws to ice it.

The Celts hang on for a 108-102 win. So, can the Lakers gain something from this? Their confidence should at least be up after getting badly outplayed for two-plus quarters until a furious rally which fell short.

ABC sure hopes they can get back in it or this will amount to a disappointing Finals despite all the fanfare. I have to figure the Lakers will rise up and make this a series. They got too much pride and can play much better.