Ten thoughts following a Game 2 that will one day be known as the last time you ever saw Shelden Williams on the court for the Celtics. 

1. This is just following the script, right? How To Get To Banner No. 18. Grab a split in LA, win two-of-three at home and steal Game 6. Done and done, at least so far. And I know we all thought a split would happen if the Celtics got A) nothing in Game 1 or 2 from Kevin Garnett B) virtually nothing in three of the four halves from Ray Allen and C) two field goals in Game 2 from Paul Pierce. 

2. And as historically great as Ray Allen was in the first half of Game 2 (more on that later), the number one reason this series is 1-1 instead of Lakers up 2-0 is Rajon Rondo. To me, the Celtics have faced two absolute must win games to date in this postseason -- Game 4 vs. the Cavs and Game 2 vs. the Lakers. Well, in those two games Rondo has averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds and 11.5 assists. And for all the "Who else but Rondo does that?" kind of plays in Game 2 -- the strip of Kobe in the third quarter that led to foul No. 4 for Bryant, the block from behind of Derek Fisher with just over two minutes left, the high floaters over the Lakers' big men and, of course, the drive to the lane and ball fake for a layup that fooled Andrew Bynum -- the play that turned out to be the biggest was a wide-open jumper. That 20-footer at the 1:50 mark to put the Celtics up 95-90 wasn't a shot Rondo would have made in the 2008 finals. Actually, Rondo probably wouldn't have been in the game at that point in the 2008 finals (has any other great player made such a leap in two years?) but you get the point. Easily the biggest shot of Rondo's career and if there was even an inch of doubt regarding whose team this is it should be gone for good after Game 2. 

3. I'm not sure if Ray Allen is the best shooter in NBA history, but he's on the short list. At halftime on Sunday I sent an email to Paul Flannery asking if Allen had just played the best half of basketball in the history of the NBA finals. Paul ignored my email, as he (and everyone else at WEEI) usually does, but I was serious. Think about it. OK, Jordan vs, the Trail Blazers in 1992 is a pretty mean standard. You know, the "shrug game". And sure, he had 35 points vs. 27 for Ray. Eight points isn't an insignificant difference. But did Jordan hold the best player in the world (I guess that would be tough, given that Jordan was the best player in the world) to 4-of-11 shooting, as Allen did with Kobe? And was Game 1 of that Portland series a must-win for the Bulls, as Game 2 clearly was for the Celtics? Are you with me on this one? No? Will you at least respond to my emails? 

4. Look, give Kevin Garnett credit for making a HUGE shot to put the Celtics up 93-90 with 2:38 left in Game 2. Tells you a lot about his level of confidence that he would even attempt the nine-footer (has to be a better way to word that) in that spot after a brutal seven-plus quarters. As poorly as KG played in Game 1, at least he had moments. Until he made that basket in Game 2 I'm not sure I remember Garnett  struggling so badly at any point with the Celtics. Anyone have a problem with what Gasol had to say after Game 1 now? I still find it hard to believe that the guy who played so well against Miami and Cleveland is just going to be worthless in this series. Is he far from what he was in 2008? Of course. Is he in Gasol's league at this point? Not even close. Gasol might be the best forward in the world right now. But I think the Celtics are going to need Garnett, at some point in this series, to be at least the guy from the first two rounds. Will he come through is anyone's guess, but there is no way that he can continue to play this poorly. I'm sure we'll hear whispers of problems physically, and I can buy that. His game has fallen too quickly for there not to be something wrong.

5. Raise your hand if you wanted Glen Davis on the floor instead of Garnett down the stretch in Game 2. How things have changed in these three years. What's next, Davis berating and making Garnett cry during a timeout? 

Big Baby, I think, had his shot blocked by every living member of the Lakers on Sunday night. Pretty sure Chuck Nevitt got him twice. But to slightly paraphrase what Duke said to Apollo in Rocky II, "The man keeps coming after you." He just makes plays. And you know what? I should know better, but I'm still surprised every time he does something like cleanly block Andrew Bynum (awful call). It seems that Davis makes a play like that in every game, one of those that makes no sense if you look at him. Kind of a physical marvel, isn't he? He shouldn't be able to block a 7-footer's shot, or guard Lamar Odom one-on-one, or post up Gasol. But he does this stuff all the time. And if he plays well again in Game 3 and KG keeps looking more and more like Mark Blount Doc has to make a move, I think.

6. Remember when the sight of Rasheed Wallace entering a basketball game made you want to put your fist through the TV screen? Now he's nearing "Guy we can count on" status. Two for two in the Good Game Department of this series, maybe the only Celtics player that can make that claim. If the Celtics go on to win this series and Wallace is a key reason why, will everyone be OK when he mails in the 2010-11 regular season? 

7. Lamar Odom is nearly as important to the Lakers as Garnett is to the Celtics and has been every bit the bust after two games. Odom flourished in the fun-and-gun Phoenix series (averaged a 14-12) but has just eight points in 36 minutes in this series (or one more than Nate Robinson in seven minutes in Game 2). From a Celtics perspective you'd like to think that the interior toughness of the defense has intimidated Odom, but I doubt that's the case. He was the one Laker that I thought played well in the 2008 finals against an all-time great defense. I just think you are seeing Mr. Hyde. One of the toughest players of his era to get a read on from a game-to-game basis. He could put up an 18-18 in Game 3 or he could be the guy we've seen over the last 96 minutes. Just a giant X-Factor.

8. I'm sure this will be the go-to topic for the next day or two, but you don't really think Phil Jackson believes that the Lakers got hosed by the refs in Game 2, right? Come on, he knows the deal. He has to go with this angle so whatever crew that's working Game 3 might have the comments tucked somewhere way back in their  heads if and when Kobe is physical on the defensive end. Now you and I and Phil all know that there is a better chance of Rasheed Wallace ending up with Tipper Gore than there is of Kobe Bryant fouling out of an NBA finals game, but Phil's gotta keep the Mamba happy. Just part of the job.

9. Don't you wish there was less time devoted to the game and more to David Spade and his analysis of what makes Gregg Popovich a great coach? 

10. Game 3? Celtics 98, Lakers 92. Expect a bounce-back game from Pierce and another stat-stuffer from Rondo. That would set up a fascinating Game 4 from a Lakers perspective. Would Kobe continue as the team-first guy that he's trying so hard to be (he's working it as hard as he can -- I think he's secretly hoping to be the first athlete to receive an Emmy nomination for his work with a team) or will he start to think that maybe picking his spots and letting Shannon Brown take jumpers isn't the way to go? And, more importantly, will Glen Davis lend Phil Jackson his ear plugs? The basketball world awaits.