If the Celtics go on to win the NBA Finals after tying up the series at two last night, Rajon Rondo’s steal is going to be one of those plays remembered for a long time.  When Paul Pierce missed a jumper with about 45 seconds left and when Kobe grabbed that rebound with the Lakers down 6, you just had a feeling that Kobe and the Lakers would somehow find a way to comeback and win the game.  The Celtics defense prevented that from happening:

As Kobe grabs the rebound and starts downcourt, Ray Allen (Kobe’s defender) quickly finds Bryant and gets in front of him while backpedaling.

However, you don’t want to backpedal too much when defending Kobe as he runs towards you.  You do that, and he will pull up and knock down a three pointer right in rhythm.  Ray Allen actually does a very good job of meeting Kobe Bryant far away from the basket, this disrupts Kobe and forces him to do something other than what he wanted to do.  If Kobe blows by you for the lay-up in this situation, so be it, it is still a two possession game.  He hits a three, and it is a one possession game.

Allen forces Kobe along the baseline, and as soon as he commits to the baseline drive, Kevin Garnett comes down for the double team.  His hope here is to try and get that come-from-behind block on Bryant.

Bryant rises, and once he realizes he can’t get a shot off he tries to make a pass to the outside.  Because Garnett is doubling down with his hands up, he forces Kobe to lob a pass over him rather than zip one in.  Because of the lob pass, Rondo is able to have enough time to get over and deflect the pass.

Rondo gets his hand on the ball, recovers it, and finishes with the lay-up effectively ending the ballgame.  Here is the play in real time: