Update:  Steve Weinman also took a look at this play over at his site, D-LeagueDigest.  Really awesome stuff worth taking a look at.

After Ray Allen hit a three pointer with about 52 seconds left, the Celtics found themselves down three points needing to get a stop to keep it a one possession game.  They got their stop as Kobe chucked up a deep three pointer, but they were unable to secure the defensive rebound, and that was your ballgame:

After Ray Allen hits his three, things get a little hectic as Pau Gasol gets set to inbound the basketball.  All ten players are in the Lakers’ backcourt, and this leads to some confusions about matchups.  Initially you have Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett just kind of hanging around not responsible for any Laker yet.

As Kobe Bryant gets the ball, two Celtics head towards him.  Ray Allen goes over (which makes sense because he is covering him), but Kevin Garnett decides to trap the basketball too.  With nobody covering him, Lamar Odom starts down the sideline and Kobe hits him with the pass.

Odom makes the catch and continues down the sideline.  The Celtics seem to be in decent position, with Rasheed Wallace appearing to be matched up with Odom.  However, Wallace decides to stay in the middle of the court covering Derek Fisher despite Rajon Rondo in the area.

This forces Rondo to bust it down the court to pick up Lamar Odom.  Rondo actually does a really good job of making Odom pick up his dribble, slow things down, and kick it back out to Kobe Bryant.

Look at how the Celtics are positioned right now.  Rondo is covering Lamar Odom and Kevin Garnett is kind of just floating in the middle of the court.  Rondo is aware that Fisher is wide open and he is signaling for Garnett to go pick him up.

Garnett actually starts towards Odom, but Rondo again insists (by pointing towards Fisher) that Garnett gets to Fisher.  I guess Rondo didn’t think that he could get back to Fisher on time.  I think he did have time.  The Lakers were in dribble it out and shoot with no time left on the shot clock mode, so I don’t think Kobe would have hit an open Fisher (as Rondo was recovering to him), and if he did, Fisher wouldn’t force up the shot.

Now, as Gasol goes up to set a screen for Bryant, Rondo again directs his big man into a switch.  This time he has Wallace go down to cover Odom as he switches on Gasol.  This makes sense, because Rondo probably felt more comfortable covering a big on the outside rather than a big on the inside.

Kobe doesn’t use the screen, and pulls up for the jumper.  Gasol sees the shot goes up and he runs right at the rim.  Rondo, who was covering Gasol, is gets stuck behind him allowing for a clear lane to get an offensive rebound.

Gasol gets the rebound, kicks it out, and eventually Kobe Bryant gets fouled, effectively ending the game and the season for the Celtics.  Here is the play in real time.  Notice the chances the Celtics have for getting their matchups right but they don’t take advantage of it.