LOS ANGELES --The health of Rajon Rondo is of foremost concern to Boston's Kendrick Perkins, who believes Rondo is the most valuable player on the Celtics.

Really? On a team with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen? Rondo?

"When he's out of the game," Perkins said, "we don't have no kind of rhythm. We're so off-key. When he puts pressure on the ball up the court, that makes everybody want to play D. And the shots we get are just so much easier."

The Celtics' offense struggled all of Game 3, but Boston was particularly ineffective without Rondo, who suffered an ankle injury early in the third quarter, but returned to play in the fourth.

Even though Rondo isn't a serious shooting threat, he does a solid job of getting the Celtics into their offense. Without Rondo, who played just 21 minutes, Boston labored on offense, shooting 34.9 percent.

The Lakers and Celtics traded places on Tuesday night. The Lakers were much more aggressive going to the basket than they had been in the two previous games, and the Celtics played passive, settling for jump shots instead of challenging L.A.'s suspect interior.

"The Lakers don't have a Marcus Camby in the middle," Perkins said, "so I think we need to attack the basket."

Jemele Hill can be reached at jemeleespn@gmail.com.

LOS ANGELES -- After playing mostly on the perimeter in Games 1 and 2 of this series, the Lakers became the aggressors in Game 3, pushing the ball up court and taking it to the basket with regularity. And though the game was classified as "ugly" by both sides, I thought the Lakers attack-mode offense turned it in their favor.

Tex Winter, the long-time Lakers assistant told me the key factor was the Lakers getting the ball up court quickly and attacking before the Celtics defense had a chance to set up. Kobe Bryant used dribble penetration to get to the hoop and create jump shot opportunities for himself and his teammates. Bryant's drives also allowed him to get to the line 18 times in Game 3.

In the Celtics' defensive scheme, a second defender (usually one of the bigs) comes across the lane to serve as a secondary defensive presence. In the first two games of the series, Bryant was settling for the challenged jump shot or picking up his dribble past the first defender. To beat this, Bryant has to keep his dribble into the gap, past the big-man helper, get into the teeth of the defense to finish at the rim or to find open teammates on the kick out. He did it well in Game 3. It's up to the Celtics to have an answer for that in Game 4.

Legendary coach and Hall of Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay serves as lead game analyst for the NBA on ESPN Radio.

LOS ANGELES -- Helloooo, L.O.? Lamar Odom, can you hear me? It's the NBA Finals here. Just wondering if you'd like to meet me for a little best-of-seven series that will decide the champion of the league. Feel free to join in at any time.

You really shouldn't need a reminder of what's at stake. That giant Larry O'Brien Trophy decal on the court ought to drill it in your head.

So, you know, now might be a good time to put the ball through the basket with a little more regularity. You've only managed to do it 13 times in 31 attempts in the three games so far.

You say, "I know I can play better."

I say, no kidding. You averaged a solid double-double (18.2 points and 11.7 rebounds) in the conference semis against Utah. Back then you were going to the basket much more aggressively.

Now it's almost like you've developed an allergic reaction to the basket. A fallaway jumper is one. When done right (see, MJ or Kobe) it's a thing of beauty. But a fallaway hook shot? Can't have that. Only four points in Game 3? Can't have that, either.

"The most important thing is that we won," you say. "The way Lamar Odom looks at it is, 'Wow, we won the game and I only had four points.'"

The thing is, Paul Pierce only had six points for the Celtics and they almost won. It isn't likely that Pierce will score in single digits next time out. You? Don't know what to expect.

One of your coaches, Jim Cleamons, says, "He has to understand that what we're asking him to do hasn't changed, but the fact is, how Boston plays and how they rotate, there is a difference to it."

Yep, it's the Finals. You're up against the team that had the best record in the league. You said the first game showed you just how tough this series was going to be. Well, it's up to you to adjust to that level.

Maybe you just need to figure out the right word. You said that everyone complained the Lakers weren't physical enough in Game 1, then in Game 2 the Lakers must have been too physical, because the Celtics shot 38 free throws. You tried to get tough in Game 3 and were called for two fouls in the first three minutes. You're averaging more fouls than field goals per game in this series. As Cleamons says, "Can't find any rhythm sitting over there on that bench."

Phil Jackson called you "confused." after Game 2. That can't be what you want.

"I didn't take it personal," you say. "Phil says and does different things to challenge us. You never know what word he's going to use to get you to focus."

Could be worse. He could have called you a "rock head", the way he did Sasha Vujacic.

So maybe you need to find your own, more suitable word. Smarter? More opportunistic?

"I have to stay aggressive offensively," you say, "but I guess offensively, play with a high IQ."

Kobe Bryant is the only Laker who's acting like he's been here before. Even Derek Fisher, who has visited me as many times as Kobe, is looking like a stranger. Been really, really quiet.

Kobe has a look on his face that says: I brought you guys to the Finals, now where'd you all go? You don't want to have his next outburst come at your expense, do you?

I'll give you this: you've held it together. It used to be when things didn't go your way you would get technical fouls, getting yourself ejected from the game. Or just mentally checking out yourself. That was more when you played for the Clippers. Hey, that franchise can do that to a guy. Not so much of an issue anymore.

"Anyone else would be in a strait jacket," Cleamons says. "Some people get frustrated and they lose it. But he'll be okay." Game 4 is 6 o'clock Pacific time, Thursday night, Lamar. Feel free to join us.

J.A. Adande is an ESPN.com senior writer and the author of "The Best Los Angeles Sports Arguments." Click here to e-mail J.A.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, current Lakers guard Derek Fisher and commissioner David Stern were on hand as the NBA and Toyota unveiled a Reading and Learning Center at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica.

LOS ANGELES -- Wouldn't it be fun if a current NBA team had what the Boston Celtics had for a while when they were winning championships?

A player/coach.

It's one of those things basketball coaches like to fantasize about. Kind of the ultimate hombre job.

"Head coach?" asks Celtics' reserve Brian Scalabrine. "You're talking about a player also being a head coach? No way."

Well, why not? It used to happen. Bill Russell did it.

Scalabrine talks about how many more media outlets there are now. He talks about scouting databases, and all the many time-consuming things that eat up a coach's day.

He's convincing. No way you could be in charge of all that, and have time to be an elite athlete.

Reporters think for a second about that explanation. The players don't have time to coach. The coaches don't have time to play.

We look at Brian Scalabrine, dressed to practice for a series in which he is inactive. It is literally against NBA rules for him to do any work as a player. (Another question he was asked in this same interview session: "Is carrying players off the court something you're good at?" Scalabrine's response: "On a scale of one to ten, how serious is that question?")

Scal will be in street clothes the next time an NBA game clock is ticking.

The natural question becomes: Well, Brian, how about you? A guy like you might have some time to coach.

"Oh," he says, without the slightest hesitation. "I could do it."

And then he adds the line that proves it will be a long time before there's another player/coach: "And I'd play myself all the time."

Click here to read the TrueHoop blog