Mark Kriegel nails the issue so far in the NBA Finals:

[Direckshun]

Phil Jackson was furious that Powe shot 13 free throws. I'd be more angry he didn't shoot two or three more.

Exactly.

You can complain about the refs, but the Lakers played soft. WAY soft. When you're getting uncontested dunks, one after another, and wide open jumpers, you've got to dig down.

The Celtics got their ass run off the floor in 1984 and had to knock the shit out of the Lakers to get a fighting chance.

I don't know if the Lakers have the heart to get that dirty, I think they're banking on the fact that they're athletic enough or fast enough to run the Celtics off the floor like they did twenty years ago.

I'm betting that won't work against these Celtics, who have proven throughout their run to the Finals that they will kick, hit, scrape, and beat down whomever it takes to win.

I think that's been the difference between the Lakers and the Celtics so far, officiating aside. The Celtics, from their coach to their stars to their 12th man, are willing to do anything to win. I don't think that's true just yet of this young Lakers team.