I'll admit it, this was the matchup I was dying for.
I grew up watching Lakers vs. Celtics, rooting for Magic and the Showtime squads. I played "Lakers vs. Celtics" on my Sega Genesis for years. This rivalry is what made basketball great in the 70's and 80's, and its return is the best thing that could have happened to the league this year.
Now we are faced with perhaps the most exciting NBA Finals in 15 years. Here is how I think the whole thing shakes out.
Matchups
- Point Guards: These teams match up well at many places, but no more so than in the point guards. Rajon Rondo and Sam Cassell make the perfect mixture of young speed and skill, and veteran experience and intelligence. No matter who is on the floor, the Celtics can work around them. Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar are no slouches, but both fit the Lakers better as facilitators and defenders. I give the slight edge to the Celtics, but it depends on how well Cassell's legs hold up.
- Shooting Guards: Kobe Bryant is the greatest player on the planet, easy. Ray Allen can't defend him, and Kobe may turn around and lock him down easily on the defensive side. I see the Celtics trying to match Paul Pierce on him defensively to slow Kobe down, but I don't see that working either. Lakers take this point easily.
- Small Forwards: Paul Pierce is the class at this position, but let's not discount the defensive prowess and basketball IQ of Luke Walton, who I see starting opposite Pierce. I bet you that Pierce still has good games, but he won't be doing it easy, and it may take some out of him defensively, making life easier for Kobe. Celtics take the point, but Walton can affect it in many ways you don't see in the box score.
- Power Forwards: Kevin Garnett's excellence is not in question, but the big X-factor in the series is Lamar Odom. Frustratingly inconsistent throughout his career, Odom sometimes looks like the best athlete and player not named Kobe Bryant, but sometimes seems disinterested and lackadaisical. If he shows up to play, KG may find his road harder to travel. If not, there may be problems. Celtics take the point.
- Center: Phil Jackson has the perfect center for Kobe Bryant to work with in Pau Gasol. He can pass, shoot, block shots, defend, you name it. More importantly, he doesn't mind that Kobe takes the game over in the late goings. Kendrick Perkins has been huge for the Celtics this post-season, but he's no match for Gasol in skill and experience. Lakers take this one.
- Coaches: 9 championships. 'Nuff said. Phil Jackson is a way better strategist and motivator than Doc Rivers. Lakers get the point.
Prediction: I see this being a back and forth series, each team holding serve on their home court for the first 4 games, but eventually I think Kobe, who in killer instinct alone is more valuable and effective than the Big 3 of Boston, takes over and wills his team to victory. I see a game 7 win, in overtime, going down to the last shot. Lakers, by a nose, in 7.
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4 months ago
I LOVE MY LAKERS BUT CELTICS ARE AN AWESOME TEAM. I AM HOPING THAT THE LAKERS WILL WIN BUT THE CELTICS ARE HUNGRIER. BOSTON IN 7.
from 4 months ago
RICK KOBE WILL WIN GAME 1 AND GAME 2 IN BOSTON AND GO TO L.A. AND WIN GAME 3 AND GAME 4!!! MVP!!! MVP!!!!! MVP!!!!! KOBE LEADS THE LAKERS IN A SWEEP OVER CELTICS!!! I BELEIVE!!!
from 4 months ago
I appreciate your opinion, but I think it would come across better without the caps lock button on.
4 months ago
I think that you give Phil the point but you can't say that he is a better motavator then Doc Rivers.Rivers always gives pep talks to his team thats what TNT game sounds are foucused on. but Phil is the better coach no doubt. Lakers in 6
4 months ago
PG - Advantage - Lakers: Fisher has survived Iverson, Deron Williams and Tony Parker, I think he'll manage against Rondo.
SG - Advantage - Lakers: Kobe Bryant, league MVP...nuff said.
SF - Advantage - Celtics: Expect Pierce to show up big, he's a money player and the Lakers really have nobody to defend him except Odom..sometimes. He can post Kobe up on the low block all day so don't expect to see that match-up often.
PF - Advantage - Celtics: Garnett will probably have to deal primarily with Radmonovic who fortunately will not have to keep KG fro going to the hole because KG doesn't go to the hole! Still too much Big Ticket for Vlad or Odom or Walton.
C - Advantage - Lakers: Perkins is a load for Gasol on the defensive end, but expect Kendrick to get into foul trouble trying to stop Pau.
Bench - Advantage - Lakers: For experience primarily you have to go with he Lakers bench who have now played together for the better part of three straight seasons. The hit their three's and the offensive glass as well if not better than anyone and they are all familiar with their rotation and roles. With Doc Rivers, you never know who is coming into the game for whom.
Coacing - Advantage - Lakers: Do I actually need to justify this?
I know, I kow the Celtics play great half court Defense, but the Lakers swept the 50 win Nuggets, closed out the jazz on the road and dispatched of the defending champs (who by the way have the BEST PF in the game on their roster) in five games. Even with home court it's hard to see how the Celtics can keep the Lakers from scoring at will and I like the Lakers post season run much more than Boston's.
Plus can anyone on the Celtics roster jump over a car like Kobe? Didn't think so.
Lakers in five.
from 4 months ago
I forgot to analyze the bench in my article, I realized too late. But yeah, I agree the bench is huge factor in the series, but I think they are almost equal. Both have quality veterans and young players who know their roles and can come off the bench and help in certain situations. I like the Lakers mostly because of Phil Jackson, he's been there, done that, and Kobe is playing out of his mind right now.
Plus, let's face it, the Lakers went through the best teams in the Western Conference only losing 1 game, the Celtics got taken to 7 games in their first two series (against Atlanta? Come on!) and 6 games in the last one. They don't have enough in the tank, and all three of their superstars haven't been this far in the post season before.
from 4 months ago
I have to disagree. I think the Lakers have a huge bench advantage in this series. Los Angeles has a much younger bench that will push the tempo when the starters are resting.
4 months ago
I think the Lakers would win this series. Did Gasol played in the regular season series betweeen the two teams. I don't think he did. The Lakers bench is way better than the Celtics. You all remember game five against the Spurs, the benched of the Lakers cut that 17 point lead into a manageable one with Kobe,Gasol, and Odom on the bench. You know what else is impressive about that series, Gasol didnt help much offensively. His only good offensive game was probably in game one. Kobe Bryant can defend Paul Pierce, Ray Allen. The only player he might have a problem defending would be Kevin Garnet. The way I see it, Gasol might defend Garnet since they are both about the same high and weight. Odom would guard Perkins. Lakers would win game one in Boston, and finish the series at Staples Center.
4 months ago
Eaxactly. the Lakers are going to win one in Boston and then finsih the Celtics in LA in game 5. The Lakers actually have a couple of different players who could guard Pierce. Ariza could be a big defensive minded forward who is extremely long, athletic and quick.
4 months ago
This series is a lot like 2004. The Glitzy high scoring LA team playing a team from the East with no chance. Kobe will go off but there is no other player other than Fisher that will come through. Gasol and Odom will be eaten up by the moment. Rad and the machine will not find their shots. This is Celtics in 6.
from 4 months ago
I think you are forgetting one thing: the regular season doesn't matter. Boston blew the doors off the Hawks in the regular season, and almost lost in the first round to them. Allen is far too inconsistent a scorer in the post season to be relied on, and I don't think Boston has that one true go-to guy at the end of a game like Kobe.
from 4 months ago
rm,
In 2004, the Lakers had lost both of its starting power forwards by the playoffs. This was a death sentence when you saw Rasheed Wallace, Mehmet Okur, Ben Wallace, Corliss Williamson, Elden Campbell, and Milicic. The Lakers had lost Karl Malone and Horace Grant both to injury. The fact that Lakers won a single game was a surprise. They were completely outmatched by the Detroit Bigs.
This years LA team is fully healthy. 2004 had nothing to do with LA being glitzy. Had Karl Malone and Horace Grant been healthy I am sure that LA would have won the Championship that year. Unfortunately the positions that LA got all of their injuries was where Detroit was extremely strong.
4 months ago
I know the celtics look good on paper, but, this is the same team that needed 7 games to eliminate the Hawks and the Cavs, I just don't see them winning this series.
4 months ago
I agree with Diego. Any team that needed 7 games to beat Atlanta is not going to beat LA. LA would have swept Atlanta like they swept Denver.
4 months ago
I don't think the Detroit-Boston series was a good measurement of Boston because Rasheed Wallace looked impotent, Chauncey Billups was playing injured, Tayshawn Prince couldn't buy a shot, and Hamilton was hurt also in the last game. That left McDyess as the main guy.
Detroit was done when Chauncey got hurt. Flip Saunders coaching also wasn't good at all. He had Rasheed playing outside for most of the game and didn't go into him often enough. That's not the way the Pistons won their last championship.
There will be no such luck for Boston against LA. Gasol, Odom, Bryant, Fish are all perfectly healthy and playing at their peak. If Radmanovic gets hot, forget about it - this could become ugly for Boston.
4 months ago
defense wins championship,offence sells tickets.boston is by far a better defensive team.
from 4 months ago
Actually, I believe the whole "defense wins championships" line to be a fallacy of logic. Balance wins championships. The reason the Spurs have been such a quality contender every year is that they perform well on both ends of the floor. Notice that the Pistons, arguably the best defensive team in the league the last 6 years, have only made it to two NBA finals, and only one half of those. You have to be able to defend adequately, and hit your shots. And I have more faith in the Lakers' ability to defend adequately and hit their shots than the Celtics' ability to lock down defensively and hit their shots.
4 months ago
lakers in 7 and 10th ring for phil jackson 100th game 7 out of 3000+ play off games
4 months ago
Listen you lakers fan..I am a laker too..make no mistake. But think with you brains first....
The celtics are a brand new team regarding these playoffs..they went 7 in those 2 games and 6 against the mighty detroit...they are just feeling each other out now. Look out for these guys (Celtics)..
If they lose game 2 or win game 2 I still think they will win the series.
Game 1 to Boston
Game 2 ?????????????
4 months ago
Listen you lakers fan..I am a laker too..make no mistake. But think with you brains first....
The celtics are a brand new team regarding these playoffs..they went 7 in those 2 games and 6 against the mighty detroit...they are just feeling each other out now. Look out for these guys (Celtics)..
If they lose game 2 or win game 2 I still think they will win the series.
Game 1 to Boston
Game 2 ?????????????
from 4 months ago
The team that wins the next game I think will take it. If it's LA, they go back to the west coast with a chance to win it on their court. If Boston wins, they can play relaxed knowing they can go back to the Garden no matter what.
4 months ago
AS I LAKER FAN I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THIS GAME SHOULD BE 3-0. THE CELTICS ALMOST
BEAT THE LAKERS ON GAME 3 BUT PIERCE AND GARNETT COULDN'T HIT A BUCKET.
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