Lakers Vs. Celtics: Breaking Down the Matchups

After a disappointing to say the least finals series last season, this season we are all true witnesses to the rebirth of one of the greatest rivalries in sports history. This rivalry was at its peak during the 80’s when it was two of the greatest performers of all time going head to head and set standards for each other that were always succeeded. Just hearing about that rivalry gave me Goosebumps, and this time around I have a chance to witness it as it happens we are all in for one heck of series that I believe deserves to be analyzed to the last factor.

Obviously, the Celtics have been impressive all season long and there record breaking turnaround exceeded all of our expectations. Another thing we didn’t see coming was such a rich Lakers team full of promise and potential. Who would have thought that a season that started with Kobe demanding a trade would evolve in him saying that he wants to be a Laker for life? It is the great meeting of both great story lines, and yet beneath it all both sides are equally driven as Kobe has been in search of success after the Shaq era and the C’s big three have been searching to bring a title back to Boston.

So now I’ll discuss the match ups, for the Lakers I believe there greatest disadvantage will be the comparison of Garnett to Pauand I believe that this match up would be the one to decide who leaves this series champion of the NBA. Comparing Kobe and Pierce is also another aspect that is very important to this series because those to leaders will need to produce more than 110% game in game out and from that I could relate the present Celtic/Laker rivalry to the 80’s rivalry where there were two great competitors taking each other to the limit.

Again Ray Allen’s performance will be vital to the success or failure of the C’s in this series and since Allen hasn’t been playing at that great level during the second season, I’m going to match him up with Lamar Odom who has been a great X-factor in many ways for the Lakers. Then at point I believe the Rondo and Fisher may be very much matched and at the defensive end I believe if fisher will be able to limit Rondo’s productivity for the C’s that he would make a huge difference.

As for the rest of the cast for the Lakers, Vujacic must continue hitting the perimeter jumpers he’s been hitting all post season long. Turiaf will have to be ready to step up when called upon during foul trouble of Odom or Gasol and he has stepped up before for them and he will have to now more than ever seeing that Leon Powe I believe is always ready to step up. For example in game 6 of the Detroit series when KG was in foul trouble Leon Powe stepped up for a three point play on his first touch and it will be the little things like that that will make the biggest difference. Walton and Radmanovic will not be called upon for great performances yet it is highly important they have solid games and they take care of the ball when it counts more. That goes especially for Walton who lost the ball for the Lakers in game 4 of the Utah series when they needed it most.  

So for the C’s to win they will need a huge offensive game from Ray Allen which we all know Lamar could not match up to and they would need Kevin the big ticket Garnett to step up on delivering offensively and defensively shutting down Gasol showing everyone that he does deserve being defensive player of the year. Also, the C’s must never be comfortable with any kind of lead because twice during the Spurs series the Lakers were able to come back from first 20 and later 17 point deficits.

For the Lakers to grab the title on the other hand they will need Derek Fisher to shut down Rondo who many times makes big shots or sets up a team mate perfectly. Lamar would also need to step up his performance on both ends of the floor and should be ready to get some points on the board. Kobe is just going to have to stay consistent and do what h does best which is win while he should also make sure to get his teammates involved early especially post play from Pau.

That is what will make the difference in what I predict to be one of the best series to be played in NBA history. But whatever happens all fans could rest assured that this final series can’t possibly be worse than last year’s sweep of the seemed to be paralyzed Cavs.