Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers: What to Watch for

There's nothing like a little rivalry game to get the juices flowing. And if you thought that the two "rivalry" games against the Knicks were something, then you are in for a real treat this Thursday when the vaunted Lakers travel to the Garden to continue the greatest rivalry in NBA history.

Anytime the Celtics and the Lakers face off, the country stops and watches. Rarely do these games disappoint, and I expect Thursday's game to fully live up to expectations. And here is what to watch for and expect in the latest installment of the most storied rivalry in NBA history.

Similar Situations Should Make for a Close Game

Those these two teams undoubtedly despise one another, they can actually commiserate a bit. After all, the teams have had similarly slow starts, and both have only 14 wins in this young season.

It's hard to believe these teams won't turn it around at some point, but for now, their records indicate that they have yet to reach the elite status that both of these teams strive for.

Obviously, this makes for a great game to watch. Two hungry teams struggling to get back on top, battling it out for a chance to do just that. It doesn't get much better than that. Oh, and have I mentioned that they are bitter rivals? Throw that into the equation and you have yourself the formula for one heck of a game. 

Nearing the End of a Chapter?

In the early days of the NBA, it was Bill Russell and his Celtics against Jerry West and his Lakers. They battled throughout the sixties and the Lakers even had Russell's personal rival, Wilt Chamberlain, for a few of the early years of this rivalry.

Then, after uneven success in the seventies, the rivalry was renewed with the emergence of two elite players, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Like Wilt and Russell, Bird and Magic were bitter rivals, and their shared hatred brought the rivalry back into view.

In the nineties, the Lakers flourished late, while the Celtics entered a tailspin. At that point, the rivalry seemed over.

However, a rebuilt Celtics team that included their big three—Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen—rose like a phoenix from the ashes, and brought the rivalry back to life once more, this time pitting the Celtics against the formidable Lakers' duo of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. These teams battled in two championships, with each team triumphing in one.

Unfortunately though, both of these teams do not have much time left. Realistically, this could be the last time these two rivals face each other with these same teams—both rosters are full of players well past their prime—and the most recent chapter to the epic rivalry could come to a close before we know it. Therefore, it is imperative that we enjoy this game, and all the ones we have left, before this rivalry is potentially put to sleep once again.

Streaks on the Line

Coming into this game, the Celtics are riding an impressive five-game winning streak that they would love to extend to six games at the expense of the Lakers.

On the other hand, the Lakers are going in the opposite direction with a losing streak of two games. Obviously, they would like to get back on the winning track, and what better place to do it than the Garden?

Regardless of what happens tonight, a streak will get broken; whether it's for better or for worse remains to be seen.

Milestones out of the Way

Last season when the Celtics met around this time of the year, all the buzz around the game was the potential for Ray Allen to break the NBA's all-time career three-point record. For the first half of the game, that was all anyone could focus on, and he did indeed break the record in a quite memorable moment. However, the Celtics went on to lose this game despite this milestone achievement, and I think this was in part because the players' minds were focused on the milestone more than the game.

Luckily for the Celtics though, they were able to get possible distractions out of the way in their previous game, where Paul Pierce passed Larry Bird on the Celtics all-time scoring list to move up to No. 2. With this out of the way, the Celtics can now focus entirely on the game.

On the other hand, assuming Paul Pierce doesn't score over 4,500 points in the game, we will not get to see any history occur in the form of broken records in this game. 

Andrew Bynum vs. Jermaine O'Neal

If only the Celtics had a tough, defensive minded center that could shut down the likes of the young and developing Andrew Bynum. 

Well unfortunately we did, but the fact of the matter is, Perk is not walking through that door and the Celtics will have to make do without him. Instead, they will put Jermaine O'Neal out there to try to keep the All-Star center in check. O'Neal did say that his goal was to make the all-defensive team, and if he wants to strengthen his case for such an accolade, this game would be the best place to start.

If O'Neal can have some success in shutting down Bynum, then the Celtics will have a good chance at winning. If not, the Celtics are in trouble. 

Will the Stars Shine?

It is no secret that the Lakers and Celtics are led by Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce, respectively. Both have been having fantastic seasons, and deserve recognition for that. However, only one of them can come out victorious in their upcoming battle.

Obviously, they will not be directly against one another, but how well they are able to produce for their teams will be a major determinant in the outcome of this game.

Can the Celtics out Rebound the Lakers?

When it comes to rebounding, the Celtics and the Lakers are on opposite ends of the spectrum. The Lakers are the NBA's best rebounding team, while the Celtics sit at second-to-last.

However, the Celtics have managed to out-rebound their opponents in each of their last four games. If they can continue this trend and win the battle of the boards against the Lakers, they will surely win.

Prediction: Celtics 88 Lakers 84

This is a tough one to predict because of the nature of both teams. If the Celtics are "on" when shooting the ball, they will win. But if the Lakers can successfully jam the ball down the Celtics throat with points in the paint, they will win.

Given the way both teams have been playing lately though, I am inclined to believe that the Celtics will be able to pull this one out in a low-scoring, defensive affair. Expect Pierce and Rondo to lead the charge for the C's and a potential small, late comeback by the Celtics. Final score: Celtics 88, Lakers 84.