Celtics-Lakers: Game Four Preview
The NBA Finals series has now shifted to Los Angeles. The cross-country travel, jet-lag, and fatigue gave us a really ugly game three. The Lakers did enough to win the game and get a make it a 2-1 series lead instead of 3-0.
Kobe Bryant dominated, got off to a fast start and aggressively attacked the basket. The Lakers received a huge boost from reserve Sasha Vujacic, scoring 20 points off the bench.
The Lakers played solid defense, it wasn’t smothering, but it was the combination of Celtics missed shots and good defense that was the difference.
Paul Pierce & Kevin Garnett both had off shooting nights. The two were a combined (8-35) shooting. Ray Allen the other member of Boston’s big three kept them in the game with a stellar 25 point performance.
The strange thing was, seeing that he had it going in game three, why the Celtics didn’t run their offense through him and get him more shots was surprising.
In a seven game series, each game is like a chess match, and each game takes on its own personality. The NBA Playoffs are all about scoring, runs, and adjustments, usually the team that loses the previous game needs to make adjustments for a different outcome in the next game.
The Lakers need to make some adjustments to counter what the Celtics have done to them all series.
The Lakers need to approach tonight’s game four as a must win game. Both teams should be rested and ready to go. The Lakers need to play better defense and come up with a solid rebounding performance and box out their men to eliminate second chance points.
Kobe Bryant needs scoring help from the Lakers front line; especially Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. Lamar Odom has been erratic and Pau Gasol has been streaky. The Lakers must have a consistent scoring effort from the entire team to force a meaningful game five.
The Lakers did show a physical side to their game and did a good job of stopping the Celtics’ transition three point shots. These shots were back-breakers in Boston, finding Celtics shooters is a priority. The Lakers need to continue to force the Celtics to grind in out in their half court offense.
Can the Celtics grab this series by the throat?
Can the Lakers come all the way back and tie the series?
These are two questions that will be answered tonight in Los Angeles. A big factor will be the health of Rajon Rondo who has a bone bruise in his left ankle but will play. He is the Celtics primary ball handler & distributor of the basketball.
The Lakers are allowing whoever is guarding him to roam free and provide help defense. Several teams have played Rondo that way all season. In this series that person has been Kobe Bryant.
The goal is to induce Rondo into catch and shoot scenarios as oppose to getting the ball to the big three. The Lakers can’t forget about Rondo because he can hurt them.
The Lakers have been using cross matching with different defenders on the Celtics backcourt and multiple defenders on Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The Lakers are not out of the woods yet and haven’t really established much.
The Celtics defense has made Kobe Bryant work hard for every shot and made every shot extremely difficult. The Celtics defense is wicked but they need to have scoring from Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett who is shooting 35-percent from the field.
The Lakers need to execute their offense and do a better job of player movement and ball movement. The Lakers have had issues with their interior defense all series and have to be prepared to fend off the Celtics attacking them inside.
Pau Gasol was seen battling in the paint and showing a willingness to give up his body and battle for rebounds. That needs to continue for the Lakers to have any success.
The Lakers need to come out aggressive and play with a high level of intensity. It is time for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to step up and play with a sense of urgency, both need to become factors.
Lamar Odom has been in foul trouble the entire series. He has to stay on the floor and out of foul trouble. He has to be aware of who is guarding him and where the help is coming from. He showed some aggression toward the end of the game attacking the basket and that needs to continue.
All three games of the NBA Finals have been exciting and tonight’s game should be as well. Prepare yourself for another epic battle.
