LA Lakers Vs. Boston Celtics: Why the Lakers Need the Win More, Who Wins?
Trash talk, playoff-like intensity and elbows flying are to be fully expected. The matchup features arguably the league's best player and arguably five future Hall of Fame inductees.
The clash of green and yellow might work in Green Bay, but on the courts, it's anything but pretty.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...a Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers showdown.
Thursday night at 8 p.m. EST the East-leading Boston Celtics (38-13) host the Kobe Bryant-led Los Angeles Lakers (36-16) in TD Garden. The Celtics took the first game of the season series in Los Angeles 109-96 behind a 32-point Paul Pierce performance.
The Lakers come in winning their last three on the road. The Celtics have been fairly inconsistent as of late, winning just two of their last four since their January 30th win at LA.
Here are five reasons why Kobe Bryant and company need the win Thursday night against the Boston Celtics in TD Garden.
5. Continue Their Success on the Road
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Despite struggling this season at home, the Lakers have had their fair share of success away from Staples Center.
The Lakers' 17-8 road record is the third best in the league, better than any road record of any team in the Eastern Conference. They have won their last three road games and continue to get it done.
Their strong play on the road makes up for their recent struggles at home, as they currently are 19-8 at home. To put this record into perspective, this is the same Lakers team that finished the season 34-7 at home last season.
4. Put an End to the Critics
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Losers of three of their last six games, including their last three home games, the Lakers are under the microscope for the moment.
Kobe and company have been facing an array of critics and doubters as of late, although in a sense they deserve it. The Lakers are yet to answer their problems at home and have been especially inconsistent the entire NBA season.
Make no mistake—they have 36 wins and are a top three team in the Western Conference, but their play of late has been the epitome of mediocre. Thursday night, they have a chance to prove they are still the same team that is the winner of back-to-back championships.
3. End Trade Talks
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In the last several days, recent reports have the Los Angeles Lakers as one of two candidates in snagging All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony. The deal would reportedly have the Lakers giving up a load of potential inside, dealing starting center Andrew Bynum in the process.
The trade talks are rising to the surface for one reason, and one reason only: The Lakers have not been playing championship-contending basketball. Not to say a move for Carmelo wouldn't be a positive one, but the reality is the Lakers don't need the move. They won it without him before...twice.
Truthfully, the move seems ridiculous—not to mention Phil Jackson made a joke of the rumor in his recent interview at a Lakers practice. Despite LA's issues as of late, don't expect Melo to put on a purple and yellow jersey anytime soon.
2. Improve Their Record Against the League's Best
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The Lakers have 36 wins and are more than likely to finish in the top three in the West. Yet their record is deceiving in that their performance against the top teams in the league isn't quite so impressive.
Against the East's best three teams, the Lakers are 1-3. They lost one to the Boston Celtics, another to the Miami Heat and split two games with the third-place Chicago Bulls.
The West's best have given the team trouble as well. LA has gone 0-3 against both the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. Last Thursday, the Lakers lost to the Spurs at home in an 89-88 game on a last-second tip-in.
This makes them 1-6 against the league's best, and potentially 1-7 if they fail to get the job done at TD Garden against the Celtics.
1. Time to Make a Statement
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Facts are facts.
The Los Angeles Lakers are the reigning NBA champions and are going for their second three-peat in the Phil Jackson era. They are a top team in the West and have arguably the best finisher in the game of basketball in Kobe Bryant.
Then again, this same argument works the other way around.
The Boston Celtics are the team that came out on top in their last meeting in a game in which at no point in the second half the Lakers threatened a comeback. The Celtics are also the team with the better record overall this season. To add to the mix, they have split their two matchups in the NBA Finals since 2007.
Another win for Boston gives the Celtics the series sweep, while a Lakers win lets the league know that they still have what it takes to contend against the league's elite.
AND THE WINNER WILL BE...
Prediction: Boston Celtics
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At the end of the day, the Celtics are the more confident ball club, as shown by the Pierce fist pump on your left.
The Boston Celtics have plenty going for them going into Thursday night's matchup. They are the best team in the East, have an NBA second-best 23-4 record at home and beat the Lakers in Los Angeles just a couple of weeks ago.
Paul Pierce has been elevating his game as of late with 19.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in his last five games. In the January 30th victory over the Lakers, he posted 32 points on 11-of-18 shooting to go along with five rebounds.
Ray Allen should help add to the mix as well Thursday night, as he has also been on a tear as of late. He has scored over 20 in four of his last five games and hit at least two threes in all five games.
History will look to be made as well, as Allen is now one three-pointer shy of tying and two short of breaking Reggie Miller's all-time record for most made three-pointers in NBA history.
Ironically, Miller will likely be calling the game as well. Look for Allen to more than likely capture the record Thursday night.
With momentum on their side, home-court advantage and the ability to get it done on the defensive end against the league's best, the Celtics should take the W. Look for the Boston Celtics to take the season series 2-0 against the Lakers when it's all said and done.
