Lakers vs. Celtics: Breaking Down Rosters of Potential NBA Finals Rematch
Lakers vs. Celtics is tonight and we'll see history made as Ray Allen sets the record for most career three-point shots made.
These two rivals have taken part in two of the last three NBA Finals and have had some epic battles over the past couple of years. Some of the best players in basketball are on both squads and, with that in mind, it's time to break down the rosters to find out who has the edge coming into tonight's matchup.
We'll break down the starters and the bench to figure out who has the best team. If you have any thoughts or comments, make sure to leave them along with a prediction for tonight's game and which team you think has the inside track to the championship.
Point Guard: Derek Fisher Vs. Rajon Rondo
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This one is no contest.
Rajon Rondo is one of the best point guards in the NBA. Derek Fisher is way past his prime and currently struggling in Los Angeles. Rondo has gone from a question mark on the Celtics team that won the championship in 2008, to a player that can take over games with his passing skill.
Rondo is a monster, and Fisher is a guy who hasn't played his best basketball in years.
Edge: Boston
Shooting Guard: Ray Allen Vs. Kobe Bryant
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We've got two of the best players in recent memory squaring off, but this is Kobe Bryant's show.
Bryant will go down as one of the best players of all time and is still producing at a high level, even after playing a ton of basketball over the past few seasons.
Allen has had an amazing career, but he's no Kobe Bryant—not even close.
It's always a joy to watch these guys play though.
Edge: Los Angeles
Small Forward: Ron Artest Vs. Paul Pierce
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Sorry Ron Ron—this one isn't close.
We saw the last time these two teams matched up that Paul Pierce is the superior player. Pierce torched Artest as the Celtics beat the Lakers.
Artest hasn't played well this season and hasn't looked like the player who used to shut down opposing scorers at will. We've seen flashes, but it's obvious that Artest is over the hill.
Pierce has a great shot to go off tonight, even if he exaggerates injuries and fouls.
Edge: Boston
Power Forward: Pau Gasol Vs. Kevin Garnett
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Now this is one of the more interesting battles when it comes to these two teams.
Pau Gasol and Kevin Garnett go to war each time they run into each other and they are two of the best players in the game. However, I have to go with Gasol in this matchup.
Garnett's production has dipped since the knee injury, even if it was a slight drop. Meanwhile, Gasol plays great when he's assertive.
It's a great debate, but I would take Gasol over KG and not look back.
Edge: Los Angeles
Center: Andrew Bynum Vs. Kendrick Perkins
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This was one of the toughest calls I've had to make in this entire piece.
Andrew Bynum is a young center with a ton of potential while Kendrick Perkins is a guy who is coming off of a major knee injury but has shown the ability to frustrate and slow down some of the best big men in the game—like Dwight Howard.
With that resume you can't pick against Perkins, especially with the injury issue being a wash for both players. At some point you have to live up to your potential.
Edge: Boston
Bench: Steve Blake Vs. Nate Robinson
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Now we're on to the benches of both teams and we're looking at the point guards.
Nate Robinson and Steve Blake both see a decent amount of time off the bench, but Robinson has better numbers with less playing time. Not only that, but Robinson is a great energy guy off the bench for Boston and can really spark a run with the second unit.
You have to go with Robinson when comparing these two. Don't get me wrong, Blake is a solid backup, but Robinson just has that X-factor that pushes him over the top.
Edge: Boston
Bench: Shannon Brown Vs. Delonte West
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When you watch Shannon Brown you never know what's coming next.
Brown is such an electric player and he can turn the momentum of an entire game with one slam dunk. Delonte West is out right now with a broken wrist, but he will be a major contributor for Boston when he gets back. However, he doesn't bring the energy that Brown can.
There are a lot of teams that would love to have what Brown brings to the table. He's grown a lot since being drafted and is only getting better.
Edge: Los Angeles
Bench: Matt Barnes Vs. Marquis Daniels
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It wasn't hard to come to a decision on this one.
Matt Barnes is a valuable piece to what the Lakers are doing, even if he's dinged up right now. Barnes is a great backup to Ron Artest and he can do a little bit of everything for you when he's on the court. He's a guy who can come in and play solid defense and chip in on the offensive end.
Marquis Daniels is a decent player, but he's unspectacular and just a guy who can eat up some minutes here and there. Hopefully he gets better soon from the scary injury he suffered on Sunday.
Edge: Los Angeles
Bench: Lamar Odom Vs. Glen Davis
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Lamar Odom would be a starter for a lot of teams in this league.
Odom has a unique skill set that allows him to play multiple positions on the floor and really create problems for an opposing defense. Glen Davis is a good player who has played better than a lot of people thought he would coming into the league—but he's no Odom.
In this matchup, you take Odom in a heartbeat.
Edge: Los Angeles
Bench: Joe Smith Vs. Assorted Centers
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It was hard to pick a fair matchup for this with the way Boston runs its bench.
Off the bench it's really a combination of Shaquille O'Neal and Semih Erden for Boston, while the Lakers will run Joe Smith and Theo Ratliff in very limited roles. There's not a lot to compare, but with O'Neal and Erden playing more prominent roles, it's hard to go against them.
I wouldn't expect to see Smith and Ratliff getting much playing time down the stretch.
Edge: Boston
Conclusion
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As you can see, we came to a 5-5 tie when we broke down the rosters.
To break a tie you have to look at the body of work and doing so clearly favors Boston. The Lakers have lost against a lot of the top teams in the NBA, while Boston has a couple of signature wins against the best teams in basketball.
Not only that, but Boston has beaten the Lakers this year, so you have to go with the defending Eastern Conference Champions.
Advantage: Boston
