Los Angeles Lakers Breakdown: Despite Win Over C's, Lakers Still Have Work To Do

Not all regular season games are created equal. In fact, the Lakers’ holiday tilt with the Celtics was easily the most important game played this season to date, at least from LA’s perspective. They needed to prove that they had the moxie and the mental toughness to be considered a legit championship contender, especially since they’ve brushed off most of their setbacks this season, saying they would deliver against the Celtics.

So, are the Lakers championship favorites?

On the basis of their emotional 92-83 victory over the Celtics, maybe.

They showed a number of reasons why they are indeed a title caliber team, but also showed the maddening inconsistencies that may doom them as the year progresses.

Championship Lakers

If Kobe Bryant had trouble getting into the paint against Ray Allen, he was cognizant on understanding where Boston wanted to send help and avoided getting stuck dribbling or shooting over double teams.

And towards the end, the Celtics were forced to spend so much attention on Kobe, that Pau Gasol was often left open in the middle of the paint to take one dribble and score.

While Kobe shot 13-23, he went 9-19 against Ray Allen, while torching Tony Allen for four scores on four shot attempts. Paul Pierce spent nary a possession on Kobe. Could Doc be saving that matchup for a potential Finals rematch?

The Lakers’ length spooked the Celtics into a handful of missed layups on the basket.

Pau Gasol was the hero of the final three minutes, hitting a key elbow jumper, a tough plus one off a cut and dribble, a floater in the lane, and helping off a screen to block a Ray Allen three-point attempt.

Luke Walton made several tricky passes,  several smart rotations, and several three-pointers. And while he was torched by Pierce in isolations, his screen defense was tough and earnest.

Walton, Kobe, and Trevor Ariza routinely outhustled the Celtics.

Lamar Odom hit  a pair of big threes in the fourth.

Derek Fisher hugged Ray Allen around screens, and got the ball where it needed to be when it needed to be there (7 AST, 0 TO).

After Kevin Garnett lit up the first half, and Pierce the third quarter, the Lakers appropriately doubled each player in the fourth quarter daring Rajon Rondo to beat them.

The Lakers sagged off of, or helped off of Rondo daring him to beat them from the perimeter. This tactic worked for the Lakers in Los Angeles and worked for them this Christmas. Boston’s offense sputtered without Rondo in a groove.

The Lakers switched the majority of screen/rolls down the stretch but were able to mitigate the mismatches by sagging off of Rondo and by staying within an arms length of Pierce with length in position to rotate.

The Lakers traps were very effective, especially against Pierce and Eddie House.

The Lakers recognized wing double screens, where one of the players defending the screen/setter would jump out and defend the shooter in the corner.

Andrew Bynum was able to handle most of Rondo’s and Perkins’ individual attempts to score of him.

Los Angeles Fakers

Los Angeles still gave up too many easy shots in the paint. Kevin Garnett had his way with Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum’s rotations were frequently late.

Gasol was routinely bullied on the boards, while Bynum was out jumped to a number of rebounds. Only Kobe Bryant,  Luke Walton, and Lamar Odom were reliable rebounders.

In any scramble setting (off an offensive rebound or in transition), the Celtics were able to get wide open three-point looks. The point being that the Lakers have to be alert, get back quicker on defense, and stop leaking out on offense to defense transition unless their rebounders are dominating the glass.

Derek Fisher’s jumper was home for the holidays (2-10 FG) and he forced a handful of shots.

Sasha Vujacic is constantly out of control.

Lamar Odom made some good defensive plays (2 BLK, 2 STL, 7 REB), but also lost his man and failed to rotate on others. Offensively, except for his two threes, he was never a factor.

The Lakers too missed several layups, mostly by Bynum. And their defensive rotations were often spotty.

The Lakers mental toughness was evident, but their physical toughness isn’t at a championship level.

What the win does prove is that the Lakers are by far the class of the Western Conference. You can even make the case that they’re the best team right now in the NBA. More than anything, it proves that the Lakers still have work to do before they can declare themselves anywhere close to championship form.