Weather Celtics. Lakers. NBA Finals. - Page 6

Direckshun · 05-24-2010, 12:13 AM

The 2008 NBA Finals were fantastic. This year's finals are shaping up to be even better:

The Lakers have gotten bigger and tougher in the interior.
Rondo's emergence gives the Celtics the ability to do so much more than they were able to do in 2008.
The Lakers have a shutdown defender in Artest who will be 110% dedicated to shutting down Pierce.
Rasheed Wallace gives the Celtics the depth necessary down low. The Celtics and Lakers both have very deep benches.
The Celtics just want to win every single game they play more than the other team. The Lakers just want to get the Celtics back.

This series is going to come down to the paint. The Lakers score about 50% of their points by being bigger and taller than the other team. But the Celtics rotation of Garnett/Perkins/Baby/Wallace is deep enough to play them. I guarantee you Doc Rivers' #1 priority will be to push the Lakers out of the paint just like they've done with the Cavs and the Magic.

If they're successful, this means the Lakers will need to come up with at least 40 points a game somewhere other than the paint. Which they can do, of course, especially with Kobe on hand. But it's not going to come from Fisher, who was equals with Rondo in 2008 but now will be completely outclassed by him. And I imagine Artest will be a defensive force this year, focusing just on shutting down Pierce with little attention to the offensive end.

That pretty much leaves things up to Kobe to drive the offense against Ray Allen's savvy and Tony Allen's doggedness. He struggled against a combination of Allen and Posey in 2008. Time will tell if he can finally crack that Celtics defense.

Gasol vs. Garnett when Gasol's will be downright fascinating. Whoever gets the best of this matchup when Gasol's got the ball will determine the series. If Gasol can reliable keep racking up points against Garnett's defense, the Celtics defense will have to clench up to help and open up LA's bombers. If Garnett can keep Gasol under wraps, the Lakers will have no interior game (Bynum stands no chance against Perkins, and Odom will be facing a Garnett/Wallace combination that won't bode well for him), and they're going to struggle to put up points.

On the other end of the court, certainly Phil Jackson's main goal will be to (a.) keep Pierce under wraps with Artest, and (b.) play incredibly soft off Rondo like they did in 2008 to cut off his penetration and forcing him into jump shots. If Rondo hits his shots, this series is blown wide open in the Celtics favor. But he'll probably be iffy, as is his usual way.

Pierce will be shut down, but Garnett will pose problems for Gasol. Garnett's range extends farther than Gasol's ability to defend. If Garnett's hitting, Gasol will have to play tight, and that will open up tons of drives.

With Rondo mostly neutralized, Allen will pose problems for the Lakers' starting backcourt. I imagine they'll try to shut him down with Fisher since he's a ferocious screen-fighter and you simply don't want Kobe fighting through three screens when he needs to be carrying your offense on the other end. Fisher, however, tries to literally fight back against screens and that will slow him down, opening up Allen. Putting in Brown or Farmar will stand a better chance in tracking him down, but they both are turnover prone.

So we get to the bench. The Lakers have the most talented bench, but the Celtics bench outplayed them anyway when that was also the case in 2008. The big difference is that the Celtics do not have a deadeye bomber coming off the bench this year, but they do have a deeper frontcourt and a great hustle-defender in Tony Allen. The Lakers meanwhile will be giving Odom every chance to contribute, with typically mixed results. Intensity will be on Boston's side, which was enough in 2008. It's uncertain if that's the case in 2010.

And that cuts to the heart of the issue. There is no quit in this Celtics team, which is as mentally tough and impregnable as the NBA's seen since the stone cold Spurs of the early 2000s. You can blow them out in one game, only for them to meet you stride for stride in the next game. Mentally, they will not be vanquished. The Lakers have a couple players who are similar in Kobe, Fisher, and Gasol. But the rest of the team is awfully moody, much like they were in 2008, and can thus be demoralized like they were that year. But they are extremely hungry to beat this Celtics team.

I'm a Celtics fan, but I think it's a Lakers-friendly series, since the 2-3-2 format works extremely well for the home team.

Lakers in 6. But this Celtics team is as unpredictably good as it gets, so who knows.

KC_Connection · 05-26-2010, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiefschargersmnf

wow there has got to be a better deal even with just the lakers if bosh really wants to go there. the raps might need some new bballs (and fans) id rather take that than bynum and his bum knee

I'd rather take Bynum than David Lee.

kcxiv · 05-26-2010, 12:59 AM

The only thing you will see this offseason from the Lakers regardless of what happens is Farmar Gone, Sasha Vujicic gone, Adam Morrison Gone and them lookinig for a point guard.

chiefschargersmnf · 05-26-2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I'd rather take Bynum than David Lee.

almosta coin flip there for me. id rather have bosh stay but really dont see that happening, once the cup finals end the focus will turn away from hockey and all of canada can once again get a life or ruin it with more sports. i personally prefer the latter!

Psyko Tek · 05-26-2010, 08:21 AM

may wanna put this thread on hold for a bit

Crush · 05-26-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psyko Tek

may wanna put this thread on hold for a bit

Yep

**notorious** · 05-26-2010, 09:36 PM

Meh, the Lakers and Celtics will get to go back home and not have to worry about the rediculous ass rapings from the referees.

I am an impartial observer, but I can't help but laugh my ass off at how lop-sided the officiating is game-to-game.

Mr. Arrowhead · 05-26-2010, 10:56 PM

, since this thread was made the celtics and the Lakers are a combined 0-3

okcchief · 05-26-2010, 11:05 PM

If only the two thousand threads about the Chiefs sucking ass had this kind of reverse effect.

ToxSocks · 05-27-2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by okcchief

If only the two thousand threads about the Chiefs sucking ass had this kind of reverse effect.

One day. One day. You must have patience. It takes a LOT of threads to reverse the suckage that is the Chiefs.

05-24-2010, 12:13 AM
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $2063447	Celtics. Lakers. NBA Finals. The 2008 NBA Finals were fantastic. This year's finals are shaping up to be even better: The Lakers have gotten bigger and tougher in the interior. Rondo's emergence gives the Celtics the ability to do so much more than they were able to do in 2008. The Lakers have a shutdown defender in Artest who will be 110% dedicated to shutting down Pierce. Rasheed Wallace gives the Celtics the depth necessary down low. The Celtics and Lakers both have very deep benches. The Celtics just want to win every single game they play more than the other team. The Lakers just want to get the Celtics back. This series is going to come down to the paint. The Lakers score about 50% of their points by being bigger and taller than the other team. But the Celtics rotation of Garnett/Perkins/Baby/Wallace is deep enough to play them. I guarantee you Doc Rivers' #1 priority will be to push the Lakers out of the paint just like they've done with the Cavs and the Magic. If they're successful, this means the Lakers will need to come up with at least 40 points a game somewhere other than the paint. Which they can do, of course, especially with Kobe on hand. But it's not going to come from Fisher, who was equals with Rondo in 2008 but now will be completely outclassed by him. And I imagine Artest will be a defensive force this year, focusing just on shutting down Pierce with little attention to the offensive end. That pretty much leaves things up to Kobe to drive the offense against Ray Allen's savvy and Tony Allen's doggedness. He struggled against a combination of Allen and Posey in 2008. Time will tell if he can finally crack that Celtics defense. Gasol vs. Garnett when Gasol's will be downright fascinating. Whoever gets the best of this matchup when Gasol's got the ball will determine the series. If Gasol can reliable keep racking up points against Garnett's defense, the Celtics defense will have to clench up to help and open up LA's bombers. If Garnett can keep Gasol under wraps, the Lakers will have no interior game (Bynum stands no chance against Perkins, and Odom will be facing a Garnett/Wallace combination that won't bode well for him), and they're going to struggle to put up points. On the other end of the court, certainly Phil Jackson's main goal will be to (a.) keep Pierce under wraps with Artest, and (b.) play incredibly soft off Rondo like they did in 2008 to cut off his penetration and forcing him into jump shots. If Rondo hits his shots, this series is blown wide open in the Celtics favor. But he'll probably be iffy, as is his usual way. Pierce will be shut down, but Garnett will pose problems for Gasol. Garnett's range extends farther than Gasol's ability to defend. If Garnett's hitting, Gasol will have to play tight, and that will open up tons of drives. With Rondo mostly neutralized, Allen will pose problems for the Lakers' starting backcourt. I imagine they'll try to shut him down with Fisher since he's a ferocious screen-fighter and you simply don't want Kobe fighting through three screens when he needs to be carrying your offense on the other end. Fisher, however, tries to literally fight back against screens and that will slow him down, opening up Allen. Putting in Brown or Farmar will stand a better chance in tracking him down, but they both are turnover prone. So we get to the bench. The Lakers have the most talented bench, but the Celtics bench outplayed them anyway when that was also the case in 2008. The big difference is that the Celtics do not have a deadeye bomber coming off the bench this year, but they do have a deeper frontcourt and a great hustle-defender in Tony Allen. The Lakers meanwhile will be giving Odom every chance to contribute, with typically mixed results. Intensity will be on Boston's side, which was enough in 2008. It's uncertain if that's the case in 2010. And that cuts to the heart of the issue. There is no quit in this Celtics team, which is as mentally tough and impregnable as the NBA's seen since the stone cold Spurs of the early 2000s. You can blow them out in one game, only for them to meet you stride for stride in the next game. Mentally, they will not be vanquished. The Lakers have a couple players who are similar in Kobe, Fisher, and Gasol. But the rest of the team is awfully moody, much like they were in 2008, and can thus be demoralized like they were that year. But they are extremely hungry to beat this Celtics team. I'm a Celtics fan, but I think it's a Lakers-friendly series, since the 2-3-2 format works extremely well for the home team. Lakers in 6. But this Celtics team is as unpredictably good as it gets, so who knows.
Posts: 59,693

05-26-2010, 12:59 AM	#77
kcxiv In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Valley, Cali Casino cash: $8697996	The only thing you will see this offseason from the Lakers regardless of what happens is Farmar Gone, Sasha Vujicic gone, Adam Morrison Gone and them lookinig for a point guard.
Posts: 29,111

05-26-2010, 08:21 AM	#79
Psyko Tek special teams Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Mesa AZ Casino cash: $10015665	may wanna put this thread on hold for a bit __________________ Psyko Tek The keyboard has been drinking,
Posts: 12,018

05-26-2010, 09:36 PM	#81
notorious Supporter Join Date: May 2005 Location: Who knows? Casino cash: $-854116	Meh, the Lakers and Celtics will get to go back home and not have to worry about the rediculous ass rapings from the referees. I am an impartial observer, but I can't help but laugh my ass off at how lop-sided the officiating is game-to-game.
Posts: 88,552

05-26-2010, 10:56 PM	#82
Mr. Arrowhead MVP Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wichita Casino cash: $10015708	, since this thread was made the celtics and the Lakers are a combined 0-3
Posts: 7,763

05-26-2010, 11:05 PM	#83
okcchief MVP Join Date: Jul 2008 Casino cash: $9849890	If only the two thousand threads about the Chiefs sucking ass had this kind of reverse effect.
Posts: 6,703