Lakers Celtics analysis

[Ghazi]

How dumb are you Ghazi, really

That Laker team played much better than this years, it's pretty much a fact backed up by statistics . Just because some of the names are nicer (Glassy/Artest > Rad/Turiaf) doesn't change that fact.

This was the weakest edition of the Lakers in the past 3 years... and this will become obvious when they struggle to generate offense against the Celtics.

[mogrovejo]

A part of me is laughing at how pathetic Spur fans are that they would jump to the CELTIC bandwagon of all teams. The Celtics epitomize baggery in ways nobody else can match. If you want to go cheer for KG "I'm gonna bully deez s" for an entire series then be my guest. I'd rather eat mixed with throw up.

There are an awful lot of reasons to not root for the Lakers (their captain is a rapist, for pete's sake), but what kind of person cares about that? If the entire world was rooting against the Celtics I couldn't care less. Do you think it matters on the court? Only the typical girlish insecure Laker fan to care about fans from other teams rooting for or against them. Put your hormones under control already.

By the way, have you already written your customary "if the Lakers lose I won't be here to take it like a man because I'm just too much of a pussy" thread?

[Ghazi]

Lakers post Gasol in 2008 when he played: 36-11, +7.83 margin of victory..counting playoffs too.

[Ghazi]

There are an awful lot of reasons to not root for the Lakers (their captain is a rapist, for pete's sake), but what kind of person cares about that? If the entire world was rooting against the Celtics I couldn't care less. Do you think it matters on the court? Only the typical girlish insecure Laker fan to care about fans from other teams rooting for or against them. Put your hormones under control already.

By the way, have you already written your customary "if the Lakers lose I won't be here to take it like a man because I'm just too much of a pussy" thread?

[Baseline]

Hey Moron, that wasn't "Lakers Celtics Analysis" as your thread le suggested. You thread le might as well have been, "My myopic analysis of the Lakers series with Boston, a team that my chronic yellow-vision will not enable me under any cir stance to entertain the thought of losing to...for the following inane and ill-conceived reasons."

Your opinion of your team is so inflated that it's mindboggling that you even bother to post. But even more scary is your underestimation of your team's opponent in this series. That's the opponent your team got curb stomped by in 2008, losing by 39 in the decisive game. Also, that was a game in which your hero decided to fold his tent and scurry home like a scared puppy.

If that hurt in 2008, I can't wait to see how this year feels, because your weak and fluffy team will fare no better.

Enjoy the Finals, you slithering, brainless idiot.

And please, feel free to put me on your ignore list twice, in case you ignore the first listing. Just like you're ignoring the fact that your team is vastly overrated.

[DazedAndConfused]

This isn't 2008 anymore and that is what people are forgetting. The Celtics aren't nearly as dominant a team defensively as they were in '08 and their offense has gotten considerably worse IMHO.

The NBA is all about matchups, especially the playoffs. It doesn't matter how hot you are and how well you are playing, if you don't matchup well with another team then odds are you aren't beating them 4/7 games.

The matchups that favored the Celtics in '08 simply don't exist anymore.

-Pierce being guarded by Radmanovich and Walton
-Gasol being guarded by Perkins
-KG being guarded by Odom
-KG being 100% healthy and dominant defensively
-Boston's bench (Cassel, Posey, Brown, Powe)
-Celtic's HCA

None of these advantages exist anymore. NONE OF THEM. Not a one. The Lakers have basically neutralized every single one of these advantages, and it shows in their 3-1 record against Boston since the '08 Finals...with the only loss coming in a game in which Bryant didn't play.

I'm not saying these games won't be close, but ultimately the Lakers will prevail because they are the better team and more importantly the matchups favor them this time around.

If someone wants to debate on actual basketball points, feel free to let me know. All I see around here is a bunch of smack talk by idiots whose teams have long since been bounced out of the playoffs.

[Ghazi]

lol @ everyone saying "it aint 2008 anymore"

yet back in 2008 ALL Lakers fans thought they were winning the series before it started.

We're seeing similar unjustified confidence this time around.

The Celtics aren't as good as 2 years ago, but neither are the Lakers.

[Ghazi]

Oh, and lol @ bringing up the 3-1 REGULAR SEASON record against the Celtics , especially when all 4 of those games could've gone either way.

[Muser]

Go Lakers!

[21_Blessings]

Not only is this Laker team significantly better than its 2008 counterpart. You're actually witnessing the transition into Dynasty mode.

[Ghazi]

Not only is this Laker team significantly better than its 2008 counterpart. You're actually witnessing the transition into Dynasty mode.

You were so high on that 2008 team you thought they were gonna win it all... AFTER they fell behind 0-2.

Can't backpedal now

[21_Blessings]

If this Laker team went down 0-2 I'd call backdoor ing sweep just as fast.

But that's not happening this year. They have 4.5 starters playing instead of 3 like in 2008.

[Ghazi]

no repeat, no dynasty

[namlook]

no repeat, no dynasty

At least he can talk about the possibility. Mavs need to focus on not getting bounced by a low seed while the Lakers are focused on a repeat.

Looking forward to bumping all of these trash talking posts once the finals are over.

[ezau]

Yeah that explains why the Lakers won 5 and the Celtics only won 3.

The Celtics vs. Lakers rivalry stands at 9-2 right now. Wow, talk about owning that Laker ass.

[namlook]

Some more point to ponder:

1) Perkins has terrible hands. You want the ball handler passing him the ball off a pick-and-roll because there's an excellent chance he'll fumble it.

2) Both Perkins and Big Baby have trouble finishing in traffic. Neither elevate well, both have troubles with length and both tend to miss or get blocked.

3) Ray Allen does not have the speed he used to have in terms of breaking to the basket, but he has a super quick release.

4) The Celtics use plenty of moving screens to give the ball handler distance, and in fact use them more than back in '08. That's what gives Ray Allen separation, and given that Fisher doesn't fight through screens, Allen is going to get plenty of good looks.

5) Garnett is still a decent help defender, but he no longer has the strength or quickness for quality man defense. Pau is stronger than back in '08 and quick. Lamar is just as quick, has a better shot and might even be a tad stronger than '08. Garnett's physical "recovery" was badly oversold by the sports media as a feel good story. While he's playing his best ball since the injury, that isn't saying much. He's a s of what he used to be back in '08.

6) Pierce doesn't have the explosive first step nowadays, but is skilled enough to draw or sell contact. He generates a ton of "reputation" calls. It is worth noting that the Celtic offense bogs down when they start relying on his isolations. If Artest can draw Pierce into a pissing match, and if Rondo can be denied access to the paint, it'll lead to more Pierce isolations.

7) Pierce (not Allen) is also their most dangerous player when there's little time left on the clock. Deny him the ball late in the shot clock.

8) Perkins will get himself into early foul trouble. He loves to push off close to the basket and like all Celtic bigs he uses moving screens. Lakers defenders need to sell those moving screens.

9) Make Kobe's life easier by setting picks on Rondo whenever possible. Rondo is much more important to their offense than back in '08, and there were signs he was wearing down in the last games against Orlando. Make him work and wear down those legs.

[ezau]

at the Spurs getting ass ed by the Suns, missionary style.

Missionary anal? You're easily the dumbest poster here.

[Giuseppe]

Missionary anal?

Don't knock it till you try it. Booty holes be tighter that way.

[crc21209]

This isn't 2008 anymore and that is what people are forgetting. The Celtics aren't nearly as dominant a team defensively as they were in '08 and their offense has gotten considerably worse IMHO.

The NBA is all about matchups, especially the playoffs. It doesn't matter how hot you are and how well you are playing, if you don't matchup well with another team then odds are you aren't beating them 4/7 games.

The matchups that favored the Celtics in '08 simply don't exist anymore.

-Pierce being guarded by Radmanovich and Walton
-Gasol being guarded by Perkins
-KG being guarded by Odom
-KG being 100% healthy and dominant defensively
-Boston's bench (Cassel, Posey, Brown, Powe)
-Celtic's HCA

None of these advantages exist anymore. NONE OF THEM. Not a one. The Lakers have basically neutralized every single one of these advantages, and it shows in their 3-1 record against Boston since the '08 Finals...with the only loss coming in a game in which Bryant didn't play.

I'm not saying these games won't be close, but ultimately the Lakers will prevail because they are the better team and more importantly the matchups favor them this time around.

If someone wants to debate on actual basketball points, feel free to let me know. All I see around here is a bunch of smack talk by idiots whose teams have long since been bounced out of the playoffs.

1. Home-court advantage in the Finals is OVERRATED with the 2-3-2 format.
2. I think the MAJOR difference between last year's LA le team and this years LA team is that Ariza was a better fit for LA than Artest is. Ariza played his ass off on D, and made most, if not all of his wide open 3-point attempts during last years playoffs..something Artest hasnt been able to do this year.
3. True the C's do not have Posey to throw on Kobe, but you have to remember they used Pierce on Kobe for a good amount of time during that series as well, and he did a pretty damn good job.
4. True about KG not being the same, but then again...he wasnt a force to be reckoned with in that 08' Finals series to begin with anyway...he mostly roamed out on the perimeter by the FT line shooting jumpers anyway...Pierce was the Finals MVP, not KG.
5. Bynum might as well be on the bench again like he was in 08', because he has been pretty damn bad in these Playoffs anyway. The guy clearly isnt healthy, and occasionally he will have a good game..but he wont be THAT much of a difference maker this time around...
6. Boston's bench may not be as good as it was in 08', but Boston and LA's bench are somewhat even in this series. Boston has Sheed, T. Allen, Davis, and perhaps even Nate coming off the bench now. The Lakers have Odom, Farmar/Brown, and occasionally Walton and Vujacic....not the greatest bench in the world either...

[ezau]

Don't knock it till you try it. Booty holes be tighter that way.

I bet anybody's stick's gonna get bent like copper wire when you try doing it

[Giuseppe]

I bet anybody's stick's gonna get bent like copper wire when you try doing it

It looks easy in the books at Borders.

[daslicer]

I think Nate Robinson could be a big x-factor if he gets playing time. He's a quick small PG the type that gives the lakers problems ala Aaron Brooks, Ty Lawson, Westbrook. This guy will be huge energy spark whenever he comes off the bench and can change the tempo of the game in favor of the celtics.

[namlook]

I think Nate Robinson could be a big x-factor if he gets playing time. He's a quick small PG the type that gives the lakers problems ala Aaron Brooks, Ty Lawson, Westbrook. This guy will be huge energy spark whenever he comes off the bench and can change the tempo of the game in favor of the celtics.

That's a possibility. Not sure Doc trusts him enough to play him though.

[namlook]

This year, Artest vs Pierce:

Pierce: 40% FG, 36% 3P, 4FTA, 2.5TO, 13PPG

Last year, Pierce vs Lakers defenders:

Pierce: 46% FG, 43% 3P, 9FTA, 5TO, 21PPG

If Artest duplicates that defense in the finals, Lakers definitely win.

[Giuseppe]

Artest is so close to what Odom has led him to that it ain't even funny at this point. Artest has to close the deal now. He showed he could close in the Phoenix series.

Finish it.