Lakers at Celtics game thread

[Cessation]

Celtics need to take some pointers from the Spurs on how to put a 20 point lakeshow shallacking when defending homecourt.

[TD 21]

I felt the Lakers would win beforehand and was convinced of it when they fell behind double digits in the first half. It's law of averages. They're too good to lose every single game to elite teams and the Celtics had five guys (four of rotation caliber) out. There's nothing to take out of this game other than that, but I'm sure Lakers fans will use this as an opportunity to be arrogant pricks and act like they're "back".

As an aside, Kerr was sickening, particularly in the second half. Every other word out of his mouth was "Lakers" and every bit of analysis was from their perspective. Lakers fans will claim "you only see it that way because you hate the Lakers", but the reality is I had no rooting interest in the game. I do hate the Lakers and it is always nice to see them lose, but as a Spurs fan, it was better from their perspective to see the Lakers win, so that the Celtics fell further back in the race for home court.

[Killakobe81]

Agree Celts were undermanned ... but a win against the Celts is a win ...

When they won last year at Staples without Kobe Im sure they could care less ...neither do I ...all the best players were healthy.

[Punchy]

Now the regular season suddenly matters to Lakerfan because they managed to win a game against an injured Celtic team.

[Capt Bringdown]

I guess Garnett's pixie-magic sneakers didn't work this time, LOL. Gimmicks on your sneakers, a grown man...so intense, bro!

[LnGrrrR]

Will this end the "Bynum for Melo" talk?

[Venti Quattro]

Everybody feared that they're getting traded so they stepped up their game. CROFL

[LnGrrrR]

Agree Celts were undermanned ... but a win against the Celts is a win ...

When they won last year at Staples without Kobe Im sure they could care less ...neither do I ...all the best players were healthy.

Yup, no excuses. Injuries happen.

[DazedAndConfused]

I don't think either team played particularly hard tonight. Both teams know each other pretty well at this point, and any potential playoff matchup is just gonna be a slugfest.

It was good to see the Lakers finally start playing some defense the right way. I like how they nullified Rondo completely by playing off of him so much. It really screwed with the Celtic's offense the whole night. I'd like to see Bynum close these games out though, they definitely need his rebounding in the clutch.

Steve Blake continues to disappoint. He looks so unbelievably white, slow, and unathletic on the floor. He's not hitting his 3's, not really running the offense that well, and playing abysmal defense. Farmar would have been a better option at this point.

[Banzai]

"Hope you liked my pancakes, I put a special recipe in the batter"

[Killakobe81]

I felt the Lakers would win beforehand and was convinced of it when they fell behind double digits in the first half. It's law of averages. They're too good to lose every single game to elite teams and the Celtics had five guys (four of rotation caliber) out. There's nothing to take out of this game other than that, but I'm sure Lakers fans will use this as an opportunity to be arrogant pricks and act like they're "back".

As an aside, Kerr was sickening, particularly in the second half. Every other word out of his mouth was "Lakers" and every bit of analysis was from their perspective.

Lakers fans will claim "you only see it that way because you hate the Lakers", but the reality is I had no rooting interest in the game. I do hate the Lakers and it is always nice to see them lose, but as a Spurs fan, it was better from their perspective to see the Lakers win, so that the Celtics fell further back in the race for home court.

Don't you think after performing fellatio on Ray in the first half ...that they should talk about the Lakers? analysts do prep work and have storylines prepared pre-game. Lakers outplayed them in the 2nd half ...what should they discuss?

[HarlemHeat37]

Wait, why have multiple Laker fans mentioned the D on Rondo?..I didn't watch the first 2 and a half quarters, did they do something different?..don't they always play off of him and let him attempt open FGAs, what was different, tonight?..

[ChrisRichards]

This win doesn't prove anything. The Celtics are still the better team but by sheer luck the Lakers were able to win easily because of injuries and Paul Pierce coming off a flu.

The fact that the Celtics only lost by a few points despite of this is a testament to Boston's will.

[Killakobe81]

I don't think either team played particularly hard tonight. Both teams know each other pretty well at this point, and any potential playoff matchup is just gonna be a slugfest.

It was good to see the Lakers finally start playing some defense the right way. I like how they nullified Rondo completely by playing off of him so much. It really screwed with the Celtic's offense the whole night. I'd like to see Bynum close these games out though, they definitely need his rebounding in the clutch.

Steve Blake continues to disappoint. He looks so unbelievably white, slow, and unathletic on the floor. He's not hitting his 3's, not really running the offense that well, and playing abysmal defense. Farmar would have been a better option at this point.

Right on for the most part Dazed. Especially the defense. As for Blake I only have two issues the face he WON'T shoot and just swings the ball around the perimeter. His defense is horrid at times decent at others I was just mad that he gave up 2 different AND 1's ...

[mavsfan1000]

Congrats to the Lakers. They are the better team.

[Venti Quattro]

Steve Blake continues to disappoint. He looks so unbelievably white, slow, and unathletic on the floor. He's not hitting his 3's, not really running the offense that well, and playing abysmal defense. Farmar would have been a better option at this point.

Out- ing-standing off-season pickup

[Killakobe81]

Now the regular season suddenly matters to Lakerfan because they managed to win a game against an injured Celtic team.

Nope it doesn't ... EXCEPT when you play your only "true" rival ...

[Venti Quattro]

Nope it doesn't ... EXCEPT when you play your only "true" rival ...

Yeah these in hypocritical Spurfans are so butthurt but they're the first to bash the Mavs when they win a game against them in their Texas two-step matchup

[Killakobe81]

Blake still has time ... but so far he has been ty since the first month ...

[Killakobe81]

I could care less .. I know they were ready to kick dirt on us ...but win or lose tonight closing us out will be no easy task. Like I said a one point loss does little to change my thinking ...

[Punchy]

Nope it doesn't ... EXCEPT when you play your only "true" rival ...

9-3 is a rivalry?

The Celtics are your masters, not your rivals.

[Banzai]

"You guys want some grapes?... es. "

[Killakobe81]

9-3 is a rivalry?

The Celtics are your masters, not your rivals.

A rivalry starts when both team have won big games against the other.

Since I have been watching ball it's Lakers 3-2 (us 85, 87 '10) them (84, 08)

Sure they beat our ass but I have seen all 3 wins and just 2 losses ...Sure their other 7 count but why do I give a about stuff that happend a more than decade before I was even born? It'sjust history like the war of 1812 ...interesting ...but I have no emotional attachment to it ...

[cobbler]

W!!!!
Thoughts…

Can we now put the Bynum/Melo thing to bed? The Lakers are two completely different teams when he is on the court, especially on the defensive end. When Drew sits, Perkins or any other big with bulk just manhandles Pau. We don’t need him to be a 20-10 guy every night. Just protect the paint, alter shots, and throw that weight around. One play that probably went unnoticed towards the end of the first half had Perk standing mid key waiting on Drew who ran right to him got in post position and shoved perk about 3 feet and under the basket. I don’t think the Lakers even scored on the play but it that physical presence that is so valuable. Hoboy is actually right on about Drew and double teams and you saw it in the second half when Kobe and Pau where on the bench and thus not commanding the doubles themselves. He needs space to be effective. He’s 23 and will learn to read defenses better and adapt his footwork accordingly.

Kobe played a great game.

Pierce looked awful. And by that I mean he just didn’t look right or that he cared. They said he had the flu or something so who knows. Ron does own him though.

I never thought I would ever say this… but Matt Barnes being out really does hurt the team and its rotations especially with Ron’s absence this year. I’d start Barnes and bring Ron off the bench to play D for the 2nd unit. Theo’s return will also help. When Drew sits the Lakers have no real rim protector. He blocks shots and protects the paint. His 4-6 minutes in the rotation will have an impact.

Signing Shannon was a great decision by Mitch. He’s had a great year and continues to bail out the 2nd unit in spots. Tied for most improved Laker with Lamar.

This game and this thread are like the season. Everyone just writing off the Lakers in the first half.

[cobbler]

Now the regular season suddenly matters to Lakerfan because they managed to win a game against an injured Celtic team.

Nope...just a game with our most hated rival. Importance on the season as a whole... 1 game in the win column and nothing more.