Celtics (25-3) at Lakers (18-10) 12/30

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Boston Celtics (25-3) at Los Angeles Lakers (18-10)
Sunday, December 30
9:30 PM ET
Game #29, Road Game #14
TV: NBA TV HD, RTV, FSN HD, CSN
Sirius 143
Staples Center


Probable Starting Matchups
vs
PG: Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher

vs
SG: Ray Allen vs Kobe Bryant

vs
SF: Paul Pierce vs Trevor Ariza

vs
PF: Kevin Garnett vs Lamar Odom

vs
C: Kendrick Perkins vs Andrew Bynum




Off the Bench
James Posey, Eddie House, Tony Allen, Scot Pollard, Brian Scalabrine, Big Baby Davis, Leon Powe, Gabe Pruitt

Key off the Bench

Posey's defense off the bench will be needed in this game, especially on Kobe.

Injuries:
None


Off the Bench
Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Rony Turiaf, Vladmir Radmanovic,

Key Off the Bench

Farmar has been providing a spark off the bench for the Lakers averaging almost 9 points a game.

Injuries
Kwame Brown, sprained ankle, probable
Sasha Vujacic, sprained ankle, game time decision
Luke Walton, sprained ankle, game time decision

Key Matchups
vs
Kevin Garnett PPG 18.9 | RPG 10.5 | BPG 1.5
Vs
Lamar Odom PPG 14 | RPG 8.9 | BPG 0.5
KG vs Odom should be a good matchup with a lot of physical play in the post. KG totally dominated this matchup in their first matchup and should do so again.

vs
Ray Allen PPG 19 | APG 3.2 | 3P% .373
Vs
Kobe Bryant PPG 27.2 | APG 4.9 | 3P% .329
While hopefully Ray Allen will find his shooting touch and will offset Kobe's scoring, I expect to see Pierce and Posey on Kobe on defense and a double team whenever possible.

Keys to the Game
Stop Kobe Kobe can single handedly beat a team and so Doc needs to do whatever it takes to stop him and take him out of his game. Pierce should see some time guarding him as should Posey and we should see double teams coming at him whenever he touches the ball.

Defense The Celtics have been winning with their defense but have had lapses at times. The Celtics can't afford to have defensive lapses against the Lakers or they will capitalize on them. For the Celtics to be an elite team, they have to play defense for 48 minutes every game. They must defend Kobe and they have to defend in the paint to prevent the passes inside to Bynum for dunks and alley oops.

celtics1suck wrote:Lakers by 100000000000000000

Wasn't this idiot banned?

Everything is possible,I think.Lakers are on a very good run no that we find how to play together.Also I think Ariza can slow down Pierce

flipmeister wrote:

celtics1suck wrote:Lakers by 100000000000000000

Wasn't this idiot banned?

I guess he wasn't, but I did delete his post.

lakers effing suck they are no freakin contenders and kobe needs to get the hell out of there freakin 6/25 or whatever he's shooting at freaking trade kb24 for like gordon or something

odom better be suspended or fined a lot for his tackle of ray ray. Odom was not going for the ball and it would have been a good form tackle if he had wrapped him up.

arkanekidd wrote:lakers effing suck they are no freakin contenders and kobe needs to get the hell out of there freakin 6/25 or whatever he's shooting at freaking trade kb24 for like gordon or something

Dude,chill.I agree this game he played like garbage,but for the rest of the season he's playing great.

I wonder what ever happened to the poster who used to say "Lakers will own Celtics"

MikeDead wrote:I wonder what ever happened to the poster who used to say "Lakers will own Celtics"

Wasn't that that celticks1sucks guy?The one I referred to as idiot as the firts post.I really though the Lakers had a chance yesterday,I got up at 2 am to watch the game full confidence and went back to sleep pretty dissapointed

damn portland is owning why not contend now

i think they should do kobe for roy + aldridge would be gr8 for both teams