Celtics/Lakers Preview

Los Angeles Lakers (7-4) at Boston Celtics (9-1)
Friday, November 23
7:30 PM ET
TV: NBA LP ch 753, CSN HD, KCalHD
TD Banknorth Garden

Anyone who has been a Celtics fan for more than 20 years remembers the Lakers/Celtics rivalries of times past. The Lakers were the enemies. There were some very heated battles between these two teams. Who could forget the time Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis. That was a classic.

It seemed as though every game between these two teams was a war. Chants of Beat LA were common in the Garden. Celtics fans hated the Lakers and Lakers fans hated the Celtics. If you would ask me what my two favorite teams were, it was always the Celtics and whoever was playing the Lakers. Last year when the Garden crowd cheered for Kobe I couldn’t believe it. Celtics fans are supposed to hate the Lakers, not cheer for them.

It has been 20 years since the rivalry between these two teams was at its peak. The Lakers have had some success since then, but the Celtics have had some really hard times. Now, the Celtics are back and contenders once again. Kobe has been whining like a baby because Paul Pierce got 2 All Stars and he didn’t get any. It’s time to rev up this rivalry again. Don’t expect Celtics fans to cheer for Kobe this time around. KG and Ray Allen are students of history and I am sure the rivalry between these two teams has not been lost on them.

If history means anything to this team, when the Lakers come into the Garden they should be ready to dominate. Kobe can take over a game all by himself (as we saw in his last trip to the Garden). The Lakers are playing good basketball so this should be a good game.

Probable Starting Matchups:
PG: Rajon Rondo vs Derek Fisher
SG: Ray Allen vs Kobe Bryant
SF: Paul Pierce vs Vladmir Radmanovic
PF: Kevin Garnett vs Lamar Odom
C: Kendrick Perkins vs Andrew Bynum

Key off the Bench:
Celtics: James Posey.
Lakers: Luke Walton

Key Matchups:
vs
Kevin Garnett PPG 20.7 RPG 13.00 APG 4.2 EFF + 31.20
vs
Lamar Odom PPG 13.1 RPG 8.30 APG 2.0 EFF + 16.29
KG vs Odom should be a good matchup with KG getting the better of it.

vs
Ray Allen PPG 20.3 RPG 4.50 APG 3.3 EFF + 19.10
vs
Kobe Bryant PPG 26.9 RPG 6.60 APG 4.8 EFF + 26.00
I expect to see Pierce and Posey on Kobe and a double team whenever possible.

Keys to the Game
Stop Kobe Don’t expect the Garden crowd to be cheering for Kobe this game. 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.

Take Care of the Ball. The Celtics must get their turnovers under control. They can get away with 19 turnovers with some teams, but the better teams will take advantage of them.

Defense. After a lapse in Orlando, the Celtics were back to playing good defense against the Warriors. 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 make defense second nature and make it a priority.

Game Notes:
The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is one of the most storied in all basketball. In recent years it just wasn’t the same because the Celtics had fallen on hard times. But, with the resurgence of the Celtics this year, we should see the rivalry heat up. The Lakers have been playing well even though they are coming off a loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday. It would be good to hear the Beat LA chants in the Garden again. Ray Allen and KG are both big on history and I am sure the history of the rivalry between these two teams won’t be lost on them. It’s time to dominate this rivalry once again.

-FLCelticsFan & MikeDead ClubCeltics.com
___________________________________

-Travis Rodgers

Los Angeles Lakers (7-4)
vs.
Boston Celtics (10-1)
in
Boston

Keys to Success
1. No freelancing
2. Win the hustle game
3. Outbench the bench

No freelancing: Kobe Bryant ended up getting into a pissing contest with Michael Redd last game and the very competent shooting Redd probably won that matchup and certainly won it statistically. There is no room for that even if the Lakers are struggling. Bryant has to learn to trust his teammates even when they suck because this team is much deeper than the team from last season. There are five 1 on 1 matchups that are important tonight, but no matchup is as important as the 5 of 5 game.

Win the hustle points: Steals, offensive rebounds, and blocks could decide the outlook of this game. Both teams are adept at all three categories, with Bynum’s 4.4 combined vs. Garnett’s 5.4 leading the way respectively. Lack of hustle means wasted opportunities for the Lakers and second opportunities and extra possessions for the Celtics. This is a battle the Lakers will probably have to win if they are to take the game.

Outbench the bench: While the Celtics have the best 1-2-3 combo in the NBA, the Lakers can hold their own at the 1 through 5 spot. When it comes time for bench play, however, I do not believe the Celtics can hang with the Lakers, even without Kwame Brown on the team. LA must cut deficits and extend leads every time the benches meet on the floor.

Prediction
Celtics 104
Lakers 96

trodgers, ClubLakers.com
_________________________________________

Coming In:

When Kobe Bryant envisioned a Kevin Garnett trade - he was hoping to see the 10-time All Star in Los Angeles.

The Garnett to LA rumors never came to fruition and the 6-11 forward landed in Boston, causing a sure displeasure in the hearts of Laker fans across the globe.

Friday night, the Lakers & Celtics will meet in Boston in a matchup featuring four of the league’s premier all-stars.

Wednesday night, the Lakers had their 4 game winning streak snapped by the Bucks behind 26 points for G Michael Redd. Los Angeles scored over the 100 point mark, but they shot a disruptive 43 percent from the field. Bryant had 27 points, but was 7 - 18 from the field & 2-8 from 3 point range.

“Sometimes you just miss them,” Bryant said. “You stay with it, you stay aggressive. We all pretty much shot the ball like (garbage). We had control of the game throughout except the fourth quarter, and it was an uphill battle from that point.”

Boston on the other hand has come out of the gates with an 8-1 start, led by their ‘Big-Three’ which features Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce & Ray Allen. The Celtics spanked the Warriors at home, after having their 8 game winning streak snapped by the Magic Sunday.

“The good teams in this league never lose two in a row,” said Allen, who led the Celtics with 21 points. “When you lose a game, you need to know how to respond.”

Boston has won it’s last 4 home games against sub-par teams.

“There are a lot of people talking about how the Western Conference is head over heels above the East,” Pierce said. “The Lakers will be a good test for us.”

The Lakers wept the season series with Boston last season, winng each meeting by roughly 20 points, backed by a 40 point - 8 assist average from Kobe Bryant in those meetings.

Massacre’s Matchup:

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe isn’t one who needs motivation, but seeing Garnett in a Celtics uniform will ensure he’ll be on for this matchup. Who does Boston stick on him on defense? Predicted stats: 33 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists.

Celtic wings - Kobe & Allen are competitors, they always step their game up when meeting each other - on both ends of the floor. Predicted stats: Allen: 17 points, 2-5 3PT / Pierce: 26 points, 4 assists, 6 rebounds.

Potential Starters:
G: Rajan Rondo
[Career vs. LAL: 1.0 PPG, 1.5 SPG, 2.5 APG, 3.0 RPG]
G: Ray Allen
[Career vs. LA21.0 PPG, 5.3 APG (2.6 TO), 5.1 RPG, 43.7 % FG, 37.9 3PT ]
C: Kendrick Perkins
[Career vs. LAL: 3.5 PPG, 1.8 BPG, 3.5 RPG, 50.0 % FG]
F: Kevin Garnett
[Career vs. LAL: 20.3 PPG, 4.5 APG (2.6 TO), 11.5 RPG, 1.5 BLKS, 46.9 % FG]
F: Paul Pierce
[Career vs. LAL: 28.1 PPG, 1.8 SPG, 3.0 APG, 5.4 RPG, 46.4 % FG, 42.4 3PT]

Potential Starters:
G: Derek Fisher
[Career vs. BOS: 9.8 PPG, 3.1 APG, 2.1 RPG, 41.2 % FG, 44.8 3PT]
G: Kobe Bryant
[Career vs. BOS: 24.9 PPG, 2.0 SPG, 4.9 APG (2.9 TO), 4.8 RPG, 41.2 % FG, 29.9 3PT]
C: Andrew Bynum
[Career vs. BOS: 9.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 64.7 % FG]
F: Lamar Odom
[Career vs. BOS: 15.7 PPG, 1.3 SPG, 4.5 APG (3.3 TO), 9.7 RPG, 41.0% FG]
F: Vladimir Radmanovic
[Career vs. BOS: 7.1 PPG, 2.0 APG, 34.3 % FG, 28.1 3PT]

Injury Report:
Kwame Brown: moderate ankle and knee sprains - Not With Team
Ronny Turiaf: Moderate Left Ankle Sprain - Probable

4:30 PM Pacific | Friday, November 23rd, 2007
TV: KCAL-HD | RADIO: AM 570 KLAC | LOCATION: @ Boston

-Massacre, ClubLakers.com

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