Boston vs LA...Game 1 and 2!!

[hoopmagic5]

Come on guys lets put our thoughts together....

Boston will be the tag in one of the first two games the question is which one???

Some things to think about......not to disagree but to come to a solid pick!

1. Rondo.....match up!

2. Boston had the more difficult road to the finals....Cavs/Magic and were more physical in those series will the Lakers fade from this type of physical play as they did last Finals against Boston....

3. Benches?

4. Kobe will be Kobe..but who willl defend him?

5. The Boston big three...match up

6. Garnett must play well!

7. Lakers inside game!


Game one what do you think?????

[gdog]

Lakers take both 1 & 2 IMO >> Better bench better matchups & better inside game, they won't give up home court.. Nobody can defend Kobe as you've seen this so far through they playoffs.. Sounds to me like ur bias for celtics??? LAKESHOW BABY!!!!

[Sundevil]

1. Fisher

3. Lakers bench is (?able) jechyl-n-hyde

4. Pierce is going to have to.

5. Not a bad match up at all pretty even

6. Garnett will show up in more ways than one.

Add more as the week progress.

[hoopmagic5]

"like ur bias for celtics??? No!!! just trying as always to get good input...

Love your pic gdog!!!!

[hoopmagic5]

More Stuff!!!

Boston Celtics

1. Rajon Rondo: A tough cover for the Lakers. I love Derek Fisher but it will be difficult to keep Rondo in front of him and contain. Rondo must have a huge series for the Celtics to have a chance. He's the catalyst for the Celtics with his great defence and incredible ball handling/penetrating ability. He has proven this season - and in particular in the playoffs - that he's up for the challenge. His performance on both sides of the ball will dictate terms considerably for the Celtics.

2. Bench Strength: In "Big Baby" Davis, Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen, Marquis Daniels, Celtics have the better bench. This has to be a major factor for Boston. Inside grit and toughness is a much-needed factor going against the Lakers' front line and having a bunch of hard fouls and intimidation to throw at Kobe Bryant is imperative. The bench is a productive and fluid unit. They've been a factor in the three previous playoff series and must come through again.

3. Wing Scoring: The Lakers have Kobe, so in order for the Celtics to win, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce must match him from a productivity and efficiency perspective. Pierce is great at drawing fouls and Allen is still a very capable shooter/scorer. Celtics wing players are quite crafty at getting their games off in tight quarters in the half court and will need to be able to finish at the rim over the big Lakers' front line and have to deal with the physical play of Ron Artest. How the officials handle his level of brute force vs. Allen/Pierce will set quite a tone.

Los Angeles Lakers

1. Kobe Bryant: Yes, over the course of a long season LeBron James is a joy to watch and is there for you each night but when it's winning time - but Kobe is an assassin and the ultimate difference maker. Ask the three previous opponents of the Lakers in the playoffs. The Lakers must be able to create space for him to go to work in the open court and he must be able to play through the physical style of defence that the Celtics employ. Get to the free throw line and be a facilitator at times because he will draw lots of extra attention.

2. The Bigs: Yes, the Celtics have lots of muscle (Garnett, Perkins, Wallace, Davis) but the Lakers have the talent in the front court and Pau Gasol must be the best big guy in this series. He's surely the most talented. Andrew Bynum isn't right yet, Lamar Odom has been quite effective. The Lakers are more talented up here yet we'll find out if they're "tougher" that's what will count.

3. Shot-Making Ability: Kobe will see lots of the Celtics' defensive attention, as he should. Derek Fisher, Ron Artest, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown have to be able to make shots and plays with the clock running down when Boston gets the ball out of Kobe's hands late in the shot clock. When it's all said and done, we all know that Kobe is the guy that it will come down to for L.A., but the others must do their part or the Lakers won't be able to overcome the veteran savvy of the Celtics. The margin of error is small in this series and making smart perimeter plays and sticking open shots is going to set the tone for the fluidity of the LA offence and the space that Kobe has to operate with.


The Lakers have played in the tougher conference all year and have played better competition more regularly over the long haul and are slightly better in my opinion. The Celtics are a legitimate opponent with the ingredients (defence/Rondo/championship experience) to win the series.

[BLBisinnocent]

let's hope your not "bias for the celtics"......that didn't work out so well......

[Sundevil]

GO CELTICS..

[hoopmagic5]

Hey SunDevil....you on the Celtics first game?

[Sundevil]

Not yet decided, keep you posted.

Originally Posted by hoopmagic5

Hey SunDevil....you on the Celtics first game?

[hoopmagic5]

I may play the" half"(first and scecond) first game and total...keep me posted! Thanks!!!!

[jmoneill]

LOVE the CELTS GARNETT gets the job done

[Sundevil]

Magic going to prob roll with Lakers 1st game.. Small lean thus far.

[hoopmagic5]

Thanks... I'm going to play Lakers first half to start....thinking they don't want to lose first game at home....for home court .....and they remember the finals when they got their ass kicked by Boston....