Published: March 12, 2008
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers took different paths coming into the season and yet find themselves in similar situations now as they’re atop their respective conferences.
After back-to-back dreadful seasons, GM Danny Ainge decided it was time to go for it all and give the fans something to cheer – not jeer – about. They picked up Ray Allen at the draft and then soon after acquired one of the most dominant players in the league, Kevin Garnett. Changing the atmosphere of the club in one off-season and bringing a championship ambiance back to the city known as Beantown. Because of the Garnett trade, veterans such as Eddie House and James Posey were willing to take pay cuts for a chance to play for a ring.
Meanwhile, in the other conference the Lakers were at a cross roads. Were they to trade away one of the top players in the league or keep the disgruntled superstar and hope his perception of the team changed. The season started and to my own admission, they weren’t as bad as I had thought. Than as the season progressed, it looked more and more that the Lakers were a solid playoff team and thus Kobe Bryant had become accepting of the team and the organization as well.
Many believed the Celtics had a strong enough nucleus to contend for a top Eastern Conference playoff spot, but not many thought the Lakers would be a number one seed this late in the season, let alone a playoff team. It is very plausible to believe that these two squads could meet up in the NBA Finals this season. There’s always the factor of injuries and whatnot, but if both teams are completely healthy it’s not too early to ponder the question of who would come out on top for NBA supremacy? Let’s compare the rosters:
Starting Five
Boston: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins
Los Angeles: Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum
The Celtics boast the best threesome in the NBA, so that automatically gets them some points on that front. Opposing teams have problems doubling anyone because they each bring something original to the table. So if you were to sag off on a player of Allen’s ilk to cover Garnett, you’d just be hurting yourself because three-pointers don’t come any more deadly than with Allen. But, the opposite hurts just as much because few players can cover Garnett without picking up fouls. Four of the five players in the starting line-up can also beat you off the dribble if you play too tight, so it takes a really superb defensive effort to stop these guys.
There’s a reason why the Lakers sit atop the West right now and that’s because there just isn’t an answer on most nights for their offense. When looking at their starting five, just like in the case of the Celtics, it is near impossible to find a hole. It’s routine that you have to double-team Bryant, or else he’ll light you up for 50, it’s just a matter of choosing who you leave open in that case. Coaches, pick your poison. You aren’t going to leave Bynum open under the basket and the other three are good shooters who also have the length and mobility to get around the defense.
Bench
Boston: Eddie House, James Posey, Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Glen Davis, PJ Brown
Los Angeles: Sasha Vujacic, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jordon Farmar, Luke Walton, Ronny Turiaf
Despite what was said of the Celtics before the season started, they have developed into a team with quite a deep group on the bench. They picked up Eddie House, who’s never shy to let loose a three-pointer, and James Posey, who’s a good defender against some of the best players, during the off-season and they recently acquired the not quite over the hill PJ Brown. The development of young players Tony Allen, Leon Powe and rookie Glen Davis has been a good surprise as it allows head coach Doc Rivers to rest some of his big guys from time to time.
Just like the starters, the Lakers’ bench has the ability to spread the floor and cause problems for the opposing team’s second unit. Farmar has developed into quite the young player and is looking like one of the best players to come out of the 2006 draft. They may be undersized at times but their mobility on the court makes up for it. Any one of these benches could produce on any given night as the Boston bench has more of a veteran presence and toughness while the Los Angeles bench has more of a youthful and finesse mix.
Take it for what you will, but it says here that the Los Angeles Lakers would come out on top and win the NBA Championship; you can even call me out on it if it doesn’t happen. These are two teams filled with historic pasts, both good and bad. If they were to meet at the end of the 07/08 NBA season it would be sports entertainment at its finest and would no doubt have an ending only fit for Hollywood.
Email: gagan@hoopsaddict.com
13 Comments on "NBA Newsflash: Lakers vs Celtics"
Justin Poulin on Wed, 12th Mar 2008 7:22 am
Don’t forget Sam Cassell is on that Boston bench now too
This would be a great finals and would get the best ratings in recent history hands down…
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Michael J on Wed, 12th Mar 2008 11:04 am
I did not see how you reached you conclusion, as it appeared tied in every catagory. I feel the edge goes to the Celtics for three reasons.
1. They are the leading defensive team in the league and in the playoffs defense is crucial.
2. The Celtics players are very unselfish
3. Bynum is very unlikely to be 100% this year, and in their two matchups Perkins outplayed Bynum
matty katz on Wed, 12th Mar 2008 1:06 pm
your forgetting a couple things, first off the two times these teams met this year the celts took both meetings by 13 and 19 points, wasnt even close( and the 19-point blowout was in L.A.), and i know that was without pau but it was also without sammy, another thing is homecourt advantage would go to the c’s who are 28-4 at home and do you have any clue how insane the gardens going to get come playoff time nevermind the finals? the fans have been waiting waaaayyy tooooo long for this and garnett will play off the energy- i cant wait to see how a player like keven garnett reacts to the situation, take a look at his face the second he steps on that court well before games even start, but michael J’s right it will all come down to defense which celts are a better defensive team, no questions asked and you cant count on bynum being 100%, which brings me to the conclusion, Celts in 7-greatest finals in years
Z on Wed, 12th Mar 2008 5:47 pm
I hope that we see these two teams in final. Do you know how big this would be If it happens, WOW! Lakers vs Celtics is the biggest rivalry in sports. Althought C’s have swept Lakers in regular season, the playoffs is a totally different season. The Garden has a more hostile crowd than L.A, but L.A has great player in Kobe. I dont think Ray Allen can contain Kobe and I dont think Perkins can contain Pau. On the other hand I dont think Odom can contain KG and Paul Peirce can score on any Sf from the Lakers. It’s all about match-ups. And another fact, if the C’s make it to the final, it would be a easy route to the finals other than facing Detroit in east finals, then you look at Lakers and ouch, first round match up could be Warriors or Rockets or Nuggets. I would go to Lakers in 7 just because of their size, and also an MVP in Kobe. But it will be one hell of a finals we havent seen in years.
Blake on Thu, 13th Mar 2008 1:00 am
Is this potential match-up the EXACT opposite of everything a Pistons-Spurs rematch would be?
One key element in this matchup would be that both teams have so much to prove, pitting the sport’s two most intense athletes against each other. While I hesitate to get too excited because both conferences are pretty wide open still (3-way in the East, 8-way in the West), this is what I’m pulling for as a final. All things considered, the Celts are better on D but the Lakers have a better coach, a more experienced playoff superstar, and are a fantastic shooting team. However, without Bynum at 100% they simply don’t have the size to handle K-G. So, uhh…there’s your X-factor.
I’m staying on the fence until we know more about Bynum. How’s that for onions?
Gagan on Thu, 13th Mar 2008 1:52 am
Yeah, I don’t want to see a Spurs-Pistons rematch even though I love watching Ginobili play.
And get off the fence! WWCSD: What would Chuck Swirsky do. lol.
Z on Thu, 13th Mar 2008 11:20 pm
I wouldnt mind watching a Lakers vs Cavalier match up either. Finally in that series Kobe can shut all the critics with their “Lebron is MVP” talk. Kobe vs Lebron, wow wow wow wow.
ShawnDon on Thu, 13th Mar 2008 11:21 pm
Lakers all the way. Don’t forget they have one of the best coach in NBA history. The ” Zen Master” Hey mister Gagan, it seems like you are slowly becoming a Lakers fan now. First Kobe for MVP, now this. Stop jumping the wagon and stick to the Toronto Raptors. What happen to your boy Vince, you should do an article on what a flop he is. Yeah and Bargnani and Ford too. LOL, Sam Mitchell, “coach of the year” lol
ShawnDon on Thu, 13th Mar 2008 11:30 pm
Yeah “Z”
Kobe is better than Lebron. Lebron is no MVP. Baron Davis should be in that MVP race too. See what he did to the Raptors. Just sick, he is just sick.
Z on Mon, 17th Mar 2008 9:12 am
NBA Championship Caliber Team Breakdown
- East- Boston, Detroit West-Lakers, Spurs, Phoenix
Conference Champion Caliber
East- Boston, Detroit, Cavaliers West- Utah, Mavs, LA, Phx, SA
Winning First Round
East- Bos, Det, Cavs, Magic, West-Utah,DAL, LA, Phx, SA,HOU, GST, NO
My Darkhorse team
East- Orlando Magic West- Utah Jazz
2007-2008 NBA Champions?
Los Angelas Lakers
Gagan on Mon, 17th Mar 2008 11:26 am
Those are some bold predictions, but I do tend to agree with you on most of them. In the Western conference though, I’m not sure any team can be considered a sleeper as I believe the 8th seed has the potential to knock out the 1st seed. But that’s what is going to make the playoffs so intriguing this time around.
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