Celtics/Lakers matchups

[Cooldude5t5]

The Lakers' bigs give the C's real match up problems. Odom and Gasol are both too quick for Perkins and PJ Brown. Garnett will have to cover Gasol inside because he is too crafty and quick for Perkins. I see major foul trouble for Perkins in this series. Perkins vs. Odom is a nightmare matchup. Also hopefully Doc uses the small lineup with Posey at the 4 the majority of the game to cover Odom. Oh wait they still need to stop Sheed, Billups, and Rip. 

[Redz]

Some things to tie us over (that are within the realm of discussion)

[hwangjini_1]

toosoontoosoontoosoontoosoon to be doing this thread.

our ever responsible and celtic-adoring mods should immediately move into action and prevent even the thought of a possible jinx by locking this puppy dog up very very tightly....at least until the celtics make the finals.

then let it loose again.

[Redz]

toosoontoosoontoosoontoosoon to be doing this thread.

our ever responsible and celtic-adoring mods should immediately move into action and prevent even the thought of a possible jinx by locking this puppy dog up very very tightly....at least until the celtics make the finals.

then let it loose again.

Unfortunately jinx policing doesn't fall within our jurisdiction!  It's up to the CB Forums faithful to quell the voodoo.

[Celtics17]

The Lakers (pronounced lackers) will give our bigs problems but not near as many problems as KG, Perk, PJ, and others will give there bigs. Let's not forget that we have the best defense in the league and in my opinion Perk has been one of the best low post defensive players in the game this year. He does not block a ton of shots ala Dwight Howard but he's a load down on the blocks. Gasol might get around him and so might Odom but neither are going through him.

[Yakmanev]

I say let us talk and get excited about it. It's been 21 years since a Finals appearance and we are 1 game away from going back to play that vile disgusting filth in Los Angeles that happened to beat us in our last Finals appearance.

It's been a while. Let's get excited

I'm Psyched we are going back tonight!

[hpantazo]

I haven't seen enough of the lakers since the gasol trade, but I was wondering, how good are they defensively? I know they can score, but they don't strike me as a good defensive team. Maybe I'm wrong. The celtics defense is outstanding, it's our offense that has some serious problems now and then. If we can score on them, it would be a good series.

[jblaze]

they are soft as cottage cheese on defense.

[hpantazo]

they are soft as cottage cheese on defense.

well then I'm not worried about them if we make it to the finals, because I'm sure our defense can slow them down enough.

[WW1MR]

I feel for you Goldstar88 we're not allowed to speculate about possible matchups, we're only allowed to worry about the next game ahead of us in this long slog up the mountain, otherwise we as fans might jinx Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce! 

I discovered we are never allowed to consider the bigger picture when I posted a question back on May 18th, when we were going to the conference finals and I wondered what western conference team my fellow bloggers thought would be in the finals: Spurs, Hornets, or Lakers? As an aside I also stupidly mused on which of those 3 teams we'd match up better against. Well...

Get past Detroit 1st.

-wdleehi

I have to agree, let's worry about beating the Pistons.

-Scibbles

...and that was it, end of thread. I'm glad they put a stop to it quick, b/c if they hadn't, Detroit would have probably eliminated us by now. My advice: give up now, and repost this later tonight (or Sunday night - heaven forbid I seem like I am predicting a win tonight) when we actually are going to face LA. You are never allowed to speculate on matchups between different NBA teams when there's a chance the Celtics will be eliminated before getting a chance to face them.

voodoo? ya'll take yerselves too seriously. relax and enjoy all aspects of following the game of basketball.

Now in response to your post Goldstar, I've said that of those teams I would rather play the Spurs than the Hornets or Lakers. I was superglad when the Spurs knocked off the Hornets. I've been rooting for the Spurs to eliminate LA (on the offchance the C's go to the Finals) because I think having a player like Kobe who can take over a game and carry his team will always make them dangerous. Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, and Bowen are nothing to scoff at, but Kobe is not Rip Hamilton, not LeBron James, and with Pau, Odom, and Fisher, you can't throw double and triple teams at him. Ray, PP, and KG all have the ability to take over games, but I think Kobe (much as I hate him and all things Lakers) has the ability to do it a little more consistently.

I also wouldn't count on them playing like they did when we faced them in the regular season. They stomped the Nuggets, Jazz, and Spurs. This is not a team you want to meet in a game 7, so I don't think Home Court Advantage counts for much. I think our C's would have problems with the Lakers. But like I say, being one win away from the finals, it's waaaay to early to think about these things.   

[Barnabas]

I haven't seen enough of the lakers since the gasol trade, but I was wondering, how good are they defensively? I know they can score, but they don't strike me as a good defensive team. Maybe I'm wrong. The celtics defense is outstanding, it's our offense that has some serious problems now and then. If we can score on them, it would be a good series.

The had a point differential of 7.25, slightly behind Boston and Detroit for the year.  Just from what the commentators were saying during the last game, LA plays terrific defense.  They basically strangled San Antonio to get that back to within striking distance.  Their defense may not keep the opposing team's points down as low as Boston, but then again, they also score more points than Boston.