Lakers (34-8) at Celtics (27-14) Game #42 1/20/20

[Somebody]

Credit to Jayson Tatum for donating his jersey and shoes to raise funds for those affected by the Australian Bushfires



Meanwhile the self proclaimed king's total contribution = ZERO

I'll bet if China was on fire he'd spare a few dollars

I seriously doubt it with how negative the perception of China is in the US. And Bron could've made donations in private anyways (although I doubt he would let go of the chance to pump himself up).

[trickybilly]

I can't believe the Celtics dismantled the second-best team in the NBA, fully healthy.

Not just your typical game-winning jump shot or 15-point win, but 32 points? Against the arch-nemesis Lakers who have always played well at the TD Garden?

Crazy and wonderful.

It's a make or miss league, we shot nearly 50% from three. If we miss 5 more threes, and LA make 5 more, it's a two point game.

It's still defense where we have been slipping. When teams are scoring over 120 (with average 3pt shooting), something has gone wrong in terms of matchups.

[Adelaide Celt]

Credit to Jayson Tatum for donating his jersey and shoes to raise funds for those affected by the Australian Bushfires



Meanwhile the self proclaimed king's total contribution = ZERO

I'll bet if China was on fire he'd spare a few dollars

I seriously doubt it with how negative the perception of China is in the US. And Bron could've made donations in private anyways (although I doubt he would let go of the chance to pump himself up).

Yes that's true, was just a facetious reference to when he pandered to China during the Daryl Morey saga.

[Androslav]

I can't believe the Celtics dismantled the second-best team in the NBA, fully healthy.

Not just your typical game-winning jump shot or 15-point win, but 32 points? Against the arch-nemesis Lakers who have always played well at the TD Garden?

Crazy and wonderful.

It's a make or miss league, we shot nearly 50% from three. If we miss 5 more threes, and LA make 5 more, it's a two point game.

It's still defense where we have been slipping. When teams are scoring over 120 (with average 3pt shooting), something has gone wrong in terms of matchups.

LAkers would definitely be in the game longer if the deficit was 30 points less, but it wasn't.

[Celtics4ever]

LeBron certainly has not lost his capacity to quit.....

What a difference playing hard the whole game makes instead of trying to come back.  Also this was a tight rotation for us.

[SHAQATTACK]

LeBron certainly has not lost his capacity to quit.....

LOL. ....too funny

[footey]

Great win last night.  Wow it's like it made up for the recent bad streak, if only because it shows what we're capable of doing when playing together, and at nearly full strength.

Unsung hero award: Semi. I thought he played terrific, and apparently so did Brad, as he was part of the shortened rotation. He earned every minute out there. 

Is Kanter' the Lakers' cryptonite?  It was cool seeing him get very physical on the boards and on defense.  Gives me hope come play off time.

[NKY fan]

So is the consensus that we won the biggest game because we had only rotation players taking minutes and no rookies?
Should we trade for more rotation players?
Can we sacrifice the MWE pick or that’s too much?

[Surferdad]

So is the consensus that we won the biggest game because we had only rotation players taking minutes and no rookies?
Should we trade for more rotation players?
Can we sacrifice the MWE pick or that’s too much?

Not from me.  The top-8 players get most of the minutes and so are primarily responsible for what happens in every game of the season not just the LAL game.  Not saying the bench couldn't use help, that is always the case for every team in the league.

[Kuberski33]

I can't believe the Celtics dismantled the second-best team in the NBA, fully healthy.

Not just your typical game-winning jump shot or 15-point win, but 32 points? Against the arch-nemesis Lakers who have always played well at the TD Garden?

Crazy and wonderful.

It's easier to put up lots of points and look like a championship club on offense when the other team puts forth no defensive effort and says screw it, we're not trying tonight. No passes get contested, no one throws the ball away, rebounds come easy because no one on the the other team is pounding the boards - and if you're  putting in the effort and making shots like the Celtics were - it's no surprise that they won easily. 

If the Lakers showed up, things would have been far tighter.  The Celtics may well have still won because they played the best they have in several games with the home crowd behind them - but let's not get too wrapped up in the margin of victory.  Means absolutely nothing in the big picture.  If the Lakers show up to play with LeBron and Davis, the Celtics are not blowing them out - ever.

[jambr380]

I can't believe the Celtics dismantled the second-best team in the NBA, fully healthy.

Not just your typical game-winning jump shot or 15-point win, but 32 points? Against the arch-nemesis Lakers who have always played well at the TD Garden?

Crazy and wonderful.

It's a make or miss league, we shot nearly 50% from three. If we miss 5 more threes, and LA make 5 more, it's a two point game.

It's still defense where we have been slipping. When teams are scoring over 120 (with average 3pt shooting), something has gone wrong in terms of matchups.

What?!  The make or miss league argument works when the deficit is under 10, not 32. I agree that things haven't been going well lately for the Cs, but this wasn't some kind-of lucky win.

Also, to Kuberski above - the Lakers totally showed up and came out ready to completely dismantle the Cs. We were getting crushed in the first several minutes and then the tide turned quickly. The Cs should be commended for not folding and having to spend the night forcing a comeback. Instead the played with the mentality of a champion and kept their feet on the Lakers' throats all night.

[CelticsPoetry]

McGee, Davis, Howard, and Cousins......yeah like anyone has a great chance of stopping the Lakers this year barring injury or luck.

Yup, way too much size on that squad.

So guys, guess it isnt that bad

[CelticsPoetry]

Kanter's low-post defense is really underrated. He's immobile and has trouble out on the perimeter with quicker guys, but he's as good as we've had from a post defense standpoint for awhile.

Aron Baynes says hi

[SHAQATTACK]

next to finals or title win this the biggest must win of the year for me , I can relax and thumb my nose at lakers friends . One mission accomplished!

 Beating the mud out of the Lakers .....the sun is out

well......it just makes everything right ...

[CptZoogs]

That was a nice little 139-99 run they capped off the game on last night