Game 4 Predictions

[kenmaine]

I predict that Doc will play Cassell yet again 
So PP and KG need to play really well
And to the LA discoduck interloper- yes, I'll take my chances with Rondo as pg.

[libermaniac]

The Lakers are still 7.5 point favorites for game 4.  What gives?  Are the basic NBA fans/bettors just missing something, or are we all just biased?  Just asking.

[Redz]

House will pull a Vujacic on them and go for 18 or more.

I know he missed more than he made last night, but I loved the shots he was taking.

[Barnabas]

please someone tell me your championship hopes aren't pinned to Rajon Rondo.

Rondo has a role to play, but he's not expected to carry this team to victory.  He defends well and protects the ball very well.  Admittedly, he is lucky to be playing in a team with Pierce, KG, and RA.  Pierce and RA's abilities to shoot outside sort of allows us to play a PG who doesn't shoot outside too well.  In most cases, we can get away with having a PG who doesn't have an outside shot.  Atleast he doesn't force the shots.  He knows his limits, and that's a good thing.  The Lakers basically dared him to shoot last night.  He wasn't able to deliver consistently, but hopefully the Lakers' defense will falter just a little bit on Thursday.  House doesn't defend as well, nor does he handle the ball as well.  I'm hoping Rondo will shoot well enough to the point that it will not be necessary to give House or Cassell a lot of minutes.  Back to your comment:  I don't think Rondo can win a Finals game for us, but I don't think he can lose it for us either.  He's not that much of an impact player.  He's the Celtics' equivalent of Radmanovic on the Lakers.  They both have roles to play, but do not usually make big impact.

[Jon]

Any of those things would help, but probably none more than KG in the post.  It'd open everything for everyone.  Moreover, he's every bit as capable of destroying Gasol or Odom in the post as Pierce is of Radmanovic. 

Hopefully the entire team does a better job of getting to the basket.

[fan33]

Headline: "KOBE LOSES." 

[Reed]

I think the common sentiment is that it is more likely that Pierce and Garnett rebound than Gasol and Odom, which is reasonable. But, on the flip side, isn't it also much more likely that Kobe sustains his huge production than Allen? Given past performances, the most likely scenario is: Kobe plays the same, Gasol plays better, Odom stinks again, Pierce plays a lot better, Garnett improves a little, Allen cools a lot. Very even in the wash -- leaving it up to the role players again.

[Onslaught]

House will pull a Vujacic on them and go for 18 or more.

I know he missed more than he made last night, but I loved the shots he was taking.

Me too.  I'd rather have House take and miss a good high percentage shot then have Sam on the floor. But then again I'd really like him to hit them even more!

[BrickJames]

Celtics 97
Lakers 96

[cameronsandmeyer]

Game 4, lol, i think that the celtics had a little doubt and scarce in there hearts last night, just realizing that they are playing the big time lakers and what not, but Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. that, the celtics have been playing the best basketball ive seen in 10 years, i think that the celtics need to strictly watch kobe and that long haired fool, they need to step up there heart, and step up there D, and on offense, they need to do it like home, toss the ball around, confuse the lakers, throw kobe and odom off, i think gosoul sucks, he got packed by KG last night, hes not too big of a threat

[bandonox]

we lost by 6 on the road with no calls, minimal contribution from pierce, rondo missing key minutes and a bad shooting night fot the big ticket....
... lightning doesn't strike twice in the same spot...
boston 89  fakers 72
 i still say this series ain't coming back to boston...

[Cman]

I think the common sentiment is that it is more likely that Pierce and Garnett rebound than Gasol and Odom, which is reasonable. But, on the flip side, isn't it also much more likely that Kobe sustains his huge production than Allen? Given past performances, the most likely scenario is: Kobe plays the same, Gasol plays better, Odom stinks again, Pierce plays a lot better, Garnett improves a little, Allen cools a lot. Very even in the wash -- leaving it up to the role players again.

This is an interesting way to break things down, but you have left out some other key players -- Fisher, Rondo and Perk.  As a Cs fan, the thing that scares me is Fisher going off, especially at the end of a close game.  On the other hand, Rondo now has something to prove, so I expect him to start aggressively attacking the basket, and shooting (and making) mid range jumpers when left open.  The person Lakers fans should be most worried about is Perk.  To my (untrained) eye, he has settled down a little bit more in each game, and I think he is now due to go off in a huge way.  I still think the Cs are in for a very tough Game 4, but I predict (with confidence!) that Perk gets a double double.

[chibi]

3.  I look for Odom to play more intelligently.  When he's in the lineup with Pau, he'll play off-the-ball as best as he is able to against a tough Celtics defense and crash the glass hard.  When the Lakers go small and are able to better space the floor, I look for him to penetrate.

Lol... An intelligent Lamar Odom? Haven't Faker fans been looking for that since you traded Shaq? Let's get real here, Odom is pretty much a big old negative, no matter what he does.

7.  I'm confident the Lakers have what it takes to win ugly, grind-out games.  Game 4 will mirror Game 3, only this time the Lakers will make their FTs.  Lakers 90, Celtics 80.  Big games from Kobe, Derek Fisher, and the bench.           

Annnnd I doubt it, highly. Lakers almost let Game Three slip. Even with all of Jackson's whining, you still only got 12 more FTA's, in your own building. So there is no telling how many free-throws the Lakers will even have a chance to make.

I can't see Paul and KG shooting any worse than they did last night, and if Game Four I doubt Ray will score 25, but then again I doubt he'll need to. If one of KG and Pierce step up, which atleast one will, I'd put money on it. Then I forgot what you guys call him, but I doubt that Shawn Hunter from Boy Meets World will score 20 against this team again.

You, sir, are intoxicated by your own ignorance; a brazen fool tickling himself with tedious, ineffectual musings!  

Odom has flourished when Gasol is decisive; it is not his fault Gasol is holding the ball and playing right into the Celtics hands.  If Gasol can react quickly and not allow the Celtics defense to get set, and if Odom can avoid silly fouls and take care of the ball, he will get it going.  It is as simple as that.  

Odom's a big negative?  Are you going to tell me Odom's 14 and 11 on 52% shooting during the season only made things harder for the Lakers?  His length and quickness?  Passing ability?  Worthless?  Odom offers a lot; he has all season, and he can contribute in ways other than scoring.  All he has to do is avoid foul trouble and turnovers.  That's what I mean by smart basketball.    

Here comes the best part.  You doubt the Lakers can win a grind-out game?  How did you form that opinion, considering the Lakers did *just that* last night?  

Vujacic has already done his damage; he won't have to score 20 in G4, but I won't rule out the possibility.  From now on, his defenders will think twice about leaving him open, giving Kobe and the rest of the Lakers more room to operate.  Anyway you slice it, Mission Accomplished.

I don't expect Garnett to shoot any better.  Do you want to know one reason he doesn't post up more often and take a high percentage shot?  He doesn't want Gasol exploiting his cross-match with Perkins by beating him down the floor in transition.  And do you want to know why his jumpers aren't falling?  He's expending a lot of energy boxing out, rebounding, setting picks, making up for the defensive liabilities of your bigs in transition, and protecting the rim when Kobe gets into the paint.  Garnett has a lot of responsibilities, and he is the best in the league at what he does; but he is only human, and he will succumb to exhaustion in the 4th.  Again.

I concede that Pierce will probably improve upon his last performance, but will Ray Allen be able to play another 41 minutes on both ends of the floor?  Defending Kobe?  Making shots?  I respect Ray Allen and I would not put it past him.  However, I expect him to fade in the 4th quarter, like he did in game 3, when he managed just 3 points, for Ray Allen is no spring chicken.  

[BrickJames]

Good point about KG's defensive responsibilities in transition, and good post overall.

[fan33]

3.  I look for Odom to play more intelligently.  When he's in the lineup with Pau, he'll play off-the-ball as best as he is able to against a tough Celtics defense and crash the glass hard.  When the Lakers go small and are able to better space the floor, I look for him to penetrate.

Lol... An intelligent Lamar Odom? Haven't Faker fans been looking for that since you traded Shaq? Let's get real here, Odom is pretty much a big old negative, no matter what he does.

7.  I'm confident the Lakers have what it takes to win ugly, grind-out games.  Game 4 will mirror Game 3, only this time the Lakers will make their FTs.  Lakers 90, Celtics 80.  Big games from Kobe, Derek Fisher, and the bench.           

Annnnd I doubt it, highly. Lakers almost let Game Three slip. Even with all of Jackson's whining, you still only got 12 more FTA's, in your own building. So there is no telling how many free-throws the Lakers will even have a chance to make.

I can't see Paul and KG shooting any worse than they did last night, and if Game Four I doubt Ray will score 25, but then again I doubt he'll need to. If one of KG and Pierce step up, which atleast one will, I'd put money on it. Then I forgot what you guys call him, but I doubt that Shawn Hunter from Boy Meets World will score 20 against this team again.

You, sir, are intoxicated by your own ignorance; a brazen fool tickling himself with tedious, ineffectual musings!  

Odom has flourished when Gasol is decisive; it is not his fault Gasol is holding the ball and playing right into the Celtics hands.  If Gasol can react quickly and not allow the Celtics defense to get set, and if Odom can avoid silly fouls and take care of the ball, he will get it going.  It is as simple as that.  

Odom's a big negative?  Are you going to tell me Odom's 14 and 11 on 52% shooting during the season only made things harder for the Lakers?  His length and quickness?  Passing ability?  Worthless?  Odom offers a lot; he has all season, and he can contribute in ways other than scoring.  All he has to do is avoid foul trouble and turnovers.  That's what I mean by smart basketball.    

Here comes the best part.  You doubt the Lakers can win a grind-out game?  How did you form that opinion, considering the Lakers did *just that* last night?  

Vujacic has already done his damage; he won't have to score 20 in G4, but I won't rule out the possibility.  From now on, his defenders will think twice about leaving him open, giving Kobe and the rest of the Lakers more room to operate.  Anyway you slice it, Mission Accomplished.

I don't expect Garnett to shoot any better.  Do you want to know one reason he doesn't post up more often and take a high percentage shot?  He doesn't want Gasol exploiting his cross-match with Perkins by beating him down the floor in transition.  And do you want to know why his jumpers aren't falling?  He's expending a lot of energy boxing out, rebounding, setting picks, making up for the defensive liabilities of your bigs in transition, and protecting the rim when Kobe gets into the paint.  Garnett has a lot of responsibilities, and he is the best in the league at what he does; but he is only human, and he will succumb to exhaustion in the 4th.  Again.

I concede that Pierce will probably improve upon his last performance, but will Ray Allen be able to play another 41 minutes on both ends of the floor?  Defending Kobe?  Making shots?  I respect Ray Allen and I would not put it past him.  However, I expect him to fade in the 4th quarter, like he did in game 3, when he managed just 3 points, for Ray Allen is no spring chicken.  

You, sir, are intoxicated by your own ignorance; a brazen fool tickling himself with tedious, ineffectual musings, albeit articulate while doing so!

Which will make Celtics game 4 win all the more sweet for your ramble here.

I cannot get over the audacity of obnoxious Laker fans after one win in five games and that one win by only 6 points. ****

BTW, the only mission accomplished is that now the lakers will not be swept in a four game series

EOM