As it stands today, who is better, the lakers or the celtics

[DJ Bento Box]

I'd have to say that the difference between the two teams is virtually nil. I don't understand how you can separate a team with Kobe, Pau, Artest, Odom and Bynum from a team with KG, PP, Rondo, Perk and Ray. The talent and championship pedigree are there with both squads. Anyone still hung up with the "soft" issue with the Lakers are kidding themselves and don't want to face the facts that isn't a realistic thought process anymore. The benches are harder to decipher because as both benches have shown you really don't know what you're going to get night in and night out. It's easy to say the Sheed is going to fit in perfectly and still has game and Grant Hill has one more solid season left in his oft-injured body but we don't really know, just like we don't know whether Sasha will EVER hit another shot again and whether Shannon Brown's flashes of great play were as true as Farmar's dissappearing act last season was.

If we're going with what we know, the core players, both teams are running a dead heat and it should make for another amazing season in the rivalry. But in reality, neither is better than the other, drunk on Green Kool-aid or not.   

[BASS_THUMPER]

im hearin  that big baby bye bye to san ant and wallace here so right now we are lookin better...as long as we keep scal

[guava_wrench]

Celtics are better. But I would never admit that the Lakers were better than the Celtics anyway. NEVER EVER. Even if you pulled my fingernails out one at a time and set my head on fire I would'nt admit that.

I am with you on this. TP. Even if someone were to ask me if the Celts from 3 years ago were better than this past years Lakers, I would be like, "Yeah, Boston is better. You just watch. That Gerald Green kid is going to be special."

You aren't bothered by living a lie? More power to you I guess.

[BASS_THUMPER]

g green woulda got better here

gave up too soon on him

[Mr October]

I'd have to say that the difference between the two teams is virtually nil. I don't understand how you can separate a team with Kobe, Pau, Artest, Odom and Bynum from a team with KG, PP, Rondo, Perk and Ray. The talent and championship pedigree are there with both squads. Anyone still hung up with the "soft" issue with the Lakers are kidding themselves and don't want to face the facts that isn't a realistic thought process anymore. The benches are harder to decipher because as both benches have shown you really don't know what you're going to get night in and night out. It's easy to say the Sheed is going to fit in perfectly and still has game and Grant Hill has one more solid season left in his oft-injured body but we don't really know, just like we don't know whether Sasha will EVER hit another shot again and whether Shannon Brown's flashes of great play were as true as Farmar's dissappearing act last season was.

If we're going with what we know, the core players, both teams are running a dead heat and it should make for another amazing season in the rivalry. But in reality, neither is better than the other, drunk on Green Kool-aid or not.   

The edge right now is Rondo over Fisher. But there is still work to be done by each team before we can declare an 'on paper' winner.

[DJ Bento Box]

See, if we're really going to do that then how does Ray defend Kobe? Has Andrew gotten strong enough to bang with KP? Is KG going to be mobile enough after his injury to stay with Pau? Will PP frustrate and inevitably cause Ron-Ron to do something stupid and get himself kicked out or suspended over a 7 game series?

That's what I mean when I say there's literally no difference in the advantages for either team.

[Mr October]

See, if we're really going to do that then how does Ray defend Kobe? Has Andrew gotten strong enough to bang with KP? Is KG going to be mobile enough after his injury to stay with Pau? Will PP frustrate and inevitably cause Ron-Ron to do something stupid and get himself kicked out or suspended over a 7 game series?

That's what I mean when I say there's literally no difference in the advantages for either team.

Ray would defend Kobe as he did in 08. Hard work and killer team defense.

[Redz]

In my heart the Celts are always better because they're the Celtics and the Lakers are the Lakers, but in my head LA's the champs and until we knock them off the block they're the better team.

[wdleehi]

Celtics. 

add: KG, Wallace
loss: Davis, Powe, Marbury, Moore

Lakers

add: Artest
loss: Ariza, Odom




I still like the Celtics better.

[cornbreadsmart]

artest is a great defender, but it still matters how much fouling the refs let artest commit on pierce before he catches.

[wdleehi]

Fisher has to be the starting PG for the lakers as the only outside threat out there.  With the way the Celtics pack the inside and defend, advantage Celtics.

[snively]

Artest is getting too much love.  I never thought the Lakers were soft and I don't think Artest's "toughness" addresses any mental weakness.  I don't think he makes them worse, but I also don't think he makes them better.  Ariza finished plays for them inside, passed well, hit the boards and was an absolute menace off the ball.  His jumper improved throughout the season, culminating in absurd 48% shooting from downtown throughout the playoffs.  His shortfalls as a player were his streaky J (42% eFG on jumpers, 31% 3pt shooter), his lack of isolation skills and his average on-ball defense.

Artest resolves most of these issues, but he also takes some of Ariza's strengths off the table.  He's a mediocre finisher inside, an on-ball offensive player and nowhere near as fast as Ariza to loose balls.

Regardless the Lakers are darn good and should be the favorites to come out of the West.  They don't really have any weaknesses except PG and I think Fish will be able to hold the fort for one more year.  Of course the C's don't really have any weaknesses other than the back-up wing.  Add Grant Hill and I'd rate us as the stronger team.

[Moranis]

I know the regular season is not the post season, but the Lakers did beat a fully healthy Celtics squad twice this past season.  And hell the game in Boston, Bynum didn't even play and Luke Walton started both games and played 28 and 33 minutes respectively.  Luke Walton should never be playing that many minutes.  EVER.

Artest is significantly better than Ariza.  Obviously if Odom doesn't return that would hurt the Lakers, but assuming he returns, the Lakers are the better team (though I think the C's could easily win a playoff series).

[JBcat]

As Borat would say the Lakers are better (pause, pause, pause)  NOT!

Seriously I think the biggest edge will be at PG.  Rondo takes another step further in development and Fisher takes another step back.  I don't think Farmer is ready for a starting job yet.  Even if Farmer starts Rondo will own him. 

I still want to see how Artest does in the triangle offense.  That offense relies on ball movement and Artest can be a ball sticker at times. 

[xmuscularghandix]

Celtics. They cannot and will not beat us in a playoff series.