what will it take to beat LA sunday?

[GreenFaith1819]

Playing Celtics Basketball.

[Mencius]

Meh.  We are due.   Alls I know is... I hope we either beat LA... or get absolutely thrashed by them.  I think an LA curb stomping would at least make it so Ainge didn't have the excuse of "ruining great chemistry" when considering options to upgrade Ray Allen.  I know Ainge doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would let loyalty cloud his decision making, but I seem to think that if he traded Ray in the middle of a 10 game winning streak, he'd get a lot of heat from the Celtic players.   If the Celtics are clearly struggling, maybe it makes a tough decision like upgrading Ray seem more tolerable to the squad.

Yeah, my thinking too.  At this point, I don't even think cashing in our non-Ray expirings for an upgrade will get us over the hump, so I think that Danny should try to upgrade Ray for a newer/younger version.  Just letting him expire means all we have to upgrade with this summer is the MLE.  Danny has a hard decision to make, but he, more than just about anyone, knows full well what it's like to hang on to guys for sentimental reasons.  It takes a long time to recover from that.  He's got to decide real soon whether he thinks this is a true championship contender this year as constituted (or for that matter, with what he could get for the non-Ray expirings).  I don't believe Danny will let sentimentality get in the way of a good basketball decision.  In short, I trust in the guy.

Up until this month, we had THE easiest strength of schedule in the entire league.  I knew looking at the January schedule that's we'd really see where this team was at this month.  Well, we saw, and in my view, I think it's best to get an infusion of new talent using Ray's contract.

[PierceMVP08]

jd -- I think the Garden has been dead much of this time this year because of poor games the C's have played there. As a half season ticketholder I have seen many of them and they have been stinkers.

Sorry Vinnie, the Garden is dead and has been ever since the KG trade.  We had better crowds with a crappy team but I guess that comes with the territory.  For the crowd its not a matter of getting pumped only when the team is playing well, great crowds infuse the team with energy.

[guava_wrench]

jd -- I think the Garden has been dead much of this time this year because of poor games the C's have played there. As a half season ticketholder I have seen many of them and they have been stinkers.

That's my fault. I didn't renew my season tix this year. I was a loud cheerer.

[Bahku]

The major, (and obvious), match-ups: KG/Pierce and Gasol/Bryant ... everything else that happens in this one will revolve around how these four players perform, especially on defense. Paul is one of the only players to ever consistently shut down Kobe, so if he's in a defensive "mind", and KG's moving well and elevating, we have a good chance. That said, our bench has GOT to do better than they have been or it will be a short post-season ... isn't 'Quis supposed to be back soon?

[adg182]

I think the Lakers are going to win, but I wish it was against a healthy celtic team. KG just doesnt look right and they wont go far this year without having him at full strength. I wish the celtics were the team of 2 years ago. Oh well. Go Lakers

[PLamb]

Scoring more points than they do is probably a good place to start

Rebounding better

Causing more turnovers

Having less turnovers





That sounds about right

[P2]

with a deep pain in my heart I have to say we can't beat them

Same here. I really don't see the outcome being a win for us.

[PLamb]

with a deep pain in my heart I have to say we can't beat them

Same here. I really don't see the outcome being a win for us.

Non-believers

[Drucci]

I think a lift from our bench would be a good help but their bench sucks so it wouldn't be such a problem. Although Shannon Brown must ot be overlooked.

If Rondo is in passive mode we have no chance of winning the so I clearly hope he will attack Fisher everytime on offense.

I actually feel good about this game - the Lakers have struggled these past few weeks too, they are on a 3 game winning streak but against lesser opponents. They are far away from unbeatable and I think we will beat them and hopefully build from this win.

[housecall]

If Perkins can stay on the court without getting into early foul trouble.2.If KG is playing aroung 80% of his game,both offensive/defensive3.if the bench come through and don't put the team in a hole.3.and if someone actually play some good one on one consistent defense on Kobe most of the game.If Paul,Rondo and Ray play at a high level consistently like they are capable of playing.     

[celticinorlando]

we have nobody to match up with bryant...ray allen has been abused by average guards on defense this year.

[housecall]

we have nobody to match up with bryant...ray allen has been abused by average guards on defense this year.

then Houston we may have a problem...actually i worry about Shannon Brown almost as much but i think Doc and assistants will game plan for Kobe and team.

[ManUp]

The major, (and obvious), match-ups: KG/Pierce and Gasol/Bryant ... everything else that happens in this one will revolve around how these four players perform, especially on defense. Paul is one of the only players to ever consistently shut down Kobe, so if he's in a defensive "mind", and KG's moving well and elevating, we have a good chance. That said, our bench has GOT to do better than they have been or it will be a short post-season ... isn't 'Quis supposed to be back soon?

No one has or can consistently shutdown Kobe. Pierce did a great job when he played him in the finals, but we were constantly switching defenders and there was always help, Kobe did the rest (with bad shot selection). If Kobe decides that he wants to live in the paint it's going to take a lot more than Pierce to stop him.

For this team to win it's going to take great team defense, great defense on Gasol, and for Kobe to decide he wants to take contested jumpers.

[jdpapa3]

we have nobody to match up with bryant...ray allen has been abused by average guards on defense this year.

then Houston we may have a problem...actually i worry about Shannon Brown almost as much but i think Doc and assistants will game plan for Kobe and team.

Our team defense owned him in the Finals. That's the thing about this team defense: it can be geared to slow down guys like Lebron or Kobe.