BOS vs LAL matchups discussion

[wdleehi]

I would put Perkins on Gasol and KG on Bynum.




We have seen how Perkin's physicality takes Gasol out of his game.  Use it.



As for KG on Bynum, let them try to win going through him.  Let him prove he can use his larger size to beat KG.  I don't think he is good enough to beat the Celtics.

[CoachBo]

Only matchup in this entire series that matters for anything is the Boston team defense versus the Lakers' team offense. In any given game,if Boston holds the Lakers to 92 points or less, they will win. If they can't hold them to less than 100, they lose. Anywhere in between and it's a toss up.

This. We can defend them.

The Lakers have not faced a defense like the C's, and their finesse style doesn't lend itself well to a physical defense like ours. Body up on them. Whack Kobe and Gasol around. Use a few fouls on both of them.

[Ed Teach]

I think that at the end of the day, Boston's team defense is what will win the series.
But the match-up that most scares me is Gasol/KG.  If KG is able to keep Gasol in check without getting into foul trouble, then that will allow the Celtics defense to execute its gameplan.  I think that Sheed and BBD are going to play a big part in this series, especially in the early games.  I expect that Boston will use all of its bench fouls to get to Gasol and to a lesser extent Bynum.

[Spicoli]

Throughout their careers (not including post season):

Pierce against Artest:
                       20.5 PPG
                       43% from the field
                       39% from 3
                       3 turnovers a game

Artest against Pierce:
                       15 PPG
                       41% from the field
                       31% from 3
                       2.4 steals per game

Ray against Kobe:     
                       20 PPG
                       43% from the field
                       35% from 3
                       2.3 personal fouls per game

Kobe against Ray:     
                       24 PPG
                       43% from the field
                       37% from 3
                       6 free throw attempts per game

Kevin against Pau:     
                       23 PPG
                       51% from the field
                       13 rebounds per game
                       3 personal fouls per game

Pau against Kevin:     
                       18 PPG
                       48% from the field
                       8 rebounds per game
                       2 personal fouls per game

Rondo against Fisher: 
                       11 PPG
                       42% from the field
                       9 assists per game
                       2 turnovers per game

Fisher against Rondo: 
                       10.4 PPG
                       37% from the field
                       30% from 3
                       1 turnover per game

Perk against Bynum:   
                       9 PPG
                       62% from the field on 6 attempts per
                       7.4 rebounds per game
                       1 block per game
                       3 fouls per game

Bynum against Perk:   
                       10 PPG
                       54% from the field on 8 attempts
                       6 rebounds per game
                       1 block per game
                       3 fouls per game

*These stats are from basketball reference.com*
                       
       

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Well, Doc miht not do it...but Nate shouldn't be forgotten again. His shooting is very good, almost as good as anyone else on the team. His D is very effective on anyone who dribbles...He is the kind of defender that really frustrates players, when you can't dribble, you'll never get that "Ball feel" to shoot well, and you will not be able to make layups...all they can do is post him up, but that is only when and if all the help D let it.

  I would like to see a rotation with Nate And Rondo, KG, Perk, TA....fast break, shut down D, a little press...Tire them out. Actually, I'd like to see Sheldon out there....it would be nice to see someone getting offensive rebounds instead of turning to run when the ball is up. Look how Leon made it work for us.....! ( I know he won't get to play)

  You can't put Perk on Gasol, Gasol moves to well for Perk. Perk gets lost on the pick and roll, He is great on a guy that likes to camp in the paint...but Bynum doesn't do that either....Perks D weakness is he tries to help out too much, and loses his man too often, which also results in foul trouble (along with his childish antics and mouth) He also needs to learn to dribble into the pic, instead of passing and stepping, it is much more effective and gives more options..Perk was GREAT on Howard, Bynum may be different. Howard did get 30 pts when Perk lost him.

[Bynum4MVP]

From an LA perspective

I like the Ron Artest on Paul Pierce matchup, this is the guy he's getting paid to stop.

Kobe vs Ray Allen is favorable

Fisher, Farmar, Brown on Rondo sucks but Kobe on Rondo could be a series changer like Kobe on Westbrook.

Bynum vs Perkins is probably a wash but allows Pau to get KG which favors Pau's game.

Odom vs Sheed is great

Bench: Hopefully Vujacic can get hot.  Tony Allen is hot and cold in stopping Kobe.  Don't really know what Baby's going to do.  Nate Robinson always plays well against the Lakers, hopefully Doc keeps him planted on the bench.

[housecall]

Besides the obvious matchups to be concerned with i see Lamar Odom&Shannon Brown being a nuisance from time to time.I don't think either player will be an xfactor consistently from game to game but both can cause you some matchup nightmares.

Odom & Farmar are players expected to give us some problems but Brown wasn't...Brown has even surpised the Lakers with his contributions going back to the trade.He wasn't the main piece of the trade just a throw in.I feel he has given the Lakers another weapon off the bench they otherwise wouldn't have had.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

From an LA perspective

I like the Ron Artest on Paul Pierce matchup, this is the guy he's getting paid to stop.

Kobe vs Ray Allen is favorable

Fisher, Farmar, Brown on Rondo sucks but Kobe on Rondo could be a series changer like Kobe on Westbrook.

Bynum vs Perkins is probably a wash but allows Pau to get KG which favors Pau's game.

Odom vs Sheed is great

Bench: Hopefully Vujacic can get hot.  Tony Allen is hot and cold in stopping Kobe.  Don't really know what Baby's going to do.  Nate Robinson always plays well against the Lakers, hopefully Doc keeps him planted on the bench.

Hahaha, a Laker fan infiltrating the ranks...! That Vuj guy....he is punky or what..but he can shoot now and then. Artest is the leagues current best hacker, holder..Hope PP is ready for that noise..! If TA is healthy, he can give Kobe some problems...he is our best hope on Kobe, because he is the only one who can cover him, and still have enough gas in the tank to slash and score...I heard his ankle is bothering him, and it looks like it too....he plays great when he is 100%, but when hurt he makes a lot of mistakes.

Sheed can cover Gasol or Odom, KG too, Sheed might do better on Gasol, because Sheed is "old school" Gasol is tougher than he was, but Sheed still can beat him, IF he wants too..!

 You are right about Nate, he is the Fisher-killer, the fish can't swim with Nate, can't pulll his offense on him, can't cover him, Nate is pretty good at driving too..... We'll see....

[LB3533]

I actually feel Bynum will play very little in this Finals and will have the least amount of impact than anyone expects.

What we will see more of is Gasol at Center and Odom at PF.

When that is the case, Perk is on Gasol and KG will shut down Odom with Bynum hurt/ineffective and on the bench.

We've already beaten the Lakers with that kind of lineup/matchup.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

I woud love to trounce them in 4....but 5 will work too....! Shut up old fart Phil...he would hate losing to Doc again, I know it...... I will say though, that dern Kobe is quite a shooter, the best in the league...!

[housecall]

I actually feel Bynum will play very little in this Finals and will have the least amount of impact than anyone expects.

What we will see more of is Gasol at Center and Odom at PF.

When that is the case, Perk is on Gasol and KG will shut down Odom with Bynum hurt/ineffective and on the bench.

We've already beaten the Lakers with that kind of lineup/matchup.

Bynum uses both feet as his pivot foot to expand his shooting range in the paint.He gets away with it 90%of the time.If the refs are calling it right,Bynum won't spend a lot of time on the floor.Phil will yank him after a couple of calls.

[More Banners]

Matchup wise, Odom is a problem.  Other than that, I think there is no spot where one player dominates the opponent on either side.  Fisher can't stop Rondo's penetration, but will be able to sag off him (like everyone else), while Fisher's 3pt shooting will limit Rondo's ability to roam on defense.  Sure, there are advantages for each team at different spots, but I don't think any are huge enough, or that one team has enough advantages over the other, for a position-by-position breakdown to make the difference in the series.

Conclusion:  One heck of a series.  The key will be the coaches' abilities to make adjustments with combinations of players to change how the opposing team is able to play team defense.

I think Doc's best bet will be to substitute Nate and Sheed in together for Rondo and Perk at the end of quarters and then run the 1/5 S/R or pick/pop (Nate/Sheed), allowing Ray, Paul, and KG to stay on the floor to keep the rest of the LAL defense honest while we score in bunches.  We're an incredibly lucky team that we can run our three best players as role players on offense, using two bench players at options #1 and 2, while resting our all-star point guard.  Yeah, we're that good, which is why I think we'll take LA in 6.

GO CELTICS!!!

[Jon]

I know you can't quantify this; however, just watching some of the Lakers/Suns series, the intensity (especially on the defensive end) just looked like half of what Boston was doing (and going against).  The crap that Artest was throwing up near the basket in game 6 would've either landed in the 10th row against Boston or at the very least would've had him going to the line without a clean shot.

I think L.A. is going to be a bit shellshocked going against a much more physical and intense team than they've seen all playoffs.  Phoenix was impressive in that they got as far as they did, but everyone who knows anything about basketball (which apparently Steve Kerr does not), knew that a team built on speed and finesse (and not defense) wasn't ever going to win a title. 

[housecall]

I know you can't quantify this; however, just watching some of the Lakers/Suns series, the intensity (especially on the defensive end) just looked like half of what Boston was doing (and going against).  The crap that Artest was throwing up near the basket in game 6 would've either landed in the 10th row against Boston or at the very least would've had him going to the line without a clean shot.

I think L.A. is going to be a bit shellshocked going against a much more physical and intense team than they've seen all playoffs.  Phoenix was impressive in that they got as far as they did, but everyone who knows anything about basketball (which apparently Steve Kerr does not), knew that a team built on speed and finesse (and not defense) wasn't ever going to win a title.  

Jon i have to agree with you here,as much as i like G.Hill as a player/person he didn't play tough enough defense on Kobe.They only put a hand up most of the time in his face but gave him enough air space to drive a car through.They gave Kobe to much respect.

[Cman]

Side question:

Can anyone provide a list of technicals on each player so far in the playoffs?  We all know Perk is one T away from suspension (and you just know that part of Phil Jackson's strategy is to try to get some offsetting technicals by having Bynum be chippy with Perk).

How about other players?