The Recipe

[CoachBo]

This is a simple game for the C's. When we defend, rebound and move the basketball, we are going to win. When we go away from the recipe - as we did wildly in game 5 - we lose. Amazing how the officials aren't a factor when we're following the recipe. It doesn't change against the West rep, who I expect will be the Lakers, although I like Phoenix' chances tonight.

We have battalions of people to run defensively at Kobe - although the bench wing defense needs to be better than it was in the Orlando series. I like the Rondo-Fisher matchup. Perkins can handle Bynum. Gasol isn't a physical challenge. Artest is the only Laker defender that really scares me.

And if we're healthy - I hate layoffs, but the six days look good given our situation - we're a whole lot stronger on the bench.

Defend. Move the ball and stay away from the late clock isos. Hit the glass, and a banner is on the way.

[Roy Hobbs]

Yep, very true.  If this team plays its best defense, it can't be beat.

The other part of the recipe I'd add is that Rondo needs to be aggressive on offense.  We can't have a repeat of Game 4, when our offense broke down.  We need to attack the basket consistently, and get points in transition. 

[CoachBo]

Yeah, that's exactly what I mean by moving the basketball. When Rondo stops attacking, he's left "fiddlin' and diddlin'" with the ball at the top of the key, as Johnny Most would put it.

When Rondo attacks and kicks, the ball is always going to find the open shot.

[misha]

like that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK1DqYCsxXQ&feature=player_embedded

[CoachBo]

Just exactly like that.

When we're on point, we're not going to lose. That's been underscored time and again in the playoffs.

[ibby]

...Gasol isn't a physical challenge...

I am actually more afraid of Gasol than I am of Kobe.  I know what Kobe gives a team 25-40 points, a few rebounds, a few assists, a few steals. 

Gasol is the wild card. He REALLY wants the Celtics.  REALLY wants them.  Perkins and KG really punked him in '08 and exposed him as soft.  If you watch him now he looks possessed.  I expect him to be so amped at playing the Cs in the Finals he has ridiculous numbers in game 6 (30+ points, 15+ boards, 5-7 assists, 2-5 blocks).

If he keeps up the intensity he has had all season it will be a much tougher Finals than '08.

[looseball]

Defend. Move the ball and stay away from the late clock isos. Hit the glass, and a banner is on the way.

All I would add to this is the champagne!

[BballTim]

Yep, very true.  If this team plays its best defense, it can't be beat.

The other part of the recipe I'd add is that Rondo needs to be aggressive on offense.  We can't have a repeat of Game 4, when our offense broke down.  We need to attack the basket consistently, and get points in transition. 

  I think as long as Rondo's healthy and moving well we're in good shape.

[CoachBo]

Ah, Fifi Gasol is what he is - a finesse 7-footer who needs to be shoved off his spot. Wanting something didn't work out too well for Howard, did it?

I'd want to body up every Laker - they don't like it, and they don't face it in the West.

[Rondo_is_better]

...Gasol isn't a physical challenge...

I am actually more afraid of Gasol than I am of Kobe.  I know what Kobe gives a team 25-40 points, a few rebounds, a few assists, a few steals. 

Gasol is the wild card. He REALLY wants the Celtics.  REALLY wants them.  Perkins and KG really punked him in '08 and exposed him as soft.  If you watch him now he looks possessed.  I expect him to be so amped at playing the Cs in the Finals he has ridiculous numbers in game 6 (30+ points, 15+ boards, 5-7 assists, 2-5 blocks).

If he keeps up the intensity he has had all season it will be a much tougher Finals than '08.

Gasol has matched up with the following players this post-season. Pau is 7'0 250.

Serge Ibaka 6'10 220

Carlos Boozer 6'9 260

Amare Stoudemire 6'10 250

Pau has had length, height and weight advantages over everyone he's faced. Not only that, but the above players are not known for their defensive prowess -- in fact, Boozer and Amare are terrible defenders. Ibaka is physically just too small to guard Pau.

Kendrick Perkins 6'10 280

That's a weight advantage, and Perk has deceptive length -- a wingspan of over 7'0. Perk is also an outstanding post defender.

Kevin Garnett 7'1 250

KG is taller and the same weight as Gasol. KG is also a top notch defender -- infinitely better than Pau's other 3 match-ups.

Rasheed Wallace 6'11 230

Better suited to guard Pau than any of the other 3 players Gasol has faced. Rasheed is also a high quality post defender.

Big Baby 6'9 289

A major weight advantage on Gasol -- there will be no backing down for dunks when Glen is in the game, and Davis has shown his merit as a post defender in the past -- shutting down the likes of Tim Duncan, Yao Ming, and Dwight Howard at various points in his career. Davis has even shown an ability to contest jumpshots taken by players the size and strength of Tim Duncan.

All in all, that's four guys who can actually challenge Pau and keep him from using his length to get off jumpers, as well as keep him from backing down 2 feet from the rim and dunking it. Couple that with the fact that we play great help D and DO NOT allow cutters to get right in front of the hoop and make a catch for a layup (the way Pau has done 3-4 times a game against the Suns) and I think we can make Gasol look very human. He is still a point of concern -- but I would suggest that there is no need to panic. Our bigs are great on D. 
 

[Who]

Rasheed Wallace 6'11 230

Better suited to guard Pau than any of the other 3 players Gasol has faced. Rasheed is also a high quality post defender.

Gasol has a quickness advantage against Wallace. Odom does too.

I worry about Wallace's defense against these two when the second units come in to play. It would be better if Wallace could get his court time against Bynum than either of them.

[Rondo_is_better]

Rasheed Wallace 6'11 230

Better suited to guard Pau than any of the other 3 players Gasol has faced. Rasheed is also a high quality post defender.

Gasol has a quickness advantage against Wallace. Odom does too.

I worry about Wallace's defense against these two when the second units come in to play. It would be better if Wallace could get his court time against Bynum than either of them.

Howard was quicker than Wallace as well -- but that didn't seem to matter. Every time Howard tried a quick move Wallace either blocked his shot or fouled the crap out of him. That will be less effective against Pau since he can actually shoot but I don't think quickness will be a huge factor in Pau vs. Rasheed. With Odom -- you're right. That would/will be a problem. I think Odom will be the most important player in this series.

[misha]

Kevin Garnett 7'1 250  

KG is 6-11.

[MaxwellSmart86]

This might come down to Tony Allen's ankle.

[LB3533]

I think all of the Celtics (save for Perk) can get to the rim against the Laker's "defense".

We should just make a B-Line right at the rim.

The Lakers also have poor rotational defense which will result in a lot of open shots from penetration and kick outs.

Artest and Kobe might be very good individual defenders, but it will take a lot more than good quality individual defense to stop our unpredictable offense & our transition game.

I suspect we will force a lot of missed Laker perimeter shots and we will use the transition game to score a lot of our points.

In the half court, we will run pick and rolls and attack the goal. Bynum isn't really a defensive force and is prone to foul, also Bynum doesn't have a reputation like that of Dwight Howard so refs will call it fairly.

I see us winning 5 games.