Matchups and Breakdowns

[Fencer reregistered]

We will defend Gasol like we did with Z. Flash at him when he pick and rolls and throw the kitchen sink of defenders on him (Perk, Baby, and especially PJ).

Actually, getting him in foul trouble or otherwise exploiting so badly he went to the bench was the real way the Cs stopped him -- his shotblocking, rebounding, and shooting notwithstanding.

[ShowtimeFan]

When the Lakers lose this series I hope Laker fans collectively cry into a gigantic bucket so we can all drink your tears.

If the Lakers lose, I'm sure there will be something in the bucket for you to drink...

LOL

[omegatronic3]

as an unbiased observer here's how I see it.

I think playing Cleveland will serve you well because LA has similar length on the front line. Scoring was tough against Cleveland since it was difficult getting inside. Cleveland was way more physical than LA but LA frontline will be a bigger challenge to defend. You need to be physical with Gasol and Odom.

Likewise the Atlanta series gave you a taste of an open court game. The key there is to be efficient on offense and limit turnovers and long rebounds. That'll be tough since youre essentially a jump shooting team...you need to find a way to get some easy baskets and post play. Perkins needs to get you some points in the paint.

As far as the position by position analysis goes I dont think its that useful since lineups will change and different players will guard one another but I do think the Odom vs. KG matcheup is gonna be key.
I think KG can definitely neutralize Odoms offense but KG may have a tough time shooting over Odom since hes very long. Keeping Odom off the boards will be key.

I think as a team Boston is similar to San Antonio in that you both have 3 key guys and a defensive mindset. I think what did San Antonio in was lack of depth, injuries and getting tired down the stretch.

Your bench has to give KG, Pierce and Allen enough rest so that they're fresh down the stretch. In watching the San Antonio series Kobe got plenty of rest. I got the feeling he was pacing himself for the 4th quarter.

What scares me is that like San Antonio you guys also go on scoring draughts. That cant happen in this series.

Also guys like Farmar, Vuyachich, Walton , Turiaf etc can't come in and make an impact.

Game 1 is huge since losing home court off the bat would be tough to overcome.

To state the obvious you need to make Kobe either a scorer or a passer but not both.

[Flexx10dzl]

LAker fan here ..here's my breakdown ..fair as possible:

Both teams are matched well with age and youth..so

Doc vs Phil..

This is Doc's first rodeo..this is Phil's 11th... Advantage Phil


Rondo vs Fish ... Advantage Rondo..

Rondo has the speed and quickness to get by fish every day..Lakers will have to use team D on him like they did with Parker...and williams..

Kobe vs PP ... Kobe ..that's all that's needed to say on that

KG vs Odom ...KG ..That's all that needs to be said on that


Ray Vs Rad .. Advantage Ray


Perkins vs Pau .. advantage Pau ( slightly)


The benches: BOS advantage on D LAL advantage on O

Posey/house/cassell/Pj brown

sasha/farmar/turiaf/luke/ariza


Boston is better on the Boards LAL is a better scoring team..


X factors .. Lamar Odom and Perkins...( they will decide this series)

if Boston wins the first 2 games I believe they will win the series .. If LA wins one of the first 2 I believe LA will win the series..

To be honest I don't know who will win .. i want the Lakers to win but ..Bos is strong..


IMO it will come down to coaching and adjustments..and that favors the lakers ....but I just don't know

[TheSheriff]

I think everyone is underestimating the lakers role players...fisher/farmar sasha/vlad and turiaf are all solid role players who can all play solid defense and are all capable of scoring. if kobe and gasol are getting points and any one of these guys are....its over.

Because if Pierce and KG are getting points, Cassell, Ray Allen, James Posey, Eddie House, Rajon Rondo, and Leon Powe are incapable of scoring?

[Joselo16]

I agree with most of what you said (omegatronic3), except that our scoring droughts were a product of the defenses we were facing. I do think that our prior series will be of help against the Laker's.

[jfs1000d]

We;ll see how great he celts defense really is. There is no stopping kobe, but celts have advantage on the boards and defensively.

I just don't see how the lakers guard the celtics. Lots of doubles coming on pierce and KG in the post. Will rondo, Ray Allen Posey and House hit the shots? If they do, LA is going down.

I think people in LA are underestimating how good KG really is defensively. He has shutdown the paint in every round. Look what he did to Sheed? He destroyed him. Lamar's length won't help him against KG. And, KG will overpower any player the Lakers have.

I worry about Gasol just beating up on perk, and forcing KG on him. That leaves Odom free reign.

And, why are the experts picking LA? It is the format 2-3-2. Many feel there will be a split in Boston and then some say LA wins all 3 at home, while others have lakers winning 2 or 3 that would make the Celtics have to win the final 2.

Game 5 is the swing game, and that is in LA. I think the "experts" are picking on that basis that Lakers will have a 3-2 lead after 5 in some way shape or form.

[Joselo16]

I think this is when a player with Posey's versatility comes in very handy. If Perk gets in Trouble with Gasol, we shift KG on Pau and have Posey cover Odom which also spread the defense for KG to operate in the post. We do use Posey a lot with the starting lineup. Our team matches up great against the Lakers.

[anuroc]

I think Gasol and not Odom will be the one paired with KG. And he will have help when needed.
Lakers defence is not that bad as you believe, they don't have shut-down one on one defenders (except Kobe) but they have a nice team defence.
Celtics are better there but Lakers have just played against two very rough defences in Utah and San Antonio and I guess they will be relieved when playing against Boston because they don't do all the pulling-grabbing-shoving that those two teams usually do.

[omegatronic3]

[quote="Joselo16"]I agree with most of what you said (omegatronic3), except that our scoring droughts were a product of the defenses we were facing. I do think that our prior series will be of help against the Laker's.[/quote
as someone else mentioned I think LA is capable of good d in stretches...they lock down when they need to. During those stretches you need some go to plays to get you looks close to the basket rather than jumpers..because jumpers can come and go. I wanna see KG get to the rim...Pierce posting up..Rondo getting to the rim and finishing.

[John from Hemet]

It will be interesting to see if Phil Jackson gives Trevor Ariza any burn in this series for defensive purposes.

I would love to see what he could do against Paul Pierce. He wont outscore him....but he is our best defender at that position and will go at the basket..

[Al-Haqq]

We have mis-matches with Pierce and KG and those guys need to be our main offensive targets. Simple as that.