Just A Thought

[iamworthy]

Fellas,

I watched the Celtics vs Warriors game and I couldnt stoppicturingthat this was essicially was the Lakers vs Suns of 2005/2006, Warriors was the suns and lakers were the celtics. When the warriors ran, the celtics could not keep up. Well we know how the lakers vs suns series ended. So I guess what I am saying is that maybe the only way to beat the celtics is to run them to death. We have the horses and talent to do it, so it maybe a good option. The celtics are looking to slow it down (like we were when we played the suns) and set up there defense. Celtics Defense is only good in the half court. So maybe there is some light if we pick up the pace like the suns did against us.....one difference is that we have the low post presents and the best player in the world to back us up. Unlike the suns. I know the celtics won this game but in a high pace series we have a chance. What do you guys think?

[shortodom]

well in the playoffs the game slows down but we have the players too win that way too. anyway who knows who will be in the finals this year, maybe neither team makes it. I hope and think we will but we don't know for sure. IF we both make it again we can beat Boston in a fast pace game or a slowed down game cause we have the better team. There bench sucks ace and Ray can't gaurd anyone. Sag off Rondo and let him try and beat you instead of leaving Kg open for a dunk or Pierce or Ray open. Or just stick Ariza on Ronda

[iamworthy]

While I agree with some of your points...the game didnt slow down for the suns when they were beating us.

[DubaLakers]

I think I can't wait for XMas day and it isn't for presents. It's for bloodshed and a flawless victory, that's all I want for XMas. After the LAL finish them off, they will walk off the court angry like the LAL did what they were supposed to do. All they should be thinking about is I can't wait to duplicate this massacre in Boston. All the Lakers have to do is play all 48 minutes and they will be fine, no tricks or gimmicks are necessary.

As far as your opinion...They are playing a GST team trying to find their way. What normally happens with a team like Boston with their expierience is they run with them for nearly 3 qtrs and then start playing D at the end of the 3rd and throughout the fourth, because Boston knows GST can't play D at their level, and they can't execute their offense at the C's level as well. I think you'll notice that strategy holds true for the old Laker teams as well. Why at their advanced ages go all out when they can just flip on a switch at the end of the game? 4min + 12min...16 minutes of basketball is what it comes down to.

[lakersfanatic]

well these days.. not only should we be watching the celtics but the cavs as well... both are on a streak as well as we are. With the xmas game coming... i wanna see who's going to clamp down more on defensive... Like what everyone says, defense win games.

[Erik Eleven]

I don't care what tempo the game is played in such a Finals series, as long as we dictate the tempo.

I think the second unit will run and gun like never before and I think it'll work well. Our starters could probably benefit from a slightly higher pace than the typical Celtics tempo, but Bynum and Gasol also need to be included in every offensive possession. Inside out. Easy buckets. Set up pressure defense.

[SashAlex]

Well, i'm sure our 2nd unit with its up&tempo game will cause them a lot of troubles.

[Verbal]

Fellas,

I watched the Celtics vs Warriors game and I couldnt stoppicturingthat this was essicially was the Lakers vs Suns of 2005/2006, Warriors was the suns and lakers were the celtics. When the warriors ran, the celtics could not keep up. Well we know how the lakers vs suns series ended. So I guess what I am saying is that maybe the only way to beat the celtics is to run them to death. We have the horses and talent to do it, so it maybe a good option. The celtics are looking to slow it down (like we were when we played the suns) and set up there defense. Celtics Defense is only good in the half court. So maybe there is some light if we pick up the pace like the suns did against us.....one difference is that we have the low post presents and the best player in the world to back us up. Unlike the suns. I know the celtics won this game but in a high pace series we have a chance. What do you guys think?

Celtics had trouble in their rounds toward the Finals b/c of this.

The uptempo game would... be an option. ^_^

Hahahaha.

[DEEP3CL]

I agree with the up tempo imworthy, but we have to be patient in how we attack with it. Also must take care of the ball, if you guys remember when we were playing the Suns back in those playoffs or regular season the only time we got back into the games is when the Suns would get sloppy with the rock.

Even if the pace slows we'll have the weapons to combat the defense the C's will deploy, our two man post game should be enough to wear them down seeing as they will have to double Drew or Pau. And if they're too truculent to do so I have faith Drew will drop buckets on Perkins, and we saw the success Pau had on KG.........nothing new there.

[Anklebreaker702]

Like Verb said, inside out is the key. I definately think running is a great option Worthy, but like deep stated we have to take care of the rock. The second unit should run them right out of the building & if the 1st unit is doing opportunistic type running & a heavy dose of Drew & Pau I don't see why we couldn't pull away from them late in that contest

[lakerz12]

Fast. Slow. It doesn't matter much when our team is better at both than they are. Lakers vs. Celtics right now and the Lake Show owns all day.

[G35]

Atlanta Hawks

They beat the C's with uptempo

I think the Celtics can be beat in transition, they lock you down in the halfcourt. Rajon and KG are good at getting back but I think you can beat Pierce/Allen/Perkins up court before they set up. Remember the Hawks played the C's and set a quick pace, getting a lot of dunks/layups.

Come on, really why can't we push the tempo on Eddie House/Leon Powe/Baby Davis. They want to play physical, fine. What beats physicality? Speed, the Lakers are faster, run those fat bodies of the court.....

[The Laker Kid]

Fellas,

So I guess what I am saying is that maybe the only way to beat the celtics is to run them to death. We have the horses and talent to do it

but we don't have D'Antoni

[Slava]

This was pointed out last playoffs, when they had trouble with Atlanta but when they played us, they were a completely different beast. Rondo improved his AST/TO from 4:1 to 6:1 by the end of the playoffs and they as a team cut down so much on the turnovers and bad passes that they became ridiculously efficient. Unless they give us the opportunity, we cannot create those fast breaks and for the record, we were the best at the "running game" last season when we wanted to with Odom and Gasol running the floor so well and Kobe doing a very good job passing the ball at the right moment in transition.

The only way to counter them is to play ridiculously good defense and counter their bench production while not getting intimidated.

Atlanta had Horford & Zaza at times, who did a great job on KG and Perkins, and Joe Johnson played out of his freakin' mind for sometime. We just couldn't do any of that.

[TylersLakers]

We do have to run them. We tried too many times to walk the ball up court and give it to Kobe on the wing. Doubles/triples came, and we had turnovers/rushed shots. They're defense sets up, and you can't beat them that way.

If the Celtics and Lakers both get back to the finals, It's going to be important to run them into the ground, but ALSO get the stops when we need it.

I think if we have home court, and continue our defensive effort... Kobe won't let us lose this time around. I think that series, we're going to need Drew to emerge and be what Odom was in the Utah series. 16-18 points a game. He's going to be single covered on the block all night long, and he has to abuse Perkins for us to get what we want.