You seriously think the Celts are a better matchup for us??

[The Skyhook]

Both Celtics and Lakers were underdogs believe it or not

[beantownski]

i just skimmed through this thread and i don't understand one thing i keep seeing over and over.
why does everyone think that artest can/will shut pierce down?!

these stats are from before the start of this season
pierce vs artest
Overall team record 9W - 10L
PTS 22.9 -- FG% .443 -- 3P% .366 -- FTA 7.8 -- REB 6.3 -- AST 3.9 -- TOV 3.1
PTS 21.3 -- FG% .436 -- 3P% .393 -- FTA 7.1 -- REB 5.8 -- AST 3.9 -- TOV 3.4

the top stat line is his numbers against everyone else, and the bold ones underneath it are his head to heads with artest. as you can see.....no much of a difference at all.

so again....why all the artest locking down pierce talk?!?

[rand0m]

Because this is the playoffs and Artest is peaking at the right time. I wouldn't say he'd lock down Pierce but I could see him having a good defensive game against him at least a couple games.

[Jajwanda]

I don't know perhaps the fact that we've seen him do well against him twice in one-on-one coverage.

There's no arguing Ron Artest is a far better defender than Vlad Rad/Walton in 2008. No arguing at all. By the way watch for Gasol against Garnett this time.

[beantownski]

I don't know perhaps the fact that we've seen him do well against him twice in one-on-one coverage.

There's no arguing Ron Artest is a far better defender than Vlad Rad/Walton in 2008. No arguing at all. By the way watch for Gasol against Garnett this time.

that is very true. not only that, the lakers won't have sasha vujacic getting taken off the dribble by ray allen either

[Spanish_Laker]

Lakers underdog? C'mon guys, this is the most pessimistic Lakers forums I've seen. We are not the soft 2008 team, this time no Vlade vs Pierce, no KG abusing Pau, this time we got Artest, a playoff standout defender, Bynum will be critical for us (even though he is rusty and hurt), we'll have HCA which is really important in the Finals (it is clearly better for the HCA team than the rest of series' HCA) and the hungry thing will be in our side, we want revenge!

[ddubb]

The major matchup problem for LA will be Rajon Rondo.

He'll be licking his chops to go at DFish; really Kobe's the only laker that can contain him, and if Phil makes that adjustment then Ray Allen will have a field day against a smaller defender.

If the Celts can get by Orl, and then somehow beat LA -- it'll be Rondo taking the Finals MVP trophy.

[kasino]

Fisher chases down Allen
Ray will not be a problem
its alll about Rondo and if Pau can show KG the business..........he can

[NBAWestFan]

i just skimmed through this thread and i don't understand one thing i keep seeing over and over.
why does everyone think that artest can/will shut pierce down?!

these stats are from before the start of this season
pierce vs artest
Overall team record 9W - 10L
PTS 22.9 -- FG% .443 -- 3P% .366 -- FTA 7.8 -- REB 6.3 -- AST 3.9 -- TOV 3.1
PTS 21.3 -- FG% .436 -- 3P% .393 -- FTA 7.1 -- REB 5.8 -- AST 3.9 -- TOV 3.4

the top stat line is his numbers against everyone else, and the bold ones underneath it are his head to heads with artest. as you can see.....no much of a difference at all.

so again....why all the artest locking down pierce talk?!?

do you remember how Robert Horry played in the regular season and then in the playoffs?
Artest is older now. He is a different player in the playoffs and certainly in Finals.
Warriors step it up when it counts most.

[seanbig]

I don't know what is going on in Boston, but they are rolling. Even Sheed the worst acquisition after Hedo is hitting threes like Artest on a good day. The Celtics team right this moment is much better than the team in 2008...It must be rondo...

[LAKERS_1981]

This Boston team is not as strong as 2008 team
In 2008 they had Posey and House killing us of the bench and powe and PJ Brown give them some great min.
In 2008 Garnett was on a mission and looking great, Pierce and Allen were playing better and there D was the best i have seen sins the Bulls(They are playing good D to day but not like 2008).
Rondo is playing great this year but every PG play great against Lakers so that is nothing new.

The Lakers 2008 vs 2010
Radmanovich out - Artest in
Bynum was not playing - so Bynum in
Gasol soft out - Gasol not so soft in
Kobe i will win you alone out - Kobe we will win in

Pick a team
Fisher Fisher
Kobe Kobe
Radmanovich Artest
Odom Gasol
Gasol Bynum
Turiaf Odom
Farmar Farmar
Sasha Sasha
Luke Luke
Ariza(smal role litle min) Brown

[countrybama24]

Yea, but this celtics are better.

Rondo ---- went from sophomore point guard to top 5.

Bench --- arguably better, every rotation player is an excellent defender, sheed and big baby are better than any of the bench players on that '08 team (way more efficient than James Posey).


Bynum hasn't really been that great for you all, he's only a defensive presence at this point. Gasol's toughness, idk if he's really that much tougher. I think the difference in rondo's development functionally added an all-star to the celtics, whereas the lakers at best made marginal improvements.

BUT, the rest of the celtics will have regressed due to age. So it's still up in the air who's gonna win, both teams are looking really good, but both have extremely favorable matchups.

The lakers haven't played any defensive big men yet (except Ibaka).

The Celtics just have orlando's number, not doubling on dwight has devastated their offensive and produced a bunch of turnovers resulting in transition points.

I'm really excited for the finals, but I don't think the celtics are a better matchup for you. I think Orlando has shown they are much worse.

[countrybama24]

I don't know what is going on in Boston, but they are rolling. Even Sheed the worst acquisition after Hedo is hitting threes like Artest on a good day. The Celtics team right this moment is much better than the team in 2008...It must be rondo...

Sheed just mailed in the regular season. He is really good otherwise. It wasn't an accident he beat y'all in 2004. Man can play great defense (when he's trying, which is now) and hit shots (which he's quiet good at when he's trying).

Sheed at the MLE is far from the worst acquisition, and is the reason they can play an 8 man rotation with all great defenders.

[kobesmyhomie]

All I can say is if we had a healthy Bynum I would without hesitation take the Lakers, BUT GOD DAM IT THIS GUY IS HURT AGAIN!!!