RealGM

So, how do you think we'll end up matching up with the Celtics? Actually, my thought is that we'll have the advantage on both sides of the ball... But since the Lakers won't have a chance to win another title without a great defensive effort I think we need to look at some possible match ups.

Rajon Rondo > Kobe probably will take Rondo and limit his penetration, forcing him to score from the outside. Although Fisher might initially match up with Rondo, which will require the Lakers to have good defensive rotations.

Ray Allen > Fisher definitely has what it takes to stay with Allen. Plus Fisher is such a crafty defender.

Paul Pierce > Ron Artest will make him mince meat out of the actress!

Kevin Garnett > Gasol is an underrated perimeter defender and Odom is in Garnett's head, so I don't see KG hurting the Lakers in this series.

Kendrick Perkins > Here is we need Bynum to play big. Hopefully he can challenge the C's inside game and keep Perkins off the offensive glass.

Do we see any other possible match ups that the Lakers would employ against the C's?

I'd think that Odom will see some time defending Ronda if her jump shot starts off cold.

There's no way Odom will cover him. No way in hell jump shot or not.

Odom will cover K.G. extensively in this series. Garnett is reluctant to post-up and Odom is a tougher player to post-up than either Jamison or Lewis. Odom will take it to Garnett in this series. Odom plays very well when committed and he will be.

kobe should have his way against celtic guards which means a lot of help so ron/fish have to be ready and locked in. Bynums has to be alittle bit more discipline and not fall for rondas fakes thus staying out of foul trouble and should play roughly 24 to 28 mins. key match-ups will be. 1).Gasol/Odom vs Garnett/Sheed 2).Artest vs Paula... these match-ups will be the key to the series

odom>rasheed, big baby

Do you have Odom defend Garnett is the big question? I think the current version of K.G. without his great explosion can be countered perfectly by Odom. I think this will be a completely different series than 2008 even in execution.

no James Posey to bother Kobe this time, he'll have a F***ING field day. Daniels and Tony Allen will have a crack at him but that wont pose much of a problem. THE TIME IS NOW lets beat Boston

Word on the street is Kobe on Rondo.
Fisher takes Allen.

3-Pt_Shooter wrote:So, how do you think we'll end up matching up with the Celtics? Actually, my thought is that we'll have the advantage on both sides of the ball... But since the Lakers won't have a chance to win another title without a great defensive effort I think we need to look at some possible match ups.

Rajon Rondo > Kobe probably will take Rondo and limit his penetration, forcing him to score from the outside. Although Fisher might initially match up with Rondo, which will require the Lakers to have good defensive rotations.

Ray Allen > Fisher definitely has what it takes to stay with Allen. Plus Fisher is such a crafty defender.

Paul Pierce > Ron Artest will make him mince meat out of the actress!

Kevin Garnett > Gasol is an underrated perimeter defender and Odom is in Garnett's head, so I don't see KG hurting the Lakers in this series.

Kendrick Perkins > Here is we need Bynum to play big. Hopefully he can challenge the C's inside game and keep Perkins off the offensive glass.

Do we see any other possible match ups that the Lakers would employ against the C's?

bryant is playing some awesome ball lately that's for sure.

but i think the fisher on allen matchup is going to be very tough for the lakers. first of all fisher is going to be fighting through several screens on every possession and even if he catches up with allen, allen is the taller man on as a pure shooter he can make shots with a hand in his face as good as anybody.

i also think pierce is going to get artest in foul trouble early in games, forcing artest to slack off or sit, in which case whoever comes off the bench and guards pierce, pierce is going to destroy-- unless bryant starts guarding pierce. and bryant should be guarding pierce during pierce's assertion time sometime during the third quarters of games anyway.

that leaves much responsibility on pau gasol and also odom. i think both are going to have to elevate their games for the lakers to prevail.

i also think the celtic bench is better on the road than the laker bench-- another mismatch.

i think that even though many feel the lakers will prevail this time, my gut tells me it's the celtics again.

The Cees bench is scary and that Nate Rob is gonna be a handful.