RealGM

Look, I know we still have about 20 days to go but lets do it. Please fellas don't get upset over this thread, I know we have other teams to face and it's a while away but I'm excited for this and cannot wait.

So how do we beat the Celtics on Christmas? It's obviously a statement game for us and a measuring stick for our team.

Here's my take:

Projected Starting 5:

Fish-Rondo
Kobe-Allen
Vlad-Pierce
Gasol-KG
Bynum-Perkins

Defensively I would:

Kobe-on-Rondo
Fish-on-Allen
Vlad-on-Pierce
Gasol-KG
Bynum-Perkins

To start out I think we need to have Kobe on Rondo, this gives Kobe free-lancing to disrupt the post area because I don't think Rondo will shoot 3's. Fish can chase Allen off-the screens and I don't think Allen will post him up or have an easy time taking him off the dribble like Rondo would.

Vlad on Pierce, well we have to live with this until Phil puts Ariza on Pierce, Yes Pierce will back down Ariza, but same thing he'd do with Kobe and there is no guarantee there will be success with Vlad. I think Ariza feels comfortable coming off the bench so we're better with that anyways.

Gasol on KG is fine, he did a good job in the finals
Bynum on Perkins, we need to put a body on Perkins so he doesn't get the offensive rebounds.

On Offense we need 5 things:

1st
-Start Kobe on the box, post him up before you give him the ball, avoid having Kobe get the ball at the 3pt line and then trying to break-down the defender only to find himself with a help defender making the play pointless. And avoid the pick and roll with Kobe, KG guards the Pick-n-roll very well making Kobe go ALL THE WAY around only to waste shot-clock.

2nd
- Feed Gasol and feed the post, let Gasol work the post against KG, we know KG will need help against Gasol and also can pick up fouls with Gasol guarding him.

3rd
- Player/Ball Movement, there is no way we win if the players just stand around to watch Kobe or other players, we need movement of the ball and especially the player, defense is much more difficult to play when your moving off the ball all the time.

4th
Setup the play in the shot-clock early. In the Finals we would take too much time just setting up the play just to realize the shot-clock was running low

5th
Attack the basket, no more "lets jack up 3's" Gotta attack the basket and get their guys in foul trouble. It'll wear-down the defense. What good is it to brick the 3 only to give them a breather on defense and an easy rebound. Why not attack and make them work for the defense.

I'm pumped up for the game yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayaaaa

I feel very confident going into that game that the Lakers will claim their stake as the favorite when that game is over.

The players need to get a good nights sleep, and play from tip off to buzzer with a controlled agression. The tools are there the only question from me is can they commit to a full game from start to finish. If so, solid victory, if not, it's a crap shoot.

1. Defense
2. Rebound

Don't forget TO's Kno . Kno sounds just like PJax, straight and too the point.

im more worried about how to beat the wizards tomorrow.......1 game at a time fellas

Kno wrote:1. Defense
2. Rebound

3. Balls, big basketBalls

Don't ask us.. Ask Santa lol

How do we beat the Celtics on Christmas?

by scoring more than they do

iki4life wrote:im more worried about how to beat the wizards tomorrow.......1 game at a time fellas

+1

As far as personel, I would start the following five:

Ariza vs Rondo
Kobe vs R Allen
Odom vs Pierce
Gasol vs KG
Bynum vs Perkins

I'd stick to those matchups all night to wear them down. We're younger, longer, faster on pretty much every position and should make it a focal point to run and play harder than them all night — outwork them in every possession. Ariza to make life hell for Rondo with intense man-man. Their offense crumbles without Rondo in command, and it usually ends up in Pierce's hands and Odom's length and quickness will bother Pierce. Kobe as perimeter threat to spread the floor Reggie Miller style. Inside out. Bigs must attack the rim with fury and own the boards. I can't wait.

shobe_81 wrote:To start out I think we need to have Kobe on Rondo, this gives Kobe free-lancing to disrupt the post area because I don't think Rondo will shoot 3's. Fish can chase Allen off-the screens and I don't think Allen will post him up or have an easy time taking him off the dribble like Rondo would.

This is the weakest part of Fish's defense, he doesn't and hasn't ever been good at fighting screens. He consistently goes under the screen giving his man ample time to shoot. And when ever he's tried to go over the top he gets hung up on the screen. Who ever taught Fish about screen defense failed horribly.

Erik Eleven wrote:As far as personel, I would start the following five:

Ariza vs Rondo
Kobe vs R Allen
Odom vs Pierce
Gasol vs KG
Bynum vs Perkins

I'd stick to those matchups all night to wear them down. We're younger, longer, faster on pretty much every position and should make it a focal point to run and play harder than them all night — outwork them in every possession. Ariza to make life hell for Rondo with intense man-man. Their offense crumbles without Rondo in command, and it usually ends up in Pierce's hands and Odom's length and quickness will bother Pierce. Kobe as perimeter threat to spread the floor Reggie Miller style. Inside out. Bigs must attack the rim with fury and own the boards. I can't wait.

matchup cant get any better than that....good ishh eleven

im especially feeling the odom on pierce

U guys got it all wronge.

Just bring out the wheelchairs!! Have wheelchairs on the bench for them to sit on. And trash talk more than Garnett can. I mean, mad trash talking!!. Done Deal.

lol

P.S.
My real answer - a Healthy Trevor Ariza.

Just outscore them !

To start off the game:

Fisher vs Allen
Kobe vs Rondo
Radmanovic vs Pierce
Gasol vs KG
Bynum vs Perkins

- Let Fish chase around Allen, Kobe playing a one man zone against Rondo, helping out on KG/Perkins or when Allen comes off his screens near the corner/wing area. Create turnovers, and get on the break.

We have to run them into the ground... ESPECIALLY the second unit.

- Zones give up the potential for offensive rebounds.. with Drew back, that's going to help us.

On offense:

- KG can't double off Gasol's mid range jump shot.. that's clearly an advantage with Andrew back. Odom is forced to the second unit. KG would just roam and help because he knew Lamar could not knock down the mid range jump shot. Gasol can. Pick and pop around 13-17 feet with Kobe and Pau.

- When they adjust, swing the ball around quickly, make the quick entry into Andrew and make him go to work. He's going to have to be a BIG factor when we play the C's.

- Space the floor: Radmanovic, Kobe, Fisher, and Vujacic are all going to have to knock down catch and shoot long range jumpers.

- Off the ball movement: There's holes in zone defenses. Find them, find cutters in the middle of the lane quickly, where they can either take a pull up jump shot, or find one of our big guys down low. Ariza's going to be key with this.

Crunch time Lineup:

Fisher vs Rondo
Kobe vs Allen
Ariza vs Pierce
Pau vs KG
Andrew vs Perkins

Offensively: Ariza's outside shooting is going to be critical.
Defensively: Man up, show some heart, guard your man, TEAM DEFENSE. If Rondo gets penetration and one of our big guys comes to help, another player is going to have to step in. Kobe's been doing a solid job this year with that, stepping in and blocking shots from behind.

LO, Farmar, Ariza, Vujacic and Bynum/Pau are going to be key for us with the second unit. Run, run, run. Their second unit out played ours too many times in the Finals last season. We have to be the aggressors this time around when the starters aren't on the floor.

pay someone to actually injure paul pierce

Erik Eleven wrote:As far as personel, I would start the following five:

Ariza vs Rondo
Kobe vs R Allen
Odom vs Pierce
Gasol vs KG
Bynum vs Perkins

I'd stick to those matchups all night to wear them down. We're younger, longer, faster on pretty much every position and should make it a focal point to run and play harder than them all night — outwork them in every possession. Ariza to make life hell for Rondo with intense man-man. Their offense crumbles without Rondo in command, and it usually ends up in Pierce's hands and Odom's length and quickness will bother Pierce. Kobe as perimeter threat to spread the floor Reggie Miller style. Inside out. Bigs must attack the rim with fury and own the boards. I can't wait.

ding, ding ding....we have a winner!

Ariza on Rondo Odom on Pierce I like it.

Go back to that trapping defense we played vs Portland.

I know the Lakers are catching heat for not playing defense, and yes the Lakers suck at man to man. But their length in a trapping defense is hell on offenses. Phil is just laying in the cut waiting to spring it on teams. He doesn't want teams to be able to prepare for it so he's put it away. He might not even use it in that game but when he unleashes it, damn the Lakers are gonna be a problem!