healthy 2008 lakers vs 2008 celtics

[chefy]

let's say bynum and ariza didnt get injured in 2008 season and the gasol trade still happened. lakers vs celtics in the finals who would win?

lakers

bynum,turiaf
gasol,odom
ariza,radman,walton
kobe,sasha,
fisher,farmar

celtics

perkins,brown
garnet,powe,davis
pierce,posey
allen,t.allen,house
rondo,cassel

[LebronsCavs]

Celtics still. Kobe would still play like a black hole.

[Greatness]

Celtics. They had 3 players (KG, Pierce, and Allen) that had all never won a ring and were hungry as hell. No way they lose that series. Now 2009 Lakers vs 2008 Celtics would be an interesting match-up.

[chefy]

hmm

even with a healthy bynum?

bynum that season was averaging

13, 10.2, 1.7, 2.1 bpg, 636 fg% in 28.9 mins

and lakers would have ariza guarding allen/pierce

plus

lakers would be much deeper team with odom moving to the bench

[Harison]

Probably still Celtics. Healthy Lakers 2010 would be much more interesting vs 2008 Celtics - beasting Gasol, still great Kobe, healthy Bynum, Artest... Celtics would have handful, and still would have a nice chance, HCA would be a huge factor IMO.

[bc legends]

celtics still take it

[Optms]

Who's to say. Lakers still took them to 6 with two key players out.

[JordansBulls]

let's say bynum and ariza didnt get injured in 2008 season and the gasol trade still happened. lakers vs celtics in the finals who would win?

lakers

bynum,turiaf
gasol,odom
ariza,radman,walton
kobe,sasha,
fisher,farmar

celtics

perkins,brown
garnet,powe,davis
pierce,posey
allen,t.allen,house
rondo,cassel

Lakers don't get Gasol if Bynum was not injured.

Source: Bynum Injury Blessing

Andrew Bynum's injury could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the Lakers, provided he shows no ill effects when he returns in March. . . .

If Bynum hadn't damaged a knee in a Jan. 13 victory over Pau Gasol and the Memphis Grizzlies, General Manager Mitch Kupchak has acknowledged, the Lakers would not have pursued Gasol in a trade. . . .

[Laimbeer]

Celtics, because the Lakers were intimidated. Bynum and Ariza don't change that.

What they really needed was their manhood.

[semi-sentient]

The Lakers chances would have improved.

Ariza would probably have been a bigger factor because he would have had more success covering Pierce than Radmanovic who couldn't seem to stay out of foul trouble. That would have allowed Kobe to roam more and play Rondo the way he did last season which means that Rondo turns into a jump shooter which is precisely what you want.

I don't know that Bynum would have done much against Perkins, but he might have given some nice reserve minutes. On the other hand, having Odom come in to mix things up would have made a huge difference for our bench. The Lakers lost that series because the bench play was atrocious (starters held their own). Every time they came in (Vujacic, Walton, Turiaf) the Lakers either lost leads or gave the Celtics momentum. The rotation obviously changes if Bynum and Ariza are healthy.

I think it could go either way, but I'm inclined to pick the Celtics based on what they did in the closeout game. They were mentally tougher, like someone above said.

[shobe_81]

Celtics in 7.

Ariza hadn't developed the jumper or the 3pt shot in 08.

And Bynum would have helped a lot because it would allow Odom to move to bench. Garnett wouldn't be able to lay off of Odom like he did. Instead he'd probably guard Gasol. The interior defense would have improved. No easy lay-ups the Celtics enjoyed (ex. Allen game winning lay-up).

But Celtics still take it. Lakers had no answer for Pierce.

[The Main Event]

Celts without a doubt.

[LA Warrior]

Celtics, because the Lakers were intimidated. Bynum and Ariza don't change that.

What they really needed was their manhood.

Maybe a wheelchair would have helped?