Lakers Offense??? How about Celtics D??

[Little Rick]

I get a good laugh out of the so called

[Albanian Damien]

I understand that a great offense can beat a great defense. However you can always play great D, you can't always play great offense.

[Athanacropolis]

Great post Little Rick! But obviously you missed the memo that flash beats substance every time.

That's okay; I missed it too.

I'm not going to call an easy Cs OR easy Lakers victory. It's going to be a hell of a series, and the first in a while where any predictions are impossible to make.

[Joselo16]

All you hear about is how great the Laker offense is which is no lie but what most fail to realize is that the C's D is great in itself. We made a great team (Detroit) which prided itself in not turning the ball over and out-rebounding its opponent, turn the ball over at a high rate and we crushed them on the boards. Laker's have a shooting guard playing PG and have gotten out-rebounded by their opponents in the playoffs. I kind of like being considered the underdog's, more motivation for the guys.

Also how can they say that the Laker's will be more rested than because they have played 5 fewer games, when both teams get almost a week to rest up. Is there any rule that if you play x amount of games you will have to play with a lesser energy level? Because playing all these games hasn't really hurt us to this point. We played mre games than Cleveland (won that series), we also played more games than Detroit (won that series too). I just don't get the logic???

[chakdaddy]

I was going to post about Perk on Gasol. The key is, if Perk can destroy Gasol the way he desteroyed Bynum in the regular season, we'll really be in the driver's seat. But Gasol is much better than Bynum, Bynum was really overhyped.

I always thought that Perk was best against big, traditional centers like Bynum, while more athletic or long guys like Gasol give him more trouble, just the opposite of the original post. But I still think Perk can do the job. PJ Brown will come in handy too.

I'd worry more about the Lakers if they were able to go big with Bynum/Gasol/Odom; we'd have some real matchup nightmares there. But part of that is letting the Bynum hype get to me. Anyway, we can worry about that next year.

[Dakid21KG]

We have to beat them up. Down low they are weak, we have to get our backs to the hoop and post. Bring it up strong and get them in foul trouble. Perks long arms will alter Pau's shot and cause him to pass and go up for them weak flouters he tosses up (easy blocks if played right). I dislike the idea, of rad making KG have to step out, because this will mess with the rebounding strategy. So, who ever is guarding odum has to crash the boards. The lakers are a jump shooting team that takes advantage of poor outside defense. we are the best team at closing out on the perimeter so im not to worried about the 3 pointer this series. Posey will have to play a major part this series, his physical size is a perfect match for odum. They are nearly identical. Kobe will be kobe, but we just have to contain him some how.

They have no one to stop KG or pierce, we have to feast on those match ups.

[chakdaddy]

Posey will have to play a major part this series, his physical size is a perfect match for odum. They are nearly identical.

Apart from the 2 inch height difference? I actually thought it was 3 inches, I thought Odom was 6-11 for a minute...but maybe you're right, they might match up ok...I'd worry about the boards in that situation. I think I like KG on Odom better.

[John from Hemet]

Utah and San Antonio said the same thing.....

[DEEP3CL]

You guys have been blinded on a few facts about the Lakers.

For the guy who said the Lakers are "soft" sorry buddy but your dead wrong. We have guys that don't mind being physical.

For the guy that said the Lakers are a "jump shooting team" once again wrong. The Triangle is predicated on going inside first then kicking out for jumpers. We have guys that can post effectively and will punish you.

And for the guy that thought Perkins "destroyed" Bynum lay off the Yak man. The refs called early fouls on Bynum both game effectively taking him out the games. And as far as next season you can forget Perkins having any kind of a chance against Bynum.

You guys think Perkins is better than what he really is, fact of the matter is Perkins is a poser a second stringer that is starting by default.

[spf211]

It certainly remains to be seen, but I don't think the Celtic defense is that much better than San Antonio's to make a difference. Probably what is missing in the analysis right now is that Boston's offense can be as effective as Los Angeles when both Ray Allen and Rondo are contributing.

[Joselo16]

I seriously think our guys (C's) defense is much better that San Antonio's (SA). SA relies on two guys to anchor their defense in Duncan and Bowen, the latter being truly overrated. They have a PG that play Parker and a SG Finley who play matador defense, as far as Oberto I don't know what he brings at all. Our defense is a collective team (Ray being the weak link even thought he has played better). Rondo,Pierce,Garnett and Perk are all superb defenders if you say otherwise you haven't followed this team. I really feel our pieces match up better against LA, than SA's. Who guarded LA's X factor (Odom) in SA, Finley??? Because here he will either get Pierce or KG attention! Fisher won't be allowed to drive on Rondo, my guess is that he will try to post him up but we already have already defended a better post up guard in Billups and that wasn't effective. Kobe's gonna get his no doubt but I'm pretty sure his contributions are gonna get negated by Pierce's. Lamar will not be allowed to drive to the basket and will be left to shoot (Odom's kryptonite). The only matchup that concerns me is Pau's quickness against Perk. He won't back Perk down in the post but Pau has quick moves (spins etc) that might be very effective. I might just be looking at it through my green shades but I truly think our D is better suited for LA that SA's.

[3pt %]

You guys have been blinded on a few facts about the Lakers.

For the guy who said the Lakers are "soft" sorry buddy but your dead wrong. We have guys that don't mind being physical.

For the guy that said the Lakers are a "jump shooting team" once again wrong. The Triangle is predicated on going inside first then kicking out for jumpers. We have guys that can post effectively and will punish you.

And for the guy that thought Perkins "destroyed" Bynum lay off the Yak man. The refs called early fouls on Bynum both game effectively taking him out the games. And as far as next season you can forget Perkins having any kind of a chance against Bynum.

You guys think Perkins is better than what he really is, fact of the matter is Perkins is a poser a second stringer that is starting by default.

I think you are missing more then a few 'IMHO's in there mate.

Did you see what Perkin did against the Pistons front line? The series ending block on Billups? Hardly second string.

Have your opinion all you want, but don't bother posting it as fact on the Celtics board.

[John from Hemet]

I have no problem giving Perkins credit as a good defender and a 1st string player....

But keep in mind that playing against Gasol is different then against Detroits line or even Bynum.....

If Gasol chooses to attack Perkins he doesn't have the quickness to stop him with any consistancy......and while Perkins will overpower Gasol at times offensively Pao knows how to pick up those fouls on a power player......

[GuyClinch]

The Lakers D by the numbers was quite respectable. They were the fifth best in the regular season and had the third best offense.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2008.html

These really are the two best teams going at it. But interestingly I feel that the Lakers have some very poor matchups against us. That's why we beat up on them in the regular season. I like Gasol but he does nothing to even bother Garnett matchup wise and Garnett CAN bother him.

I am not declaring victory but I like our chances.

Pete