Why we're gonna beat the Lakers for #18

[Havlicek17]

I know it's only been a dozen or so games into the season, but so far it looks like LA and Boston are the class of their respective divisions. If everybody stays healthy, and both teams continue to play the way they have, I would expect to have a rematch.

There was an interesting article in the LA Times today about the Lakers. Here are some quotes:

"The Lakers won this game with their offense, their defense getting sliced apart during a 118-108 victory over the Kings on Sunday night at Staples Center. The Lakers now have given up more than 100 points in three of their last five games. That they won four of them doesn't solve the problem.
Their defense is leaking, and the Kings found plenty of holes to exploit, their 53.4% shooting a sign of how poor the Lakers were on defense."

"Offense comes easy to us," Bryant said. "Defense is the part we've really got to focus on. Whether we have all the guys in double figures, whatever it is, it means nothing. Winning a championship, you have to defend and you got to rebound. We'll do better next game."

The Kings scored 58 points in the paint. Their guards got the basket with ease, going by Lakers defenders frequently.

"They have a couple of guys that aren't great defensive players," Sacramento Coach Reggie Theus said. "Kobe is a great defensive player. Trevor [Ariza] is a great defensive player. But they have guys that aren't great defensive players."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketbal ... 6409.story

That's why were going to beat the Lakers for #18. Defense wins championships.

[ParticleMan]

are you crazy??? defense shmefense.

it's all about showtime, rainin 3's with an unstoppable o, the best player in the universe kobe bryant, the man-child andrew bynum. that's why the Lakers are the 2007-2008 NBA CHAMPS!!!!! WOOOOOO GOIN FOR 2 INAROW!!!!!!!!!

[DEEP3CL]

How do you know if either team gets back to the Finals ? Your basing your whole post around one game ? I'm not going to go back and forth cause it's way too early to pin an identity on somebody. But don't be acting like the C's haven't had points scored on them because they have. Both teams have given up 100 points a total of 3 times big deal.

[Fencer reregistered]

I don't think one can draw too many negative conclusions about the June play of a team based on sloppiness during a single 10-point victory November.

[Al-Haqq]

My only question mark around the Lakers so far has been 'can they play championship caliber defense consistently?' ... and over the course of the past 5 games, they haven't been able to.

Granted they'll improve their defense, but can they maintain it over the stretch of the playoffs?

[DEEP3CL]

and over the course of the past 5 games, they haven't been able to.

Last 5 games.............what are you watching. We killed the Suns in every way you can think of don't let the final scores fool you. We beat the Suns 105-92 but it wasn't nearly as close, we've been torturing Denver for a good minute now ( a team the Celtics lost to), toyed with the Bulls all game not even close as the score indicated. In the Sacramento game we were up 19 late got sloppy and they came back it happens , the Piston game we was just flat out beat no excuses. But like I said you guys are buying fools gold if you think what you've been reading is true. Sunday night was one of the rare games a team got into the paint, we lead the league in block shots teams just don't get in that often.

[aboubata]

I am scared of the lakers.
I don't remember which year but I think it was 1985, larry bird said that the lakers had the goal to win the championship after they were defeated by the Cs in 1984. Magic even confirmed it that they were on a mission, which I feel this lakers team is.
I wouldn't say we beat them, until one of 2 things happen
1. We win both contest in an easy way.
2. Our bench players are consistent.

[Havlicek17]

This article reminded me of why we beat the Lakers last year, and if we meet again, why we will beat the Lakers again; DEFENSE.

The Sacramento game sounded like what happened in game 4 of the finals last year, except Sacramento doesn't have the players we do so they didn't come all the way back. Letting anybody, including Sacramento drive into the paint and score in the paint so easily wasn't supposed to happen with Bynum playing and healthy this year. Rememebr all the talk about how Bynum will shore up the middle, so the Lakers defense will be better this year. I'm not seeing it.

Unless the Lakers turn on the defense (which is unlikely), I like our chances.

[humblebum]

I think the only issue I can see with the Lakers defense at this point is that they play several vulnerable defenders in Fisher (he obviously used to be better), Farmar, Vujacic, and Radmanovic. Gasol is basically the Ray Allen of PF's defensively, an average defender. Ariza is basically the Lakers Tony Allen, a real strong talent defensively. Odom and Bynum are good defensive players and so is Kobe, but I don't think he's a great defender against elite offensive guys. Where the Lakers are really strong however is in the rebounding game, which is huge for them.

So on balance the Celtics have more upper tier defensive players with Eddie House being the only real suspect defender in the rotation. The Celtics though are not as good in terms of rebounding which brings the balance a bit closer between the Celtics and Lakers defensively.

What this potential rematch comes down to then is can Rondo be consistently effective offensively. If he can that really tilts the matchup in the Celtics favor because Rondo can really hurt the Lakers D while really helping the Celtics in that department.

Overall I think this matchup has gotten a bit tighter with the Celtics still holding a slight advantage in my mind because LA still has some question marks revolving around how they deal with really intense physical play.

[humblebum]

This article reminded me of why we beat the Lakers last year, and if we meet again, why we will beat the Lakers again; DEFENSE.

The Sacramento game sounded like what happened in game 4 of the finals last year, except Sacramento doesn't have the players we do so they didn't come all the way back. Letting anybody, including Sacramento drive into the paint and score in the paint so easily wasn't supposed to happen with Bynum playing and healthy this year. Rememebr all the talk about how Bynum will shore up the middle, so the Lakers defense will be better this year. I'm not seeing it.

Unless the Lakers turn on the defense (which is unlikely), I like our chances.

The Lakers have been playing really good defense this year actually. They've had some poor games defensively but they're much improved thus far. Now I don't think they're going to quite hang their hat on defense quite like the Celtics but they are definitely respectable. When you consider how potent their offense can be they have a really nice combination. Defintiely not a team to be taken lightly.

[Celtsfan1980]

Personally I fear the Cavs and I think the Lakers should be worried about the Rockets, Hornets, and even the Blazers. If neither team makes the Championship, I wouldn't be too surprised. I think the Lakers had their chance to sign Posey and instead signed Sasha, so I don't think they'll ever be a great defensive team as a result. I had thought they wouldn't be able to play great defense consistently, and it looks like I've been correct thus far. They may finish top 5, but I don't see them competing with Boston defensively by the end of the year. Defense is not a guarantee that you'll win a Championship, so it's still too early to make predictions. By the way, what happened to Detroit's defense?

[aboubata]

Personally I fear the Cavs and I think the Lakers should be worried about the Rockets, Hornets, and even the Blazers. If neither team makes the Championship, I wouldn't be too surprised. I think the Lakers had their chance to sign Posey and instead signed Sasha, so I don't think they'll ever be a great defensive team as a result. I had thought they wouldn't be able to play great defense consistently, and it looks like I've been correct thus far. They may finish top 5, but I don't see them competing with Boston defensively by the end of the year. Defense is not a guarantee that you'll win a Championship, so it's still too early to make predictions. By the way, what happened to Detroit's defense?

I thought the hornets would be much better, but the Lakers have an uphill batle to get to the championship (with that being said I hope the celtics take care of business for the first round at least). Phoenix, San Antonio and Denver are good teams as well.

The Lakers would only go down to a team that has a good wing defender, someone who could play good D against Kobe. Something Denver doesn't have.

[Havlicek17]

I don't believe I am taking the Lakers lightly, I just think we have a better team because defense is our cornerstone and like it or not, defense wins championships. I am also getting tired of hearing why LA will win it all this year, and the Celtics come in 2nd or 3rd behind Cleveland. I am throwing my 2 cents into the mix and calling bull&^%$ on all this love for the Lakers and lack of respect for the Celts.

In the NBA, offense is appreciated more than defense. It is prettier to watch a high scoring game than a low scoring game, and it leaves casual observers with the impression that a very good offense just can't be stopped. That's why the Lakers were picked to win it last year, and why everybody was in the Lakers face about what the $%&# just happened.

After we won, all my Lakers friends kept saying that with Bynum back this year, they wouldn't be so soft, their defense would be better and the Lakers were going to beat us this year. I read an article in the preseason where Fisher was quoted as saying that LA wasn't paying enough attention to their deffense in practice and the preseason, and defense wins championships. Now I am reading about how Sacramento couldn't be kept out of the paint. This is Sacramento we're talking about. I don't think the Lakers put the same priority on defense that we do, and I think having Bynum back helps, but does not solve the underlying flaw in their game.

By the way, it's the same reason why the Celtics franchise has beaten LA repeatedly over the years. Great defense almost always (10-2) beats great offense.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I think if we meet them again in the Finals, we'll win. Our D is better, more consistent, and it's just the way the world should work (1985 and 1987 nonwithstanding...)

[DEEP3CL]

I think the Lakers should be worried about the Rockets, Hornets, and even the Blazers.

Fair assessment here only thing is we've handled the Hornets pretty easy both home and away. The Blazers are just as long as the Lakers our only true advantage is at the 2 guard, Kobe just has that killer instinc over Roy at this point.

I think the Lakers had their chance to sign Posey and instead signed Sasha, so I don't think they'll ever be a great defensive team as a result.

Come on Celtsfan your better then this I know right ? Man we never had the inside track on Pose, he was looking for more years then we were willing to offer. The money was OK, even last night while I was watching the NO- Clipper game they were saying how NO likes the deal now but may not when he's 34 and not moving the same...........agree ?

But it's still too early to pin how both teams are going to end up in my opinion

[ParticleMan]

But it's still too early to pin how both teams are going to end up in my opinion

^^ this.

[Harison]

Its still too early to speak about finals, as both teams have bigger chance than last year not to reach it at all. Lets say for argument sake Lakers and Celtics reach finals, we have no idea if there will be any injuries, what players form, who will have home advantage, etc. With equal squads health and form, I would say Celtics have minor advantage, but not as much as last year, and I'm sure Lakers defence will be pretty good.

[GuyClinch]

You have to consider pace with regards to defense not just points allowed. The Lakers were not bad last year defensively (except against the C's) and this year with Bynum back they are even better defensively.

I think the C's need to make sure they can get home court advantage. The C's need to win a ton of games they way the Lakers are going.

[TonyMontana]

Its still too early to speak about finals, as both teams have bigger chance than last year not to reach it at all. Lets say for argument sake Lakers and Celtics reach finals, we have no idea if there will be any injuries, what players form, who will have home advantage, etc. With equal squads health and form, I would say Celtics have minor advantage, but not as much as last year, and I'm sure Lakers defense is IMPORVED.

Very good post

You have to consider pace with regards to defense not just points allowed. The Lakers were not bad last year defensively (except against the C's) and this year with Bynum and ARIZA back they are even better defensively.

I think the C's need to make sure they can get home court advantage. The C's need to win a ton of games they way the Lakers are going.

I agree another good post and I put Ariza in your post as well cause I see a lot of people are forgetting how much energy Ariza brings to our defense. But GOOD POST by both of you guys.

[Allanon]

You have to consider pace with regards to defense not just points allowed. The Lakers were not bad last year defensively (except against the C's) and this year with Bynum back they are even better defensively.

That's a very good point. The Lakers play at a higher pace so it seems they allow more points because they're no good defensively.

But if you remove the pace from the equation and do a per100 possessions, Lakers come out as the #1 defensive team with Celtics #2.

It is still early in the season but the Lakers are significantly improved in defense.