Lakers/Celtics - 2009 Finals

by Discoflux on Nov 24, 2008 2:29 PM EST

Is it just me or are these two teams head and shoulders above the rest of the league?

Once again we are on a collision course. I've been watching the Celtics play a few games this year and they look very professional and focused. Rondo is continuing to develop, the Big 3 are rock solid, Perk is a rebound machine, Allen is a good option off the bench... all the way around I do not see any weaknesses for us to exploit.

On the other hand our Lakers are stepping up their Defense and have a stronger core in the middle which is going to force the Celtics to the perimeter a bit more. With Ray Allen and Pierce hitting their shots from there I don't know if this is such a good thing...

It should be a repeat Finals this year, and if so, I think its going to be a real war. I can't wait... I hope both teams stay healthy.

Speaking of Scalabrine... we can offer you Luke Walton for him.

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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We don’t want Walton.

He needs to out there guarding Leon Powe.

;-)

by Emmette Bryant on Nov 24, 2008 3:17 PM EST reply actions

I think you’re right, these two teams do appear on a collision course in the Finals. While I think Bynum helps the Lakers, the Lakers weakness will always be the defensive play of Vujacic, Radmanovic and Odom.

When they are on the floor and the Celtics force the ball in their directions, those players have no answer for the Celtic players. They foul and remove themselves from the game because of foul trouble. Suddenly the Celtics pack it in and force Kobe to beat them from the outside which he can’t do all by himself against this Celtic defense.

Because of this Bynum really will not be much of a factor against the C’s. Perkins guards Bynum extremely well, always has and will neutralize anything he brings to the table. I think the Lakers are a great team but they have about 4 really mediocre to poor defenders in their top 9 players.

The Celtics have no such problem as 1-10 they are all defensively excellent, especially in the playoffs. Defense wins championships, so better luck next year.

by nickagneta on Nov 24, 2008 9:54 PM EST reply actions

C's and Lakers Showdown

I don’t know Nick.. The Lakers have a nice looking second unit, Better than some teams first units not to mention their defense has stepped up this year and is literally suffocating teams out west.. Trust, I have League Pass so I get all the games!

Jordan Farmar
Sasha Vujacic
Trevor Ariza (This guy is good)
Lamar Odom
Chris Mihm
+
Luke Walton or Josh Powell for match up purposes..

by Majic Mike on Nov 25, 2008 12:43 AM EST reply actions

We heard incessantly last year that the Lakers "second unit" was the best

Yet they got outplayed badly by the Celts reserves in the Finals. I realize Odom is now there, but he still can become the invisible man for stretches, Farmar is a big time front runner as is Vujacic. Suffocating teams out West does not prove anything, since nobody plays any D, when they see something even faintly resembling it, they have trouble. Besides, “second units” NEVER factor in during the playoffs. Deep benches are important in giving the starters adequate rest during the long grind of the season to keep them fresh for the playoffs. But nobody plays a whole second unit consistently during the playoffs. Rotations are shortened, and only key reserves become important.

I know the Lakers whole season is about getting a chance to beat the Celtics, but there is this small matter of 60+ more games to be played before they ever get that chance. It is a marathon and not a sprint, and health plays a big role in who is standing at the end, ask the Spurs last year. That is why it is always premature to look so far ahead, no matter how well a team is playing, if one of your key guys is hurt at the time of year when it matters, everything changes.

by KJ33 on Nov 30, 2008 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Finals repeat

I’m right with you on this one. No other team can come close to the Celtics or Lakers

by zxjamilxz on Nov 25, 2008 4:11 PM EST reply actions

NO NO NO NO NO....

Come on now….Our fate is intertwined, it is PORTLANDS job to knock off the demon hoards to the south.

Don’t Go putting them where they belong before they get there, it’s all got to go thru Portland. ;p

The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.

by faith on Nov 27, 2008 5:25 PM EST reply actions

The Lakers are invincible

If you read the headlines. I find all this early annointing of them as champs a bit annoying. Mark Jackson said if they play D like they did against Dallas (minus Josh Howard) they would “get a ring”. The season is not even 20 games deep at this point, meaning nobody has come close to playing all the teams in the league. The Lakers one loss was to a floundering, yet from the Eastern Conference, Pistons team.

It is far too early to say anyone is the favored champ, too much season has yet to be played to start making Finals plans. Didn’t the Pats teach us that nobody is invincible no matter how dominating they seem? Whether one wins by 1 or 20 means nothing once the playoffs start. The Lakers found out last year, barely being challenged by the non-D West during the playoffs, being picked by every expert in the world, how different a style the Celtics play. If’/when the Lakers are able to go all the way, I will give them their props, but all this early season love is a bit carried away. Ask the Celtics how much having almost 30 wins more than the Hawks meant once they played each other in a series. The Lakers could win 70, which they won’t, and it still does not guarantee them a title.

by KJ33 on Nov 30, 2008 11:16 AM EST reply actions