Projected Starters:
Celtics: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins
Lakers: Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum
Health Check: For the Celtics, guards Marquis Daniels (thumb) and J.R. Giddens (knee) are out.
The Lakers are healthy.
Keep It In Mind: In nine of the Lakers' 11 losses this season, Kobe Bryant has shot less than 50 percent from the field.
Who's Hot: For the Celtics, Paul Pierce torched the Hawks on Friday with a game-high 35 points.
For the Lakers, Ron Artest scored 18 points on 7-13 shooting against the Sixers on Friday.
Who's Not: For the Celtics, Rasheed Wallace shot just 2-8 from the field and 1-5 from three-point nation against the Hawks on Friday, scoring just six points.
For the Lakers, Andrew Bynum took just six shot attempts in 25 minutes against Philadelphia, scoring just six points.
Key Matchup: Paul Pierce vs. Kobe Bryant (They will guard each other at times)
Honorable Mention: Paul Pierce vs. Ron Artest, Kevin Garnett vs. Pau Gasol and Kendrick Perkins vs. Andrew Bynum
Skinny: The Lakers own the Western Conference's best record for a reason. The Celtics will be challenged in all facets of the game today, but they have to be especially assertive on the defensive end (the Lakers are averaging 103.87 points per game as a team this season) and on the glass (the Lakers are second in the league with a 45.04 rebounds per game average). The C's also need to value the ball today, as the Lakers commit the sixth fewest turnovers per game in the league (13.12), while forcing their opponents into nearly 15 per game.
It will be a dogfight, but it should make for a great afternoon of basketball. Allow me to be the first to say: Let's Go Celtics.