How do we begin to break down this year's matchup? Conventional wisdom goes out the window because neither team has a boatload of postseason experience. Both teams have a combined 3 players with more than one Conference Final (Kobe Bryant, Derek Fischer, Sam Cassell). What most impresses me about these two teams is they get better the more games they play, especially the Lake Show. Each club has defeated more experienced and battle hardened teams to get to this point, and yet these finalists have decisively and effectively closed out their respective opponents...Let's break it down.
Point Guard
Rajon Rondo vs. Derek Fischer
If Derek Fischer has showed us anything this postseason, it's that he's pretty darn consistent. Open shot, after open shot, he carried the hammer to nail the San Antonio Spurs' coffin; conversely, will the REAL Rajon Rondo please stand up? The former Wildcat showed promise and poise, but he was widely inconsistent during the Celtics playoff run. Inconsistency is not going to cut it in the NBA Finals.Advantage: Lakers
Shooting Guard
Kobe Bryant vs. Ray Allen
uuuhhh...Just give it your best shot Jesus.
Advantage: Lakers
Small Forward
Paul Pierce vs. Luke Walton
This is going to be a very, very lopsided matchup. Unless, Bill Walton's son gets hurt in the next 24 hours, he's gonna get his ass handed to him. Kevin Garnett is playing great ball for the C's, but in every game that the Cetlics needed, The Truth delivered. To make matters worse, Paul is playing on the greatest stage his profession has to offer in front of his home crowd. Man, it's not looking good...use the force Luke, you're gonna need it.Advantage: Celtics
Power Forward
Lamar Odom vs. Kevin Garnett
okokok...I'ma say it! I aint skeered! I'm D-Con DAMMIT. Kevin Garnett is the player that everyone thought Lamar Odom was going to be!!! And deep down, deep down, LO knows that. That said, Odom will bring his A game for the Ticket. Lots don't know that Odom grabbed 10 boards per game this year, and aside from points, he's neck and neck with KG in every statistical category. But I won't go crazy and grade this matchup as a tie; Garnett, at the end of these contests, will get the better of Lamar Odom.Advantage: Celtics
Center
Kendrick Perkins vs. Pau Gasol
Now, let me give some credit to Kendrick Perkins, because he has moves down low, and a nice 10 footer from ANYWHERE on the floor. But, the young man has a tendency to fall asleep and disappear during the course of the game. On the other side, Pau Gasol is on ALL GAME LONG. He may take some s-s-sstupid shots, but he runs the floor, rebounds, and is an exceptional passer from the post.Advantage: Lakers
Lakers Bench:
Doc Rivers, head coach of the Boston Celtics, really has to prepare his team for the Lakers' second unit. The challenge is they run. Like UNLV run, like Arkansas 92 run, like RUN-TMC run. Boston has faced slower teams with set, half-court offenses throughout their campaign and does not fair well in defensive transistion.
Vladamir Rodmanovic and Jordan Farmar must be accurate to help the Lakers hold Boston off late in the periods. Sasha Vujacic must do the same; further, defensively, he and Trevor Ariza will need to keep their eyes on live bodies like Leon Powe and James Posey.
In the previous series, Ronny Turiaf was effective because he stayed out of foul trouble and outhustled older opponents like Robert Horry. This time, he'll have to deal with PJ Brown...LOL!
What can I say about the Celtic Bench? No, really, I'm asking...The most consistent reserve has been PJ Brown...HELLO, he's the third oldest player in the league!
Seriously, these guys have got to play on a more consistent basis to match up with their West Coast counterparts. Sam Cassell has been a liability thus far for the C's...but then again, he won't have the defensive pressure of Lindsay Hunter on him...so he should be ok. Eddie House, nope; Tony Allen, non-existent; Glenn Davis, six fouls; Leon Powe...mmm, maybe; James Posey, hold the phone.
James Posey IS one of the reasons why Boston advanced past the Detroit Pistons. His hustle plays late in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals helped cement Celtic victory. James doesn't get rattled, and should give the Celtics that added umph needed to help them win games. Posey has the experience to prove it. He played a key role in Miami's 2006 championship run.
Bottom line is: Doc's going to have to demand a little bit more from these guys in order to overcome LA's second unit.
Advantage: Lakers
All in all, this should be a very exciting series. It's been over 20 years since these cities saw each other in the Finals, but what's most significant to me is, we've never wanted players to win so badly. Lots of folk are rooting for the Celtics because they want KG to get a ring, others have watched Paul Pierce for years and respect the turmoil he's dealt with in Boston. Then you have those who want Kobe to show all the haters that Shaquille O'Neal didn't just win by himself during those Laker runs in the early millennium.
LA may prove to be too much for Boston this series. Hope to Pistol Pete's socks that I'm wrong though, but I'm 0-2 on predictions thus far anyway.
D-Con
1 comment:
When does Luke Walton start? And Leon Powe barely plays. Your trating KG like he takes over games, he never has and never will. Odom may not be as fierce as Garnett but at least he wont play passive in the 4th quarter. Im not gonna call KG the "Big Ticket" how about we call him the "Big Giver" since he always passes the ball up at the end of games!
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