It Would Be Like 1990 on Your Sega Genesis All Over Again
Photo. MannionA Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals? It could very easily happen. And in today’s Los Angeles Times, columnist Bill Dwyre examines what it would mean for the teams, the NBA and basketball in general. The article breaks down the major matchups:
Monday night, little more than a scrimmage for the Celtics in their 104-76 victory against a Clippers team that is injured and hapless and looking increasingly indifferent, offered a good chance to turn up the volume on the Lakers-Celtics hype.
To that end, we put to use an NBA expert who shall remain anonymous because he wants it that way. Trust us on this. He knows more about the game and the league than all but perhaps a handful at Staples on Monday night.
Assuming no injuries and assuming that Jackson inserts Andrew Bynum in the starting lineup when he returns from his injury, this is how our expert sees the battle.
Kobe Bryant versus Ray Allen:
“Kobe. He’d win almost any matchup, but in this one, he defends better and he can post up better. He’d win this one, clearly.”Gasol versus Kevin Garnett:
“Garnett, because of intensity on defense, plus his versatility and overall rebounding.”
Lamar Odom versus Paul Pierce:
“Pierce, and that would be a tough matchup. Can Odom [having to play small forward with Bynum back] play the quicker, smaller forwards? That matchup would be a big part of whether or not the Celtics could beat the Lakers.”
Derek Fisher versus Rajon Rondo:
“Rondo wins here. He’s a legit point guard, plus he’s a good defender. Fisher is a better shooter, but he is not a better point guard.”
Bynum versus Kendrick Perkins:“No question, Bynum. A better offensive player, better all around. But this could be the key one, depending a lot on how much the refs let them play. If they let Perkins get physical, that could become a huge advantage for the Celtics. Really, though, Bynum should kill Perkins in this matchup.”
There you have it. A clip-and-save. It may be in the wastebasket by the end of April or on the refrigerator door in mid-June. The Celtics oozed talent Monday night. Even against the Clippers, that was undeniable. They are a John Wooden saying: They are quick, but they never hurry.
The Lakers have been similarly awesome since Memphis dropped Gasol out of the heavens. The corners and sharp edges of the triangle seem to have returned.
Bring on June.
We think the analysis is pretty spot on, except for automatically giving the edge to Rondo over D-Fish. Fish is older and clearly not the athlete Rondo is, but he’s tough and has been there many times before.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
No way rondo gets the edge over fish. Fish is a better shooter, better off the ball defender, better passer and has priceless playoff experience.
I think odom would give PP fits on D too.
Lakers would smash celts 4-1.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
hoopsguru says:
Fish would take Rondo in the playoffs………1-1 maybe not, but in a team game, in the finals, experience and veteran savy go a long way!
To finish the tale of the tape, I would give the Lakers bench and coaching staff the nod over the Celts.
Series - Lakers in 7
February 26th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
YOUNGFED says:
I would much rather see the Lakers play the Pistons or the Cavs.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Kobeef says:
The Gasol vs. Garnett head to head is not as cut-and-dry as he makes it seem. Gasol is a different player in LA than he was in Memphis…showing us some of the swagger he had when he was a rookie….
Gasol might give KG some of this (brrrrrbbb!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nHAuZdEH9Q
Also, Lamar has no problem with athletic small forwards…just ask Shawn Marion.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
evan says:
All well and good until someone can confirm Tom Chambers will be making an appearance by jumping from the 3 point line to dunk.
NBA2K? and NBA Live can’t hold a candle to the games that came out from NES/SNES/Genesis. Arch Rivals, baby!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
All Fisher has to do is get physical with Rondo like Billups does. Playoff experience ALONE gives him the edge.
I think the key to the whole series would be Paul Pierce. If he breaks out, Celts win. If LA can contain him to a reasonable level, then LA takes it.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
kowtz says:
take PF and C he same time and it’s a different story…
Bynum & PAU clearly over KG and Perkins…
He did not even look at how pierce can guard lamar on the other end… guys 6′10 after all…
How much tank will KG have after ging through bynum, Pau, Turiaf, and even some Lamar…
If they would be playing one on one, Celts win… too bad basketball is a team sport…
LA in seven because of one man… “Phil”…
February 27th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Celts Fan says:
I was a little surprised on the Rondo “clearly” over Fisher too. I think he probably has better games individually, but it’s very close.
IF Bynum comes back and they develop/keep the good chemistry they’ve shown AND Lamar can guard a 3 like Pierce, I’d say Lakers in 7. There are enough ifs that this is still up in the air. Either way, this would be PERFECT for the game as a whole and would be extremely entertaining.
June 1st, 2008 at 2:10 am
Mario says:
Those match ups are totally the same as I called it. I even made a post talking about that in the NBA LIVE Forums.