The historic matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics in this year’s NBA finals is bursting with tough matchups and simmering rivalries. Each team has its strengths over the other, and the winner will be the one who is able to overcome the mismatch.

Both teams are eminently capable of draining the three, with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce supplemented by Nate Robinson for the Celtics and Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar and Kobe Bryant gunning for the Lakers. Any one of those guys is capable of ripping the net from any spot on the floor. The edge here is difficult to give to any one team. When Ray Allen is hot, there’s no one better, but he’s also capable of going cold as ice. For the Lakers, Derek Fisher is the clutch man, having hit huge three after huge three. When the game is on the line, though, the Celtics will want the ball in the hands of Paul Pierce, and the Lakers, of course, will give it to Kobe.

In the front court, the Celtics have a serious matchup problem, with the 6-10 Kendrick Perkins matched up against the seven foot Andrew Bynum and aging but still active Kevin Garnett trying to keep up with a very energized and motivated Pau Gasol, who is looking to get even with Garnett for owning him in the 2008 finals. Foul trouble has been and will continue to be key, as the smaller, older  Celtics do their best not to grab at  the bigger, younger Lakers.

The Celtics will need greater performances from their bench, particularly from Glen Davis and Rasheed Wallace, who will be taking some of the heat off Garnett and Perkins. On the Laker bench, Jordan Farmar will be counted on to come in and hit some shots from the outside, especially if Kobe needs a breather. Meanwhile, Lamar Odom will be called upon to give some quality minutes should Gasol need rest or get into foul trouble.

The Celtics swarming, relentless defense has been keeping their opponents down while picking their offense up throughout the playoffs. Will they be able to keep up with the high-powered Laker offense and create opportunities for their offense? Much of that depends on the Celtics’ guard Rajon Rondo, whose quick hands and explosiveness is matched only by his inconsistency. Can he put up another triple double as he did against the Cavs and take over the game? Or will he commit enough turnovers to mitigate his own effectiveness?

Will the Lakers’ frontcourt play up to its potential and overpower the Celtics? Can Ron Artest bother Paul Pierce enough to take him out of his game and hit a few shots of his own? He is also famously inconsistent, although his play helped the Lakers immensely in their win over the Suns.

All these questions will be answered as the Lakers try to pay back the Celtics for their convincing victory two years ago. Do the Celtics have one more championship left, or will the Lakers be too young, too strong, and too hungry to be denied?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.