<div align="center"> <font color="green">The Boston Celtics (28-39)</font> vs. <font color="purple">The Los Angeles Lakers (34-34)</font> Monday, March 20th, 2006 Boston Garden 4:30 Pacific; Local </div> [div=50%] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="green"> <font size="1">(D. West, W. Szczerbiak, P. Pierce, R. Gomes, R. LaFrentz)</font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Paul Pierce - 27.2 Leading Rebounder: Paul Pierce - 6.7 Assist Man: Paul Pierce - 4.8 The Bench Man: Al Jefferson (8.0 PPG, 49.9% FGs, 5.1 RPG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/delonte_west.jpg[/imgl]<font color="green">Delonte West</font> PPG: 11.6, RPG: 4.1, APG: 4.4 Delonte West was playing great basketball for the Celtics, prior to a minor injury. In the last meeting in Los Angeles, he ended up with 19 points and 10 assists to help lead the way for a Boston road win. He's been struggling with foul trouble the last couple of games, but look for him to rebound against the Lakers. Delonte's speed and change of direction will help him beat Smush Parker off the dribble and penetrate deep into the lane. He's going to have the green light to attack all game long. The Lakers better account for him releasing early to get easy transition baskets as well.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/wally_szczerbiak.jpg[/imgl]<font color="green">Wally Szczerbiak</font> PPG: 17.1, RPG: 4.0, APG: 3.4 He's been a legit second option alongside Paul Pierce since the trade. Wally has gotten the best of Lamar Odom in every meeting this season. Wally has been on a tear in the month of March, and the Lakers have to be disciplined and not double off of him. Lamar needs to force Wally to put the ball on the floor and try to create off the dribble instead of daring him to shoot jumpshots.</font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/paul_pierce.jpg[/imgl]<font color="green">Paul Pierce</font> PPG: 27.2, RPG: 6.7, APG: 4.8 PSquared is playing MVP basketball since the All Star Break. He attributes his play to finally being assured he won't be traded and has full support of the ownership. Pierce has responded by scoring over 30PPG and leading the Celtics in rebounding and assists. The Lakers can count on Pierce bringing his 'A' game tomorrow and they have to be ready for Pierce getting a lot of foul calls. Pierce is one of the best in the league at drawing contact and getting to the charity stripe. </font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ryan_gomes.jpg[/imgl]<font color="green">Ryan Gomes</font> PPG: 6.2, RPG: 4.2, APG: .7 Ryan Gomes used his hustle to grab 5 offensive rebounds and score 19 points against the Lakers in Los Angeles. He took advantage of attacking from the weakside, and cleaning up any misses. The Lakers have to do a better job of boxing him out and keeping him to his average of 6 points per game.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/raef_lafrentz.jpg[/imgl]<font color="green">Raef LaFrentz</font> PPG: 7.8, RPG: 5.0, APG: 1.4 Kwame Brown will have to shadow LaFrentz in this game and not let him drift behind the arc for wide open 3 pointers. Kwame has to do a better job of picking his spots to double against Pierce in the post. Kwame should also take advantage of his speed by sprinting down the court and forcing LaFrentz to keep up. Without Chris Mihm, the Lakers need Kwame to get double digits on the glass and control the paint.</font> [/div] <font size="3">Projected Starters</font> <div align="center"><font color="purple"> <font size="1">(S. Parker, K. Bryant, L. Odom, B. Cook, K. Brown) </font></font></div> <font size="1">Leading Scorer: Kobe Bryant - 34.6 PPG Leading Rebounder: Lamar Odom - 9.2 RPG Assist Man: Lamar Odom - 5.5 APG The Bench Man: Luke Walton (4.5 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.0 APG)</font> <font size="3">Backcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/smush_parker.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Smush Parker</font> PPG: 11.6, RPG: 3.2, APG: 3.4 Smush Parker has to do a better job on the defensive end in this game. His offense is coming around, but his decision making on defense has been questionable at times. He's going to have his hands full with Delonte West, and cannot allow West to get 19/10 on him again. Smush should try to get West in early foul trouble by taking it to the rim on him. I'd like to see Smush get at least 4 FTAs in this game.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kobe_bryant.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kobe Bryant</font> PPG: 34.6, RPG: 5.3, APG: 4.7 Kobe Bryant snapped out of his funk against the Cavs, but he logged heavy minutes in the game. It doesn't get any easier matching up with Paul Pierce, and if Kobe is struggling early, PJax will be forced to put Devean George on Pierce. Kobe has to show some composure tomorrow night with the officials. He has to realize the calls are likely going to favor the Celtics, and the Boston fans would like nothing less than to see Kobe get T'd up and then ride him all game long. The Lakers cannot afford Kobe to be suspended any games because of his Technical foul total. Kobe just needs to play within the flow and take what the Celtics give him. His teammates are doing a better job of supporting him, so he shouldn't feel the pressure to take over games anymore.</font> <font size="3">Frontcourt</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/lamar_odom.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Lamar Odom</font> PPG: 14.4, RPG: 9.2, APG: 5.5 Lamar Odom has turned the corner on his season and is playing very consistent for the Lakers. He also played heavy minutes against the Cavs, but he has to perform at a high level once again. Lamar Odom has the mismatch against any player on Boston. I'd like to see Odom get 20/10/7 against the Celtics and finally get the better of Wally. Lamar needs to remind his teammates to find him in the post to score or create baskets with his passing.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/brian_cook.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Brian Cook</font> PPG: 8.4, RPG: 3.3, APG: 1.0 Brian Cook has been playing with a short leash the last few games. PJax has no tolerance for Cook taking plays off on defense. With Ryan Gomes on the court, Cook better body him up and box out early. If not he's going to be riding pine, and George or Turiaf will get the opportunity.</font> <font size="1">[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kwame_brown.jpg[/imgl]<font color="purple">Kwame Brown</font> PPG: 6.0, RPG: 6.0, APG: 0.9 Kwame has to be a monster on the glass for the Lakers. Getting anything less than 9 rebounds a game with Mihm out is unacceptable for the big man. </font> <font size="3">Lakers Keys to the Game</font><ul>[*]<font color="purple">No Turnovers</font> - The Lakers have to protect the basketball and try to get no more than 10 turnovers. It's a going to be another close game, so every possession is going to count.[*]<font color="purple">Pace Yourself</font> - Teams have figured out the Lakers will fade in the second half. The Lakers and PJax have to do a better job of having energy after halftime. Teams seem content to coast against the Lakers in the 1st half, and then unleash themselves in the 2nd half. The 3rd quarter letdowns have to stop the rest of the way. [*]<font color="purple">Be Aggressive</font> - The Lakers cannot let the officials get them off their game. Force the officials to blow the whistle by attacking early and establishing the role of 'aggressor' in this game. The Celtics are prone to fouling in bunches and putting teams into the penalty early. The Lakers need this victory to build some momentum for the showdown against Sac![/list]<font size="3">Prediction</font> The Lakers cannot afford to go 0-3 on this road trip. They have done a better job of playing as a team, but they have to be motivated to play an entire 48 minutes. Lakers: 92, Celtics: 85..
They're gonna destroy the Celtics, GUARANTEED. I'll put money on this game Lakers will kill them by atleast 10. I don't care if Celtics are at home, this is war. I wonder what the spread will be for the game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting illmatic:</div><div class="quote_post">They're gonna destroy the Celtics, GUARANTEED. I'll put money on this game Lakers will kill them by atleast 10. I don't care if Celtics are at home, this is war. I wonder what the spread will be for the game.</div> wow! I love you!
I wonder if the refs got their bonuses this morning from Stern, they get one before every Laker game. Hopefully the money transfer is late, so Kobe can get some calls tonight. If Pierce is at the line 15 times, and Kobe's there 5, something's going on. They are two of the best players at getting to the line, the refs need to start blowing the whistle for Kobe again.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting authentiq:</div><div class="quote_post">how many T's does Kobe have? Don't you need 16 to be suspended?</div> I think he has 13 or 14.
La has to win we cannot fall back even more. Let's go LA. I wanna hear those "Beat LA" chants. I havent heard that in a long time. And that obviously saying something.
i wish kobe would exploed against below 0.500 teams all the time like go for 50 points 5 rebs and 11 assists hahaha
Lakers have an early 9 point lead and the bench is getting a lot of minutes so far. I think Luke Walton took the loss last night personally and has come out very aggressively. Unfortunately, he's only hit 2 of the 7 shots he's taken in the 8 minutes he's been on the court. Brian Cook got the quick hook after Ryan Gomes scored 8 quick points for the Celtics. Kobe has 12 points, 4 steals, 4 assists, and ZERO turnovers so far. Free Throw Watch - The Lakers have not gone to the line yet in this game. 6 minutes left in the second quarter.
Wow, Kobe has just taken this game over for the Lakers in the first half. He's already taken 19 shots in the game, in just 18 minutes. The Lakers defense has been outstanding tonight and Smush is winning the battle with West. The Lakers have finally taken their first Free Throw with 45 seconds left in the 2nd quarter. Unbelievable!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting phiLA:</div><div class="quote_post">hmmmmm............lets see, who are the refs?</div> Does it matter?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe23:</div><div class="quote_post">i wish kobe would exploed against below 0.500 teams all the time like go for 50 points 5 rebs and 11 assists hahaha</div> The zebras wont let him.
Refs are not deciding factors in games Pierce does an EXCELLENT job of getting to the line so don't discredit him for what he does well. Lakers are up but need to make sure they don't let Boston back into this game. Also, Kobe struggling doesn't mean it's the refs so stop blaming them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">Refs are not deciding factors in games Pierce does an EXCELLENT job of getting to the line so don't discredit him for what he does well. Lakers are up but need to make sure they don't let Boston back into this game. Also, Kobe struggling doesn't mean it's the refs so stop blaming them.</div> Saying the refs are not deciding factors in games is like saying Boston will win the nba championship this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting playmaker15:</div><div class="quote_post">Refs are not deciding factors in games Pierce does an EXCELLENT job of getting to the line so don't discredit him for what he does well. Lakers are up but need to make sure they don't let Boston back into this game. Also, Kobe struggling doesn't mean it's the refs so stop blaming them.</div> Lol shut up and go watch the game yesterday, tell me the refs didn't lose the Lakers that game.
