Lakers @ Celtics 2012 Part 1 / T.O.N.I.G.H.T. / P.R.E.D.I.C.T.I.O.N.S.?

It's on tonight. I have made my predictions. Let me know what you think! Enjoy.

PG

* Derek Fisher v. Rajon Rondo

Q.) Who can stop Rondo?

A.) Rondo himself, & maybe Kobe.

We wont really see too much of this matchup, only when Rondo has to defend Fisher on the defensive end. Rondo will run circles around Fisher all day on the offensive end, that way it will be Kobe defending Rondo.

Advantage: Rondo (Celtics)

SG

* Kobe Bryant v. Ray Allen

Almost the same as the PG matchup above, Kobe will not be expending so much energy to chase Ray all over the floor, to running into a green & white wall feat. : KG, Bass, Wilcox, & J.O. Kobe will leave that up to Fisher to do that. But we will see these two matchup when Ray has to defend Kobe on the defensive end.

Advantage: Kobe (Lakers)

SF

* Ron Artest v. Paul Pierce

I refuse to call a grown man Metta World Peace. Anyways, Artest has been floating in & out of the starting lineup. He will live off shutting down scorers for a few games, then disappear as well. On the other hand, Pierce; is just now getting back to what he was all long. If Pierce can make Artest look dazed & confused, it will be a long night.

Advantage: Pierce (Celtics)

PF

* Pau Gasol v. Kevin Garnett

The matchup that will possibly determine the outcome of the game. Garnett who embarrassed Gasol in the ’08 Finals, Gasol returned the favor in the ’10 Finals. Both split the reg. season matchups on one anothers home floor last season. This year, Gasol has been in & out of consistency. Meanwhile Garnett, is coming right back around, becoming more of the player he was last season. If this is any indication, I can see history repeating itself again.

Advantage: Garnett (Celtics)

C

* Andrew Bynum v. Jermaine O’Neal

The battle between two bigs who have missed games over the past 5 years, and it will come down to who will pick up the “ticky-tac” fouls first, but who will make the adjustments first?! Bynum will probably pick them up first, but I have a feeling that J.O. will follow suit & pick up a tech as well. Therefore, potentially forcing KG, and the undersized Bass & Wilcox to try prevent this improved version of Bynum from wreaking havoc near the basket.

Advantage: Bynum (Lakers)

Reserves

* Lakers Bench v. Celtics Bench

I really don’t see what the Lakers have within their bench, now if they move Artest back to the bench, maybe it would flow better. Can anyone tell me that Andrew Goudelock, Troy Murphy, Josh McRoberts, & Matt Barnes have been real trustworthy this season?! It has been all on the shoulders of the starters just about.

Meanwhile, the Celtics bench bolsters Brandon Bass (6th man candidate), Mickael Pietrus, Chris Wilcox (recently), & Avery Bradley. Also if it gets out of hand, maybe you will see E’Twuan Moore, JuWuan Johnson, & Sasha Pavlovic as well.

Advantage: Celtics Bench

Coaching

* Mike Brown v. Doc Rivers

Both are great defensive minded coaches, as both franchises are ranked near the top in points allowed. But with Coach Brown not using the triangle, & giving Kobe the “green light”, I can see Doc using that to his advantage. Much like he did when Coach Brown coached the Cavaliers several seasons ago; let LeBron get his & make everyone else a non-factor. Now it will be Kobe going for his, & hopes to make Gasol, Bynum & the rest non-factors as well.

Advantage: Rivers (Celtics)

* Final Score: Lakers 94 – Celtics 89

Even with all of this, I have a weird feeling that the Lakers are due for a league statement road win tonight. All thanks to Kobe & (maybe) Bynum.