Tip: 10:30PM Court: Staples Center Watch it: CSNNE Hear it: WEEI
Referees: Scott Foster, Mark Ayotte and Gary Zielinski
Spread: LAL – 7.0
The Matchup
 |
 |
| Record: 28-25 | Record: 25-29 |
| On road: 8-16 | At home: 16-11 |
| Streak: Lost 1 | Streak: Lost 1 |
| Leaders | Leaders |
| Buckets: Pierce (18.3 ppg) | Buckets: Kobe Bryant (26.8 ppg) |
| Boards: Garnett (7.7 rpg) | Boards: Dwight Howard (11.8 rpg) |
| Dimes: Pierce (4.4 apg) | Dimes: Steve Nash (7.4 apg) |
| For the Stat Geeks: | For the Stat Geeks: |
| Offensive Rating: 102.1 (25th NBA) | Offensive Rating: 107.2 (8th NBA) |
| Defensive Rating: 102.2 (7th NBA) | Defensive Rating: 106.5 (17th NBA) |
| Pace: 91.2 (19th NBA) | Pace: 94.6 (3rd NBA) |
Last time
The Celtics throttled the defenseless Lakers, 116-95, a few weeks ago in Boston. You may remember Jeff Green’s fabulous dunk and block on Antawn Jamison.
This time
Get it to: Jeff Green
Green torched the Lakers for 19 high-energy points in the previous game. The Lakers have no one to guard him. Earl Clark is too big, Antawn Jamison is too old and Ron Artest is too slow.
Keep an eye on Paul Pierce. The Truth’s best game this month was the 24 point, 10-17 FG performance vs the Lakers. Who knew Artest had legs heavier than Pierce?
Gotta stop: Steve Nash
Avery Bradley suffocated Nash in Boston, holding him to 9 points, 5 assists in 28 minutes. If he can do it again, we’ll see the Lakers rely too much on Kobe Bryant.
The Wild Card: Emotions
Trade rumors are swirling around Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and just about everyone on the Celtics roster. Who is able to block it out (PP, KG) and who plays with a distracted look in their eye (Howard)? Another factor – this will be the Lakers first game since the passing of owner Jerry Buss. The Celtics better start the game with energy.
How we see it goin’ down
To steal a line from my previous Celtics-Lakers game preview: The Celtics are never good on the second night of back-to-backs, but I don’t see them losing this game. Not against a Lakers squad missing Gasol.
Celtics 101
Lakers 99
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