Boston's loss should open our eyes

[Real Deal]

Last night, two very important things happened to Rajon Rondo.

 

1) He was forced to defend a very aggressive Jameer Nelson, which put him into foul trouble.

2) He was defended very well, and it held him to poor shooting (3-10, to be exact), and single digits in both points and assists.

 

The result of this? Paul Pierce was basically the Celtics' point-forward, having to create shots for himself and others because Rondo was backing off just to stay on the court, and Boston ended up losing.

 

Why is this significant for us? Because, unlike 2008, Rajon Rondo is now the engine.

 

Here are a few things we should realize about our team: Kobe will defend Rondo, just as he did Westbrook. Rondo will have space to shoot, and because he is a very intelligent basketball player, he won't take that long jumper most of the time. Therefore, there's a good chance Rondo will struggle offensively.

 

We also know that Derek Fisher can put opposing guards into foul trouble. While he's not going to drop 20 anytime soon, taking Rondo into the post, and sneaking into the paint to draw charges, will just be another issue Rajon will have to work around.

 

Assuming it all works out as planned, and Pierce becomes "the engine" in Boston's offense, we have one of the best perimeter defenders in Ron Artest. We saw what he did with Kevin Durant, who is easily a better offensive threat than Pierce.

 

With Rondo struggling, and Ron watching Pierce, Garnett is next in line to facilitate out of the post, and THAT'S where we'll need to close out on threes. Fortunately, we are one of the best teams in the NBA at defending the three.

 

If we run into Boston in the Finals (assuming we beat Phoenix, and the Celtics don't perform the biggest choke in league history), we might have them by the throat. Boston will need to beat us by hitting their threes (Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace) and Rondo hitting jumpers. That gives us a huge, huge advantage.

 

Cleveland and Orlando would have been more trouble, in my opinion, despite both being dropped by Boston. I think getting our revenge against the Celtics is going to prove to be the best situation we could ever ask for, because on paper, it's looking like all of the blocks are falling into place, in our favor.

[Guest Zyzz]

I dont think it's much to worry about.

 

It's 1 loss. Lakers broke down in Game 4 too.

[Real Deal]

I dont think it's much to worry about.

 

It's 1 loss. Lakers broke down in Game 4 too.

It's not that they lost, it's how they lost. Boston doesn't have a legit point guard once Rondo is on the bench, and Ray Allen can't run an offense. That's the good thing about the triangle: it doesn't necessarily need a traditional point to run it, just someone to make the post entry pass.

 

Looking at their other three losses in the playoffs (two against CLE, one against CHI), Rajon was forced into a lot of shots, twice the most on the team, once into 10 shots and 14 free throws.

 

Rondo is the engine. Kobe will be defending him. Bryant's defense will be a much tougher challenge than that of Nelson's, or Mo Williams...by far.

 

I know everyone wants the Lakers to lose. Good. I'm just asking for everyone to actually look at the match-ups and who we have defending the best players on their team. If you guys can't do that, there's no point in discussing it any further.

[Guest Zyzz]

Good points.

 

Sort of surprised with such a high caliber team not having a legitimate backup pg.

 

Kevin Ollie would even do good in this situation.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Zyzz

[Real Deal]

By the way...

 

Paul Pierce took 25 shots last night. He hasn't taken that many since January 12th, 2009 (a year and a half ago). In the regular season this year, he attempted 19 shots or less...never more.

 

Might have been a reason why he was so tired and unable to close out the game.

 

Kevin Ollie would even do good in this situation.

Boston would probably play Ollie more than they do Nate Robinson.

[EastCoastNiner]

Last time I checked, neither team was in the finals, and Lakers are only up in the series 2-1.

 

Just sayin..........

[Real Deal]

Last time I checked, neither team was in the finals, and Lakers are only up in the series 2-1.

 

Just sayin..........

I think I made that crystal clear, actually.

 

If we run into Boston in the Finals (assuming we beat Phoenix, and the Celtics don't perform the biggest choke in league history)

[NomarFachix]

That's why I when Boston picked up Robinson because they needed a backup PG, and House wasn't the guy... House is probably more of a point than Nate, lol.

[kingfish]

I completely agree, Kobe and Artest on defense are the two biggest reasons we have an advantage against them. Fish wont be a liability either, hes our best guard at running through screens, and he is the best in the league at selling the moving screen call, which is something the Celtics do quite often. Fish usually keeps Allen in check so im not worried about that. If KG becomes their first option then they are in a lot of trouble. KG got easy buckets against Jamison in the post, hes been terrible against Rashard Lewis so far and he wont get anything against Pau.

 

On offense Boston will have to double Kobe if they have any chance at stopping us. They dont have Posey this time, who is probably one of the toughest defenders Kobe has had to face in his career. Boston might have to double Pau as well. Sheed vs Odom is also a big advantage for us. Sheed cant put the ball on the floor at all, hes strictly a spot shooter now, and he cant guard Odom off the dribble, Sheed can only play post defense. I like all the matchups for us against Boston, plus we would have home court if we faced them.

[Jenneral]

I agree that once you stop Rondo the Celtics are much easier to expose. Without Rondo is is much tougher for them to run a fluent offense. Pierce, Allen, and Garnett all depend on Rondo now to get them in positions to score as well as spreading the floor himself. He obviously can't do that from the bench.

 

I'd like to see Rondo stay aggressive in this type of situation in the future. In the playoffs laying off a bit due to foul trouble could prove to be crucial down the stretch. He needs to prove that regardless he will continue to take it to the hole and play lock down D. Otherwise he'd be better off on the bench. It's not worth it for him to play easy just to be out there.

[AboveLegit]

The Celtics also have an improved bench and have Ray Allen shooting pretty well this playoffs. You bring up some good points, but I think the Celtics will have an answer for every advantage the Lakers presumably have over them.

[Real Deal]

So, tonight...

 

1) Rondo put up the most shots for Boston, and ended up with single-digit assists (just six), four fouls, and went to the line to shoot 5-11 free throws.

2) Jameer Nelson was the leading scorer for the Magic, playing very physical basketball.

 

What happened? Nelson attacked Rondo, making him work defensively, and then he did everything he possibly could to make Rondo work hard on offense.

 

Result? Nate Robinson got his nine minutes on the floor, Pierce was forced into creating again, and the Celtics lost by 21.

[YugoRocketsFan]

So, tonight...

 

1) Rondo put up the most shots for Boston, and ended up with single-digit assists (just six), four fouls, and went to the line to shoot 5-11 free throws.

2) Jameer Nelson was the leading scorer for the Magic, playing very physical basketball.

 

What happened? Nelson attacked Rondo, making him work defensively, and then he did everything he possibly could to make Rondo work hard on offense.

 

Result? Nate Robinson got his nine minutes on the floor, Pierce was forced into creating again, and the Celtics lost by 21.

 

Ya but the Lakers dont have Jameer.

[moeroadkill]

i still think something is wrong with rondo, he isnt playing like his usual self. also he has gotten into foul trouble last two games

and like yugo said whos rondo going to be chasing all night?

[Real Deal]

Rondo will have to guard Kobe a little bit, especially if we did what we did the last game against them, and stick Ron in the post a few times. Pierce will be forced on him, and Doc Rivers won't let Ray Allen defend Bryant (unless he's stupid).

 

Kobe will immediately take the post on Rondo, Gasol and Odom will back away, and it's foul city.

 

But okay, again, I guess I'm the only one that realizes the mismatch possibility. Phil Jackson is an idiot and won't dig into it with Kobe playing as good as he has in the playoffs.

[Real Deal]

Either way, the key isn't getting him into foul trouble, it's shutting him down, or forcing him into long shots...something that the Lakers did well even without Kobe.

[Nitro]

Rondo will have to guard Kobe a little bit, especially if we did what we did the last game against them, and stick Ron in the post a few times. Pierce will be forced on him, and Doc Rivers won't let Ray Allen defend Bryant (unless he's stupid).

 

Kobe will immediately take the post on Rondo, Gasol and Odom will back away, and it's foul city.

 

But okay, again, I guess I'm the only one that realizes the mismatch possibility. Phil Jackson is an idiot and won't dig into it with Kobe playing as good as he has in the playoffs.

 

Why would that be stupid? Ray actually got a decent amount of time defending Kobe in the 2008 Finals and did a pretty darn good job. The Celtics will rotate multiple defenders at Kobe the entire series, but giving Ray the assignment wouldn't be a bad decision.

 

As I've said many times, I don't know about having Kobe guard Rondo. I think he'd do a great job like he did on Westbrook, but I don't know what's a scarier scenario- having Fisher guard Rondo straightup and relying on help defense to challenge him at the rim, or having Fisher trying to chase down Allen around screen after screen.

[GamerGuy]

Why would that be stupid? Ray actually got a decent amount of time defending Kobe in the 2008 Finals and did a pretty darn good job. The Celtics will rotate multiple defenders at Kobe the entire series, but giving Ray the assignment wouldn't be a bad decision.

 

As I've said many times, I don't know about having Kobe guard Rondo. I think he'd do a great job like he did on Westbrook, but I don't know what's a scarier scenario- having Fisher guard Rondo straightup and relying on help defense to challenge him at the rim, or having Fisher trying to chase down Allen around screen after screen.

Fisher is exceptionally good at drawing fouls on screens, so I'm not worried about that. And if Garnett is going to be setting them, you know that Fisher will do a great job of getting the refs attention when he hits the screen.

 

Kobe will give Rondo space, so Rondo won't be driving into the paint. He'll have to take the open outside shot, or give the ball to Peirce and let him make the play. I feel pretty good about Peirce trying to create something with Ron guarding him.

[Real Deal]

Why would that be stupid? Ray actually got a decent amount of time defending Kobe in the 2008 Finals and did a pretty darn good job. The Celtics will rotate multiple defenders at Kobe the entire series, but giving Ray the assignment wouldn't be a bad decision.

After seeing what Kobe has been doing in the playoffs so far, having Ray Allen defend him (instead of someone like Tony Allen) is a mistake. Since Bryant has been working with Chuck Person, he has been more dangerous everywhere on the floor, even with that injury.