Looking for some of that “magic” tonight from Kobe Bryant. Game 5 against the Celtics! The Lakers are going to need the best from Kobe over the next three games if they want to do something special. Good luck Kobe!!! Go silence all of your doubters.

Key Adjustments from P.J

1. Kobe Bryant guarding Rajon Rondo - This is an interesting one. Probably something they should have been doing all series long from the beginning. Kobe at times is guarding Rondo when Rondo is on the floor, forcing him to beat the Lakers with his jumpshot. This is allowing Kobe to roam and help in double teaming Garnett and Pierce. Rondo is a very important element for the Celtics defensively, but with this strategy it’s hurting Boston big time offensively.
2. Ball Pressure on Eddie House & Cassell - Eddie House and Sam Casell eliminate Rondo’s problem by giving the Celtics another shooter to help spread the floor. Now Kobe can’t roam like he would when Rondo is on the floor. Interesting thing happening here. Phil Jackson is utilizing this as an opportunity to put ball pressure full court to slow down the Boston offense. The Celtics are in turn running out of shot clock time when they finally get the ball to KG in the post, or Pierce in a pick and roll.
3. Kobe Guarding Paul Pierce - when he is up to it, Kobe can be one of the best one on one defenders in the game. Paul Pierce is having trouble being his normal offensive self with Kobe on him. This matchup appears to be working very well for the Lakers, particularly when Rondo is out of the game, and the Lakers Farmar and Fisher are putting ball pressure full court.
4. Kobe Attacking the basket - I’m not sure how much of this is a P.J adjustment as much as it is a KB24 adjustment. Either way it’s working. Very well in fact. In game 3 Kobe got to the basket at will all game long. Something he couldn’t do even when he tried against the San Antonio Spurs. As much praise as the Celtics defense is getting, it appears from game 3 that Kobe Bryant has found a way to get to the basket, and get their often against this Boston team. Much like a couple years ago with Dwayne Wade attacking the basket against the Mavs, this could change the series and bring the Lakers back from down 0-2
5. Derek Fisher guarding Ray Allen - This is a good matchup for the Lakers. There’s nobody suited better for chasing Ray Allen off screens that DFish. He’s strong, quick, and active. And could give Ray Allen more problems as the series progresses.

Some other interesting things to throw at you. The Lakers reserves are looking very comfortable at home. Farmar & Vuyacic in particular. Game 4 I think you will see more activity from Walton, Radmanovic, Ariza. The Lakers in game 3 did a great job preventing the Celtics from getting those fast break 3 pointers. It appears that is something the Celtics depend on. So watch out for that.

Lakers going back to Boston up 3-2?
This is very well possible. The Lakers are yet to have lost a game at home all playoffs, and there’s not much to suggest that this series will be any different. If the Lakers do in fact go back to Boston up 3-2, the Celtics have the pressure once, possible twice of a closeout game! And with Kobe Bryant on your team in the fourth quarter, anything is possible! This would give the Lakers two shots at closing out the series, a game 6 and game 7 in Boston. If this happens, I think the Lakers will win the series. In order for Boston to win, they are going to have to steal one of the games in L.A!

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Matchups - Starting Five

• Rajon Rondo - Derek Fisher*
• Ray Allen - Kobe Bryant*
• Paul Pierce* - Vlad Radmanovic
• Kevin Garnett* - Lamar Odom
• Kendrick Perkins - Pau Gasol*

The * is placed to the side with the obvious advantages. Derek Fisher with his defensive strength, offensive composure, leadership, and experience will give Rondo problems. He will expose him. Kobe Bryant well, do I need to even say anything? Paul Pierce presents a problem to the Lakers. A big strong and quick small forward who can score from the triple threat very well. Lamar Odom is long, but not as long as Kevin Garnett. Not to mention Kevin Garnett’s competitive greatness and impossible to block high reaching jumpshot. And finally Pau Gasol, who has the obvious advantage over Perkins.

Matchups - The Bench

• Celtics Bench - Cassel, House, Posey, Brown, Powe, Davis
• Lakers Bench* - Farmar, Vuyacic, Walton, Ariza, Turiaf, Mbenga

On paper the comparisons on the bench look even. But performance tells us otherwise. The bench combination of the Lakers have been far more productive than that of the Celtics. Particularly in the Playoffs. You can tell from the bench that the Celtics have much more depth in the frontcourt positions, while the Lakers primary strength of the bench comes from the backcourt positions.

Matchup - Head Coach

• Doc Rivers - Phil Jackson*

Phil Jackson’s presence will be felt in this series. Unlike the last series, when both coaches of Jackson and Popovich do a masterful job at strategy and matchups. Doc Rivers lacks those abilities. And although he’s a great motivator, Rivers will lose the coaching game against Jackson as the series goes on.

Keys

• Defense against Kobe Bryant - The celtics have had trouble against Joe Johnson & Lebron James. How do you think they will do against Kobe? With Lebron, they forced him to shoot jumpshots rather than go to the rim. With Kobe, you can’t do that. He’ll rain jumpers all game long. He’s an impossible matchup for the Celtics and he will find a way to breakdown the Celtics defense.
• Paul Pierce Matchup - How will the Lakers do at defending Paul Pierce? Vlad Radmanovic surprisingly did a decent job in the first round against Carmelo Anthony. He didn’t stop him. And don’t expect him to “stop” Pierce. Nevertheless you cannot void the defensive work Vlad put on Carmelo. As well as the rest of the Lakers team. while KG is the heart and soul of the Celtic defense, Pierce is the same for the Offense! Stop him, and the Celtics simply cannot score enough points to win.

Having said all of that. I have come to the conclusion that the Lakers will beat the Celtics in 5 games. They will steal 1 of the first games in Boston, go home and win 3 straight to finish off the title. Boston cannot beat a good home team on the road, and this series will be no different. In LA, the refs will call all the pushing & hacking that the Celtics use to win. And Kobe Bryant will be absolutely un-guardable and unstoppable.

Lakers are off to a pretty good start. It looks like they have been able to get Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom off to aggressive starts, while keeping Kobe Bryant aggressive. Sasha is getting underneath Ginnobli’s skin which is always a good thing. The Lakers need to score more than just 21 points in a quarter as the game goes on. A couple crappy calls on Pau Gasol forced him to sit on the bench early.

Halftime Lakers 46 Spurs 37

Sweet alley-oop to Lamar Odom from Luke Walton. Lakes end the 2nd Quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 9 point lead. Sasha had a terrific first half, shooting the ball very very well. Jordan Farmer had the play of the series so far with his block on fast break on Ime Udoka. My opinion is though that the lead could be alot bigger than it currently is. Kobe Bryant and Lamar Odom are getting pushed and hacked every time they drive to the basket, and hardly no calls are being made. Kobe is not getting to the foul line, and it’s not because of his own doing. He’s driving to the basket aggressively but just not getting the calls.

End of 3rd Quarter Lakers 74 Spurs 57

Spurs made a little bit of a run during the middle of the 3rd, but the Lakers again ended the quarter strong. Pau Gasol started to heat up offensively. You can tell that Manu wanted to start getting aggressive there in that 3rd quarter and did alright, but the Lakers length and speed are giving him serious troubles. Overall, I love the play from the bench guys. Farmar, Vuyacic, Walton, and Turiaf. They are out playing the Spurs bench by far. And that is making a huge difference. And is just me, but Kobe Bryant is making Bruce Bowen look like an average defender!!!

Final Lakers 101 Spurs 71

The Lakers flat out blew it open in the 4th. The Spurs looked tired, out worked, and almost un motivated. You get the sense that the Spurs think they can go home and automatically win both games at home like they did to the Hornets. (Won’t be that easy).  Everybody played well and did their part. We will see if the Lakers can steal a game in San Antonio!