ESPN

Just two seasons ago, the Lakers and Celtics battled for the NBA championship in a seven-game series for the ages. They meet Thursday as squads good enough to be taken seriously, but because both are old and flawed, they are widely regarded as outsiders looking into the 2012 title chase. However, neither team seems ready to pack up the tents. And even if they were, there's enough bad blood remaining from a split pair of Finals ('08 and '10) to guarantee a spirited battle.

Along with ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg, we pondered three questions heading into this game.



1. What matchup are you most looking forward to seeing?


Chris Forsberg: Kobe Bryant vs. Mickael Pietrus: We sorta know how the starters match up, so I'm interested to see if Pietrus can be a Tony Allen-like Kobe stopper off the bench. Pietrus has been spectacular since being picked up on Christmas Eve after the Suns released him. And Pietrus supposedly said this summer that Bryant wanted him on the Lakers. (Runner-up: Troy Murphy vs. Anybody. Really, he's one of the Lakers' top reserves this season?!)

Andy Kamenetzky: Paul Pierce vs. Metta World Peace. There have been signs that MWP is rediscovering his defensive mojo. Most recently in Denver, he did the lion's share of the work in limiting Danilo Gallinari to just six points. Of course, there are still games where his defense is as ineffective as his offense, which renders MWP a total nonfactor. The Lakers need Paul Pierce kept in check, and much of that responsibility falls on MWP. We'll see if he's up for the task against a potential All-Star.

Brian Kamenetzky: Pau Gasol vs. Kevin Garnett. Pau’s output against what will surely be an extra yappy, extra chest-puffy KG will get the attention, and Gasol needs to produce more efficiently (eight of last 12 games with FG% at 45 or below). If he doesn’t, L.A. will have to find alternative options against a top-end defensive squad. Meanwhile, Garnett’s scoring has picked up, but Gasol has held opposing PFs to a respectable PER (14). If one goes off at the expense of the other, a victory for his team is highly likely.

(Read full post)

Neither BK nor I are totally up with the new look Phoenix Suns, but in fairness, neither are the Lakers. Those players we asked last night hadn't got much of a glimpse of Phoenix in the "J.Rich/Hedo out-V.C./Gortat/Pietrus in" era. After all, the newbies have only been eligible to play in five games, and Carter missed the first two of them with a bad knee.

Thus, I thought it was best to get the skinny from someone deep in the know. True Hoop blogger Michael Schwartz (Valley of the Suns) certainly fits the bill. Check out his take on the newest phase of what feels like a non-stop transition:

Andy Kamenetzky: What's your impression of the new additions so far?

Michael Schwartz: Individually they've been about what the Suns expected. Vince Carter has largely replaced Jason Richardson's scoring by averaging 18.0 points per game, although he's shooting just 42.6 percent from the field and has certainly lost a step or two. Marcin Gortat has gotten the bulk of the minutes at the center position coming off the bench and has proved to be the Suns' best big man, averaging 9.6 points and 5.8 boards per game while adding a defensive presence in the middle. He has showcased his athleticism in the pick-and-roll game and played better post defense than we're traditionally used to in Phoenix. Mickael Pietrus has contributed quality perimeter defense and his sniper shooting behind the arc (like when he hit five treys and scored 25 points against the Clippers), but he shot the Suns out of Sunday's loss to Sacramento by taking some bad attempts late.

They are fitting in just fine as individuals, but that chemistry just isn't there yet as a team. We have seen cutters zig when the passer think they will zag, which leads to turnovers. We have seen some forced shots from the newcomers that seem to be out of their comfort zone as they adjust to the new-found freedom in Alvin Gentry's system. And we have seen an overall lack of cohesiveness that's a stark contrast to the Suns team from a year ago.

(Read full post)

Sunday's Oscars-day game in Orlando (11:30 am PT, ABC) doesn't simply represent for the Lakers a rematch against the team they eliminated in last season's Finals.

It represents a chance to avoid an 0-3 east coast roadie. A chance to keep intact a rather amazing feat of never losing three consecutive games since Pau Gasol was acquired two seasons ago. A chance to step up against elite competition, given how Orlando has gone 17-5 since the Lakers downed them on Jan. 18. A chance to win a game on the same day Jeff Bridges wins an Oscar, the latter happening far too rarely as it is. A chance to win a game when Ron Artest has Hebrew letters in his "Demolition Man" hair, an opportunity much too fun to waste.

PODCAST
In anticipation of Sunday's Finals rematch against Orlando (11:30 am PT on ABC), Andy talks with David Steele, who provides the TV play-by- play for the Magic. Topics include the recent play of Dwight Howard and Vince Carter and why the team has gone 16-5 since losing to the Lakers in January. Podcast

The game also represents a chance to back fans away from the ledge, but that's another story.

With those stakes in mind, I sought perspective on the Magic from David Steele, who provides the TV play-by-play for the team. Our discussion touches on, among other topics, how the Magic's offense operates, the team's collective personality and their current roll after a lot of up-and-down stretches.

-(2:20): Steele breaks down the keys to Orlando's success since their loss at Staples, which he thinks was a turning-point game. Several factors have played a role, particularly Vince Carter's emergence. He also thinks top flight teams typically experience uninspired spells during the regular season. Lakers fans can't relate at all to that theory. (Sarcasm alert!!!)

-(6:00): Steele explains the impetus behind Carter's resurgence since February began.

-(8:20): Finally healthy, Jameer Nelson has also enjoyed a rise in production over the last month and change. In Steele's opinion, Nelson is most dangerous in "attack mode," which often means penetrating the lane.

-(11:55): Maintaining the established trend, Dwight Howard is performing at a recently beastly level. Steele dismisses the common perception Superman's teammates ignore him and explains the big man's ability to demand the ball without ruffling feathers. I also learn my wife's ginormous crush on Howard is hardly unique among the female set.

-(15:00): We discuss frontcourt reserves Marcin Gortat and Brandon Bass, who've often been unsatisfied with their minutes. For Bass, it was a case of being outplayed by Ryan Anderson early in the season. Gortat's PT is almost entirely dictated by Howard's foul count.

-(19:45): We talk about Magic G.M. Otis Smith and the stamp he's put on the Orlando Magic.

A few more thoughts about the matchup below the jump...

(Read full post)