Game Of The Weekend: Lakers vs. Celtics

If you're a sports fan, specifically a basketball fan, I really don't need to school you on the history between these two teams. I also know I don't need to school you on how the two teams have fared this season thus far. What I do want to talk about is how important this game is for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sure, the Celtics would love to get a win against the team who beat them in the Finals. This is their motivation every time they match-up with the Lakers. The thing is, whether Boston wins or loses this game, it won't matter to them as it pertains to the rest of their season. After all, they've got to focus on battling all the beasts in the east (i.e. Miami, Orlando, Chicago, etc.), they don't have time to worry about Los Angeles - yet. The last thing Boston wants to happen is they focus too much on beating the Lakers, and ultimately lose sight of who is in front of them, and gets bounced from the playoffs by a team like the Miami Heat. The Celtics have too much experience to let this happen; however, that team over there in Miami is pretty damn good. So we shall see.



As for the Los Angeles Lakers, the reason this game is so important to them is really due to the fact that they have not been playing championship caliber basketball, and this game against Boston will truly test their heart. As the saying goes, "never underestimate the heart of a champion", so for many who are writing off the Lakers due to their inconsistent play this season, today's game will truly test their hearts. You see, the Lakers have been tested already and they have failed miserably. It's frustrating as a fan to see them lose to the good teams (i.e San Antonio Spurs, Miami, etc.), and then the teams that are not considered good teams, they lose to them as well. The Clippers are not considered an elite team; however, the Clippers were hot, and beating them would have been just what a champion would have done - they did not. Sure they are still the defending champions, but the murmurs of the team being too old, too slow, and out of sync echoes through the air waves, and the sports world loudly.

Suffice it to say, such murmurs have carried their way to the locker room as well, which conversely - in my opinion - has affected the teams confidence.

So I strongly feel that today is the biggest game of the year for the Lakers. They must go out and prove to themselves - nobody else - that they are as good as Lamar Odom keeps saying they are. This "switch" people talk about, you know, the one people can turn on and off when they go from playing so-so to playing at an elite level, yeah that one; they need to turn it on and leave it on for the remainder of the season. After all, for those of you who can remember, the Celtics began the second half of the season last year in terrible fashion and they limped into the playoffs. That said, they also went on a tear and cruised to the NBA Finals.

Lakers fans, let's hope the Lakers follow a similar diagram in getting to the Finals once again. After all, I feel confident that should the Lakers make it to the Finals once again - they WILL win their 3rd consecutive NBA Championship Title.

I stand firm in believing that the only opponent keeping the Los Angeles Lakers from completing the three-peat is themselves. You can take that to the bank in Charlestown and cash it. Not even Ben Aflec can rob them from obtaining another 'Title' this season.

(Image found at juicedsportsblog)

Posted in: Boston Celtics,Los Angeles Lakers