NBA 2k9 Match Up: Lakers @ Celtics - SBartlett's Blog

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NBA 2k9 Match Up: Lakers @ Celtics

Posted on February 1, 2009 at 07:28 PM.

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Operations Sports NBA 2k9 Match Up
Lakers @ Celtics

Introduction

Note: All stats are retroactive to late December 2008.

In a bout between the two of the most dominant teams in the NBA, the Lakers will head to the East Coast to take on KG and the C�s next Thursday in the T.D. Bank North Garden on TNT. This will be a primetime rematch of last year�s NBA Finals and a another chapter added to the renewed rivalry of the NBA�s two most historic and heralded franchises.

Showcasing the NBA�s brightest stars, the Lakers and Celtics will put forth multiple NBA All-Stars, MVPs, and Olympic Gold Medalists to provide for some unique matchups. The quest for an 18th championship is underway in Boston, while Kobe and Phil Jackson look to replicate the past success of the Lakers of the Kobe and Shaq era. Both teams have been at the top of their conferences for majority of the past two seasons. The Lakers took the first matchup on Christmas Day.

Key Matchups

Garnett vs. Gasol

Kevin Garnett

6�11��, 220 08-09 Season: PPG. 16, RPG 9.6, BPG 1.3

2k9 Ratings: 97 overall, Inside Scoring A, Post Defense A,

Basketball I.Q. A+

Garnett is the best defensive player in the league. His leadership, awareness (99 Def. Awareness), and ability to hold others accountable while leading by example are what separate him from anyone in the world. This guy gives it his all on every night unlike anything I�ve ever seen before (99 Hustle). His intensity and energy are a constant. The Celtics are undefeated since November 14th. He and Coach Tom Thibodeau are the reason behind the #1 ranked defenses in the NBA the past two seasons. Gasol�s length will aggravate Kg�s offensive skill set but KG�s relentlessness to drive straight into Gasol�s chest will get him to the free throw line ( 96 Close Range Scoring). He can also shoot the 18 foot jumper at the top of the key as good as anyone in the Association.

Pau Gasol

7�, 250 08-09 Season: PPG 18, 9.3, BPG .09

2k9 Ratings: 91 overall, Inside Scoring A-, Post Defense A, Basketball I.Q. A-

Gasol filled a void for the Lakers when their young big man Andrew Bynum went down to injury. Gasol is an excellent and legitimate triple threat post player. He can face opposing defenders up who lack his speed and drive on them; he can pass out of the post, or use some of his great footwork and drop a jump hook (94 Shot in Traffic). The triangle offense flourishes with him on the block with his offensive awareness (90). His ability to bring the opposing bigs out of the lane with the range he has on his shot (78 Medium Range Shot) can provide avenues for Kobe to drive the lane. Garnett�s toughness on the boards poses a problem for Gasol at times who has been somewhat reluctant to mix it up in the paint. Look for Gasol to be ready with Bynum behind his back.

Bryant vs. Pierce

Kobe Bryant

6�6��, 205 08-09 Season: 24.0 PPG, 4.2 APG,

29% 3-point FGs

NBA 2k9 Ratings: 99 Overall, B+ Inside Scoring, B Outside Scoring, A Perimeter Defense, A+ Basketball I.Q.

The Black Mamba has the best basketball skills of any individual in the world. His size, speed, strength and control can break down even the best defense in the NBA (99 Close Range Scoring, 96 Ball Handles, 94 Quickness). The key for Kobe is touching the purple paint. When the Lakers struggled in the NBA Finals, Kobe was swarmed to and he either A) gave up on the play or passed the ball before creating, or B) he decided to take a contested jump shot outside of 18 feet. He will not be matched up one on one with Pierce as he will see multiple defenses thrown at him. Ray Allen most likely will start the game to cover him and Pierce and Tony Allen will switch and defend him as well.

If the 4th quarter assassin Kobe shows up to start the game, the Lakers will win. He must get in the paint and create (99 Offensive Awareness) for his team against a team defense that will protect the hoop. Also, with a role reversal of the past few years, Kobe can now expend substantial amounts of energy on defense since he doesn�t have to score at will for his team to win. Kobe can be an All NBA defensive player when he has to. Look for Ray Allen to be a bit shaken with Kobe in his grill in the first half.

Paul Pierce

6�7�, 235 08-09 Season: 18.8 PPG, 6 RPG, 3.8 APG

NBA 2k9 Ratings: 92 Overall, A- Outside Scoring, B- Inside Scoring, A Basketball I.Q.

A determined and hungry Paul Pierce is bad news for the NBA. The Truth (85 Ball Handles, 89 Shot Off-Dribble) is a matchup problem for Odom and Radmonovic because his skill set allow him to drive past taller and bigger defenders. The ideal matchup for the Lakers is to put Kobe on him. Pierce�s constant determination to get to the free throw line can break a defense down.

Pierce is averaging 7.8 free throw attempts on just 13 shot attempts per game. Once in the lane, Pierce becomes a facilitator for his offense, much like Kobe is. He can finish with contact as good as anyone in the league (Shot in Traffic 82, 85 Close Range Scoring). Pierce is an underrated dribbler and passer (97 Offensive Awareness) and he will dish to his teammates when his shot is off. He can score inside or out. Also, we cannot underestimate the leadership and toughness Pierce is bringing to the defensive side of the ball since the arrival of KG. Paul is closing out on shooters, crowding them on the perimeter and forcing them into the teeth of his Celtics defense.

The Lakers Offense

L.A. is scoring 108.5 points per game � highest in the NBA as of December 13, 2008. Phil Jackson has the benefit of having three very skilled and intelligent basketball players in Kobe (A+ I.Q.), Gasol (A- I.Q.) and Fisher (B I.Q.) to be his main components in the triangle. Having basketball smarts, the triangle can be ran through Kobe, Gasol, or even Odom, who is an excellent passer for a big man. The deadly shooting of Vujicic (89 3-point shooting) and Radmonovic (86 3-point shooting) provide for great spacing for the triangle to operate as they tend to spot up in corners and wings on the perimeter.

The triangle between three players on the strong side of the court can be used to create give and goes from an entry pass to the post with a guard or forward flashing to the hoop. It can also provide a strong two-man game on the weak side allowing for pick and roll�s between Kobe and Gasol. This two man game will force the Celtics to defend Kobe and Gasol man to man for the threat of the shooters in the corners � if you help off these shooters, they get clean looks at 3�s. Look for Kobe to utilize the on-ball screen from Gasol on the top of the key and on the wings. Kobe likes to do a give and go and if a defender falls underneath Gasol on the screen, he gets a hand-off right back on a fade for a quick jumper. Gasol also likes to roll hard to the hoop while the defense is on its heels from Kobe�s attack. Like I said before, if Kobe attacks the paint, he is automatic from the free throw line extended (99 Close Range Scoring, 87 Mid Range Scoring) and is most effective.

The Celtics do a great job playing help defense and rotating to open shooters. They almost never give up uncontested shots. Look for L.A. to attempt to get out on the fast breaks to open up some easy scoring opportunities. Gasol and Bynum should be able to beat Perkins down the floor easily.

Lakers Bench

The 6�10�� Lamar Odom (82 Overall) leads a Lakers bench that is arguably the deepest in the NBA. With Odom, Farmar, Vujacic, and Ariza, the Lakers can still score points and play up-tempo basketball. This is where they will have an advantage over the Celtics.

The Celtics Offense

Ray Allen (88 Overall) has been lighting it up from three this year (92 3-Point Shooting) and leads the team in scoring at 18.9 PPG. In a tight game, Ray Allen is a 90% foul shooter and is targeted for the big shot by his teammates. With Kobe on him, he will be mediocre. With Vujacic on him, he will dominate.

Third year guard Rajon Rondo (86 overall) is the catalyst to the

Celtics offense. He delivers the ball (88 Pass) to the Big 3 at the most opportune moments to give them the best shots available. On the flip side, the Celtics have been dominant this year, but they haven�t outscored opponents like the Cavaliers have done partly because of the inconsistent play of Rondo and point guard. While some argue he is an All-Star this year, the Celtics commit many unforced turnovers due to lack of discipline. I attribute part of this to Rondo who has been given permission to call 80% of the plays on the court. I also attribute the turnovers to Head Coach Doc Rivers who hasn�t established a set offensive strategy with a group of three hall-of-famers. To be fair, Rondo is a matchup problem (93 Speed, 95 Quickness) for either Fisher or Farmer; both whom couldn�t contain him even by playing off him in the half court set. The Celtics will win if Rondo plays well. The C�s are scoring 100.9 PPG.

The Celtics Defense

The Celtics do a great job of protecting the paint and the rim. Holding opponents to 41.3% field goal percentage a game is tops in the league. Garnett (95 Post Defense) and Perkins (B+ Post Defense, B+ Rebounding, 90 Shot-Block Skill) provide toughness on the boards. Look for the Celtics to hedge hard on pick and roll situations; meaning the Celtics help defender comes out and attacks the ball handler forcing him around an extra defender. Leon Powe and Kevin Garnett are ideal for defending the pick and rolls against Kobe and Gasol as both are capable of moving their feet to recover and protect the hoop if Gasol rolls, or if Kobe attacks. I expect Allen to start the game on Kobe followed by Pierce and Tony Allen (A- Perimeter Defense). Pierce held Kobe in check from attacking the rim in last year�s Finals with his new found grittiness on the defensive end. The loss of James Posey has yet to surface but I expect the Celtics to feel his absence against the Lakers offense if the Truth fails to lock up Kobe (he may fail miserably).

My Prediction

The Lakers and Kobe have been rollin�. Ariza has been the defensive help that Kobe has needed his whole career. He�s been manning up the opposing shooting guards and small forwards providing Kobe with more energy to control the offensive tempo.
Bynum has also been playing like a man and the Celtics have no answer for him at this point in the season. Powe can battle him, Big Baby can push him a bit, but Bynum�s length and footwork will bother a slower Big Baby (and also a slower Kendrick Perkins).
The emergence of Eddie House�s aerial assault playing with Rondo has provided a huge break for the starters. House shifts to the deadly shooting guard on the court with Rondo and he has hit seven 3-point field goals in the three of his last four games.

On the down side, the C�s could be without their new 6th man Scalabrine. Yes, I said Brian Scalabrine. Big Red has been an integral part for the C�s over the last nine games defending players from Dwight Howard to Dirk Nowitzki. More importantly, like House, Big Scal has been able to munch up minutes to keep the Big 3 fresh.

I honestly think the Celtics will win because their chemistry is back; but I picked them to win on Christmas and they lost so I am taking the Lakers.

109-105 Lakers

I don�t want to jinx my Celtics ; )

Enjoy the Game.