The Lakers’ recent victory over the Celtics (114-112) has been widely talked about in the American media. And according to a former house owner, Boston would still have the advantage over its rival if the two teams were to meet next June.
Fresh from the All-Star Game, the Lakers had a lot to do last weekend. In less than 48 hours, they welcomed the surprising Grizzlies before facing the Celtics, still at the Staples Center. A tricky schedule that could trigger a bad dynamic near the playoffs.
Bad dynamics, there was ultimately not. After a convincing first victory against Ja Morant and his teammates on the night of Friday to Saturday (117-105), the Angelinos continued their streak of success Sunday night against Boston (114-112). We were however far from the health walk this time.
The band of LeBron James, despite the absence of Kemba Walker in the opposing camp, had indeed to resist a Jayson Tatum of gala (41 points, 5 rebounds in 37 minutes of play) to fetch this result. In a finish worthy of playoff matches, this is the King himself who put the lid on with an old fashioned fadeaway.
Following this most contested meeting, the American media logically discussed the lessons that could be drawn from it. The ESPN set, for the occasion made up of Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and Paul Pierce, was therefore happy to debate around this subject. The former glory of Boston has been adamant about possible mental domination by the Lakers following their victory.
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If these two teams find themselves in the Finals, with full squad, the Celtics will have the psychological advantage. Final point.
I think the Celtics have the best five in the NBA. They have the best collection of scoring wingers, and that’s what you need to win games these days. If you look at all the champions of the past 20 years, and ask yourself, “Who was the MVP of the Finals? “Will be that wing player capable of creating his own shoot … The kind of Paul Pierce, the kind of Kobe Bryant.
Kawhi leonard, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, to a lesser extent Andre Iguodala: the best players in the last finals indeed present the profile described by Paul Pierce in his tirade. One of them, however, is now listed … in the Lakers.
Obviously influenced by his love of the Massachusetts franchise, The Truth nevertheless raises an important point by recalling that the Celtics competed with the number 1 team in the West without their titular leader, Kemba Walker. The latter is a much larger offensive contribution than Marcus Smart, which turns out to be more beneficial when leaving the bench.
Frank Vogel could not deplore any absence, except that of the newcomer in the workforce, Markieff Morris. His players still struggled to get rid of an eye-catching Boston collective in their own room. Enough for Pierce to give the C’s advantage.
Regardless of the fact that it was only a regular season game, Paul Pierce sees his old franchise having psychologically taken over in his lost confrontation with the full Lakers.
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