The Three Point Play 06.04.08: 2008 NBA Finals Preview, Part 2
Posted by Blake Lovell on 06.04.2008
In Part 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals Preview, the Three Point Play takes a look at the frontcourt play for both teams. It's Lamar Odom vs. Paul Pierce, Vladamir Radmanovic vs. Kevin Garnett, and Pau Gasol vs. Kendrick Perkins. Plus the frontcourt bench of both teams is analyzed! It's all inside the 2008 Finals Preview!
Hello everyone, and welcome to another special NBA Finals Preview edition of the Three Point Play. We are getting closer and closer to Game 1 between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, so we will take a look at the frontcourt for both teams, and see who has the advantage heading into the series. Let's jump right into it!
1. Small Forward: Lamar Odom (LA) vs. Paul Pierce (BOS)
It's probably obvious at this point that Paul Pierce and Lamar Odom won't guard each other, because Pierce will probably spend some time on Kobe defensively. But these are technically the two small forwards for each team.
By no means is Odom what you would call a small forward. Yet that is the position he is at, mainly because the Lakers have two other big men in the starting lineup. Odom hasn't been particularly consistent in recent games, but he's still averaging close to 15 points per game in the playoffs, and adding about 8 boards per game. That's something any team will take from a small forward any day of the week. Odom's size and length allow him to be successful, because he usually has the height advantage compared to his defender. That could change in this series though, as Kevin Garnett will probably matchup with him a lot of the time. Odom's ability to get to the paint will give him an advantage over whoever does guard him, because he can usually get guys in foul trouble quickly. But it also helps that he can hit the outside shot at times, which makes him a double threat. If Odom can find the type of consistency he had throughout the season, and allow Kobe and the rest of the Lakers to depend on him at times when they aren't scoring, he can give the Lakers a big advantage in this series.
Pierce is the guy that has been making the Celtics go in the playoffs. He hasn't always had huge scoring games, but he's always been there when they've needed him. Just look back to his excellent performance in Game 7 against the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Semis. More times than not, Pierce will get the ball in his hands if the game is on the line. His teammates trust him to take the big shots, and he's proven that he enjoys the pressure. He can shoot inside the paint, midrange jumpers, and long-distance three pointers, which makes him a huge threat to the Lakers. The Lakers don't really have anyone who can lockdown Pierce, so he could have an even better series in the Finals. He's the one that has been in Boston in the longest, and he's paid his dues to get to this point. If the Celtics find a way to win the title, I'd expect that Pierce will be a major catalyst in that.
ADVANTAGE: Celtics. Again, these two likely won't square off head-to-head much in the series, but Pierce is the better contributor for his team. While Odom is capable of having a breakout night scoring-wise, Pierce is sure to bring it each and every night. Even when Pierce's jumpshot isn't going in, he finds ways to get to the basket and score. If the Celtics win it all, he could very well be the Finals MVP.
2. Power Forward -Vladimir Radmanovic (LA) vs. Kevin Garnett (BOS)
There are some major flaws as far as defense goes for both teams. In this case, you've got three guys starting on the Lakers that are 6'10 or taller (Odom, Radmanovic, and Gasol). There are only two guys starting for the Celtics standing at 6'10 or above (Garnett, Perkins). There are some obvious questions as to how both teams will guard each other.
But in breaking down the power forward position, let us first take a look at Vladimir Radmanovic. Radmanovic is really the forgot-about starter, but it's easy to understand why given the outstanding Lakers lineup. He brings that unique style for a big man, as he's more of an outside shooter than a back-to-the-basket post player. His shooting ability is what causes trouble for other teams, because he's usually guarded by a big man, and most big men don't like to play outside the paint. Overall, Radmanovic really is the least threat of the starting five. He's not bad, he just doesn't have the overall style of game to contribute all the time. If his outside shot is on, then he's probably going to give you double digits in scoring. But if his outside game isn't on, he's got to find ways to get down the floor in transition and score easy points at the basket. As we've said, he's not going to go in and make ton of post moves to catch you off guard. It wouldn't surprise me though if he sees less minutes in this series than he's use to, as I would expect Sasha Vujacic to get more time on the floor for defensive purposes.
Kevin Garnett's arrival in Boston was nothing short of pure excitement for Celtics fans. Garnett brought the Celtics the much-needed inside presence, as the team had already acquired an outside presence in Ray Allen. Pierce was already in Boston, and the stage was set for a magical season. While Garnett's game is phenomenal, his intensity and will to win is unmatched in the league. You can see it on his face when he steps on the floor. What's different about the way he has played this year is his ability to not just score points, but to rack up stats in other areas as well. Pierce is the guy who usually gets the most points in a game, but that hasn't bothered Garnett one bit. KG was the go-to-guy in Minnesota, and while he's still a large option for the Celtics on the offensive end, he doesn't have to "do it all" anymore. He's got plenty of help around him, and that's why he's making his first appearance in the NBA Finals. I would expect nothing less than a very solid series for Garnett, as he seems to be hitting the 15 foot jumper consistently in recent playoff games. His tremendous ability to score with his back to the basket will also give him an edge against whoever the Lakers put on him.
ADVANTAGE: Celtics. Garnett is just a beast. He hasn't had to score 30+ points for this team to win. He's facilitated the ball well to the guards on the outside, and he's dominated the glass on both ends of the floor. He's one of the best overall players that will be playing in this series, and since this is his first chance to get a title, you can bet he'll bring his best.
3. Center - Pau Gasol (LA) vs. Kendrick Perkins (BOS)
The centers for both teams have more or less been difference makers in their team's success, and allowing them to play for the NBA championship.
Everything changed for the Lakers when Pau Gasol was brought in from the Memphis Grizzlies. The Lakers were a good team before the trade, but they weren't a great team. Kobe should be thanking Gasol right now, because he's one of the primary reasons they are in the Finals. Gasol brought more of a finesse inside game to the Lakers, as they really had no dominate big man before his arrival. Andrew Bynum was playing well, but ultimately got injured. Gasol saved the Lakers. That's basically what happened. Had he not been traded (if you can even call it that, it was more of the Grizzlies just giving him away for absolutely nothing), the Lakers would not be here. They would have been bounced in the first round, because they would have lacked an inside game. But Gasol can step out and hit the jumpshot, and he has some excellent moves inside the painted area. While Gasol brings more of a simple game to the inside, as opposed to a strong physical game, he's still able to use his body well to where he can score. He's not a banger inside, but he gets the job done.
And while Kendrick Perkins isn't a great player, he's turned into a really solid inside man for the Celtics. Perkins made a significant impact on the Celtics-Pistons series, and continues to grow as a post player in the league. He's still got some work to do as far as his shot goes, and he still needs to develop a few more moves inside, but he's on his way to having a really decent career. His strength inside is an aspect of his game that gives him somewhat of an edge over guys who are taller than him. He's been rebounding well in the postseason thus far, average close to 7 boards per game. With he and Garnett on the inside, the Celtics certainly have the rebounding advantage over most teams that they play, which is why they are still playing and the others are not. Perkins' shot blocking ability also affects the game to a certain extent, as he's able to use his physical strength to gain leverage to be able to block the shot. It'll be interesting to see how he responds, as he should have a difficult matchup on the inside in this series. But if the matchups work out to the Celtics' liking, then he may be able to be the x-factor for Boston.
ADVANTAGE: Lakers. Perkins is stronger, but Gasol has the better game. I'm not sure how either team will approach this matchup, as we don't really know who guards who at this point yet, but I'd expect Gasol to have a big series no matter what. When the Lakers grab quick rebounds and start the fast-break, they have the ultimate advantage overall. Gasol can get down the floor well for an inside player, and should be able to get a couple trash buckets in the transition game.
Frontcourt Bench - Walton, Turiaf, and Mbenga vs. Posey, Brown, Powe, and Davis
The Celtics have more forwards/centers coming off the bench, but does that mean anything? Let's find out.
Luke Walton and Ronny Turiaf are really the only inside players that come off the bench for the Lakers that can impact the game. DJ Mbenga plays spot minutes, but I wouldn't think we would see him a whole lot in this series. Walton will give the Lakers some points every now and then, and could even possibly have a big night if he's shooting the ball well. Walton's defense is also a plus for the Lakers, as he may have to matchup with guys like Pierce, Posey, or House at times. Turiaf is a high energy go who has a different type game than Gasol, but like Gasol, he benefits from some easy points in the transition game. Turiaf is able to get up and down the floor well in the up-tempo Lakers offense, which is why he is a guy that can give them some good minutes. He isn't going to play a whole lot every game, but he can give guys like Gasol and Odom a breather when they need it.
The bench play for the Celtics in the front court has been good throughout the playoffs. They get many positive bursts from these guys, and usually starts with James Posey. Posey is a great shooter on the outside, but can also get to the rack and create shots. There have been several instances in the playoffs where he has came in and contributed immediately for the Doc Rivers and the Celtics. If his shot from outside is on, look out. P.J. Brown is a veteran in the league, and gives the Celtics sort of a quiet leadership on the floor. He plays hard and should get some minutes in the Finals for defensive purposes. Leon Powe is also another strong, physical post player inside for the Celtics, as he usually gets some offensive boards which leads to scoring. He's very athletic, and is a force in the rebounding category off of the bench. And lastly for the Celtics, Glen "Big Baby" Davis is just really a guy that comes in to give someone else a rest. He's not gonna score much because he doesn't really play enough minutes to make a complete impact on the game.
ADVANTAGE: Celtics. Guys like Posey, Brown, and Powe will all make some type of contribution for the Celtics. Posey has the potential to score double-digits every game, as his minutes have gone up, now reaching around 20 per game in the playoffs. Brown and Powe will push around the big guys for the Lakers, as Odom and Gasol may find them to be a nuisance.
Final Analysis
The Lakers had an advantage in the backcourt, but the Celtics have the advantage in the frontcourt game. The Pierce-Garnett duo at the small forward and power forward positions make it hard to pick against them in the case for the better frontcourt. Gasol gives the Lakers an edge at the center position, but the Pierce-Garnett combo will be more productive than the Odom-Gasol combo. This particular area may be where the series is decided, as the team who wins the glass could very well win the series. Odom is averaging 10 rebounds per game for the Lakers, while Garnett is also averaging 10 per game for the Celtics. The bench play may give the Celtics the overall edge on the boards, as Brown and Powe should see some time in the series.
That's all for this preview. Tune in tomorrow for Part 3 of the series, as we look at some intangible categories, and decide who will come out on top in the 2008 Finals.
