With the Celtics and Lakers playing a decisive seventh game for all the marbles in the 2010 NBA Finals tonight and me threatening to turn this place into CelticsFinalsDigest, it seems only fair to even the scales a bit with a double-dose of purple-and-gold perspective today. Earlier this morning, rogue Digest staffer (read: Digest staffer who roots for the Lakers) Matt Hubert checked in with his weekly contribution. This afternoon, we’re joined by perhaps my favorite member of the Lakers’ corner of the Interwebs, Rob Baptista, better known to his readers as wondahbap.
I first encountered wondahbap during his run as resident purple-and-gold-leaning commenter during my Daily Babble days at CelticsBlog, where he added level-headed perspective from the other side. Since that point, I’ve enjoyed chatting hoops with Rob, catching up with him at the IZOD Center of all places and watching his ascent in the blogosphere to his current role as a beat writer at Silver Screen and Roll. He is a good guy and insightful basketball man, and I’m honored to have Rob aboard for an afternoon shoot-around today (you can check out my answers to his questions over at SSR as well).
SW: As you noted in your questions to me, since the end of Game 6, all eyes focused on the status of Kendrick Perkins, who will not play after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee. The green faithful has expressed plenty of frustration about what this means for the Celtics defensively, but how significant is Perk’s absence from the Lakers’ perspective? Do you expect to this to affect the Lakers’ offensive approach in the way of an emphasis on more early touches for Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum?
RB: I tend to think the Lakers just need to play it like they did in Game 6. By focusing on the post and pressuring the post defense with Kobe’s dribble penetration. I think most Lakers fans are hoping that we establish post play early and often. Emphasis on post touches is needed for the Lakers’ overall success, regardless of the Perkins situation, but with Boston being down a big, it will be key to try to earn some fouls on the rest of the Celtics front court. Personally, I don’t think the Celtics should play Shelden Williams (or any other big) unless there is serious foul trouble. The Lakers have basically been going with a 3 man rotation of bigs, and being Game 7, I see no reason why the Celtics shouldn’t with KG, ‘Sheed, and Baby. So, the Lakers should try to force the Celtics to play Williams (or Scalabrine?), and they do that with a concerted effort in post play, but also with the same penetration we saw in Game 6.
SW: In a series that has featured more than a few bizarre sequences of events, what’s been the biggest surprise for you through six games?
RB: The biggest surprise to me has been how much trouble Big Baby Davis has given Lamar Odom defensively. Lamar typically tends to have trouble with shorter hustle guys like Paul Millsap, Carl Landry and Davis, but that’s usually with their offense, since they take advantage of his aloofness. But watching Baby take away Lamar’s penetration is very frustrating since Lamar seems to not know what else to do. Davis is quick enough to take Lamar’s first step away because he’s daring Lamar to go right, and Lamar either can’t or won’t.
SW: Standard A-F scale, how do you grade Ron Artest’s first season in Los Angeles? Why?
RB: I’d give Ron Ron a B. Although been pretty awful in the flow of the Triangle, his defense can be too good to ignore. I’m sure there were many Lakers fans jumping back on Trevor Ariza’s bandwagon after Game 5. Not me. Ron’s addition, added to Bynum’s return, signaled the Lakers’ desire to transition into a defense first team. The offensive flow already takes a step back with Bynum starting, never mind Artest also, but that’s fine as long as the Lakers can stop the other team from scoring. That was their goal, and it’s defense that has them one win away from repeating. The Lakers signed Ron for 3 guys – Carmelo Anthony, Paul Pierce and LeBron James (no one expected Kevin Durant and the Thunder to be this good this season), and we getting the chance to see what a difference he’s makes. Paul Pierce won Finals MVP in 2008. For the most part, he’s done well.
SW: After the Celtics’ bench had been more productive through the series’ first five games, the Lakers’ reserves put up 24 points before their green counterparts got on the board in Game 6, and the quartet of Lamar Odom, Sasha Vujacic, Shannon Brown and Jordan Farmar gave the home team great energy at both ends. What took so long, and how do you expect the battle of the benches to go in Game 7?
RB: I wish I could tell you why. If they play well, the Lakers usually win easily. If they don’t, the starters have no margin for error. Fortunately, they play much better at home.
SW: Kobe Bryant. Go. (Seriously, I feel like we can’t do an entire Lakers-Celts q-and-a without even touching on him, and I’m taking this question off as a homage to the Celtics’ performance or lack thereof on the glass in Game 6. The floor is yours.)
RB: I already feel this series means a lot to Kobe’s legacy. Game 7 is shaping up to be THE signature game of Kobe Bryant’s great career. Should the Lakers win, his legacy is bulletproof. Lose, and doubts are rekindled. He knows this, and I expect to see his absolute best on Thursday. I’ll leave it at that.
SW: Word association: first word, phrase or thought that comes to mind:
-STAPLES Center: better crowd then most people tend to give them credit for
-Rajon Rondo: great player but can be made a non-factor is transition game is taken away from Boston
-Lamar Odom: just woke up
-Bennett Salvatore: hopefully, he’s gone fishing for the season
-Doc Rivers: great motivator and better coach then I used to think
-Trevor Ariza: wishes he were still a Laker
-Vladimir Radmanovic: ask Paul Pierce…
SW: Big picture: If the Lakers lose this game, is the 2009-10 season a failure in Los Angeles? If not, how do you assess it?
RB: Yes, I think this season is considered a failure if they lost. I feel this team is the Best in the NBA, and I’m sure they feel the same way. Given that, and the fact that they are defending Champs, and most likely wanted Boston, a Championship is the only thing to satisfy their goals, and our expectations. Simply making the journey is fine for Phoenix Suns fans. But in Los Angeles, with this squad, and this payroll? Championship or bust. Especially against the Celtics.
SW: Prediction for tonight’s game?
RB: Let’s just say I have faith in my team.
And in the interest of politeness, I’ll just say I hope it’s unjustified faith and leave it at that. Much thanks again to Rob for joining us!
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