Review: Boston Celtics trounce the LA Lakers, 116-95

The Boston Celtics had one of their best wins of the season as they defeated the LA Lakers 95-69. Oh wait, that was just the score heading into the fourth quarter. The final score of this beat-down was 116-95. The Celtics outscored the Lakers by 10 in the second quarter and 12 in the third to head into the fourth with a formidable lead. Its rare that a team loses its best player and goes on a 6-0 run. Its even rarer when in the wake of the win streak no one even questions if, ‘missing the missing player’ is addition by subtraction.

“You don’t want Rondo? Send him my way,” Kobe said. “I love everything about him. Everything. I love his attitude, I love his chippiness, his edge, his intellect, his know-it-allness. All of it. That’s what makes championship players.

The same cannot be said for the Lakers. In Howard’s absence the Lakers had won three games including six of their last seven. And they still aren’t convinced if Dwight Howard will still wear the purple and gold in the coming year.

Here are the highlights from the first half:

For the Lakers, only three players finished in double figures. Kobe shot 9 of 15 for 27 points, had 7 rebounds and 0 assists. Antwan Jamison scored 11 on 4 for 9 shooting. Jodie Meeks added 13 on 5 for 12 shooting. Metta World Peace and Earl Clark had 5 points each. Dwight Howard added 9 points and 9 rebounds while Steve Nash had 9 points on 4 for 9 shooting with 5 assists.

For the Celtics, six players finished in double figures. This was the sixth game in which at least five Celtics scored in double figures. Led by Paul Piere who had 24 on 10 for 17 shooting with 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry had 15 points a piece. KG shot 6 for 10 and had 5 rebounds with 4 assists and Terry shot 6 for 13 with 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Avery Bradley scored 10 points on 4 for 11 shooting with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Courtney Lee had 13 on 6 for 12 shooting with 5 rebonds and 3 assists. Jeff Green gave them 19 points on 6 for 13 shooting. Chris Wilcox and Brandon Bass had 8 points each; Wilcox added 9 rebounds. Jeff Green and Jason Terry gave them some major spark coming off the bench. Either of those two are good enough to be starters in the NBA, but are going with a lesser role as its working for the Celtics.

Kevin Garnett crossed a major milestone today as he became the 16th player in NBA history to cross 25,000 points.

Back on court, the Lakers didn’t move the ball as well as the Celtics. They had 16 assists to the 25 of the greens. Interestingly both teams attempted 87 two point field goals each. The Lakers converted on 36 of those while the Celtics hit 46. The Lakers shot themselves in the foot with their free-throw shooting and downtown gunning. They went 18 for 30 from the charity stripe and 5 for 23 from three point range. When they are not falling you need to get better looks at the basket.

The Celtics climbed above Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference, up to the 7th playoff spot with a 26-23 record. The Lakers dropped to 23 of 27 and are behind Houston and Portland for the 8th spot in the West. With Pau Gasol out for six weeks and Dwight Howard bothered by an ailing back and nagging shoulder issues, the chances of this Lakers team making it to the playoffs look slim. In all honesty, even the playoffs are a long shot, they will be lucky if they can even finish the season with a winning record.

The Lakers play the Bobcats and the Heat next, while the Celtics face the Nuggets and Bobcats.