GAMEDAY RECAP CELTICS @ LAKERS 12-13-2022

The most storied rivalry in sports adds another chapter as Lakers host Celtics.

The Lakers, they are the 12th seed in the Western Conference with an 11-15 record in 26 games. 

Over the last ten games, they have gone 6-4 and are 6-6 in 12 games at home. 

Anthony Davis is off to a stellar start to the year with averages of 27.7 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.2 blocks per contest in 23 games.

The Celtics are 21-7 in 28 games and 7-3 in their last ten. 

However, they have lost their last two games, and this will be the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers 113-93 on Monday night. 

On the road, the Celtics have gone 10-5 in 15 games away from Boston. 

Jayson Tatum has looked fantastic and appears to be on the way to his fourth straight All-Star Game.

INJURY REPORT

The Lakers have ruled out Cole Swider, Scotty Pippen Jr., Juan Toscano-Anderson and Wenyen Gabriel.

As for the Celtics, they will be without Robert Williams III, Danilo Gallinari, Al Horford and JD Davison.

1st Quarter
Celtics start off hot lead by Brown, Tatum.
Very few things went right for the Lakers in the first quarter. LA guard Patrick Beverly would hit a 3 pointer to start the game which could of been seen as a promising sign for the NBA vet considering he has had an abysmal start to this season. 
Unfortunately for the Lakers the rest of the quarter belonged to the Celtics young stars. With 2 of Bostons best players sidelined due to injury (Horford,Williams),Jaylen Brown has played like a 1B star next to Tatum. Brown would start the game as a facilitator for the team initiating early offense by probing and putting constant pressure on an overwhelmed Laker front court.
Jason Tatum and Derrick White both came out with the hot hand hitting a early barrage of long distance shots forcing Laker coach Darvin Ham to call a early timeout a couple of minutes into the quarter after trailing 15-5.
Russell Westbrook would come off the bench at the 6:45 mark missing both of his three point attempts and missing a bunny layup at the rim. Austin Reaves would continue his impressive play with a beautiful up and under highlight play.

Blake Griffin would start the game guarding Anthony Davis who had a big quarter individually. Davis would finish the first with 13PTS and 5REBs being the only bright spot for the Lakers in the quarter.

The Celtics would shoot 7/11 from beyond the arc and lead after one 37-24

2nd quarter

Tatums Master Class

LeBron would start the second quarter and come out with a tremendous amount of energy. In a way he looked like young LeBron with an extra bounce that his rarely showcases outside of his one highlight dunk a game. James would get to the rim against the small Boston front court scoring on 5 consecutive baskets keeping the Lakers competetive.

Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown would continue their dominance on the court getting pretty much any shot they wanted for themselves or teammates. Brown would finish the half with 11PTS 7REBS and 2ASTS.

Tatum would lead the Celtics on a 8-0 run pushing the lead up to 15 midway through the second quarter. Towards the end of the the 2nd Patrick Beverly would embarrass himself and the entire city of Los Angeles with a dunk attempt that he jammed into the corner of the rim that would lead to a Tatum and-1 at the rim giving Jayson a running point total of 24.

 

 me too LakeShowYo me too.

Celtics lead at the half 65-50.

3rd quarter.

Lakers battle back.

The third period would start with both teams coming out and shooting the ball well. Jaylen Brown would open up the quarter with a 3 only to be answered back by Lebron with a 3 pointer of his own. 

James would continue being in attack mode setting up his teammate Anthony Davis would a mid jump shot pass to AD for the easy deuce. 

Watching Bostons Jaylen Brown this season its clear to see he has so much confidence in his game. He looks to attack on every single possession and is almost dueling with Tatum every night for the best player on the court. He is 12th in the league in scoring this season. 

Brown would push the Celtics lead even higher with a beautiful escape dribble fadeaway jumper over Davis. The Boston lead would eventually swell to 20 after a Tatum 3pointer as it seemed the game was getting away from LA. Maybe it was tired legs from a long road trip or maybe this Celtic team is just far superior either way it seemed to be the beginning of the end.

Then something happened the Lakers would start to battle back. Behind stout defense and some energy provided by Bron and Russ.

The Lakers would get the crowd something to cheer about with LeBron stealing a mistimed Celtic pass and turning back the clock for a windmill jam. Cutting the lead to 10.

 

 Behind a 17-4 Laker run LA brings the game within 6.

4th quarter

Lakers squander chance at victory.

The Lakers would continue the momentum they had built in the previous frame coming out in the fourth seemingly like they had the Celtics number. LeBron would continue to drive the lane getting an early easy layup brining the lead down to 4.

Then capping a 22-4 run, Russell Westbrook would hit a 3 point shot that gave the Lakers their first lead since the 10 min mark in the first quarter.

Like a heavyweight fight where the under dog has seized momentum Bron and the Lakers would throw haymaker after haymaker. A James oop to AD. Just like that this was the Lakers game to lose...

They did their best to do just that. After going up as much as 13 points on the Celtics late in the fourth Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had one more run left in them. The run would start with a Greg Williams 3 and on the ensuing inbound by James to Westbrook reigning defensive player of the year Marcus Smart swooped in and stole the ball under the Laker basket for the easy layup. Lead cut to 8.

Jayson Tatum would get to the line and hit a pair of FT's running his point total to 37 and counting. Anthony Davis came and answered back with his signature fadeaway baseline jumper which gave AD 37PTS on the night.

Tatum would come down and hit a clutch 3 pushing his point total to 40. Followed by Marcus Smart's 3 which brought the Celtics to within two points.

The Lakers would come out of a timeout leading by two with a play drawn up for a Pick and Roll between Bron and AD which lead to a foul that sent Anthony Davis to the line with a chance to close the game out. One made free throw would have put the Lakers up 3 and two made free throws would have put the game out of reach. Davis walked to the line took a deep breath, dribbled stared at the rim and proceeded to miss both of his FT's.

Tatum would grab the rebound and the Celtics elected to not take a timeout. Jayson would dribble down to the right baseline where he was matched up with LeBron James guarding him with the game on the line. These moments are what dreams are made of. Especially since Tatum grew up a Kobe Bryant fan. No better a place to honor your idol than the one that Kobe built. Tatum would dribble between the legs act like he was driving baseline then hit James with a spin back towards the Laker bench rising up with a fadeaway that would make the mamba do a "chefs kiss" NAILS.

 

OT.

 

I'll be honest with you, even when the Lakers came storming back late in the third and most of the fourth I knew deep down inside this team was not going to be able to pull it out. Now did I want them to win yes, but watching every minute of every game this season you start to learn the players tendencies and habits. When Anthony Davis missed that free-throw to seal it I knew the Lakers were going to lose. Just last week they blew a monumental comeback at Philedelphia in similar fashion when both AD and Austin Reaves missed crucial free throws late in the fourth.

When you use all that energy battling back against a good team like the Sixers or a even better team like the Celtics you have to be near perfect to close them out.

Russ would open up the OT period with back to back buckets giving the Lakers an early 4 point lead. After that however the Laker offense went dead. AD and Bron were both gassed and the team was depending on Russ to provide the offense in the extra period and he could simply not get it done. 

Jayson Tatum would hit his 44th point in OT putting the Celtics up 119-114. Then his running mate Jaylen Brown put the nail in the coffin with a deep three that would dash any hopes of a Laker victory.

Boston defeats the Lakers 122-118.

MY TAKEAWAYS.

  • Tatum and Brown are the top duo in the league right now hands down. Jaylen finished the game with 25PTS 15REB 5 AST.
  • Tatum is in a clear lead for league MVP based off is play and the Celtics record. The ALL-STAR had 44PTS 9REB 6AST.
  • I feel like the Celtics could move Greg Williams and some other pieces for another big just incase Robert Williams knee is an issue going forward. Look for the Celtics to make a move at the deadline to make another Championship run.

 

  • Patrick Beverly needs to give back his Laker jersey and go play for the clippers. 
  • LeBron was really engaged in this game you could tell he understood what the rivalry meant to the city and the game of basketball. LBJ finished with 33PTS 9REB 9AST
  • AD continues his monster play but he really needs to make those clutch free throw no excuse. Davis finished with 37PTS 12REB 3AST.
  • Russ has been playing well and he's put himself in a good situation individually. The Brodie finished with 20PTS 14REB 5AST.

Thank you guys for taking the time to talk hoops with me please follow us @ GOODWORKSWORLD on IG and Twitter.

 

 

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