Image by RMTip21 via FlickrHere are the three keys to deciding the NBA Finals between the Lakers and Celtics ...Student vs. Teacher: Philly-area teen Kobe Bryant got schooled in basketball fundamentals by then-76ers assistant coach Tom Thibodeau. In 2008, Thibodeau taught Bryant some more things the hard way, structuring an overload defense that held Bryant on the perimeter and to 40.5 percent field-goal shooting in the NBA Finals won by Boston. Thibodeau, the Celtics’ associate head coach, will try to do it again now with a Boston defense that ranked only ninth in field-goal defense in the regular season; Boston was first the previous two seasons. Since getting his right knee drained after Game 4 of the first round, Bryant has been phenomenal: He has an assist-to-turnover ratio of better than 2-to-1, he is shooting 51.5 percent from the field and the Lakers are 10-2.
Rebound Hounds: The Celtics out-rebounded the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals by five per game. Boston’s solid rebounding was a key reason both regular-season games vs. the Lakers were close. But the Celtics have issues on the boards, winding up 27th out of 30 NBA teams in regular-season rebounding percentage; the Lakers were ninth. Besides the Lakers’ clear height advantage, Celtics big men Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Glen Davis just aren’t gifted rebounders – leaving a lot to Kevin Garnett. Boston has been better on the boards in the playoffs, but the Lakers' 2.2 per-game edge in rebounds on their opponents this postseason is second only to Orlando among the 16 playoff teams.
New and Improved Lakers: Ron Artest is new, and Andrew Bynum is improved. Neither was on the 2008 roster that lost the title to Boston. The Lakers hope both offer physical presences now that take integral parts of the Celtic game away. Artest can further his case as an all-time great defender on this grand stage against Paul Pierce (18.3 points per game in regular season). Phil Jackson called it Artest's "time to shine." Artest also has picked up his offense lately and is actually third on the team with 11.5 points per game in the playoffs. Bynum, who missed the 2008 NBA Finals with a knee injury, is now playing with torn knee cartilage. He is foremost a key part of the Lakers’ defensive paint protection, but he also provides a scoring threat inside that was lacking in ’08 when Lamar Odom kept drifting to the perimeter.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/thibodeau-251234-bryant-celtics.html
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