Finals Analysis

Part II, III, IV, V


OK, here is my Full Finals Analysis. I'll break down the two teams in this year's NBA Finals by position, including each starter, the bench as a whole, the coaching and even the crowds.

Let's Start with...

The STARTERS!!!

POINT GAURD

Lakers: Derek Fisher
at 6'1", 185 pounds, Derek is built like a brick wall. He's about as broad in the shoulders as he is tall. Derek is an excellent three point shooter (I believe he still holds the finals record for three point percentage) and has been shooting particularly well in the playoffs as various defensive schemes to stop the other players on the team have given him plenty of wide open shots. For a point guard, he doesn't get up an down the floor very quickly, but fast break basketball has never really been his M.O. Still, at 32, he's not bad going 94 feet. But his real strength is in the half court - both on offense AND defense.

He's great at getting the offense started and calling out defenses. He's not very flashy with his passes or his ball handling. The best way to describe him is "Stable", which is good for the point guard on a very young team. His adept post-entry passes (an underated skill) will get Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant and even Luke Walton the ball in exactly the right spots on the floor. Then, on the other end of the court, he stays in front of his man and fights around EVERY screen. When playing off the ball, he's one of the best in the League at stepping in and taking a charge. Expect to see him step in for a charge at least twice per game - whether it gets called or not.

Celtics: Rajon Rondo
Rondo is just about an all star waiting to happen. Sure, there was the story about him losing a three point shooting contest to an eighth grader last summer, but he's a smart player and has figured out how to play to his strengths. In particular, when teams routinely double and triple team off of him, he's learned to make hard cuts towards the basket and is becoming adept at making that little 4-8 foot floating jump shot in and around the lane, which is becoming an absolute necessity for star point guards nowadays. And he has the skills with the ball to get to the hoop at will against slower guards (ie Derek Fisher)He takes his cues from Kevin Garnett, so he's unselfish almost to a fault at times. However, when the game is on the line, the Celtics shouldn't have any qualms about putting the ball in his hands and trusting that he will make the right call.
Defensively, he's quick and active. He does have a tendency to lay on screens a bit, but his foot speed and length (at 6'1", with arms that hang down to his knees), he seems a few inches taller. Recently, he's been playing the best basketball of his young career, including that 14 assist, 4 steal, 1 turnover gem against the Pistons.

Rondo is going to give the Lakers fits when he's up against Derek Fisher because Derek shouldn't be able to keep up with him. Then again, he shouldn't have been able to keep up with Tony Parker or Deron Williams, either. Rondo should give Fisher problems defensively, but they'll probably have him doubling, so Number 2 should continue to get open shots. Honestly, this matchup is just about a wash, but since Derek has the Experience (10 years in the NBA, 3 time champion, 2 time starter for a championship team), I'll give the Lakers a slight advantage here. But it's close.

Advantage: Lakers

editor's note: After thinking it over for the night, I think that this matchup will be a wash. It will be youth and athleticism versus experience and skill, instinct vs. insight. It will be frustrating for both sides to watch. No advantage gained.

Part II, III, IV, V