The Biggest obstacle of All

Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have beaten the Boston Celtics it is clear that the Lakers have a legitimate shot at beating the champs if they meet in the finals this year.

Boston, who has lost two games since their defeat to the the Lakers on Christmas day, have seemed to have a longer hang over than even they could have expected.

Last nights lose to the Portland Trail Blazers and Fridays lose to the lowly Warriors from Golden State might mean that the Celtics lose to the Lakers has had a spill over.

The Lakers victory over the Celtics, on the other hand, has certainly lifted the Lakers spirits and has encouraged them into believing that they are the team to beat in the NBA. 

It was argued by many columnists and NBA analysts that the Lakers win against the Celtics meant more for the Lakers than it did for Boston. While there is no doubting the impact of the win, it could also be looked through a different angle.

The christmas day win was the first time the Lakers played to thier potential for a month. As a result, the Lakers look like a team that only gives it it's all when they want to. A consistently inconsistent trait that may end up hurting them in the long run. 

Prior to the Lakers win over the Celtics, the Lakers gave up 118 points to the Indiana Pacers, 102 to the Philidelphia Sixers, 104 to the Washingotn Wizards, 113 to the Sacramento Kings, 110 to the Phoneix Suns, 114 to the Knicks, 106 to the Orlando Magic, and 38 points in the fourth quarter to the Bucks at home. 

Not exactly championship defense, especially against some of the lesser teams in the league.

So how exactly did the Lakers decide to clamp down on defense against the Boston Celtics? 

Maybe the better question is why the Lakers decided to finally take defense seriously against the champs? 

Kobe Bryant has been on record numerous times saying that the Lakers key to beating the champs this season is rebounding and defense. 

After a hurrendous month in December on the defensive side, the Lakers decided to exhibit their early season form on the 25th, at the perfect time, against the Celtics. End of the game stat line offensively for Boston; Seventeen Turnovers, 5 for 22 from three point land, and scored 83 points overall. 

For the Lakers; Great defense, tenacious intensity, and lots of hustle and heart added to one of the best wins that I can remember the Lakers had in any regular season. 

Fustrating for Laker fans is how the Lakers played with thier emotions so much during the last month. They lost a few games to some teams they should not be losing to, they looked lost on defense, and seemed to wait until the end of the third quarter until realizing they were in a basketball game they should try and win; Which all made Laker fans worry that the Lakers may have a few more road blocks than just the Boston Celtics. 

But after the Lakers win on Christmas day, it was almsot as if the Lakers said to thier fans " Do not worry were still a great team who can beat Boston and play hard when are backs are up agianst the wall."

The Lakes have always been notrorious for playing down to the level of their competition, especially in the early 2000's. Back in the Shaq and Kobe era the Lakers would allow some of the dormant teams in the league to beat them with out even putting up a fight. But before those Lakers even won a title they finished the 1999-2000 season with a 67-15 record, far best in the NBA. Consequently, like most championship teams, they got complacent the next few seasons, smoked a blunt during the season, and than put the peddle to the metal in the playoffs. 

On the contrary, this Laker team can not afford to play lack luster basketball, having not won anything more than a Western Conference championship.

Additionally, the Lakers must not succomb to the notion that the only team they have to be better than is the Boston Celtics.

There is a line in the movie " The 40 year old Virgin" which says " Don't put the Pussy on the pedastol" or something like that.

If the Lakers put Boston high a top the mountain, without a care what other obstacles lie in between, than they will fall into a big trap and lose site of what else can knock them down on thier journey to the title; Lack luster defense, poor rebounding, the Spurs and maybe even the Cav's. 

O ya, there is also the home court advantage thing to worry about, something the Lakers could have desperately used in the finals last year havng not won a game in Boston all of last season.

 Rick Reilly, long time columnist for the famously known " Back Page" of Sports Illustrated once said that Michael Jordan, in the Bulls record setting 72-10 win season, had his bulls teamates playing in a December night in New Jersey like it was game seven of the NBA finals. 

I am not saying that the Lakers have to go 72-10 but consistency is the key.

Consistent energy, consistent focus on defense, consistently making a point to rebound the basketball, and consistently moving the basketball and utilizing the deep roster the Lakers have. Remember, Boston beat the Lakers with a lot of their succesful bench play. The Lakers must continue to have much of the same with theirs.

Hopefully, the Lakers will realize this. Yes they are 25-5 and a top the Western Conference, but when you play with fire, something is bound to catch.

The Boston Celtics, yes, a huge obstacle to over come. Christmas day was the first step. But the biggest step of all might be the Lakers overcoming themselves.