Can the Lakers stop Rondo?
That will be a critical thing to watch early in the series. It’s not just about who’s guarding him. To stop Rondo, all five guys must get back in transition, protect the paint and recover to the Celtics’ shooters on the perimeter. 5. Where would a fifth ring put Kobe on the list of the greatest ever? It’s not like he’s not surrounded by a ton of talent, but if Bryant gets a second ring without Shaquille O’Neal, it would be hard not to put him among the top five or six players in NBA history. WHEN L.A. HAS THE BALL The Lakers have been much more efficient in the playoffs than they were in the regular season. The improvement starts with Bryant, who has shot the ball much better (48 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range), scoring at least 30 points in 10 of the last 11 games. The Lakers’ other wily veteran has also been key. When Derek Fisher is shooting well, the Lakers are much tougher to defend. The Celtics will look to keep the Lakers out of the paint. Like they did tw
