LOS ANGELES — The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is likely one of the best in sports activities. From the second the doorways to the Crypto.com enviornment opened, its weight might be felt. The media presence on the enviornment exceeded that of a high-profile playoff recreation, not an everyday season recreation in January. Each seat within the constructing was stuffed.
And, Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared his perspective on collaborating within the deep-rooted rivalry.
“The preparation, strategy, mentality — none of that adjustments,” Redick stated pregame. “I feel it’s extra simply the sensation of gratitude that you just get to take part on this rivalry, which works again a protracted, very long time, and also you get to be a part of this present era of gamers and coaches.”
However, all of the hype of the match-up rapidly wore off because the Celtics fell behind by 11 within the first quarter and by no means reduce it to single-digits the remainder of the way in which.
Whether or not it was drained legs from taking part in lower than 24 hours after an extra time win towards the Clippers, or one other inexplicable lackluster effort, Boston was outplayed in almost each facet of the sport. Anthony Davis led the way in which with 24 factors, Austin Reaves added 23, and LeBron James completed with 20 factors, 14 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The Lakers pressured the Celtics into tough two-point photographs relatively than open threes, and the Celtics shot simply 38.5% on the evening.
“We had a gameplan, and we executed it,” stated LeBron James. “For almost all of the 48 minutes, we executed it towards an ideal workforce — the defending champions, nice gamers, they usually’re going to place you in conditions which can be uncomfortable, however you’re going to should be uncomfortable as a way to compete.”
Listed here are 4 observations from Thursday evening at Crypto.
Celtics attribute poor efficiency to themselves, not the Lakers
Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis each acknowledged after the sport that it didn’t assist that the Celtics had been on the second evening of a back-to-back.
“You can provide them credit score, however I simply assume we got here out flat, we sort of seemed drained,” Brown stated. “Perhaps you possibly can say from the sport from final evening going into extra time carried over, however on each side of the ground, they only had extra vitality than us. We tried to ramp it within the third quarter, but it surely simply wasn’t there tonight.”
Porzingis didn’t play on Wednesday towards the Clippers — however pointed to the workforce’s total low vitality.
“They had been actually environment friendly, and we didn’t have our greatest recreation, to place it into easy phrases,” Porzingis stated. “We performed a bit of bit low vitality within the first half. Second half, I felt like we got here out higher, however they already had a very good lead and I feel there was one good second we had the place we may’ve made it to seven or 9 (factors). Missed the free throws, after which once more, they went on a bit of run and it slipped out of our fingers, so it was not a very good evening for us and a very good evening for them.”
Jaylen Brown reveals an ankle damage is impacting his play
Brown stated he rolled his ankle within the Atlanta recreation on Jan. 18, and re-injured that ankle on Wednesday evening towards the Clippers. He completed the sport with 17 factors on simply 7-19 taking pictures (and 0-3 from the free throw line) and famous afterward that the ankle was bothering him.
“It was alright — I’m nonetheless making an attempt to get my burst, my explosion again,” Brown stated. “Didn’t end lots of baskets across the rim as a result of it’s messing with me a bit of bit, however it would get there.”
He emphasised his disappointment together with his finishes across the rim twice in his postgame media availability.
“I missed lots of baskets across the rim,” Brown stated. “My workforce wants me to make these. I gotta be capable of produce for my workforce.”
Kristaps Porzingis more and more appears and appears like himself — it simply hasn’t translated into sustained successful
Porzingis had the most effective particular person efficiency by any Celtic, ending the sport with 22 factors on 9-16 taking pictures alongside 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a block.
However, though he had it going, the Lakers had been content material to dwell with the outcomes.
“I believed that was one in all, if not our greatest, video games when it comes to executing our defensive gameplan,” Redick stated. “Not overreacting to Porzingis making just a few turnaround jumpers. Like I stated pregame, it’s a must to be keen to dwell with stuff.”
Brown was inspired by Porzingis’s offensive movement, however acknowledged that every thing wanted to return collectively for the Celtics.
“KP’s been benefiting from his match-ups,” Brown stated. “He’s been much more environment friendly in his post-ups. We attempt to get him going, I’m all the time making an attempt to search for him. KP’s been taking part in nicely, he’s been hitting photographs, he’s been guarding the rim. Him coming again is sweet for us, we simply gotta put all of it collectively and prepare to peak on the proper time.”
Porzingis stated he’s feeling extra like himself — and that he’s assured that the Celtics might be effective.
“I simply really feel it,” he stated. “I really feel how we’re. I’m stepping into my rhythm and we’re discovering a rhythm as a workforce. There’s nights like this that, after all, occur. It occurred final yr. It’s occurring this yr a bit of bit extra, however I don’t assume we’re too far off of the place we have to be. We simply have to preserve our head down, preserve working and I imagine we’ll peak on the proper second.”
Brown stated the identical.
“I’m not involved, but it surely’s part of navigating the yr,” Brown stated. “Something can occur, we simply want to complete by way of All-Star break robust, after which get able to gear up going into in the direction of playoffs — proceed to stick with it, stick with it, keep the course, as a result of I really feel like we nonetheless the most effective workforce on the market, we simply gotta put all of it collectively.”
Jayson Tatum talks being voted into the All-Star recreation
Earlier Thursday, the NBA introduced Jayson Tatum as one in all 5 Jap Convention All-Star starters. It’s the third straight yr Tatum has earned the dignity — and fifth begin total.
“It means loads,” Tatum stated after the loss to the Lakers. “Being an All-Star is a hell of an accomplishment. Being a starter — simply understanding that the followers help you and admire you and need to see you on the market — it’s simply one thing I dreamed about as a child. Six All-Star [appearances] at 26 is one thing that I don’t take as a right.”
Jayson Tatum completed 2nd in participant voting, 2nd in fan voting, and tied for 1st in media voting amongst East forwards.
Jaylen Brown completed sixth in participant voting, fifth in fan voting, and tied for fifth in media voting amongst East forwards. pic.twitter.com/0iq9vfbD4O
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) January 24, 2025
Joe Mazzulla acknowledged pregame how Tatum balances particular person accolades with a need to play successful basketball.
“He stays hungry on getting higher,” Mazzulla stated. “He listens to it, he believes it, however he doesn’t let it distract him from what’s crucial factor — and it’s persevering with to get higher and successful championships and being an ideal teammate. And so, these issues are necessary, these affirmations — as a result of that’s what the fellows work exhausting for. However you simply have an understanding of what the larger image is, however that these issues play a component in that.”
Brown, requested about Tatum’s play postgame, stated his co-star was acting at a excessive stage.
“Jayson’s been taking part in nice this yr,” Brown stated. “He’s been taking pictures the ball nicely, I feel that was an emphasis for him going into the yr.”
