LOS ANGELES — The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is without doubt one of the best in sports activities. From the second the doorways to the Crypto.com enviornment opened, its weight may very well 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 modifications,” Redick mentioned 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 best way.
Whether or not it was drained legs from taking part in lower than 24 hours after an additional 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 best way 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 troublesome two-point photographs slightly than open threes, and the Celtics shot simply 38.5% on the night time.
“We had a gameplan, and we executed it,” mentioned LeBron James. “For almost all of the 48 minutes, we executed it towards an awesome crew — the defending champions, nice gamers, they usually’re going to place you in conditions which are uncomfortable, however you’re going to should be uncomfortable with a view to compete.”
Listed below are 4 observations from Thursday night time 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 have been on the second night time of a back-to-back.
“You may give them credit score, however I simply assume we got here out flat, we sort of seemed drained,” Brown mentioned. “Possibly you might say from the sport from final night time going into additional 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, however it simply wasn’t there tonight.”
Porzingis didn’t play on Wednesday towards the Clippers — however pointed to the crew’s total low vitality.
“They have been actually environment friendly, and we didn’t have our greatest recreation, to place it into easy phrases,” Porzingis mentioned. “We performed slightly 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 might’ve made it to seven or 9 (factors). Missed the free throws, after which once more, they went on slightly run and it slipped out of our fingers, so it was not a very good night time for us and a very good night time for them.”
Jaylen Brown reveals an ankle damage is impacting his play
Brown mentioned he rolled his ankle within the Atlanta recreation on Jan. 18, and re-injured that ankle on Wednesday night time 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 attempting to get my burst, my explosion again,” Brown mentioned. “Didn’t end plenty of baskets across the rim as a result of it’s messing with me slightly bit, however it should get there.”
He emphasised his disappointment together with his finishes across the rim twice in his postgame media availability.
“I missed plenty of baskets across the rim,” Brown mentioned. “My crew wants me to make these. I gotta have the ability to produce for my crew.”
Kristaps Porzingis more and more appears to be like and appears like himself — it simply hasn’t translated into sustained successful
Porzingis had the very best 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 have been content material to reside with the outcomes.
“I assumed that was considered one of, if not our greatest, video games when it comes to executing our defensive gameplan,” Redick mentioned. “Not overreacting to Porzingis making a couple of turnaround jumpers. Like I mentioned pregame, it’s a must to be prepared to reside with stuff.”
Brown was inspired by Porzingis’s offensive move, however acknowledged that all the pieces wanted to come back collectively for the Celtics.
“KP’s been profiting from his match-ups,” Brown mentioned. “He’s been much more environment friendly in his post-ups. We attempt to get him going, I’m at all times attempting to search for him. KP’s been taking part in properly, he’s been hitting photographs, he’s been guarding the rim. Him coming again is nice for us, we simply gotta put all of it collectively and prepare to peak on the proper time.”
Porzingis mentioned he’s feeling extra like himself — and that he’s assured that the Celtics might be nice.
“I simply really feel it,” he mentioned. “I really feel how we’re. I’m entering into my rhythm and we’re discovering a rhythm as a crew. There’s nights like this that, after all, occur. It occurred final 12 months. It’s taking place this 12 months slightly bit extra, however I don’t assume we’re too far off of the place we should be. We simply have to preserve our head down, preserve working and I consider we’ll peak on the proper second.”
Brown mentioned the identical.
“I’m not involved, however it’s part of navigating the 12 months,” Brown mentioned. “Something can occur, we simply want to complete by means of All-Star break robust, after which get able to gear up going into in 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 very best crew 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 considered one of 5 Jap Convention All-Star starters. It’s the third straight 12 months Tatum has earned the honour — and fifth begin total.
“It means so much,” Tatum mentioned 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 wish 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 mentioned. “He listens to it, he believes it, however he doesn’t let it distract him from what’s an important factor — and it’s persevering with to get higher and successful championships and being an awesome teammate. And so, these issues are essential, these affirmations — as a result of that’s what the blokes 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, mentioned his co-star was acting at a excessive stage.
“Jayson’s been taking part in nice this 12 months,” Brown mentioned. “He’s been taking pictures the ball properly, I feel that was an emphasis for him going into the 12 months.”
