Probably the most iconic rivalries in sports activities suggestions off on Saturday evening in Boston. There have been a whole bunch of battles between the Celtics and Lakers and every time, the buildup to the sport is simply as intense.
The brand new-look Lakers enter Beantown for the primary and solely time this season since they final performed again in January when the Celtics misplaced at Crypto 117-96. Boston has improved to 45-18 and sit second within the East whereas the Lakers are 40-21 and in addition sit second within the Western Convention.
Probably the most notable change between the 2 groups is Luka Dončić is now beginning alongside LeBron James.
The brand new duo meets the reigning champion duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown which leads me straight to my very first thing to be careful for.
Picture by Adam Glanzman/Getty Pictures
Jaylen Brown vs. Luka Dončić
Jaylen Brown locked up Luka Dončić in final season’s NBA Finals en path to a Finals MVP. He took the problem of choosing up Dončić full courtroom and making it troublesome for him to get his pictures off.
Whereas Brown was defending Luka, it made Luka exert extra vitality, and at instances through the Finals, you can see how exhausted Luka was down the stretch which made him miss pictures he usually makes.
Will Joe Mazzulla determine to stay Brown on Dončić from the beginning or will the Celtics combine issues as much as hold the Lakers and Dončić guessing?
Offensively, Brown has solely had one 30+ level sport in 2025. It’s laborious to attain lots of factors on a group that’s crammed with scorers, however we may very well be due a giant Brown offensive sport.
What is going to Kristaps Porziņģis seem like in his return?
It’s not official that Porziņģis is energetic in opposition to the Lakers, however on Instagram, it seems that Porzingis leaked the information himself that he’s taking part in.
If we’re to consider social media, then it seems like Boston could have a giant increase in opposition to Los Angeles. The Latvian missed the final 4 video games on account of a non-COVID sickness. It stays to be seen if he’ll look 100% or if he performs sparingly contemplating his stamina might have regressed whereas he was sick.
Nonetheless, the presence of Porziņģis might be useful because the Lakers, after dealing Anthony Davis to the Mavericks and the failed bodily by Mark Williams, are missing within the heart division even with the addition of Alex Len.
Within the first assembly, Porziņģis led the best way for Boston scoring 22 factors on 9-of-16 taking pictures. Even when the Celtics get Porziņģis that’s solely 70% of his ordinary self, it must be sufficient to be a difference-maker.
It will likely be attention-grabbing to see if Mazzulla decides to start out Porziņģis or have him come off the bench. Some consider with the quantity of video games he’s missed over his brief Celtics profession, it might be useful to maintain the group that’s been taking part in along with each other. Whether or not he comes off the bench or begins, the Celtics might use him on each ends of the courtroom.
Jayson Tatum’s bounce again sport?
Jayson Tatum has been in unreal kind over the previous couple of video games. Everybody is aware of Tatum’s favourite participant rising up was Kobe Bryant. This sport ought to imply one thing to everybody who places on that Celtics jersey, and for Tatum, I’m positive it’s no completely different. Usually, Tatum performs effectively in opposition to LA, nonetheless again in January he had one in every of his poorer taking pictures nights.
Tatum scored 16 factors on simply 5-of-12 taking pictures with a +/- of -13.
Particularly going head-to-head with LeBron on residence courtroom, I can see Tatum attempting to make up for his final rivalry efficiency, particularly in entrance of the house followers. There are solely numerous instances when Tatum has not proven up in a giant prime-time sport in Boston.
Tatum is contemporary off of 35 factors in 31 minutes in opposition to Philadelphia on Thursday. Tatum might be effectively rested and able to go as soon as extra. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see who begins on Tatum defensively.
I extremely doubt it’s LeBron, however whether it is him, will probably be superb to observe old-fashioned vs. new college and see two of the perfect within the league go head-to-head. LeBron will simply want to recollect to not soar with Tatum the following time Tatum drives with the ball.
