The rivalry between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics doesn’t need any added incentive. But it may have some in Thursday night’s best NBA game.
The first of two meetings between the greatest franchises in league history will be televised nationally at 8 p.m. ET by TNT, which has a one-hour pregame show that will reveal the reserves for the All-Star Game later this month.
Both proud teams have former All-Stars who have taken a step back this season and may not be selected for the midseason showcase this year. Is Pau Gasol an All-Star? How about Rajon Rondo? Paul Pierce? Ray Allen? Kevin Garnett?
There may be a handful of stars at TD Garden playing with a chip on their shoulder after finding out they will not be part of the party in Orlando next weekend. And that should only add to the intrigue of a rivalry that never gets old – even if the players do, as Mark Heisler explains.
This is another road test for the Lakers, who thus far have failed miserably in that regard. LA is just 3-9 on the road and 1-2 on its current six-game trip, losing at Utah and Philadelphia after winning in Denver.
In Monday’s loss to the Sixers, the Lakers totally dominated the paint and led by seven with less than five minutes to go before collapsing down the stretch. Their overreliance on Gasol, fellow big man Andrew Bynum and superstar Kobe Bryant again was evident as the trio – the team’s only double-digit scorers – accounted for 64 of their 90 points.
Matt Barnes hasn’t scored in double figures in a road game since Jan. 11. Metta World Peace hasn’t done it since Jan. 1. And Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy have not done it at all.
The Celtics have won five in a row and nine of 10, primarily due to a resurgence by Pierce, who 
has made a late push for an All-Star berth after a slow start.
In his last 10 games, Pierce is averaging 22.6 points, 7.4 assists and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field. His return to form could not have come at a better time as Rondo missed eight games with an injury and Allen cooled off after a hot start.
This game will be an excellent test for the Celtics, whose best win during their recent hot stretch was at home vs. Indiana six days ago. Boston is just 4-6 vs. teams with winning records, and two of those came against Orlando when the Magic were in complete disarray late last month.