Today, I am going to compare the matchups between the Celtics and Lakers' Benches. I will determine which team has the better bench by each teams best 4 bench players, those players' regualr season and playoffs stats, who was been playing the best for their team so far in the playoffs and how important those players are to their team when they come off the bench.Los Angeles Lakers Key Bench Players
Jordan Farmar: 2008 Season - 9.1 points, 2.7 assists/2008 Playoffs - 5.1 points, 1.3 assists
Farmar lead the Lakers' bench in minutes and scoring in the regular season and was a major factor in the series against San Antonio when he helped contain Tony Parker. He is a spark of the bench for Los Angeles and because of his speed and up-tempo play, he could see some minutes in this series filling in for Derek Fisher to match Rajon Rondo's quickness just like he did against Parker.
Sasha Vujacic: 2008 Season - 8.8 points, 2.1 rebounds/2008 Playoffs - 8.1 points, 2.3 rebounds
Vujacic has lead the Lakers' bench in minutes and points so far in the playoffs, and with his ability to knock down 3-pointers he will probably continue to play many minutes in the NBA Finals. He has shot 23-56 (41%) from the 3-point line and could come in for Vladimir Radmonovic when Los Angeles desides to play small and/or stretch out Boston's defense.
Luke Walton: 2008 Season - 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds/2008 Playoffs - 7.3 points, 3.9 rebounds
Walton is probably the Lakers' most versatile player coming off the bench because he can guard the small forward or power forward position on defense. He is also a threat on offense because he can post-up and knock down 3-point shots consistently, shooting 9-20 (45%) so far in the playoffs. Because Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will attack Los Angeles' front court getting Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol in foul trouble, expect Walton to play a lot in this series.
Ronny Turiaf: 2008 Season - 6.6 points, 3.9 rebounds/2008 Playoffs - 2.1 points, 1.8 rebounds
Turiaf played a good amount of minutes in the regular season (18.7) for the Lakers, but has not played as much (9.5) in the playoffs. Turiaf usually comes in games when 2 or more of Los Angeles' starters are in foul trouble, but throughout the playoffs the starters haven't had too much foul trouble leaving him with less minutes. I see Turiaf playing more in the NBA Finals because he will have the same role as Walton on defense, except Turiaf will be guarding power forwards or centers.
Boston Celtics Key Bench Players
James Posey: 2008 Season - 7.4 points, 4.4 rebounds/2008 Playoffs - 6.1 points, 3.5 rebounds
Posey has lead the Celtics' bench in minutes, points and rebounds during the playoffs this year and is clearly Boston's 6th man. His role is to come into the game for Ray Allen or Paul Pierce when they need some rest and play shut-down defense. He has consistently been Boston's leading 3-point shooter throughout the playoffs (35.9%) and always knocks them down when the Celtics need a basket. Besides Garnett, Posey is Boston's best defender and will play a lot in the NBA Finals as the Celtics try to slow down the Lakers' Kobe Bryant.
Sam Cassell(w/celtics): 2008 Season - 7.6 points, 2.1 assists/2008 Playoffs - 4.7 points, 1.2 assists
Although Cassell only played for Boston for the last 17 games of the year, he was one of the Celtics' regular season leading scorers off the bench and a veteran that has lots of experience in the playoffs. The Celtics haven't use him that much in the playoffs because he has been playing poor defense and turning the ball over too much. The only reason Boston signed Cassell to their team is for right now in the NBA Finals, where experience and clutch baskets can determine whether a team wins or loses a World Championship. I don't see Cassell playing many minutes in this series because he hasn't been playing well, but if its a close game and late in the 4th quarter, don't be surprised if Cassell is on the court to make a big shot.
P.J. Brown: 2008 Season - 2.2 points, 3.8 rebounds/2008 Playoffs - 2.6 points, 2.1 rebounds
Brown came out of retirement to play for Boston for the last 18 games of the regular season, and like Cassell he is a veteran that comes off the bench with lots of experience in the playoffs. The Celtics played Brown 16.8 minutes against Detroit in Boston's last series and expect him to play even more in the NBA Finals because of his defense and inside presence. Los Angeles' Bryant will probably get Boston's Kendrick Perkins in foul trouble because he has taken 9.7 free throws per game in the playoffs, so expect Brown to get a good amount of playing time in the NBA Finals.
Leon Powe: 2008 Season - 7.9 points, 4.1 rebounds/2008 Playoffs - 4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds
Powe was Boston's leading scorer off the bench during the regular season and is the Celtics' spark off the bench with his hustle and rebounding. Although Powe didn't play many minutes against Detroit in Boston's last series, with the Lakers' up-tempo style of play he could be a factor for Boston in the NBA Finals. Powe could give Los Angeles problems coming off the bench because he is an excellent offensive rebounder, and when you give the Boston PGA (Pierce, Garnett, Allen) Tour second chances to score they will make the you pay.
For three reasons, I predict that neither of the Celtics or Lakers' Benches have an advantage over each other in the NBA Finals. The thing is, this prediction is based on which team has an advantage over the other bench and that doesn't always mean the team that has the better stats will be more productive in the NBA Finals.
1. I believe that if you compared each teams' four key players by their stats and offense, Los Angeles has the better bench because they have scored more than Boston's in the playoffs (22.6 pts.-18.0 pts.) and the besides Turiaf, the Lakers depend on them to be a spark off the bench on the offense end of the court when Bryant is out of the game.
2. I also believe that if you compared each teams' four key players by their experience and defense, Boston has the better bench because they have been to the playoffs many more times in their careers since they are older (32.8 years-24.5 years) and besides Cassell, the Celtics depend on them to be a spark off the bench on the defensive end of the court when Garnett is out of the game.
3. The advantage can only go to Los Angeles' bench if they continue to put up lots of points like Vujacic and Walton to help out their starters, but I don't know if that will happen against the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year (Garnett) and the tough defense of the Celtics. The advantage can only go to Boston's bench if they continue to contain great players to help out their starters, but I don't know if that will happen against the 2008 Most Valuable Player (Bryant) and the high scoring offense of the Lakers.
Benches overall advantage: Draw
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