Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers Free NBA Pick & Preview

Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers Free NBA Pick & Preview: The Celtics and the Lakers, you hate one or the other, maybe both, but you definitely hate one of them if you care one bit about NBA basketball. One of these two teams have been NBA Champs in each of the last 3 seasons, and they’ve played each other for the title twice in those years, the Celtics winning in 6 games in 2008, the Lakers winning in 7 games in 2010. This is a rivalry, and those don’t come around very often these days. The Celtics have 17 championships, the Lakers have 16; they are the two winningest franchises in NBA history.

But this isn’t history, this is Sunday afternoon, and these are still two of the best teams in the NBA despite their aging veterans. For the Celtics it’s Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and now Shaquille O’Neal (among other old players). For the Lakers, Kobe is getting up there in age, as is Derrick Fisher, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom. At least the team has looked older this season.

At 35-11, the Celtics have the 2nd best record in basketball (behind the Spurs). The Lakers are tied with the Bulls for the 3rd best record in basketball at 33-14. The Celtics are 13-8 on the road, which means they’ve lost 8 of their 11 away from home. The Lakers are 18-6 at home, compared to 15-8 on the road, so they’re the same team wherever they play. Both teams are 7-3 over their last 10 games.

In this one, I have to take the Celtics. I’m sure they’ll be up to play the Lakers at home in LA, and though Boston has been struggling lately, losing games to Houston, Washington, and Phoenix in their last 10 (those 3 teams all have losing records), the Lakers are coming off a loss to Sacramento, and are just 3-3 over their last 6 with losses to the Mavericks and Clippers. I think the Celtics hustle will get the best of a Lakers team that is getting softer and softer.

Boston Celtics (+3) @ Los Angeles Lakers (ABC) (1/30)