Game 56 Preview: Celtics at Lakers

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Rajon Rondo will look to get the Celtics off the schneid.

The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Celtics remain intact.

Now, on to more important matters, like the actual games.

The C's (19-36) travel to Hollywood to take on the Lakers (18-36) for the final time this season.

The Lakers are losers of four straight. Their latest loss came Wednesday night against old friend Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets, who embarrassed the Lakers at the Staples Center, 134-108.

The Lakers traded Steve Blake yesterday to the Golden State Warriors for former Celtic Marshon Brooks and Kent Bazemore.

Lakers forward Pau Gasol is questionable for tonight's game. Gasol, whose averaging 17.1 points and 10.2 rebounds this season, has missed the last seven games with a groin injury.

Also for L.A., Steve Nash is expected to miss tonight's game with nerve root irritation in his right leg. The leg has caused problems for Nash over the course of the last two seasons. 

The Celtics continue on without Avery Bradley (ankle) and Vitor Faverani (knee).

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Lakers:
Kendall Marshall
Jodie Meeks
Wesley Johnson
Ryan Kelly
Chris Kaman


Keys to the game:

1. Score in the paint: The Lakers are the worst team in the NBA at defending the paint, as they give up a league-worst 48.1 points in the paint per game. The C's don't score in the paint all that often, but they need to tonight. With the Lakers' front line decimated by injuries, the Celtics have to get into the paint early and often. In their last meeting, the C's outscored the Lakers in the paint, 54-38.

2. Take advantage: This is a very bad team the Celtics are going up against. Injuries have derailed this team. If Pau Gasol plays, the C's may have some issues. If he doesn't, they need to take care of business. This is a team that almost had to play with four players two weeks ago against the Cleveland Cavaliers!