Feb 7, 2013; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward/center Kevin Garnett (5) and Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (12) battle under the basket during the fourth quarter at TD Banknorth Garden. The Boston Celtics won 116-95. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The Celtics head to Los Angeles to take on a Los Angeles Lakers team that has just lost their beloved owner, Jerry Buss, two days ago. The game will have an obvious moment of silence for the great pioneer who really brought the entertainment aspect of basketball into America’s eyes. After the honoring of his memory, the Lakers will look to ride Buss’s memory and play one hell of a game.

The Celtics are coming to Los Angeles, losers against a red-hot Nuggets’ team, who simply just dominated the Celtics. Both the Celtics and Lakers are shells of their old championship pedigree, and both are victims to overwhelming injuries to a star player; Pau Gasol and Rajon Rondo.

This game will highlight the match-up at the center position, as Kevin Garnett will go up against Dwight Howard. Howard is struggling on offense and still has yet to find his niché with Mike D’antoni’s offense. Garnett will still have to play Howard tough down low to make the Laker’s one dimensional.

The tough task in guarding Kobe Bryant will be given to Avery Bradley. Bradley is easily the Celtics’ best perimeter defender and will have an effect on how easy or hard, Kobe gets his shot off. Look for the match-up to be an indicator on who is winning.

The Celtics will clearly miss the presence of Rajon Rondo in this game, even though they have tallied a respectable 8-2 record without him. Lakers’ point guard Steve Nash will look to find holes in a stingy Celtics’ half court defense. If the Celtics can avoid any cheap baskets or, simply,  the wrath from Kobe Bryant, this game will quickly fall to the Celtics’ hands.

The Celtics have the clear edge in fast break offense led by swingmen Jeff Green. Doc Rivers will look to speeding up the tempo and having the elderly Lakers play a full court game.

Trade deadline is looming and both teams are sellers at this point. Most players on either team are viable trade options for other teams, so look at this game as an experiment to see who the Celtics or the Lakers can axe or save to fight the next battle.

Jan 27, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics power forward Jared Sullinger (7), power forward Kevin Garnett (5) and small forward Paul Pierce (left) celebrate during the first half of a game against the Miami Heat at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Before the game, the Celtics were hands-down the underdogs heading into the game with the news that their All-Star point guard would miss the game with a knee injury. However, worse news stormed the Celtics’ locker room when the team found out that their all-NBA point guard would be out for the rest of the season. It was this drive that sparked the Celtics to a double overtime win over the Beast of the East, the Miami Heat.

The game was always close and both teams played stellar defense. However timely shots by Boston and awful coordination by the Miami Heat, gave the Celtics’s a hard fought win. Many will talk about the last play in double overtime with the Heat down by two. Many would presume that the ball would go to LeBron, Wade, Ray Allen, or even Chris Bosh. However, instead, the ball was given to Shane Battier for a long three pointer.

Celtics would win 100-98.

Player Grades

Courtney Lee: C

Lee did almost nothing. He would have gotten a worse grade, but his efficiency in not turning over the ball avoided any grade worse than the moderate “C”. However, Lee only made one shot out of seven and really didn’t play much throughout the double overtime game.

Avery Bradley: B-

Avery Bradley played above average defense on Dwyane Wade, however Bradley didn’t provide much besides the great hustle and man to man defense. Yes, he scored nine points, but overall his presence on offense was lacking. This allowed more time for Leandro Barbosa to play.

Paul Pierce: A

Paul Pierce had an absolutely great game. The only weakness that Paul Pierce had difficulty today with was his field goal percentage. He shot six for sixteen. However, the man has a triple double. In both overtimes, Pierce outstared LeBron James. Pierce dominated the game offensively and really set up his teammates with 10 assists.

Jared Sullinger: C+

Sullinger showed great hustle with three steals, but he struggled offensively against LeBron James and Udonis Haslem. Also a little tussle with Rashard Lewis, did give the game a little more intensity. Sullinger needs to rebound more efficiently against a team who is last in rebounding. Four rebounds in over 22 minutes is simply not good enough.

Kevin Garnett: A

Garnett is the Celtics’ lone all star after the fall of Rajon Rondo. Garnett played like an All-Star starter today. He finished with  24 points and 11 rebounds. He dominated in both the overtimes and really outmatched Chris Bosh defensively by piling up three blocks. Overall Garnett had a great game defensively and offensively and he really gave the Celtics the heart and fight they needed to what seems like a hopeless season.

Jason Terry: B

Terry had a quality game of the bench by scoring 13 points. Yes, he didn’t too much besides the scoring, but he did his job, and that was to hit big shots when the Celtics needed it. Terry hit the clutch shots when it mattered, and really gave the team another scoring punch besides the two stars, Pierce and Garnett.

January 16, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) shoots the ball between Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson (11) and power forward David Lee (10, right) to record his 20,000 career point during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

This past Wednesday, LeBron James became the youngest player to reach the 20,000 career points milestone in the history of the NBA. However does that really propel him to the top of the greatest players of all time discussion. Any old-timer would say Wilt. Any of today’s modern day analyst would say Michael. Today’s youngest of fans would say Kobe. Lets get it clear LeBron James with his current resumé is not the best player of all time.

However I will make a case that he is the best athlete to ever play in the NBA. Virtually this 6’8 behemoth of a man is unguardable.  James is in the running, no pun intended, to be one of the fastest that play the game right now. Let’s not forget, his vertical is also off the charts which is around 44 inches.

Let’s not let the Wednesday go to waste what could arguably be the start of many milestones set by the best statistical player in NBA history. LeBron is 37th all time in scoring and he hasn’t even turned 30 yet. With Dwyane Wade’s scoring ability heading downward, LeBron has potential to increase his scoring output throughout the rest of his Miami Heat career. He’s definitely on pace to pass Jordan on the list, let’s keep that as a safe bet.

Talking about Jordan, LeBron is on pace to beat Jordan in every statistical category. LeBron just needs: 617 more assists, 1412 rebounds, and 276 blocks to reach Jordan’s totals. All of which are possible to be matched within the next few seasons. I’m not saying that LeBron is better than Jordan. That is straight up sacrilegious. However, this only clarifies that in a society based on fantasy sports and statistical data, that LeBron is the best of the best. LeBron will ultimately end his career as the best statistical player without a doubt.

LeBron James is entering the prime of his career, and yes he’s going to have his ups and downs.  Should he best discussed in G.O.A.T. discussions? Absolutely. With the 20K milestone, we’ve only reached an early checkpoint in LeBron’s storied career.