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.

January 14, 2013; Boston, MA USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) during the first half against the Charlotte Bobcats at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

You got that right. According to CBS Sports, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have had preliminary trade discussions revolving around Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo.

“However, CBSSports.com has learned that the Lakers have engaged in preliminary trade discussions with an unlikely trade partner regarding Howard: their fierce rival, the Boston Celtics. The centerpieces of the possible deal, which hasn’t gained any traction, would be Howard and Rajon Rondo.”

The trade doesn’t work straight up because Rondo’s salary of $11 million does not match Howard’s $19.5 million which means there would have to be other pieces involved. If the Celtics acquired Dwight Howard without giving up Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, or Jeff Green, they could be in a position to get back to the Finals.

To slow it down a bit, there are reasons why this trade might not go far. Rondo just had ACL surgery and would be no use the Lakers this season. Dwight Howard has been assured by the Lakers that he’s not getting traded this season, but if they were open to moving him, Boston is hesitant to acquire him because they want a long term commitment out of him. Personally, being surrounded by a fundamentally sound team and organization, and getting coached by Doc Rivers, might entice him.

According to CBS Sports, sources close to the trade discussions report that this trade could be made during the offseason instead of February 21st. But seeing how this season has gone for the Lakers, they may be open to making a trade now.

With the Celtics winning 8 out of their last 9 games sans Rajon Rondo, Danny Ainge feels confident that Boston can find a point guard who can run the offense via the draft or free agency. So far, the Celtics have done a good job in Rondo’s absence, and that is probably why Danny Ainge was on the phone with the Lakers.

Folks, it’s that time of year again. We’re going to hear plenty of rumors up until the trade deadline. Seeing that these talks are preliminary, there is no reason to be alarmed, but with the Lakers even thinking about acquiring Rondo, there is a possibility Boston may be willing to strike a deal.

Are you buying into this?  That this joke proves there was no altercation?  Or is it just an attempt by the Lakers to bluff their fans into believing all is well in Laker land?

Dwight Howard is reportedly out for a week with a torn labrium, so the humor can’t run too high with the team three games under .500 and on the outside of the playoff picture looking in.

But how crazy does Mike D’Antoni look in the photo?

Plenty of humor to be drawn from this, but how much truth?