Published on Sunday, January 31, 2010
By LA Daily News Staff Writer
By Elliott Teaford Staff Writer
BOSTON - The tune-ups came to a merciful end Friday night in Philadelphia, with the Lakers completing their three-game sweep of the 76 ers, Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards without appearing to drop a bead of sweat.
Now it gets tougher.
Now they must play like champs because they're no longer facing chumps.
It's not like the Lakers don't know how to crank up the intensity. It's just that it's not their thing all the time.
After all, they drifted through the first three games on this eight-game trip while losing to Cleveland, beating New York and falling to Toronto.
After winning their next three and played with more than enough gusto to make victories over Washington, Indiana and Philadelphia look easy, the Lakers (36-11) get their first crack at the Boston Celtics (29-15) in a nationally televised game today.
"You don't play with fire, you're going to get blown out," Lamar Odom predicted.
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