This one's a relatively clear-cut question: Who will win the NBA Finals, which begin Thursday: the Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers?
These Celtics and Lakers teams, apart from a few roster changes, met two years ago in the Finals, which the Celtics won in six games. The Lakers went back to the Finals last year, where they beat the Orlando Magic for the title. It's the twelfth time the franchises will clash for the NBA title. The Celtics won nine of the previous 11 Finals matchups. Overall, the Celtics have won 17 titles, and the Lakers have won 15.
Coming into the playoffs, these Celtics were considered too old, as their veteran core of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce had showed signs of slowing down over the course of the season. Instead, led by emerging superstar Rajon Rondo at point guard and their ever-tenacious defense, the Celtics tore through the Eastern Conference playoffs, upsetting favorites LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers before roughing up the defending Eastern champs, the Magic.
The Lakers, the defending champions, are coming off a six-game triumph over the overmatched but surprisingly tough Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference finals. They are led, of course, by arguably the best offensive player in the world, Kobe Bryant, and a long, athletic and versatile front line anchored by Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and the young but brittle Andrew Bynum. The Lakers' newest edition to the mix, Ron Artest, is a notoriously tough defender, but is known for being temperamental, too.
So, what do you think? Which team will prevail? How many games do you think it will go? What are the most intriguing matchups? In addition to which team you think will win, which one do you want to win?
Let the debate begin!
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah, Lakers in six.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, it's like picking Batman vs. Joker, or good vs. evil even. One can never truly defeat the other. They NEED each other. They complete each other. There are no Celtics without the Lakers (although in past years I guess it could be argued there can be Lakers without the Celtics). Still, it's a rivalry steeped in history and probably should be listed under the Stuff White People Like blog. I guess my point is, I miss Robert Parish.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I'll regret saying this out loud, but Celtics in 5.
ReplyDeleteWin game 1.
Lose game 2.
Three game sweep in Boston.
Sorry for being tardy to the debate, but after watching the choke artist formally known as Ray Allen throw 13 cinder blocks in the basket's general direction in Game 3, I'm going to have to go back to my gut instinct and say Lakers in 6.
ReplyDeleteI watched Game 2, and loved seeing the Celtics circle the wagons for that much-needed win in the Staples Center to split. Ray Allen was en fuego and, as always, Rondo played a gem of a game.
Game 3, on the other hand, was simply another torrent in the steady piss stream of disrespect that the Celtics have poured on their home fans all year.
After a win in Game 4 the Lakers will seem out of reach, but Game 5 will go to the Celts due to the energy that Nate Robinson provides off the bench and a hard to believe Rasheed Wallace sighting.
Although Nate will continue to play his little heart out in Game 6 back in Hollywood, Sheed will vanish off the Earth for the next 90 games while he takes up sport fishing with the Dharma Initiative back in 1974. Rondo will have a triple double along with 3 Forest Park-esque playground moves for the highlight reels and Pierce will prove that he is not capable of singlehandedly dominating the Lakers offensively when being checked by Queensbridge's Pride. Mamba will drop a pedestrian 28, but never once relinquish control of the game, and also hit a big shot in a pivotal moment of the 4th quarter when the Celtics are putting the last run of their season together.
As much as I'd like to see the Celts pull it off, there's a better chance that I pull off a manage-e-trois with Jessica Alba and Beyonce' this weekend. But then again...there's always that glimmer of hope, and that's why we watch the games.
Cheers.
Great stuff Brian. I'm still holding out hope the C's can do it and in turn your threesome happens this weekend. I went to Game 3 and am going again tonight. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteIf Bynum's out tonight, the Celtics will tie it up. If Bynum's out for the rest of the series, the Celtics will win the title. He's too big and creates a lot of matchup problems for the C's, even with their deep and beef (heh!) front line. Also, Odom is a lot better coming off the bench.
ReplyDelete