There's nothing quite like the Lakers-Celtics rivalry in basketball. The history goes back many years, but over the last 3 seasons it's been renewed in style. The two squads that are set to face off in the 2010 NBA Finals look very similar to the ones that matched up in 2008. The Celtics took that series in 6 games.
This years Celtics rely more on the playmaking of Rajon Rondo who has blossomed into the leader of the team. The future hall-of-fame "Big 3" (Garnett, Allen, and Pierce) remain mentally-tough, battle-tested veterans who can erupt for big games and hit clutch shots. And they are still playing great team defense.
But I think this is the Lakers year. Here's why:
1) The Lakers have home court this time around. The Celtics are a very good road team, but the Lakers role players have played consistently better at home. The Lakers have not lost a home playoff game this year.
2) The Lakers have Bynum available to play this year. His knee injury has limited his mobility, but along with Gasol and Odom he gives the Lakers plenty of size to match up with Garnett, Perkins, and Wallace.
3) The Lakers now start true a defensive stopper (Artest) rather than a defensive liability (Radmanovic). Artest provides the kind of toughness that Lakers lacked against a physical Celtics team in 2008. And when he plays within the system, Artest can still provide the kind of 3-point threat that Radmanovic did.
4) The current version of the Celtics don't have as good of a bench. Nate Robinson and Rasheed Wallace are decent, but not quite James Posey and Eddie House (who combined for 29 points to spark the Game 4 comeback win in LA back in 2008).
5) The revenge factor. The Lakers were outplayed in 2008, and while they won it all last year, it was against the Magic. This is their chance for redemption.
I think this will be a classic series. The Celtics are (rightfully) convinced they can win this series. They will execute their game plan and avoid mental mistakes. They will play tough D.
For the Lakers to win, they will need Kobe to continue to play like the best player in the league. At the start of the postseason I thought his injuries were too much, but he has been scoring 30+ regularly while maintaining a high shooting percentage and getting his teammates involved. He's nearly had a triple double twice. Gasol and Odom will have to contribute consistently and Bynum will have to prove himself capable of mixing it up inside. Artest will have to earn his defensive-stopper credits. And Fisher will have to continue to be the level-headed rock that keeps the team on an even keel.
This will be Fisher's 7th Finals. His matchup with Rondo will be a tough one, but he's got the guts, heart, and experience to do his job. Gasol and Odom have 2 years worth of Finals experience to draw on. I think they will come through as well. Artest is the wild card. Can he harass Pierce (or whoever he is chosen to to guard) as well as he did Kevin Durant? Can he choose his shots wisely?
I think he'll manage it well enough. My prediction: Lakers in 7