Charles Klein
So it is Boston and Los Angeles playing each other for the twelth time in NBA history and for once, anyway, we didn't really see this coming. The Celtics were too old and battered and could not seem to hold a lead during the regular season. Kevin Garnett was a shadow of the player he used to be and Rasheed Wallace had failed miserably as a free agent signing.
We all expected the Lakers to get to the finals. They were clearly the best team in the Western Conference for most of the season. And Kobe Bryant appeared to be in Jordan-esque form all season, hitting buzzer beater after buzzer beater, including one against Boston earlier in the year. The Lakers added Ron Artest and re-signed the Candyman Lamar Odom last offseason, putting together the most balanced team in the NBA. Couple that with the talenst of one Phil Jackson and presto! You have a winner.
As it turns out, the playoff Celtics are much better than the regular season Celtics. Point guard Rajon Rondo has taken the final step towards super stardom with his play in the playoffs. breaking ankles left and right. Kendrick Perkins has shown everyone that he has some serious skills on the defensive end, even if he lacks the height of players like Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynum.
And the Boston Three-Party have all reawakened from the dead to push this Celtics team just four wins away from another NBA Championship. Paul Pierce was other-worldly in Game 6 versus the Magic and Ray Allen stepped up big at a crucial part of the game to hit a few big threes to end any Magic momentum. Kevin Garnett was even sinking his classic 15-19 footers, extending the defense and providing great spacing for Rondo to drive to the basket.
I am picking the Celtics to win this series based on a few key matchups. The most obvious one is Rajon Rondo versus Derek Fisher. Now while most Lakers fans and pundits stick by the aging Fisher, it has been proven during these playoffs that when matched up with a younger and speedier point guard Fisher has a very hard time dealing. As Russell Westbrook showed in the opening round, a young dynamic point guard can be the key that unlocks the Lakers defense.
The next one is in the front court. I am not convinced at all that Pau Gasol has managed to toughen up during the two seasons in between the last time these two teams met in the Finals. Gasol has yet to be matched up with a center with the physicality of Perkins during the playoffs and I do not think he will be ready to handle Perkins down low. Glen 'Uno-Uno' Davis has improved tremendously since 2008 and can provide adequate cover on Lamar Odom as well as Ron Artest. It will be intriguing to see how the two notorious bigs (Rasheed Wallace and Ron Artest) battle it out to see who can get further under the other's skin.
And finally, the Celtics bench is just better. As Nate Robinson proved the other night, he is capable of coming off the bench and winning a game. The Lakers just do not have that type of gamebreaker on their bench. Robinson could prove to be a major player in these finals, especially if he is matched up against Jordan Farmar. While Odom might be one of the best sixth men in the business, the Lakers depth does not extend far from him. Robinson, Wallace, Davis and even Daniels are better than Vujacic, Walton, Farmar, Powell and Brown.
While Kobe Bryant's play during the playoffs has been nothing short of spectacular, I do not think that him by himself will be enough to win the series. The Celtics have proven to be kryptonite for more than a few teams, and the way they are currently constructed lends one to believe that they will be more than a match for the Lake Show. The Celtics have proven during the playoffs that they are more than capable of winning on the road. None of the teams the Lakers have faced up until this point have showed that they are able to duplicate their home form at Staples Center.
Celtics in seven. I know it is unpopular, but I expect the Celtics to be celebrating another NBA Championship, right in the heart of Los Angeles.
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