For the second time in the last three years, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers meet in the NBA Finals. There are plenty of subplots to talk about. Is Pau Gasol going to take revenge on Garnett and company? Will Kobe get one step closer to MJ’s 6 rings? Can the aging Celtics get one more championship before Ray Allen leaves?
In my opinion, this time I think the Lakers will defeat the Celtics. Gasol has developed chemistry with his teammates and is a fixture in the lineup, unlike the first time Boston beat LA. His numbers last night are a testament to his dominance. Kobe seems motivated to win again and is playing some of the best playoff basketball I’ve seen in recent memory. While I like the Celtics’ bench over the Lakers (Big Baby Davis, Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen, Nate Robinson, etc.) I feel like Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace aren’t what they used to be anymore, and the young Lakers will dominate. .
Ron Artest frustrated Paul Pierce, and while Pierce finished with good numbers, he couldn’t steal the game like he did years ago. If this confrontation continues throughout the series, it will be brief. Garnett is more of a defensive impact than an offensive machine, and Kendrick Perkins isn’t going to win them games with his offensive prowess. The Celtics need Rajon Rondo to be the impact player he was in surprisingly decisive wins over the Cavs and Magic. He should be dominating Fisher all day, and this will be the key to the series. If Rondo can bounce back and put up big scoring and assist numbers, the Celtics have a chance to steal a game in Los Angeles. His -17 on the court is not going to win championships.
I look forward to a physical Game 2, where Rondo, Pierce, Allen and Garnett can team up to lessen the impact of Kobe and Gasol. If they don’t, I can see the Lakers easily stealing a game in Boston and ultimately repeating as champions.
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