BOSTON CELTICS VERSUS L.A LAKERS
Why this one will be great
Firstly, is there any better playoff match-up than the Lakers and the Celtics? The two rivals have battled each other for the NBA's greatest prize no less than 10 times previous to this one, with Boston winning the series 8-2.
Such is the seasonality of basketball though, that seemingly since Larry Bird retired as Boston's premier points scorer, the Celtics collapsed as an organisation - unlike LA, who brought victory home three straight times during the 2000-3 period.
Now, Boston are back in the big way, and the Lakers are showing that there IS life after Shaq.
Secondly, the players on view are sensational. We can't wait to see the rebounding/scoring machine that is Boston's Kevin Garnett. If there's anyone in recent NBA history that's deserved an NBA Finals appearance, it's Garnett, who had to suffer years of rubbish at Minnesota.
Then there's Ray Allen, one of the game's greatest scorers outside the three-point line, who has been struggling for form. And of course, there's Kobe Bryant, who needs no introduction.
They've both put their fans through the wringer....
No-one could accuse Boston and the Lakers of having the 'easy' run to the finals.
Boston had to battle through series with the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers - for whom LeBron James finally came alive in the middle of that match-up - and a clash of the titans with the Detroit Pistons.
The Lakers have hardly had it easy either, coming through Denver, Utah, and a seriously good San Antonio Spurs team.
IF Boston is to win.....
If the Celtics are going to celebrate after this best-of-seven series, they'll have to a) stop Kobe Bryant and b) get a lot better on the road.
While the first option isn't going to be easy (Bryant is averaging 31.9 points per game during the playoffs), the 2-7 record on the road speaks for itself.
Not only that, but Garnett will have to remain fit (there have been some question markets over his fitness this year) and Ray Allen (14.2 ppg) frankly hasn't had the biggest game yet.
However, is there anyone else you'd want shooting from outside the arc with the game on the line?
The great thing about the Celtics is that the supporting for Garnett and Allen is pretty good. Paul Pierce is so good he's hardly 'the supporting cast' (19 ppg), but also we're seen dynamic performances from Rajon Rondo, James Posey and Kendrick Perkins.
If the Lakers are to win
If the 'LakeShow' are to pull yet another win in the 2000s, then not only does Kobe Bryant have to continue performing at his incredibly high standards, but the pressure is even bigger on his supporting cast.
While Kobe is dropping nearly 32 points a game, the same can't be said for the rest of the Lakers' shooters - the next highest points scorer is Pau Gasol, who averages nearly 19 per game.
Derek Fisher, on the other hand, has been superb defensively, but his scoring has been nigh-on dreadful, averaging just 6.2 ppg in the San Antonio Series.
The Lakers will also have to continue their brilliant home form, in which they've won eight straight games. Their away form (4-3 record), however, has been mixed.
What we think will happen
This one will probably go all the way. With Hollywood looking on in both the Staples Centre in Los Angeles and the TD BankNorth Garden in Boston, both sides have been pretty darned sharp at home, as shown by the fact that - combined - both teams have lost two games.
LA hasn't beaten Boston in their two regular season match-ups this season, and they'll be eager to turn around that record.
Boston has the weapons, the Lakers have Kobe.
And both sides have history.
TIP:
BOSTON to win 4-3
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