Final Destinations: The Best NBA Finals Match-Ups for 2008

For one second, let's be honest. 

Do you really want to see the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals again this year? 

The Spurs did go up against the Cleveland Cavaliers and one of the league's top  players in LeBron James, but there wasn't much entertainment in that series. 

As good as they are, we all know that they're not that fun to watch. They have won four championships in nine years, and they have arguably the greatest power forward of all-time in Tim Duncan. 

Not to mention they have Tony Parker—who is one the league's best point guards and a very solid shooting guard in Manu Ginobli. 

Yet many fans hate the Spurs for those same exact reasons. 

If the Spurs reach the NBA Finals again this year, it will not sit well with a lot of people. 

So here's the chance to pick the best NBA Finals series.  If the Spurs don't in fact reach the Finals, which series would be the best to watch? 

Let's take a look.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics (Boston won season series 2-0)

This has to be the dream match-up everyone wants to see, and why wouldn't it?  The Lakers and Celtics are the two most storied franchises in league history.

Also the history of these two teams in the NBA Finals will make it that much better.  It would be the ninth time these two teams have met in the Finals, and the first in 20 years.

No Larry vs. Magic, but Kobe and Co. against Boston and the big three would be an NBA Finals series that would get plenty of hype.

On top of that, it would be first time the regular season MVP would play in the NBA Finals since 2003.


Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Cleveland won season series 2-0)

LeBron vs. Kobe. A match-up between maybe the two best offensive players in the league would blow the ratings right off the roof.

It would be LeBron's second consecutive appearance in the Finals, and Kobe Bryant's first since 2004.


Boston Celtics vs. San Antonio Spurs (Boston won season series 2-0)

Despite mentioning above that another San Antonio appearance in the Finals would be boring, if they played Boston it wouldn't be as boring as their sweep over the Cavs last year.

But can Boston even win a game in San Antonio is that question that will be asked.  Boston has gone winless in three games at both Atlanta and Cleveland.

Not only that, but two of the best power forwards during this decade will go head-to-head in a seven game series.

Boston and San Antonio had played two great against each other in the regular season, in which one consisted of Boston overcoming a 22-point deficit to defeat the Spurs in San Antonio.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons (Season series: 1-1)

The last meeting between these teams in the Finals was 2004.  And it didn't look good for the Lakers, as they only one a single game in the series.

Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton and Karl Malone were also on the roster, and it was the last game of the Kobe-Shaq era.

But now that the Lakers won't look like a dysfunctional team this time around, this would be a great series that is most likely to go seven games.

Of course the hope to see at least one of these series will depend on the results of game seven of the Boston and San Antonio series. 

Michael Whittenberg is an NBA Community Leader for BleacherReport.com