You wanted a Boston-L.A. final? You got it.
Who would've thought these two teams would match up against each other in the finals after last season's finish. The Lakers had yet another first-round exit, bringing about trade talk regarding an already frustrated Kobe Bryant, and the Celtics' hopes dropped as they lost the draft lottery to Portland.
But then, both teams made historic trades, as the Lakers traded for Pau Gasol, while Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce in Boston.
As these two teams ready themselves for the NBA finals, the struggles of the Celtics throughout the playoffs is a cause of major concern for many. Meanwhile, the Lakers have breezed through the playoffs without a home loss, as MVP Kobe Bryant looks as unstoppable as ever.
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But still, I believe that the Celtics will be this year's NBA Champions. None of Boston's "Big Three" have even played in the NBA Finals before, so they should prove to be a hungry bunch of leaders.
With this in mind, they are going to be more motivated than ever, playing every game as if it were their last. Remember how excited Boston was to start the season and show everyone how good they were? They played every single game like it was their last, blowing everyone out and sprinting to an NBA-best 20-2.
This is how they are going to start the finals. And with Ray Allen refocused and out of his shooting slump, Boston has the best triple-threat in the game. The Celtics are simply unstoppable when they have this going, along with their supporting cast.
This is the Big Three's time...This is Boston's time....The Boston Celtics will be the NBA Champions of 2008!!!
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7 months ago
I beg to differ...it is the year of The Mamba!
from 6 months ago
Is It? Is it really haha. 3-2 so far boston
7 months ago
I like your article and I think a lot of Boston fans have something to cheer for again after a long drought of over 20 years, but Boston is a much older team. The Boston "Big Three" are all over 30 while the Laker "Big Three" are all under 30 with their leader being the MVP and three time NBA Champion.
I also think the Lakers have a better big three and bench than the Celtics. Right now Ray Allen is no better than Radmanovic or Vujacic. While the Laker third option, Odom has been the best all rounder for the Lakers. He scores and has rebounds in the double digits along with blocked shots, assists and steals. He's the total package.
And once again this is a team sport of 10 players who all have an important role.
First five for the Lakers: Gasol-Mamba-Odom-DFish-Radman trump the Celtic 5. Vujacic off the bench is another lethal scoring option.
And possibly above all else, the Lake Show has Phil Jackson, the greatest coach of all time.
Lakers will win, but I'm happy to see the Celtics are back in the hunt. I only wish the Celtics had been younger so that this could truly be called a renewed rivalry, but I see this as a shot deal for the Celtics. Next year they become one year older and that much slower. But do not expect the Lakers and Phil Jackson to have mercy. They are not known to concede anything.
7 months ago
The Lakers are definitely going to win the series. They are going to win one in Boston and the three games in Los Angeles. They have too good of a bench, coaching staff and too much Kobe. They have also been by far the most consistent and impressive team in the playoffs. They have been very solid on the road winning in Utah, Denver and San Antonio while being perfect at home.
from 6 months ago
So much for your predictions huh lol. I tell you one thing, It feels great being right. Especially after hearing everyone's pre-final predicitons, along with Steven A's, Greg Anthony and all of the other so-called experts. I swear I have more basketball sense than most. Everyone thought I was crazy for picking Boston and naming all of the reasons they were going to win and I got laughed at. Alot. Who's laughing now hahahahaha. Humbly lol
7 months ago
COME ON DUDE...EVERYONE KNOWS THAT BOSTON BIG 3 IS BETTER THAN THE LAKERS BIG 3.
HOWEVER MY BELOVED LAKERS GOT A SUPERSTAR BY THE NAME OF KOBE. THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE.
from 7 months ago
Rick,
In reality the Lakers have a "Big Four", with the fourth being injured right now.
If you consider Ray Allen, a very overrated player in my opinion, to be a great player then you should apply that to Vujacic also. They have comparable stats in the postseason. As for the rest, Kobe is definitely way better than KG, the best player on Boston. And when it comes down to Pierce vs Gasol, Gasol gets the nod simply because he is one of the most talented and quite rare players at his position (PF/C) while there are many great SFs in the league who are better than Pierce.
Either way, in this series Garnett will have his hands full with the 7'0 Pau Gasol and the rebounding/driving machine that Odom has become. Kobe is simply the best, enough said.
Basically when you say Big Three for Boston, I don't think Ray Allen belongs there right now. He really isn't a big threat. Put a hand in his face and he bricks. He needs screens to get himself open, which the Lakers know how to break through after handling Denver, Utah, and SA. That's nothing to worry about, which makes Boston the Big Two, not the Big Three.
from 6 months ago
Is Kobe really the difference? Really?
7 months ago
just think about the bench players,dont mind the starters,starter are always starters but lakers farmar ,vujacic, walton,those guys....... we dont need much from them just 8 points each simple as that boston will be dead !!!!!!!
7 months ago
I think everyone should watch what happens in the finals very closely. Ray Allen is the best pure shooter in the game. Lakers fans can not talk about being soft here. Can we agree that dunkers are not soft? Ray Allen has more dunks in the 2008 playoffs than the everyone on the Lakers team except Bryant, Gasol, and Odom. Ray Allen is actually ranked 30th on the top dunkes list this year in the playoffs. http://www.sportsline.com/nba/dunk-o-meter People are confusing smoothness with softness. A starting shooting guard that makes it to the NBA FINALS cannot be soft. That's a contradiction. He dunked on Josh Smith (top shot blocker) in the 1st round in a key game against the hawks. Trust me Ray Allen is far from soft. In fact I am going to make the prediction that he will average 20 4 and 4 in this series against the lakers. Ray Ray was the real NBA MVP of this years All-Star game. He was the leading scorer and hit clutch buckets to pull off the win. Watch the highlights! Don't sleep. For your sake the Lakers won't sleep on his skills.
7 months ago
I think my beloved lakers are in trouble. The Celtics have beaten them 3 times in a row and Kobe had
been shutdown. I played basketball in my high school days and was quite good at it. But when a team
beat three times in a row it spells trouble.
7 months ago
The Celtics are the better team. No, not based solely on Game 1.
Boston's key to success is defense. If they play D like they have all year...that is the difference.
The teams are closely matched and yes the Lakers are younger.
I don't believe that the Lakers will have an answer for Garnett. He is every bit a problem for the Lakers as Kobe is for the Celts.
Defense and Paul Pierce's injury status are the keys to Boston's chances in the series.
If Lakers win Game 2, big advantage Lakers....especially with 2-3-2 format. It is a must win game for Boston.
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