NBA Finals: A Definitive Celtics vs. Lakers Preview

A rivalry that has gone on for over 40 years will continue this week. The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are two of the most talented teams on the planet, and both have earned their way to the NBA Finals.

The Lakers have the best player in the world while the Celtics have four players that are bound for the Hall of Fame.

This series could get ugly, especially with all of the big egos on the court.

The big question is, who will win it?

Playoff Results: Lakers

Lakers win 4-2 against Oklahoma City Thunder
Lakers win 4-0 against Utah Jazz
Lakers win 4-2 against Phoenix Suns

Defining moment of the playoffs:

Playoff Results: Celtics

Celtics win 4-1 against Miami Heat
Celtics win 4-2 against Cleveland Cavaliers
Celtics win 4-2 against Orlando Magic

Defining moment of the playoffs:

Player Matchups: Point Guards

Rajon Rondo (16.7 points, 5.30 rebounds, and 10.0 assists per game in the playoffs)
vs.
Derek Fisher (11.1 points, 2.30 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game in the playoffs)

Unless Rajon Rondo takes another serious fall or gets muscle cramps again, it would be hard to see Derek Fisher taking over the series. Even though Fisher is known to step up for the big games, there's no denying that he's a nobody compared to Rondo.

The ability to create for others is something the Lakers do not have at the point guard position. If Rondo can find the perfect balance between a scorer, and a distributor in this series, this could be a serious mismatch.

Winner: Celtics

Player Matchups: Shooting Guards

Ray Allen (16.8 points, 3.60 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game in the playoffs)
vs.
Kobe Bryant (29.4 points, 5.10 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game in the playoffs)

Whether you like him or not, there's no denying that Kobe Bryant is the best player on Earth. His killer instincts and desire to win are unmatched in the NBA. Clearly, Bryant has the edge here.

However, Ray Allen has one very important edge over Bryant. He has the ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor. Allen is great at tiring out opponents by spreading the floor.

If the Lakers have Bryant covering Allen, he could find himself commuting to defense more often. That's not a good thing for the Celtics.

Winner: Lakers

Player Matchups: Small Forwards

Paul Pierce (19.1 points, 6.20 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in the playoffs)
vs.
Ron Artest (11.5 points, 3.70 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in the playoffs)

Two of the toughest, and strongest small forwards in the league will be going up against each other. This is arguably the best matchup in the series.

Both guys have hit buzzer beaters in the playoffs. So who is going to come out on top? While Artest is known as an "elite" defender, Pierce never has gotten credit for his great defense. What separates Pierce from Artest is his ability to be a go-to-guy on the court. Artest's shot has been falling in the playoffs but when the pressure is doubled, he's known to have poor shot selections.

If the Celtics can get in Artest's head, and force him to return to his headcase tendencies, Pierce should not have a problem handling the Lakers.

Winner: Celtics

Player Matchups: Power Forwards

Kevin Garnett (14.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game in the playoffs)
vs.
Pau Gasol (20.0 points, 10.90 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in the playoffs)

An unstable defensive anchor against a soft European is what most people have this matchup labeled as. However, the average basketball fan might not know that these stereotypes do not fit for either of these guys.

Garnett has been able to score the ball quite effectively in the playoffs, and Gasol is a better defender than he gets credit for.

Aside from the Pierce-Artest matchup, this could be the next best matchup in the series. While Garnett's defense is great, it is not even close to the same as two years ago. Gasol has the best post moves in the world, and is unstoppable when he gets the ball.

If the Lakers utilize this offensively-gifted big man, they will not be disappointed with the results.

Winner: Lakers

Player Matchups: Centers

Kendrick Perkins (5.6 points, 6.40 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game in the playoffs)
vs.
Andrew Bynum (9.1 points, 7.70 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game in the playoffs)

Some would argue that both of these guys will be the weakest links on the court for the series.

I disagree.

Kendrick Perkins and Andrew Bynum have the potential to sway the series in their favor. Both are talented, and able to alter every shot that comes their way.

So who has the advantage?

During the two games in which the Celtics faced the Lakers this year, Bynum averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game while Perkins averaged 10 points and 12 rebounds.

The big question is who will get into foul trouble and if I were to make a bet, it would be Perkins. Learn how to set a screen big man!

Winner: Lakers

Player Matchups: Bench Players

Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Tony Allen, Michael Finley, and Nate Robinson vs.
Lamar Odom, Jordan Farmar, Shannon Brown, Luke Walton, and Sasha Vujacic.

Having a dynamic player like Lamar Odom come off of the bench is something that few teams have. His ability to play all five positions is nearly impossible to find in the league.

While Odom is easily the best player to come off of the bench among both teams, the Celtics are deeper.

Rasheed Wallace has been playing more like himself by hitting those impossible-to-defend shots. Glen Davis has been crashing the boards with tenacity, and Tony Allen has been slashing through every bench unit. Even Nate Robinson had a good game.

While Jordan Farmar and Lamar Odom have been playing well, their inconsistency, especially on the road, is a point of concern.

Winner: Celtics

Storylines: Will the Lakers' Big Men Be Fed?

If you are a basketball player, you know how great of a feeling it is to score a basket. After you score the basket, you are most likely going to try to play well on defense.

The same goes for the Lakers' big men. Pau Gasol is the best post player on the planet, yet Kobe seems to eat up a majority of the team's touches and shots.

Exposing the Celtics age would great for the guards to handle, and the next point of emphasis would be for Kobe to feed the big men more.

It could pay off on both ends of the floor.

Storylines: Is Rajon Rondo Too Much For the Lakers Guards?

Mario Chalmers, Mo Williams, and Jameer Nelson could not cover Rajon Rondo, so how can any of the Lakers point guards?

The Celtics have an advantage with Rajon Rondo running the show. This might be such a bad mismatch that the Lakers may have to put Kobe on Rondo. If this is the case, who will cover Ray Allen.

The Celtics need to take advantage of Rondo's speed, and playmaking skills by finishing at the basket and hitting every open look they have.

If not, this may not be as much of an advantage as many think for the Celtics.

Storylines: Who Will Win the Coaching Battle?

There have been rumors about both of these coaches leaving after the season.

If this is the case, both of them are dying to get their last ring with their respective team. Winning the NBA Finals is the ultimate bragging right, and both are looking to get it with this renewed rivalry.

While Jackson is clearly the most successful coach, it would be surprising if he wasn't with all of the great players he has coached.

Rivers is a great coach, but he needs to make sure he is consistent with his substitutions.

It seems as though both teams are equally matched talent-wise, so neither coach has an excuse to make if they lose.

The big question for both of these guys: what's next if they lose?

Storylines: Which Kobe Bryant Will Show Up? The 2008 or 2009 version?

When he wants to be, Kobe Bryant is the best player on the planet.

There is not another player with his fundamental skill and knowledge of the game. He's been tearing it up in the playoffs so far, but not as much as fans have expected. The Lakers' crushing loss against the Thunder exposed that Kobe still has selfish tendencies.

If Kobe, similar to Rondo, can find the perfect balance between being a killer scorer and a distributor, the Lakers will find themselves on the road to success.

5 Keys For the Boston Celtics

-Celtics must box out.

-Consistency needed from Ray Allen.

-Make Kobe have to shoot more.

-One bench player must step up for each game.

-Rotate better defensively.

5 Keys For the Los Angeles Lakers

-Utilize length.

-Move ball around effectively.

-Lamar Odom must be consistent.

-Lock in on Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.

-Stay keep a proper emotional level (that means you Ron Artest!)

Expert Predictions

Jose Salviati (B/R Los Angeles Clippers Featured Columnist) - Lakers in six (if Bynum contributes)

Rich Kurtzman (B/R Denver Nuggets Featured Columnist) - Lakers in seven (it's going to be epic)

Bryan Toporek (B/R Philadelphia 76ers Featured Columnist) - Lakers in six (if they remember to pound the ball to Pau Gasol/Andrew Bynum.)
Celtics in six (if the Lakers stop going inside/Bynum’s more hurt than we know.)

DeMarco Williams (front-page editor, NBA Team Leader for Bleacher Report, SLAM senior writer) - Lakers in six

Alex Kennedy (Hoopsworld writer and reporter) - Lakers in six (if Andrew Bynum plays more like himself.)

Bryan Crawford (SLAM writer) - Lakers in six

Adi Joseph (NBADraft.net writer) - Lakers in seven

Kenny Anderson (ex-NBA player) - Boston in six or seven games

My Prediction

Boston in seven games.

Call me biased if you want, but I've seen my fair share of both of these teams this season. I am well aware of how talented both squads are, and I know that either of them are capable of winning it all.

As Doc Rivers mentioned after the Celtics won the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics have not lost a series when their starting lineup is intact.

If the Lakers really want to win the series, it might not be a bad idea to send DJ MBenga in the game to take out Rondo.

On a serious note, the team chemistry that the Celtics have is essentially the one edge that they possess over the Lakers. Kobe Bryant can try to hide it all he wants, but in the end all he cares about is himself.