2010 NBA Finals: Lakers' Dream Matchup or Nightmare?

Well, it's finally here, the NBA dream matchup - the Lakers vs. the Celtics.  Many have said it is a matchup made in Heaven, which, in this case, is located in David Stern’s office at NBA headquarters in New York.

But for the Los Angeles Lakers, could it be a nightmare? 

I believe Boston has the better all-around team for the same reasons that I thought and still think, despite the outcome, that the Suns had the better all-around team in the Western Conference Finals.

With Bynum playing on one good leg, the Celtics’ starters most likely have an advantage over the Lakers’ starters except for two factors.  First, Kevin Garnett may not be playing on good legs either.  We won’t know for sure until the series gets under way.  Second, and perhaps more importantly, Kobe Bryant, if healthy and rested, can single-handedly make up any advantage that an opposing team has.

But the real problem for Phil Jackson all season has been his nightmare bench.

Except for Lamar Odom, the remainder of the Lakers’ bench is no match for the Celtics’ bench.  Although not as strong as the Suns’ bench, the Celtics’ reserves, if healthy, can outscore and outmuscle the remainder of the Lakers bench. 

Rasheed Wallace takes over for Kendrick Perkins at center with hardly any drop off defensively.  Plus, Wallace can hit from three-point land. 

But Wallace has been dealing with back spasms, which can take a while to heal, and remains questionable for Game One against the Lakers at Staples Center.

Glen “Big Baby” Davis is no Kevin Garnett, but he is no Josh Powell either.  Despite a concussion in Game Five against the Magic, Davis returned for Game Six and will definitely be available for the Finals.

Tony Allen can take over for Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo about as well as Jordan Farmer filling in for Derek Fisher. 

But in their closeout game against the Magic, it was Nate Robinson taking over for Rondo, who was experiencing muscle spasms, and Robinson was a tremendous factor in closing out the Magic. 

Rondo, by the way, practiced today and will be ready to go for Game One against the Lakers.

So, it is basically Odom and Farmar against Wallace, Davis, Robinson and Ray Allen. That certainly doesn’t bode well for the Lakers.  But that does not guarantee a Celtic win either as long as the Lakers have the most incredible player to step on an NBA court since Michael Jordan healthy and rested.

Do I think the better team will win the NBA title?  If you took Kobe Bryant out of the equation, hands down!  But there is no telling what can happen if the Black Mamba gets any kind of support from his teammates and especially the bench.

The keys for the Lakers: not Bryant’s offense, which can usually be counted on, but his defense.  He will undoubtedly be guarding Rajon Rondo.  Depending on which of those two has the greater success - Bryant’s defense or Rondo’s offense – could determine the series.

Artest must continue to be an offensive threat as he was in Game Six against the Suns while remaining a defensive stalwart, this time against Paul Pierce.  Gasol and Odom cannot afford to disappear at the offensive end as they did in Game Six against the Suns,

While Odom did dominate the boards with 13 rebounds, I thought Gasol let Amare Stoudemire push him around way too much.  Yes, it’s true that Gasol did not get the calls.  But do you think the officials are going to give him those same calls against the Celtics?

Perhaps that is the biggest key for the Lakers. They cannot afford to have Pau Gasol become Pau GaSoft as he did against the Celtics in 2008.

Unfortunately, I need to leave Andrew Bynum out of the equation.  Through no fault of his own, he is the victim of heredity much like Greg Oden.  His ligaments and joints just were not made to support his tremendous size and handle the quick and often violent moves an NBA center needs to make.

If he can put up ten points and grab six or seven rebounds like he did in Game Six against the Suns, that would be terrific.  It may be, however, that he will only manage two points like he did in Game Five.  More than likely, he will fall somewhere in between, say right around his 7.2 average against Phoenix.

Lamar Odom needs to keep contributing off the bench, and Jordan Farmar must continue to be effective in relief of Derek Fisher.  But the Lakers cannot expect just two players to hold down the fort against the entire Celtics bench, which will also include Brian Scalabrine replacing Marquis Daniels, who is out with a concussion.

Shannon Brown?  Would someone please let him know he is still under contract and have him show up for the NBA Finals?  He can do whatever wants at the end of June when he is a free agent.

Speaking of free agents, I have a word of advice for Mitch Kupchak regarding the 2010-2011 squad: let all of the free agents on your bench go.  Don’t try to match any offers.  In fact, don’t even make any offers, not even to Jordan Farmar.  Take the money you save and get a player with some consistency.