2010 NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers Have Puncher's Chance Against Boston Celtics

As the storied rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics arises once again on Thursday, it is worth reliving another sports rivalry that happened only days ago.

At UFC 114, bars across the country were packed to see the hyped and heated grudge match between two of the more recognizable names in the sport—Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

To use the oft-mentioned cliche, it was truly a clash of the titans.

On one side, Rashad came in, with a speed and versatility advantage. Meanwhile, Rampage hulked his way in like the bubblegum pick that he was, with power and a flair for the dramatic that would surely resonate with the majority, meat-head fan base.

Ultimately, Rashad was able to implement his game plan and, outside of one scary moment in the final round when he ate a few of Rampage's best punches, stood with arms raised proudly at night's end.

Can you sense the parallels coming?

If ever there were two franchises in sports that were the living embodiment of the cities in which they reside, it is the Lakers and the Celtics.

The Lakers, much like Rampage, have a flair for the dramatic, and their arsenal is largely a deadly hook in the form of a jersey, with the number 24 emblazoned on it.

Meanwhile, the Celtics are a gritty team, unpopular but focused, and undoubtedly the more versatile of the two teams, boasting Rondo, Pierce, KG, Jesus Shuttlesworth , and the bench).

But there is one big equalizer that nobody in the media has talked about yet, and while I wouldn't classify it as the x-factor in the series, I would say that it is Boston's Achilles heel. And from this standpoint, the parallels between the Lakers and Rampage stop and those between the Celtics and Rampage start. 

Of the two teams, the Celtics are by far the more emotionally-combustible. In fact, let me say it twice; the Celtics are emotionally-combustible. This subject is as under-discussed a topic of conversation in the NBA, as Lebron's free agency is an over-discussed one.

I mean, as seemingly useless as David's Stern playoff format has made the NBA regular season, there is at least one thing that can be taken from it.

How consistent were the good teams? Did they generally beat bottom-feeder opponents? Were there any internal issues? Is everyone on the same page?

Boston has already gone on record as saying that alpha dog issues riddled the team all year long. Those issues have seemingly faded, with Rondo being given the keys to the driver's seat, and everyone else jumping along for the ride.

So, now that the bureaucracy is set, aren't the Celtics the well-oiled machine that they looked to be when dismantling two of the NBA's four best teams in the last two playoff rounds with relative ease?

Maybe.

But they have not yet faced a team as talented and as championship-savvy as the Lakers and Phil Jackson. They have not yet had a chance to really fail in these playoffs and pick themselves up.

That is why I think the Lakers need to put that kind of pressure on the Celtics if they want to have any chance of winning this series. The Lakers have to take a 2-0 lead in this series to win.

Boston's foundation may seem rock-solid from afar. But whenever a guy like KG is the emotional leader of a team (someone with the genetic makeup of a serial killer, mind you), their mettle needs to be pressed fast and pressed hard.

To digress once more, in the post-game interview, Rashad was asked about the early punch he landed on Rampage in the beginning of the fight. Rashad's response was that his game plan was to show the intimidator he was not intimidated from the very start, and then go back to his bread and butter style of fighting.

The Lakers need to take the same approach come Thursday. They were physically intimidated two years ago by the Celtics and they need to show them this team is not going to be punked .

The sooner the Lakers get that message across, the faster the mental games will be over. Then they can play with their regular style of attack-finesse. In this regard, Ron Artest may make his most pivotal contribution to the Lakers yet. 

Prior to my B/R sabbatical, right before the 2009-2010 regular season got underway , I wrote an article in which predicted that the Celtics would beat the Lakers in six games to win this year's Finals.

Not to toot my own horn, but knowing KG was injured last year, and that the Celtics were still able to force the eventual Eastern Conference Champions, the Orlando Magic, to a game seven, was clear in my mind.

I can also say I knew that LeBron, for all his fame and glory, was going to leave this year's playoffs the same way he left last year's playoffs—as the "choken" one.

But I am going to switch my Finals prediction now.

Not because I want the Lakers to win (well, not only). And also not because I believe Kobe Bryant when he says he doesn't care who the Lakers are playing in the Finals.

Two years ago, when the the Celtics were minutes away from officially eliminating the Lakers in front of the Boston faithful at the Garden, Kobe Bryant fumed on the bench  before the buzzer rang and he stomped in the direction of the visitor's locker room.

Before getting there, he was stopped by the most unlikely of all people—Bill Belichick.

As Bryant recounted the story later in time during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel , Bryant mentioned the encouraging words with which Belichick left him. Even though Bryant didn't say it, you could tell that the words of a revered winner like Belichick reverberated with him and that he truly internalized the gesture.

Later on that night, Kobe was in the shower when he heard the voice of another unlikely individual. This time, it was Ron Artest, and he told Kobe he wanted to join forces with him so that LA would never again be punked like it was back then.

Fast forward a week or two later; the ESPY awards were going on at the Staples Center. The categories for best team were announced, and the Boston Celtics were the winner.

As Rondo Pierce and KG stood in the back, Ray Allen gave the acceptance speech, opening with: "Ahh ! Another win in L.A."

The camera showed a quick reaction shot of Derek Fisher and the look of revenge had never seemed as graphic as it did on that night.

I believe the Lakers are still fed up and indignant about losing the way they did two years ago. I don't think winning the championship last year has placated or made them forget about it, either.

I also think that Ron Artest being in a Lakers uniform is all that is needed to complete the story. Only in Hollywood, right?

Lakers in seven. 

Kobe Bryant—NBA Finals MVP