Soft As Granite: Lakers Outmuscle Celtics En Route To Game 1 Victory

These definitely aren't the 2008 Los Angeles Lakers.

There have been many people leading up to Game One that have questioned whether the 2010 Lakers were tough enough to beat the Celtics. Nearly everyone acknowledged they were tougher than their 2008 counterparts, but most still said they weren't tough enough.

Well I guess game one settles that debate, now doesn't it?

I know it's just one game, the first of potentially seven at that, but there is no denying the Lakers sent a message to the Celtics loud and clear Thursday night.

This time it will be different.

This time there is no backing down, no getting ran over, and no getting out-hustled.

This time, the Lakers are here to win it.

Whether it was the sometimes suffocating defense Ron Artest displayed against Paul Pierce, or the even more surprising display of Pau Gasol banging it out down low harder than anyone else on the floor, these Lakers look ready and willing to shrug off the demons of that 2008 title loss.

It's been mentioned a thousand times already, but Phil Jackson is 47-0 when winning game one of a series. Couple that with the continued excellence of Kobe Bryant, and the Celtics have to be feeling nervous.

Bryant was able to get to the rim more times Thursday night then he was in the entire series in 2008.  A lot of people must be thinking that the Celtics have fallen off.

I don't think they have, I think the Lakers are just that much better than they used to be.

I know its only game one, but 47-0 is starting to look an awful lot like 48-0 after that performance.

The Lakers are starting to look an awful lot like champions.