It all comes down to this. The East and the West are both set, and the NBA Finals will begin on Thursday in Boston. The Celtics made quick work of the banged up Pistons thanks to some great play from their big three. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to two big comebacks that were vital to their overcoming of the defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Two teams remain, and only one will survive. This is the 10th time in the history of basketball that the Lakers and Celtics have tangled in the finals, and the most memorable matchups were when guys like Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson ruled the courts. I'm here to break down each team by positions to see what team has the edge.
Comment: This is not even a fair matchup. The trade from Memphis has launched the Lakers to the level they have been playing at. It must have been nice to acquire an all-star forward for pretty much nothing. Any time you can rid yourself of a guy like Kwame Brown, you are happy with the situation, but the Lakers capitalized by getting Gasol in the deal is well. I don't know what Memphis management was thinking, but the Lakers wouldn't have beaten the Spurs without him. 17.7 points and 9 rebounds per game in the post season clearly makes Pau Gasol the best center in this matchup.
Advantage: Lakers
Comment: Garnett has been excellent in the playoffs, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds per game on a team that also features Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. He also plays solid defense and is the best-rounded player in this series. The Lakers would love more scoring from Odom, who is averaging about 14.7, but his 10 rebounds per game are more than satisfactory. Odom is good, but Garnett is one of the best players in the game.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: This was the easiest call besides the center position. Pierce had a huge series against the Pistons, including a game in which he scored 27 and went berserk in the fourth quarter. His 19 points per game have proved vital in Boston's playoff run, and he is definitely superior to Radmanovic, who averages 8.3 points per game. This is no contest, and I look for this matchup to be huge, and Pierce needs to silent his critics that say he cannot perform in the clutch.
Advantage: Celtics
Comment: Kobe is the reigning MVP and the Lakers wouldn't be where they are today without him. 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists has been the consistent line for the superstar thus far in the post season. Allen has been a bit of a disappointment for the Celtics in the playoffs, and has put up an average of 14 points per game. Much like Lamar Odom for the Lakers, the Celtics expect more out of the aging Allen, and if he becomes the Allen of old, the Lakers may be in trouble.
Advantage: Lakers
Comment: This is kind of a funny comparison, but they have pretty much been the same player for their teams thus far in the post season. Fisher is one of the most underappreciated players in the game, but Rondo knows plenty about that because he plays in the shadow of the big three. Both players put up 10 points per game. The one key difference is that Rondo averaged 6 assists per game and Fisher only is averaging two. If one of these guys bursts out of their bubble, their respective teams will be heading in the right direction.
Advantage: Tie
Comment: This was a tougher decision than one would expect. Rivers coached in Orlando and didn't impress me with his tactics, and the simple difference here is the fact that his team is more equipped. Jackson, on the other hand, has always been successful no matter where he has been. I can't go against Jackson's experience in this situation, and he always seems confident and never seems to over manage the situation.
Advantage: Lakers
Prediction: Lakers in Six Games.
CENTER
Kendrick Perkins vs. Pau GasolComment: This is not even a fair matchup. The trade from Memphis has launched the Lakers to the level they have been playing at. It must have been nice to acquire an all-star forward for pretty much nothing. Any time you can rid yourself of a guy like Kwame Brown, you are happy with the situation, but the Lakers capitalized by getting Gasol in the deal is well. I don't know what Memphis management was thinking, but the Lakers wouldn't have beaten the Spurs without him. 17.7 points and 9 rebounds per game in the post season clearly makes Pau Gasol the best center in this matchup.
Advantage: Lakers
POWER FORWARD
Kevin Garnett vs. Lamar Odom Comment: Garnett has been excellent in the playoffs, averaging 21 points and 10 rebounds per game on a team that also features Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. He also plays solid defense and is the best-rounded player in this series. The Lakers would love more scoring from Odom, who is averaging about 14.7, but his 10 rebounds per game are more than satisfactory. Odom is good, but Garnett is one of the best players in the game.
Advantage: Celtics
SMALL FORWARD
Paul Pierce vs. Vladamir RadmanovicComment: This was the easiest call besides the center position. Pierce had a huge series against the Pistons, including a game in which he scored 27 and went berserk in the fourth quarter. His 19 points per game have proved vital in Boston's playoff run, and he is definitely superior to Radmanovic, who averages 8.3 points per game. This is no contest, and I look for this matchup to be huge, and Pierce needs to silent his critics that say he cannot perform in the clutch.
Advantage: Celtics
SHOOTING GUARD
Ray Allen vs. Kobe BryantComment: Kobe is the reigning MVP and the Lakers wouldn't be where they are today without him. 31 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists has been the consistent line for the superstar thus far in the post season. Allen has been a bit of a disappointment for the Celtics in the playoffs, and has put up an average of 14 points per game. Much like Lamar Odom for the Lakers, the Celtics expect more out of the aging Allen, and if he becomes the Allen of old, the Lakers may be in trouble.
Advantage: Lakers
POINT GUARD
Rajon Rondo vs. Derek FisherComment: This is kind of a funny comparison, but they have pretty much been the same player for their teams thus far in the post season. Fisher is one of the most underappreciated players in the game, but Rondo knows plenty about that because he plays in the shadow of the big three. Both players put up 10 points per game. The one key difference is that Rondo averaged 6 assists per game and Fisher only is averaging two. If one of these guys bursts out of their bubble, their respective teams will be heading in the right direction.
Advantage: Tie
COACHING
Doc Rivers vs. Phil JacksonComment: This was a tougher decision than one would expect. Rivers coached in Orlando and didn't impress me with his tactics, and the simple difference here is the fact that his team is more equipped. Jackson, on the other hand, has always been successful no matter where he has been. I can't go against Jackson's experience in this situation, and he always seems confident and never seems to over manage the situation.
Advantage: Lakers
FINAL THOUGHTS
Comment: The Celtics managed to finally win a road game against the Pistons, but I think their inability to play well on the road is going to be huge in this series. Also, it has seemed like the whole season it has been Kobe versus the world and Kobe has always been the person standing tall. The Lakers are a heavy favorite in my mind, and we are going to get to see the war that started in the eighties with all of the legends possibly end with Kobe standing tall. Only time will tell. Prediction: Lakers in Six Games.
