NBA Finals thoughts: Lakers or Celtics

The Boston Celtics are up 1-0 in their 2007-2008 NBA Finals best-of-seven series against the Los Angeles Lakers after Paul Pierce inspired the green-and-white to a 98-88 victory yesterday at their home floor in the TD Banknorth Garden.

With six games to go, anything can still happen for this year’s quest for the Larry O’Brien trophy.

But lovers of the sport, especially the ones who got their initiation to basketball in the ’80s in the heyday of Magic, Larry Legend, Kareem, Chief, McHale, and Worthy, are especially giddy about this matchup of NBA titans that have between them 30 championships (16 for the Celtics and 14 for the Lakers).

For me, I’m putting all my chips on the new millennium’s version of the Showtime Lakers. Okay, I must admit that used I to be a Kobe-hater but recent events have made me reassess my opinion on No. 24.

Don’t get me wrong, I still blame him for the Lakers’ pathetic performance in the finals against the Detroit Pistons three years ago. In my book, he’s still the culprit behind the Diesel’s unceremonious exit from LA, LA Land immediately following that ill-fated season.

But he has shown maturity in his 10th year in the league. The Kobester has also learned to play team ball and this resulted in the Lakers finishing atop the ultra tough Western Conference. In addition, Kobe and his Lakers are a playoff best 12-3 prior to meeting their old nemesis Boston in the Finals.

Outside Kobe, the Lakers also have Pau Gasol (fleeced from Memphis in the mid-season), multi-faceted Lamar Odom, veteran floor leader Derek Fisher, and a bench that is the envy of the whole league.

Zen master Phil Jackson’s influence from the bench can’t also be ignored as he easily is the stud in his matchup with Boston’s player-friendly coach Doc Rivers.

Boston with its Big 3 (Pierce, Kevin Garnet, and Ray Allen) provide a big stumbling block to the Lakers’ search for its 15th championship, but having the NBA’s deadliest closer surrounded by Gasol, Odom, Fisher, and a superior bench would be too much for Gang Green to overcome. The Lakers in six.

Well, that’s just my humble take on the Lakers-Celtics matchup. Below are what other NBA fanatics have to say about the 2008 NBA Finals:

I kind a want the Celtics to win just because I think Kevin Garnet has come a long ways and I would want him to get a ring before he ends his career. He made it to the playoffs a bunch of times with Minnesota but did not have enough support to get over the hill, so I think he has paid his dues and should win one. That’s who I want to win.

[B]Shan Seman[/B] [I]Pvt. First Class, U.S. Army[/I]

I’ll go with Boston. The Big 3 of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce will be too much for Kobe Bryant to handle on his own. Glen Davis needs to step up in defense to plug the driving lanes and prevent Kobe to work his way inside the paint. Rajon Rondo also needs to stay calm and avoid being rattled by the pressure of being in the playoffs for the first time. Rondo must create situations where the Big 3 could operate freely.

[B]Jon Perez[/B] [I]GMA Interactive[/I]

Sorry for the Lakers fans and Kobe Bryant’s teammates, but I have this strong dislike for a Kobe-style of play—flashy and selfish.

Too much showmanship is only for All-Star games, not for championship series. Kobe can take all those MVP trophies for his individual plays, but the championship plum belongs to the Celtics, who has a much finesse-brand of play, much deeper bench, and better teamwork.

The Celtics have the Big 3 and other role players who are willing to step up when needed. The Lakers have Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, Kobe Kobe, and Kobe…

[B]Roselyn B. Monroyo[/B] [I]Philippines[/I]

Lakers all the way! [The] first-ever pro basketball game ever saw on TV was when Kareem got traded from Milwaukee. Got hooked on the team ever since.

[B]Elias Rangamar[/B] [I]BANMI president[/I]

The Lakers in six.

Pierce-Odom and Garnett-Gasol are good matchups, but the boys from Boston have no one who can contain Kobe. Besides, having been born and raised in Philadelphia, I hate the Celtics no matter what.

[B]Michael White[/B] [I]NMASA president[/I]

Since I am a Laker fanatic ever since the Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson era I am still going for the Lakers in five games. With the addition of Pau Gasol to the Lakers lineup I think that the Lakers have the edge in all areas. The Laker bench can deliver at anytime with Luke Walton, Farmar, and the other European players that they have. The Lakers starting five is intact with Gasol, Lamar Odom, Radmanovic, Fisher, and Kobe. I still believe that the Lakers starting lineup could matchup with the Celtics starting five.

[B]Abner Venus[/B] [I]BANMI board member[/I]

It might go either way. The matchups are even except for Kobe Bryant. Garnet can easily matchup with Gasol and Perkins with Odom. Rondo can take Fisher and Pierce can take Radmanovic. The problem is if Ray Allen can tackle Bryant and if he can get his 3-point shooting mojo back. I want to pick the Lakers but the Celtics deserve the championship better than them. The Big 3 doesn’t have one yet. Plus I don’t like Kobe that much… aside from him being the best player in the league he is also not worth more than a $100 million, which I can never make in 20 lifetimes. Ah well…blame the genes…

[B]Kitz Barja[/B] [I]Micronesian Brokers, Inc.
general manager[/I]

I would like to see L.A. take the title. Kobe had a great year with a lot of new players. Kobe played team ball this year and deserves to have an MVP and an NBA championship in the same year.

[B]Jeff Taylor[/B] [I]CNMI National Golfer[/I]