2010 NBA Finals

Here we go again

The rivalry is back! The Boston Celtics will face the Los Angeles Lakers once again in the much-anticipated NBA finals which will kick off on Friday, June 04, 2010 at 9AM Manila Time. This will be the 12th time these two teams will face-off in the unprecedented NBA Finals. The last meeting was won by the Boston Celtics in 2008 via 4 games to 2 decision with a 131-92 humiliating loss by the Lakers in game 6 at TD Garden.

This is the series that we’ve been waiting for—evenly matched teams which we can hardly predict who will emerge as the NBA champs. Lakers is looking for revenge as they put their title on the line and try to build another dynasty while the Celtics is out to prove that they are the best team in the world.

Rivalry Glimpse

As their colorful history will show, the Celtics owned the Lakers in the Finals by wining 9 championships against 2 by Lakers. The C’s won in the following years: 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1984 and 2008, while the Lakers brought home the prestigious Jim O’brien trophy 1985 and 1987.

Obviously, the rivalry began couple of decades ago when the short shorts were still the “it” fashion in basketball. They first met in 1959 were the Lakers are still in Minneapolis. In said championship meeting, the Lakers were easily dismantled by the Celtics via a sweep series. Little did anyone know that it was the start of the storied RIVALRY in the history of NBA.

Lakers and Celtics met again for the second time in 1962, this time, the Lakers’ Jerry West, Kurt Rambis and Ray Felix made the fight more interesting against Celtics’ coach Red Auerbach and players Bill Russell and John Havlicek. The series went to distance, but still the Celtics prevailed in 7 games. The rivalry continued on the next year, as the Celtics keep their dominance in Basketball. Both teams met 7 times in the finals in 1960’s but Lakers still did not find any answer how to contain Celtics and the greatness of Bill Russell, who then retired in the name of basketball in the summer of 1969.

Both teams met three times in 1980’s with the new era of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. These two legendary names brought the energy of their NCAA rivalry back in college days to the pros and, after five years of chasing rings against others, they were poised to do it against each other.

After 15 seasons, the two teams crossed paths again in the biggest stage of basketball. Both teams had powerhouse lineups in that decade—Celtics was led by Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Dennis Johnson, while the Lakers were composed of Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, James Worthy and James Cooper. The first showdown of Magic and Bird went to a thrilling 7 games. Celtics took the championship that year; avenging the bitter loss, Magic Johnson and his crew bounced back in 1985 and 1987 with both series ending in 6 games.

Many thought that the rivalry has died down. But basketball fans were given another treat as the two clubs, which are the most successful teams in NBA history, looked to renew their longstanding rivalry 21 years after their last Finals meeting in 1987. Both teams paraded new faces and talents this time around. The Lakeshow was led by reigning MVP Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol against the Celtics’ Big Three and future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Celtics dominated the first two games but in game 3, Kobe and the Lakers fought back to make the series alive. In game 4, the Lakers were on their way to tie the series as they lead as much as 20pts in half time, but the Celtics made an epic comeback and won the game to make the series 3 to 1 in favor of the C’s. Game 5 is a almost dejavu of game 4, this time the Lakers managed to hang on and survived the game as they trimmed the Celtics series lead to 3 to 2. The time has come in game 6 for the Celtics. Lakers are simply no match to Celtics’ energy as they suffered their worst loss in finals history. With a 131-92 triumph, the Celtics defeated the Lakers 4-2. This was Boston's first title since 1986 and 17th overall.

Let’s see how the two teams reached the promise land.

Boston’s Road to Glory

Celtics reached the finals this year by beating DWade’s team the Miami Heat in 5 games in the first round then outlasting the 2 time MVP and controversial free agent of 2010 King James’ Cleveland Cavaliers in 6 games and finally knocking out the defending East Champs D12’s Orlando Magic in Eastern Conference showdown.

Boston literally ran thru the needle before emerging as the new East Champs this year as they had to face the top teams in the NBA and top players in the league as well. First stop, Celtics face-off with Dwade’s Miami Heat; this is a no-contest for them, Celts almost swept this series if they have only completed their comeback in game 4, but finishing the series in 5 games is no big deal for them.

In the second round, the Celt’s put their season on the line when they met the 2 time MVP Lebron James’ and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their semi-final series affair. The Cavs is the number one team this year and has the home court advantage throughout the playoffs by winning 66 wins this season. This is not an easy task for the Celt’s because they are facing an upgraded CAVS team. Cavs took game 1 in a come from behind win fashion led by King James before losing to Boston in game 2. The Cavaliers made a big statement in game 3 when they hammered the Celtics in their home floor with a 29 pt win. It was the biggest home loss of the Celtics in playoff history. Good thing, Rondo made his presence felt. His triple double in game 4 put the Celtics back in the series. In game 5, Lebron had no answer to Celtics suffocating defense as the Cavs swallowed a 32-pt home loss and was booed by the fans as well. The series shifted back to Boston in game 6 with the cavaliers who were well determined to even the series. Mo Williams scored 22 pts in the 1st half and Lebron had a triple double that night, but the Celts had another thing in mind. The Cavs did not contain the total team effort of the Celtics as the latter spoiled the former’s momentum. The Celtics advanced to East Finals via 4-2 series. (That might be the last game to see Lebron in Cavs uniform because he is the top free agent this summer and a lot of teams already vying his services to bolster their roster.)

Finally, a rematch with Orlando Magic in East finals is about to happen. Celts and Magic met last year in the 2nd round which it went to distance that won by the Magic in 7 games. This time Celtics have a healthy roster with KG back in the lineup and with the addition of Rasheed in the off season to reinforce their front court. It was a physical series, as expected, as lots of technical’s and flagrant foul had been called to players and coaches. C’s took away the home court advantage by beating the Magic in their home floor in first two meetings. Game 3 was played by men versus boys as the Celtics pounded the Orlando Magic with a 30pt win as the C’s eyed for a sweep. With Celtics owning a 3-0 series lead going into game 4, D12 and Jameer Nelson were not ready to go fishing; they stepped-up and didn’t quit as they survived an overtime game against the Celtics and forced a game 5 in their home court. Magic continue their hot shooting and D12’s superb defense in the interior as they took game 5 and trimmed Celtics lead to 3-2. The series was shifted back to Boston in Game 6, as they found their old form again. Paul Pierce led the Celtics via a 14pt win, sending D12 and the Orlando Magic in the elimination. Celtics advanced to NBA finals once again and gets a chance to relive the rivalry against the Lakers.

Lakers Defense for the Title

The Los Angeles Lakers opened their title defense against Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma Thunder by eliminating them in 6 games then sweeping Deron Williams and the depleted line-up of Utah Jazz in the 2nd round and lastly punishing Steve Nash and the Phoenix suns in 6 games in the Western conference Finals.

Kobe Bryant and company had troubles playing against the young and talented team Oklahoma Thunder led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook as they were pushed to the limit in the 1st round of the playoffs. The first 4 games were come to a split as both teams won on their home floor, but in game 5 the Lakers crushed the Thunders via a 24pts win in their home floor. In game 6, the young team Oklahoma Thunder is looking to force the series to a game 7 as they control most of the game but with the put back of Paul Gasol in the dying seconds in Kobe’s miss put the Lakers ahead by 1pt just enough to send the Thunder for vacation.

In the second round, the Lakers continued their mastery of the Jazz in playoffs as they swept the depleted Utah team. The series is already a mismatched from the beginning as the Utah Jazz playing without the services of Kirilenko in first two games and Okur who suffered a season ending knee injury. The Jazz still try to give a fight as they put the game close in every game but it’s not enough to beat the defending champs.

The purple and gold team reached the Western Finals in 3 consecutive years. This time, the Lakers met with the fast phase offense of the Phoenix Suns. Both teams are coming from a sweep series as the Lakers beat the Jazz and Suns eliminates the Spurs. It looks like the Lakers are headed to the NBA finals again as they demolished the Suns in their first two meetings in the Lakerland. But the Suns made the series interesting as they climbed back and tied the series by winning game 3 and 4 and forced the Lakers shoot the ball from the outside as they don’t have answer to Suns Zone Defense. Amare Stoudamire had a tremendous game 3 by pouring out 42pts and Suns bench continued to fuel their hot shooting from the beyond the arch in game 4. Kobe made his presence felt in game 5 as they grabbed an early lead as much as 20pts but the suns didn’t give up easily. They rallied from 19pts down in the fourth quarter to tie the game but with a historic out balanced put back at the buzzer in regulation by Ron Artest put the Lakers one game away in NBA finals. Game 6 was almost a no contest for the Lakers not until Sasha Vujajic committed a costly flagrant foul against Goran Dragic in the 4th quarter that ignited the suns players and home team to wake up and cut the deficit to three with less than 4 minutes left in regulation. But Kobe made sure that he will be in his way in NBA finals as he made big shots after big shots including the well guarded fade away jumpshot infront of grant Grant Hill, J-Rich and Coach Alvin Gentry for the game and series clincher.

Things to consider in winning the coveted NBA TITLE

For Celtics

1. Rajon Rondo’s factor – (Rajon Rondo is playing superb game in the playoffs, he is the reason why the Celtics are back in the finals again. The Lakers had difficulties in guarding fast point guards, just put him to that list.
2. Celtic’s physical type of game – (Suffocating D of the Celtics is the focal point of their game and this may lead in containing Kobe’s production
3. Kendrick Perkins Technical foul -- (Perk is one technical foul away from suspension, so be calm and be cool Perk)
4. Paul Gasol toughness – (Let’s see how Paul deals with much more physical game against KG, Sheed and Perk. Will he still be the GaSOFT of 2008?)
5. C’s ability to win on the road – (Celtics proved that they can win on the road, they beat the CAVS and Magic both twice on their floor)

For Lakers:

1. Home Court Advantage -- (the Lakers are currently unbeaten at home in the playoffs and they have the homecourt advantage in the finals unlike in 2008 were the Celtics owned the homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs)
2. Kobe’s will – (Kobe Bryant’s determination to win another title that would cement his legacy and hopefully to tie MJ’s rings will be a huge factor)
3. Ron Artest defense – (Last 2008 finals, Lakers has no answer for Paul Pierce. This time around, Ron Artest’s physical game will be put into test against The Truth)
4. Bynum’s presence – (The Lakers missed the services of Andrew Bynum because of knee injury. Now, he will be a key factor for the Lakers especially in protecting the rim)
5. Celtic’s Big Three age factor – (Celtics superstars are banged-up after battling the top superstars in the league, in the name of DWade, King James and D12. Adding to that is their age and health condition which leave the fans question if they still have something in their tank)

We’ll be looking forward to what’s going to happen in this series. It’s going to be physical; it’s going to be tough; there would be drama; there would be trash talking, and everything you want in a series is going to happen just to get the coveted prize, the NBA championship.

If you’re going to ask me who will I’m going to pick? I’ll go with the Boston Celtics, I like the way their playing right now, they are playing better defense than in 2008, they proved that they can win on the road, they eliminated the top two teams in the NBA and most of all they are playing like the Championship Caliber team once again. I can see the Celtics will win their 18th title in 6 games.

So what are you waiting for, place your bets now and enjoy the game.