2010 NBA FINALS PREVIEW
The 2010 NBA Finals have come down to the Boston Celtics vs. the defending champions the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics have knocked off the teams with the two best regular season records, the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Lakers have made it back to the NBA Finals behind the incredible play of future hall of famer Kobe Bryant. The current starting lineup of the Boston Celtics have not lost any of their 7 playoff series.
The Lakers will have a tougher task this series because the Celtics play defense, something the Lakers have not faced during the playoffs so far. Los Angeles will need big men Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest to use their length and play tough defense against Boston. It should be noted that a Phil Jackson coached team has not lost a playoff series when his team has won game one. The two teams met twice during the regular season and each won the game on the road. The Lakers must play great transition defense and stop one of the most underrated players in the NBA, Point Guard Rajon Rondo. If the Lakers want to win this series, they will need Kobe Bryant to keep up his stellar play. If Point Guard Derek Fisher can shoot the ball well that will help take the pressure off Kobe Bryant. The Lakers will look to dominate in the paint with their two 7-footers Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.
For the Celtics to win the championship, they will need the ball in Rondo's hands. In all of the playoff series Rondo has been in charged with finding the matchup they wish to exploit, weather it is getting the ball to Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce or finding Ray Allen open for the jumper. On the defensive end, the Celtics have Kendrick Perkins, one of the best lost post defensive players in the game. The X-factor for the Celtics is Rasheed Wallace coming off the bench. Boston will need Wallace to play great defense on the Lakers big men. The X-factor for the Lakers is Ron Artest. The Lakers need Artest to play great defense but when he scores 14 or more points in this postseason, they are 6-0. Both of these teams have great history and tradition. The first game of the series could be the key. This series has all of the tools to be a close hard nose series. Which team will raise another NBA Championship banner?
