P.S. Where’s a good place to stay near the Staple? I’ll be in L.A. for Game 4. I’d rather walk and enjoy L.A. and not rent a car.

Dare i say it, Ronnie should start at power forward. He is strong and fast enough to not shut down, but limit KG. Let’s face it, there is no one on the lakers (besides Bynum) that can effectively shut down KG. He is a manimal.

Regarding the Celtics being a “Kobe stopper”
That is ridiculous. There is no such thing as a Kobe stopper. He is the most talented basketball player in the world. He has proven that many times. Anyone who uses the fact that Shaq has more rings than Kobe to say he’s a better player is an ignorant hater. Shaq only has that 4th ring because of D-Wade. They only say that because they hate Kobe and the Lakers. Shaq only has most of the rings because of Kobe and the same thing is true for Kobe. A player wins MVP, but a team wins championships.

Shaq vs. Kobe
Anyone who says Shaq is better than Kobe is wrong. Simple as that. Shaq is an inside threat on offense and defense. Kobe is a threat. Period. He can spot up from anywhere on the court and make anyone look stupid.

The way the Celtics have been playing in this year’s playoffs makes me believe the Lakers can do it. They only have to win one road game, and they are not going to lose at home. If anyone who reads this goes to a game, pump it up. Seriously. The past five years we have been laughed at, and ridiculed for being true to our boys. Now we are being repaid. We can’t get this close and lose. Not this year

After the 1st 41 games of the Celtics season, Boston was 34-7 before KG got hurt…but that’s against a weaker schedule.

I don’t think Boston fans realize how much better the Lakers got after acquiring Pau.

While your stats on Pierce’s defense is correct, let’s not forget that 2 critical factors, effort and motivation, have been missing for Pierce for some time. He is a smart player who understands and plays well within the team defense concept of Thibodeau. He is also their best (only) flopper. If Walton gets Pierce on the low block watch for flopping of Turturroan proportions (kinda like Turturro in Miller’s Crossing… “…please…”).

kwame a, good trip and good luck getting tix.

Anybody know if the Lakers are travelling today or tomorrow?

Good Day Celtics. I am Warren Wee Lim from ForumBlueandGold (a Laker blog) and I shall be joining you for the rest of this dream series.

I am not here to bring homerism, instead, only a small voice “from the other side.” Behold, I send you as sheep amongst the wolves.

To start with, let me congratulate you for being in the Finals. Its as much a dream come true for us as it is for you – except that yours probably started the moment you got KG, and ours the moment we acquired Pau. This is definitely a clash of the titans of basketball – the 2 most highly decorated franchises in history. Regardless of what happens, it shall be a series to remember.

Being a little more specific, here are a few notes I’d like to stress out:

1. Observe the 1st quarter of Game 1. Both teams will be giddy as ever. But he who controls the tempo will come out victorious.

- The Celtics would use the noise of the garden to frustrate the Lakers everytime they make a defensive play. A single layup by Rondo or a three by Jesus Shuttleworth, or a charge taken by Perk, Boston Garden will explode. Offensively, the Celtics become more efficient when coming off a defensive play.

- LA will try to run as much as possible. Transition is where even the best defense in the world will scramble. If the Lakers create opportunities to run the break, the Celtics will be in trouble. Expect to see transition threes for Fish as well.

2. Matchups will be key.

- As you like to say it, KG has an advantage over Odom. He has a more refined post move and his defense is contagious. Perk is also a big body over Pau Gasol. Depending on how PP plays, Perk will go with him offensively. The question is, how big a difference is KG over Odom? Could you really consider Perk having an advantage over Pau?

- Paul Pierce is and will be Boston’s best player. He is LA’s toughest matchup by far but you do not know what Phil has under his sleeve. Vlade will guard him and he will probably eat him alive. So will Luke Walton. Ariza might be the best way to go, but is he smart enough to match PP’s intensity?

- LA has Kobe. Say it all you like until you convince yourself, Ray Allen is not Kobe Bryant. Among shooters, Ray may be the NBA’s best pure shooter. Other than that, Kobe is a wash to win here. Fish over Rondo wins in poise, experience and overall talent. Rajon is simply younger and quicker but that’s about it.

- To say that Boston has the better bench is quite hilarious. You have the experience of Sam Cassell and PJ Brown, we have the speed and intensity of Farmar and Turiaf. You have Eddie House for instant offense, we have Sasha. You have Leon Powe and Big Baby, we have Luke and Ariza and even DJ Mbenga. LA has the better bench.

3. Chess Match

- Phil Jackson is a basketball genius hiding behind his beard and his throne. I say to be calling him a very good coach is underrating his ways and skills. To be earning 9 rings is worthy of respect. Even when he was leading the MJ-Scottie Bulls and the Kobe-Shaq Lakers, Phil has always managed to work around the stars. And now, with this group of kids running around the court, Phil has put to rest the notion that he can only succeed with “ready-to-wear” superstar teams. How he transformed Sasha, Farmar and even Lamar is the biggest wonder of all.

- Of course, you could as well have put in Mike Brown in here. I respect Doc Rivers as a player and as a coach, but Boston’s success this year is not because of him. To rub him off completely of the glory would be unfair, but there’s a reason why he is not even top 3 in COY rankings.

Folks, I have placed my 2 cents on “your” cookie jar. I had to be fair and honest in the assessments and I do not intend to “stir your pot” here. Just plain commenting. Peace.

#1 Physical Play. I think the Celtics will employ a bruise and bang approach with Kobe. The Celts saw how the Spurs approach of keeping Kobe out of the foul line simply did not work as it had the effect of getting the rest of the team more involved. In my opinion, they will let Kobe drive to the hoop more and then fould him cleanly – but hard. I think the Celtics-Cavs series will provide good insights as to how this strategy may play out.

#2 Overhype. I hate the fact that people are labeling the Celtics as the underdogs. As far as I am concerned, the teams are evenly matched and there are no underdogs. I think the “underdog” tag is dangerous for young Laker players who may let it go to ther head.

At any rate, I think the key to the series will be the play of Gasol, Odom and the bench mob – in particular Ariza.