After months upon months of preparation, plenty of playoff games of enhancement, alas all the blood, sweat, and tears will be defined by a single game. The greatest rivalry in the NBA will conclude another chapter in its storied history in a mere 48 minutes of play. After four quarters, "there can only be one." Whoever wins tomorrow at Staples Center in Los Angeles is the 2010 NBA champion, simple as that.
Each team has come a long way. For one, the Boston Celtics were plagued by old age and immense scrutiny from the media. At times, "The Big Three" looked three steps slow, gruesome seasons in the association starting to make an impact. At the same time, Beantown found a new hero in Rajon Rondo, the point guard who has orchestrated the Celtics' offense, made hustle plays, and stepped up when the "three party" couldn't. At 50-32, the fourth-seeded Celtics were surely not the same Boston squad that finished first with 66 victories en route to a title in '08. Yet, the team persisted and, with the way the media, pundits, and fans had dismissed them, accomplished a truly great resurgence throughout the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Lakers have also undergone their fair share of trials and tribulations. At one point or another, pretty much everyone on the Lakers' roster has spent time recuperating an injury with trainer Garry Vitti, most recently Andrew Bynum, who is playing with a torn meniscus. With every coming game, there were always nagging concerns: Can Derek Fisher stay in front of his man? Is Kobe okay? Will Lamar show up? Does Artest know what's he doing? With multiple frustrating road losses, an overdose of Bryant heroics, and a miserable close to the regular season, Lakers fans were understandably worried. Fortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers are only win away from a 2010 parade down Figueroa.
From how things have played out, the Lakers definitely hold the upperhand going into Game 7. Besides the fact that it's a home game, Pau Gasol won't be tamed by the intimidating presence of Kendrick Perkins. Plus, even though it is repetitive, it bears repeating: the Lake Show has the best closer - and most determined - player in the NBA, Kobe Bryant. Who would bet against Kobe Bryant in a Game 7 with an NBA championship on the line - in L.A.? The Black Mamba will back down to nobody in his pursuit for another ring (see: Kobe's eyes, Kobe's facial expressions, etc). Don't get me wrong, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, KG, and Rasheed Wallace will likely make it tough. However, with a title on the line, there's no way I'm choosing them over one of the best defensive players in the league, Ron Artest; a world-class Olympian on a silver-medal team, Pau Gasol; the clutch skills of Derek Fisher, another 7-footer in Bynum, and above all, the one & only, Kobe Bryant. Have the T-shirts and caps ready for the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow.
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