Spring Break
Lakers will win - all of it
Lindsay Bryant
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: Sports
It's an Olympic year. An election year. The Year of the Rat. Year of Indiana Jones. It's time for the greatest NBA franchises to rekindle the rivalry fire: It's Lakers versus Celtics.
It just feels right. It's nostalgic. And more important, it is time.
Kobe Bryant is in his prime - for the 12th season - and the voting committee finally saw the light and gave Kobe what he deserved six, seven and eight seasons ago: MVP. His 28.3 points per game led the NBA.
Pau Gasol was a gift sent from Memphis (a steal at only $13 million) and 20-year-old Andrew Bynum is showing more depth than vets Chris Mihm and Ronny Turiaf.
The Lakers are in an upswing since preseason rumors surrounding Kobe and his plans to leave Los Angeles.
But this season has been a long time coming for Laker fans since Shaquille O'Neal bowed out and the rebuilding began.
Since Kobe demanded a supporting cast and Jerry Buss listened, the Lakers are now the team to beat. Kobe needs 35-plus points in the first two games of the Finals to set the table for the trophy.
Once the Jazz series is over (two games left) and they get past the Hornets (say "Buh-bye Tim Duncan") it's on to the Big Show with Kevin Garnett and the Celtics. And I can't wait.
So what if neither team can win a road game? L.A. fans need to save their money to fill the seats for the Lakers in Boston - just pretend it's home, guys.
This is the NBA rivalry that our dads witnessed in the '80s. A Celtics-Lakers series will be the most watched one since Bulls-Pistons.
It just feels right. It's nostalgic. And more important, it is time.
Kobe Bryant is in his prime - for the 12th season - and the voting committee finally saw the light and gave Kobe what he deserved six, seven and eight seasons ago: MVP. His 28.3 points per game led the NBA.
Pau Gasol was a gift sent from Memphis (a steal at only $13 million) and 20-year-old Andrew Bynum is showing more depth than vets Chris Mihm and Ronny Turiaf.
The Lakers are in an upswing since preseason rumors surrounding Kobe and his plans to leave Los Angeles.
But this season has been a long time coming for Laker fans since Shaquille O'Neal bowed out and the rebuilding began.
Since Kobe demanded a supporting cast and Jerry Buss listened, the Lakers are now the team to beat. Kobe needs 35-plus points in the first two games of the Finals to set the table for the trophy.
Once the Jazz series is over (two games left) and they get past the Hornets (say "Buh-bye Tim Duncan") it's on to the Big Show with Kevin Garnett and the Celtics. And I can't wait.
So what if neither team can win a road game? L.A. fans need to save their money to fill the seats for the Lakers in Boston - just pretend it's home, guys.
This is the NBA rivalry that our dads witnessed in the '80s. A Celtics-Lakers series will be the most watched one since Bulls-Pistons.
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