So its the NBA's 2 most-storied teams, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers which drew first blood in the conference finals. The Celtics took advantage of Detroit's long respite from active play, winning 88-79 at home while the Lakers dramatically came back from 20 points down in the 3rd canto to take the opener, 89-85 at Staples Center.
Both series are worth watching as the top 2 seeds in the east, one with the biggest offseason build up and the other a defensive-conscious perennial title contender and the battle in the west between the defending champs and a team, which is the current toast of the season, slug it out for a finals seat.
It is widely believe that when the smoke is cleared, the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs will be the last 2 teams standing come the NBA finals. Both teams had the experience and the depth to go all the way to the championship round. The core of the 2007 Spurs champion team is still very much around and the same can be said of the Pistons with the vital cogs of its 2004 title-winning squad still wreaking havoc in the playoffs. The celebrated tro of Boston's big 3, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are all-star calibers but remember none of them had won a single championship ring so far. On the other hand, the Lakers, featuring season MVP Kobe Bryant had only Paul Gasol, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton and Lamar Odom to count on as able veterans of the tinseltown team. Andrew Bynum's injury was a big blow to the Lakers campaign, leaving a big vacuum in the middle. Bynum's absence will create mismatches in the center position against the Spurs, which has big bodies in Tim Duncan and argentine banger Fabricio Oberto. Add to that the inconsistent play of Odom in the current playoffs.
So my apology for those LA and Boston fans who are looking forward to a revival finale between the Celtics and the Lakers as all roads to the NBA finals are pointing to a rematch of the 2005 NBA champioship, the San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons!
Both series are worth watching as the top 2 seeds in the east, one with the biggest offseason build up and the other a defensive-conscious perennial title contender and the battle in the west between the defending champs and a team, which is the current toast of the season, slug it out for a finals seat.
It is widely believe that when the smoke is cleared, the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs will be the last 2 teams standing come the NBA finals. Both teams had the experience and the depth to go all the way to the championship round. The core of the 2007 Spurs champion team is still very much around and the same can be said of the Pistons with the vital cogs of its 2004 title-winning squad still wreaking havoc in the playoffs. The celebrated tro of Boston's big 3, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are all-star calibers but remember none of them had won a single championship ring so far. On the other hand, the Lakers, featuring season MVP Kobe Bryant had only Paul Gasol, Derek Fisher, Luke Walton and Lamar Odom to count on as able veterans of the tinseltown team. Andrew Bynum's injury was a big blow to the Lakers campaign, leaving a big vacuum in the middle. Bynum's absence will create mismatches in the center position against the Spurs, which has big bodies in Tim Duncan and argentine banger Fabricio Oberto. Add to that the inconsistent play of Odom in the current playoffs.
So my apology for those LA and Boston fans who are looking forward to a revival finale between the Celtics and the Lakers as all roads to the NBA finals are pointing to a rematch of the 2005 NBA champioship, the San Antonio Spurs vs. Detroit Pistons!
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