LAKERS for the 2007-08 diadem!
Ever since the Celtics and the Lakers made great changes in the composition of their respective line-ups during the season, the NBA gods had been wishing one thing for a dream championship, that is the revival of pro basketball's great rivalry, which is not only rewarding for the longtime supporters of both teams but will also reap dividends business-wise. For sure, a Celtics-Lakers finale will get additional media mileage and generate more revenues for the league than a Spurs-Pistons series.
Anyway, it will be a fresh sight for basketball enthusiasts to see a Lakers-Celtics finals series. It had been 21 long years since they had their "last dance" in 1987. Both franchises are genuinely excited to be back in championship series once more. The beantown's team captain Paul Pierce is looking forward to a bruising series. Curiously, Pierce is a Los Angeles native and grew up in Inglewood loving the Lakers and hating the Celtics. After the Celts won the Eastern Conference crown over the Detroit Pistons last Saturday morning (Manila time), he said "As a kid, I hated the Celtics, I'm going back home to play against my team that I grew up watching. It's a dream come true, man, just thinking about it. I think that rivalry really revolutionized the game of basketball, and now I'm a part of it."
Its also great to see Kevin Garnett finally showing his wares in a championship series and just like Pierce and Ray Allen, is looking forward to that elusive ring which had eluded him since his rookie season in 1996. A sure future Hall of Famer, a champiosnhip hardware shall be the icing on the cake for KG's exceptional career as a pro cager.
During the Eastern Conference championship celebration at the Celtics dugout, its nice to hear once again the battlecy "BEAT L.A.! BEAT L.A.!", which was last heard 21 long years ago. The presence of Celtic great John Havlicek during the celebration was very touching and an inspiration sight to behold for the title-hungry beantown team.
Pinoy NBA expert Quinito Henson texted me a week ago that he will be back live at the courtside to bring the coming NBA finals to Philippine TV. I truly believe it will be one heck of a TV coverage once again by the Solar Sports outfit, to enable the filipino audience to witness the best possible coverage of the NBA finals. "The Dean" will also have the finals' sidelights and behind the scene news exclusively at the Philippine Star. So you better start getting your copy today.
Just like Pierce, I like the Lakers over the Celtics during the 1980s as a fanatic of the great Earvin "Magic" Johnson. I hate Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Danny Ainge, the late Dennis Johnson and the rest of the guys in green. But that was then and this time as I matured into an avid baketball observer through the years, I'm picking the Celtics over the Lakers in six games (here I go again!). So fasten your seatbelt guys and brace for a nostalgic NBA retro finale tipping off on June 6, 2008 at the fame Fleet Center in Boston!
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