NBA FINALS

The nba finals are a repeat of the Boston massacre in 2008 with a couple significant changes. The Lakers are the favorite because of home court Boston easily defeated the Magic and Cavs and are by no means an underdog in this series. The 2-3-2 format puts pressure on LA to win the first 2 games but also makes it easier to steal a game in Boston.

Here are some overall keys for both teams.
Boston:
1. Establish a slow pace of the game and grind it out halfcourt game. (One exception Rondo fast break off of steals. )
2. Keep the Lakers under 100 points.
3. Attack Pau Gasol and Bynum early
4. Big Baby and Rasheed continue to score 20 points a game combined.
5. Rondo over Pierce, don't run Pierce isolation instead have Rondo penetrate and dish.
6. Steal Game 1 or Game 2
7. Continue to play extremely physical.

Lakers:
1. Score more than 100 points a game.
2. Stop Rondo penetration
3. Establish Pau and Bynum early
4. Try to get Garnett, Rondo in foul trouble early.
5. Set hard picks on Rondo the entire game.
6. Kobe getting to free throw line 8-10 times a game.
7. Lamar Odom averaging a double double in the series.
8. Ron Artest shutting down Pierce and avoiding foul trouble.
9. Bench production and no offensive meltdowns like previous Boston series.


Matchups to Watch:
1. Garnett vs. Gasol - Last time with Perkins and no Bynum Garnett did not have to guard Gasol the entire game this series they will be going head to head. Garnett is extremely physical and will not allow Gasol to play soft. Lakers need Gasol to dunk and not try to finish with finesse.

2. Rondo vs. Lakers - Last nba finals Rondo killed the Lakers with his penetration. Lakers have to decide whose guarding Rondo and need to have good rotation and help. While rotating they cannot leave Ray Allen Open. Whoever guards Rondo shall try to force him to take jump shots and make him finish at the rim instead of fouling him.

3. Refs vs. both teams: Series will be extremely physical and all the superstars need to watch out for suspensions and ejections. Ron Artest seems to be under control but you never know. Referees have been quite bad in the playoffs and hopefully will not change any of these games.

4. Pierce vs. Artest: Last time Lakers had no one to stop Pierce and he had a great finals on his way to being the Finals MVP. This year Lakers got Artest to stop Lebron and Paul Pierce. Artest should be able to frustrate Pierce and force him to take too many shots.

4. Kobe vs. Celtics: Last series James Posey did a great job defending Kobe but he is gone. Celtics best defender is Tony Allen but will start with either Ray or Paul Pierce on Kobe. Kobe will be in attack mode and will post up ray allen and run a pick and roll against Pierce. It is important that he continues to take good shots and pick his spots aggressively to avoid droughts that plagued the lakers in the 2008 series.

5. Rivers vs. Jackson - In 2008 Rivers frankly out coached Phil. Phil usually gets the matchups he wants and makes the correct adjustments in the series it will be interesting to see Jackson's bench rotation and how the Lakers decide to stop Rondo.

Prediction: Celtics are the better team on paper but the Lakers match up very well against them. Lakers brought in Artest to stop Pierce and a semi-healthy Bynum will give the Lakers more size. The week of rest will have both teams healthy and ready to play. Lakers need to win the first 2 games at home, steal one on the road and should be able to finish the series in 6 games.