The NBA Finals are here!!!!! Lakers v. Celtics! Rivalry Renewed!

Ok, so the NBA Finals are finally here and the two teams that everybody predicted (or maybe just the NBA set up to play) are here. On June 5th, in Boston, MA, one of the most anticipated NBA Finals will kick off, and a champion will be crowned. You have the league's most talented player, Kobe Bryant and best coach, Phil Jackson versus the most hyped team besides the 2004 Lakers (Tssst, the irony) the Boston Celtics. I am not too happy about these finals because I have the world's deepest DISDAIN for fackin Kobe Bryant!!!!!!!! But I must say he has earned my respect.

Anyways, I have consulted with some of my closest friends and sports guru's to get their views and predictions on the finals and their answers were very interesting so take a look and enjoy.

Cedric Robinson (Spurs fan & fellow MAN baller)- I've got the Celtics in 7. If Ray Allen plays a solid series, Celts win. The Celtics defense is too krunk (for you hip-illiterate, that means hype or crazy) and they are too deep to lose. Kobe has heart, but he can't do it by himself!

Nicholas Vernon (Knicks fan....LLLLOOOOOOLLLLL)&Roommate & Fab 5 member) - The Lakers in 6. Once they get 3 wins, they are going to close the next game, NO MATTER WHAT!

Stevie Valles (HUGE Kobe fan & Fellow Joe Johnson supporter) - The Lakers in 6. The Lakers are going to get a game on the road. Plus Kobe has come too far to lose. Him or Phil.

Sean Small (Lifelong Chicago Bulls fan & Lakers hater) - Celtics in 7. I hate Kobe and everything the Lakers stand for. But seriously, the Lakers don't have the people to stop every on of the Celtics weapons every night.

Sheldon Eakins (Fellow Rockets fan & G5'er, lol!) - Celtics in 7. They're gonna win all of their home games, period.

Samuel Owusu (Big Lakers fan & Joe Johnson respect....er) - Lakers in 6. I've got them in 6 for the simple reason that the Celtics can't win in L.A. We would take it in 5, but we want to WIN IT ALL at home for tha fans!!!!!!

Samuel Adams (Lakers Sacker & Beer, LMAO!!!!) - Lakers in 6, and that's because they are the Lakers. No other reason is needed!!!

Ok............WAIT! I have to pause right now because some of these answers are blowing me!!!! Maybe I should have asked for some NON-BIASED answers. WTF Sam Adams! You see, its answers like that that make me HATE the Lakers and everything they stand for!!!!(Sean, I feel u on this bro....UGGHGHGHGHH) Now can we get serious guys, PLEASE!

Brandon Snowden (HS basketball teammate & Lakers fan who made me HATE Kobe) - The fan side in me says the Lakers, so I'll take the Lakers in 6. consistency has been the the key in the playoffs this year. Gasol wins the battle down low with Perkins, KG will be too much for Radmonovich, Pierce vs Odom is a tough matchup, Kobe wins the battle with Ray Allen, Fisher's experience will be too much for Rondo, and the Lakers bench is better than the Celtics. But in the end, its all about who can win on the road and so far the Lakers are the better team on the road.

David Cox (Knicks fan (who knew) & Tim Duncan admirer & Fab 5 member)- Lakers in 6. It will be a very good series though. The Celticsneed to make Kobe guard somebody and hope that he gets tired.

Calvin Myrie (LeBron James worshipper & Fire Mike Brown campaign manager)- Lakers in 6. They will probably split the 1st 2 games in Boston and then win games 3, 5 and 6. Kobe won't be the only difference maker though. They (Lakers) must shut down Ray Allen. Look for Fisher to be a factoer with outside shooting and great off ball and help D. The only way they loose the series is if Kobe goes nuts and forgets what got them there.

Ennis Johnson (www.myspace.com/enicejohnson & The reason for me hating Kobe)- Well, first of all I believe that the Celtics are battle tested for the Finals, so they'll be ready. The Lakers only lost 3 games in the post season and if you start in the post season, then the Lakers have the best record, so they will be ready as well. I'll take the Lakers in 6. The Celtics haven't learned to slow down teams with a scoring perimeter player (1st rd- Joe Johnson, 2nd rd- Lebron James). Kobe is the most dominate player in that he has played next to Jordan and he will have his way. And unlike Joe and LeBron, he will dominate EVERY GAME. Boston has proved themselves at home, but not away. detroit did not have a player that dominated so the Celtics were able to manage. The Lakers will easily win in Boston. Kobe will not be denied. He will not come this far to lose and go home. The "big 3" will choke and the Lakers will feed off of Kobe's intensity. Lakers in 6!!!!!!!

Rochard Robinson (www.hollinrochard.weebly.com /Sidekick/Hungu Master/Mavericks Fan 4 Life)L.I.F.E. comes at you fast….i mean, its already June. The beginning of the school year has come and gone, spring, prom, graduation…there all here today and gone tomorrow. But not a Dynasty! Dynasty’s have longevity…they become better with age like a fine wine…or 91 assists in his first NBA season, and 441 some 11 years later….Dynasty’s have a remarkable history….like the Laker’s and the Celtics….or like Most three-point field goals made in one game, (K)…or youngest player to score 20,000 points, surpassing the “Great” Wilt Chamberlain, (O)…or youngest slam dunk champion, (B)…holding four NBA records and sharing five under the age of 30 (E)….Dynasty’s have power….like Ramses XI, Atilla the Hun, Napoleon, Alexander the Great, and now more recently Kobe Bryant, who like the others, will be remembered for L.I.F.E.! We are faced with the classic clash of the Titans, where there is one winner and one looser….the NBA Championship. It should be very clear who will win…I mean when have you ever heard about the losses that Atilla suffered? His name rings VICTORY, and Kobe’s rings are looking for a fourth partner. That’s more than Paul, Ray, or Kevin can count all put together….and that’s just a part of L.I.F.E. (Lakers In Five Efforts)

Terrell McCoy, Jr. (THE P.O.L.R/Houston Rockets fan 4 LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT!!!/Joe Johnson Bandwagon Recruiter/ BossHog)- Lakers v. Celtics. Rivalry Renewed. Can you feel it?! I can! No matter how much I may want to hate on this series (because of my belief that the league rigs games to get the desired series i.e. Joe Crawford ref'n game 4 of the Lakers/Spurs series and SO MUCH MORE, but that's a whole 'nother subject), I can't help but get really excited about this series. It has the most hype (as it should) and all the ingredients are there for a classic series and so much drama. I mean, you have the best player in the game (yes, i admit it) in Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest coaches EVER in Phil Jackson, and 3 hungry, title-starved superstars, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. This Boston Celtic team has gotten all of the hype, I mean, the ESPN commercials and the Gatorade commercial that we all have grown to HATE, due to its constant running (sometimes back to back, WTF?!?!!!). But can they live up to it on the biggest stage in the NBA?! Throughout these playoffs, they have been pushed, worn, and tested. They have passed all of these tests, but now it is time for that final exam. You know, the one teacher that has to be a *%&%head, and make your final 50% of your grade?! Well, David Stern is him, and this final is 100% of their grade. Its go hard or go home, Be history or make history. Nobody has a trophy presentation for the loser's of the NBA Finals. the only consolation is a vacation far, far away!!! LOL! I mean, this Celtic franchise expects greatness, and after the biggest turnaround in NBA history, why expect less?!?!?!?! On the other hand, the Lakers, to me, seemed like a really good team, but not a great team. Well, on February 2, 2008, that all changed (I'm starting to get mad). Do you know what happened on February 2nd?!?! That's when the fackin Memphis Grizzlies gave, not traded, Pau Gasol to the Lakers for a vending machine and a draft pick, which won't be any good, because i don't see the Lakers being a lottery team for AT LEAST 5 years!!!! (I'm getting really upset now). I thought that the Lake Show was just fine with Andrew Bynum, but with Pau Gasol, it's just poetry in motion. The triangle offense will never be the same!!!! I've held my silence on this team for a while now, but now it is time for me to speak out. Like my colleague David Cox said, " I know a championship team when I see one", and this Lakers team is just that! What other NBA team can start 3 7 footers, a Michael Jordan clone, and a seasoned point guard (who is from Little Rock by the way). And that's just the beginning!!! Their bench is the deepest and most talented bench in the league. I'm going to stop rambling about this team because I'm salivating and Rockets GM Daryl Morey is threatening to take away my fan card. So here goes my pick. I have the Lakers in 7, with a classic 2OT game 7 where Kobe will not be denied. This series will be hard fought. There will be blood. Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, and Jordan Farmer are the X-Factors for the Lakers. L.O. must step up and be the most consistent player on the floor. He's such a matchup problem and that will be BIG!!!! On the other hand, Rajon Rondo and ummm.......PJ Brown are the X-Factors for the Celts. Rondo must control the pace and not get too excited. PJ Brown will be asked to rough up Gasol and patrol the paint. Ray Allen must find his mojo, and KG must play like a man possesed, EVERY GAME! P-Double(Paul Pierce) must put some pressure on the defense and force Phil Jackson adjust his rotation. Like David said, Somebody needs to make Kobe work on defense so he won't be so energized to get in them bunnnnzzzzzz on offense!!!!!!!!!!!!

One team is young, talented and will find themselves in this position again. The only way to go is up. The other team......well, this may be their last hurrah. They have the oldest roster in the league and their stars aren't on the right side of the hill, if you catch my drift. Great series, great history between both teams and a great rivalry. Two great teams, but there can only be one. I'm soooooooo ready for this series. Are you?!