NBA Finals Blog | The Rantings from the Deep South

05:50 PM ET 06.05 |

It is that time of year again, the NBA Finals have rolled around. This is the most exciting part of the NBA season the two best teams fight it out to decide who is the best in the NBA. What makes it even better is that it is Lakers against the Celtics. The first time since 1987 the biggest rivalry in basketball renews its rivalry tonight in Boston.

The Lakers and the Celtics have had many epic battles and I am really looking forward to watching game 1 tonight and seeing the intensity of the rivalry brought back. Fresh faces renew this rivalry it's no longer Cousy Vs. West or Magic Vs. Bird. It is now Bryant Vs. Pierce and Gasol Vs. Garnett. That is what makes the rivalry so great, is that it can go from different times and still be intense. All the players on the Lakers and the Celtics understand the rivalry which is going to make it even better. They are all excited to be a part of the history of this great rivalry.

Now on to this paticular Laker and Celtic teams. Both of these teams made big trades to get to where they are right now. The Celtics in the offseason made the trades to acquire Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett. The Lakers were pushing to get Garnett and almost got the deal done. How different would this season have turned out if Garnett was a Laker? The Lakers didn't pull the trigger on that deal but in mid-season Mitch Kupchak made the trade for Pau Gasol. You can't really call it a trade so let's just say he stole Gasol from Memphis.

Now on to the way I see this series going. This is a pretty even matchup on paper. The Celtics have a slight edge because of there defense, but they don't have Kobe Bryant which is the deciding factor in this series. Everybody says that this is KG's time, but that is what everybody thought about Karl Malone and John Stockton in the 1998 NBA Finals, but someone stood in there way and that was Michael Jordan. That is how I see this going Kobe Bryant stands in his way. I like the Lakers to win the game tonight and to win the series in 6 games.