NBA - Boston Celtics v Los Angeles Lakers

5 June 2008

Preview By Tipster ElCapitan

I will start by bringing to everybodyâ€™s attention that Boston Celtics Swept the Regular Season Series Vs the Los Angeles Lakers by an average of 16 points!

Do I think that this will come into play when they will face each other tomorrow for game 1 of these finals?

Probably NOT for a number of reasons that wouldnâ€™t really be of any help to outline here, however, it is a serious fact that cannot be ignored.

In order to stretch a little bit the importance of this 1st game I would like to mention that LAL coach Phil Jackson has won 41 straight series (in fact he runs 41-0) when he wins game 1. LAL has probably the most consistently productive player of the entire NBA league, Kobe Bryant. In addition they have two really good players like Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol in positions 4 and 5 that can add quality to the team, play close to the rim, and also effectively spread the floor by shooting and scoring from 14-16 feet away. The LAL also have the unparalleled experience and effectiveness of Derek Fisher that can contribute to their effort to challenge this title. However, what I have spot as a slight disadvantage is the inconsistency and irregularity of performance all the above players (except Kobe) face when they challenge games on the road, especially with strong opponents, and this will determine the game 1 outcome according to my opinion.

As for the Celtics, I do believe that they have the mental strength and physical abilities (after all this rest they got) to cope with game 1 hardships. For those that were fortunate enough (for the rest you can find excerpts at NBA.com) to watch the press conference yesterday there were some clear insights in it about the future of the 2008 finals. When LAL representatives like Phil Jackson Bryant or Odom were asked why the loose every single game against the Celtics during the regular season none of them had a serious answer. LAL coach tried to joke saying that we had too much turkey the night before in the 1st game and then we just fall behind in the other two.

So after all the above said I do expect the strong and solid Celtics defense to come forward and with the necessary adjustments, according to the opponentâ€™s ability to move the ball and score, to capture an early lead for game 1.

For this 1st game I estimate a Celtics win with a lead of up to 8-10 points, It may sound wiser though to take the spread for 4 or more which pays anywhere from 2.05 to 2.25 in most of betting companies that offer spreads but personally I am absolutely satisfied to go with the ML in Celtics favor.

Good Luck with your choices as it is needed sometimes, Bet Responsibly, and Enjoy every minute in these finals because they will be unique!