The 2010 NBA finals are here - Lakers vs. Celtics

The culmination of yet an additional NBA season has arrived with an NBA Finals matchup that features Lakers vs. Celtics. The 50-year-old rivalry is the stuff of basketball legend, and when the current Lakers-Celtics matchup may not boast a Wilt Chamberlain vs. Bill Russell, Jerry West vs. John Havlicek or Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird, it does offer Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and also the Lakers vs. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the Celtics. There can be plenty of excitement to go around.

Resource for this article: Lakers vs. Celtics – The 2010 NBA Finals are here

Lakers vs. Celtics – What is the NBA Finals schedule?

Whether you would like to watch the Lakers-Celtics matchup on television or listen to the radio broadcast, you’ve to know the NBA Finals schedule and have cash advances in place if your cable or satellite has been disconnected. Your local ABC affiliate will broadcast the show. The NBA finals will be on your local ESPN radio station. Following are dates and times for 2010 NBA Finals games:

Thursday, June 3 – 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 6 – 8 p.m.
Tuesday, June 8 – 9 p.m.
Thursday, June 10 – 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 13 – 8 p.m. (if necessary)
Tuesday, June 15 – 9 p.m. (if necessary)
Thursday, June 17 – 9 p.m. (if necessary)

Lakers vs. Celtics – breaking it down

As reported by SB Nation, it is going to come down to whether the Lakers afford the Boston Celtics team room to run. The transition game is the strength of the Celtics’ offense, thanks to the quickness of point guard Rajon Rondo. The Celtics should be a power in a lot more deliberate half-court offensive sets – between Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, there is a massive offensive talent – however they lack either the patience or focus to pick apart half-court defenses. The Los Angeles Lakers’ half-court defense has a tendency to lose focus when their defenders are forced to rotate off opponent picks multiple times, but it’s still more potent than the half-court offense the Celtics bring. If the Celtics really start running, nevertheless, they may be too much for the Lakers to handle.

The Celtics' defense?

There are different opinions on the Celtics' defense. On the one hand, it is the classic example of rough-and-tumble East Coast defense versus a finesse-style West Coast offense. The Celtics aren’t afraid to put multiple bodies on the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, and a well-timed push or shove can sometimes be enough to throw the best offensive player off his game. However, Bryant once said during a press conference the Celtics’ defense “sucks.” Interpret that nevertheless you want. Whatever the case, the Lakers have had just a little bit of trouble scoring against pressure defenses, and the Celtics are definitely capable of that. The offensive rebounding will determine the Lakers' defense. Thus, if Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom turn in inspired efforts that show on the boards, that could surely be enough to provide Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol with the scoring opportunities that they’ll have to bring victory to the Lakers.

Lakers vs. Celtics prediction

Kobe Bryant has had an outstanding postseason. He will likely help his team to win. Still, the Celtics have too many weapons. In seven games, the Lakers vs. Celtics will end in a Boston Celtics victory.

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