“Warning - Anyone with erections lasting more than 4 hours should consult a physician.”

This Lakers-Celtics matchup is Viagra to David Stern, and after already carrying a week-long woody Stern may need medical attention by the time it ends a week or so from now.  

After what almost seems like an off season we finally get the championship round started tonight. I have already banked a profit this post season, with a 24-16 record, and I have one play outstanding, and I LOVE the price AND the play:  +160 play on the Lakers in the series (wager placed on LA to win it all, as “buy notice/recommendation” as written two weeks ago:  “I thought “LA to win it all” had better value than the series versus SA, and discounted Boston in Stern's desired dream match-up throwback to the good old days (the pre-Donaghy days.)”

So, I may just sit the series out and count my coin.

Yeah, right.

Here’s a quick, last minute look at the series, and some random thoughts:

There is no one player that can defend Kobe, team defense is the way to go at him, and Boston excels at this. They knocked out another singular star in LeBron, but there are two major differences between Lebron’s Cavs and Kobe’s Lakers – supporting cast and bench; the Cavs have none, the Lakers not only have both but they have quality in both.

Many bettors like Boston because they spent an entire season looking like the best team in the league, but that discounts the fact that they have looked second best at best during the playoffs. When ‘capping this series I toss the two Boston wins in the regular season - the stakes are a little different now, yes?

The Celtics barely got past two losers in Atlanta and Cleveland, and one slightly gimpy Pistons team. Boston and its fans now know why they say “The post season is not the regular season.” Comparing getting pushed to the limits by the likes of Atlanta (with a losing record), and a one man band easy-to-defend-against squad like the Cavs, as opposed to defeating the Jazz (best home record in the league) and Spurs (defending champs) is not much of a comparison. "Seasoning" and "mo" edge to LA.

Both teams have had blackouts in the post season, lousy play in spots, but LA's seem to be less and shorter lived; they seem steadier, Celt's seem up and down.

Coaching edge?
This ain’t “Apples to Oranges,” we’re talking “Apples to Onions.
And post season factored into that? Even more so.

We can debate player matchups forever, not sure it matters in the end – like I said, this matchup is Viagra to Stern, and he loves "happy endings," Hollywood endings.

And you know which team is Hollywood.

We are seeing the maturation of a superstar, one who threatens to make the much over-used Jordan comparisons legit – Kobe is playing with noticeably more maturity; you can see the playmaking ability and trust in his teammates. He seems to have gained a sense of when it is time to bring the other players into the game, and when he has to step it up himself and shoulder the burden.

Every once in a while in the world of sports there comes along that rare individual, who at his unique moment in time is less human, more unstoppable force. If you can’t see that look in Kobe then you are wearing blinders

A sweep ain't happening, because we have two good teams (besides, Stern said “No! Too much revenue left on the table!”) but when all is said I think the Celtics pull a Whitey Bulger (an in-joke for Bostonians there.)
Sometimes ‘capping ain’t about numbers, it’s about recognizing destiny . . .