LOS ANGELES, June 2 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics will renew one of the great rivalries in sports Thursday when they open the 2010 NBA Finals.
This will be the 12th time the franchises have met to determine the NBA title and they are the two most dominant clubs in the history of the league. They have accounted for 32 of the 63 NBA championships.
Boston owns a 9-2 record in finals showdowns with the Lakers, including a triumph in six games two years ago.
The key for the Lakers is the same as it has been for more than a decade -- Kobe Bryant. In his 16 playoff games this season, he has averaged 29.4 points per contest. He takes the big shot and, far more often than not, hits it.
Boston has a collection of players who can provide a big game, but Rajon Rondo has developed into a superstar this season and if he cannot be held in check, the Lakers could be in trouble.
Other than the specific players, the most significant aspect of the best-of-seven series could be the quality of defense Boston is able to bring to bear against the Lakers. During these playoffs, Los Angeles has not faced the kind of defensive team it will see in the Celtics.
Los Angeles will host the first two games of the series, the first one scheduled to start at 9 p.m. EDT Thursday. Boston will host the third, fourth and, if needed, fifth games.
