NBA Finals Preview — The Los Angeles Lakers vs. The Boston Celtics

It looks like Hollywood isn't the only business thriving off the life of sequels and remakes.

After a 21-year absence, the NBA's two most storied franchises will meet once again on the world's biggest stage; competing for professional basketball's ultimate prize — the NBA World Championship.

For the 11th time in NBA history, the Boston Celtics will face the Los Angeles Lakers in what is shaping up to be a welcome addition to the rivalries historic tradition.

No disrespect to the other 28 teams, but this is what the league, and its fans, have been waiting for. Amidst new rule changes, referee scandals and off-the-court-troubles, the NBA's elite can take a collective deep breath and embrace their incredibly good fortunes; that is unless you are the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs.

With the Lakers, we have league MVP Kobe Bryant — the most feared stone-cold competitor the game has had to offer since “you know who” traded in his sneakers for a suit and tie.

Boston will have it's hands full slowing down the three-time NBA Champion, but it will be with the rest of the Lakers that this series will be dependant upon. With the newly acquired Pau Gasol in charge of the paint and the always-consistent Derek Fisher running the point, look for the Lakers role players to embrace the limelight and take advantage of this once in a lifetime event.

As the biggest x-factor of the series, Lamar Odom needs to amplify his offensive aggression in order to take advantage of the match-up problems he presents to the Celtics.

In Boston, the “Big Three” consisting of Kevin Garnett (Defensive Player of the Year), Ray Allen and Paul Pierce hold the hopes and dreams of Celtic fans in their hands. Everything begins and ends with defense on this roster, and they have Garnett's unparalleled intensity to thank for that. If they can figure out a way to limit Kobe's productivity (good luck) and remain focused in keeping the Lakers role players out of the equation, Boston should be in a great position to add banner number 17 to the rafters.

Phil Jackson easily wins the coaching match-up against the Celtics Doc Rivers, who just one year ago was in jeopardy of losing his job after Boston finished a league-worst 24-58. Rivers, however, successfully turned around the franchise this season finishing 66-16; enough for the best in the league and home-court advantage throughout the Playoffs. “I'm glad they stuck with us” Rivers joked, following their Game Six victory against the Pistons in Detroit. Certainly GM and former Celtic player Danny Ainge can agree with this statement, after he brought in the “Big Three” in the off-season with Championship goals and his own job security in mind. With the largest turnaround in NBA history, this group of Celtics has had a lot of growing to do in a very short amount of time.

Boston wasn't the only team faced with adversity, as the Lakers battled an off-season in which their star player (Bryant) openly demanded a trade due to disagreements with management and personnel. To the credit of General Manager Mitch Kupchak, Bryant stayed and the Lakers won.

The additions of Fisher and Gasol have proven to be lucrative, while the core group of players has been able to use these experiences as fuel to their championship fire. Forget all the drama, Showtime is back in LA — what a difference a year can make.

Despite both teams having players much too young to remember the Celtics-Lakers rivalries of old, it has become clear that these new faces have embraced the tradition heads on. With the entire world rallying around the re-emergence of the NBA's most historical franchises, basketball purists are gushing with anticipation of what's to come. As fans, we can count on one thing: these players have their own story to tell.