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NBA Finals Preview - Boston vs. LA Lakers
By Warren Blatt, NBA Editor
(Sports Network) - One of the greatest rivalries in sports will be renewed in the 2008 NBA Finals, as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers battle in a best-of-seven series.
The first two games of the series will be played at TD Banknorth Garden,while Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) will take place at the StaplesCenter. If the set goes to a sixth and seventh game, Boston would hostthose contests.
This is the 11th time these storied franchises will square off in thechampionship round. Boston has won eight of the 10 previous matchups in thefinals. The Celtics defeated the Lakers in 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968,1969 and 1984. However, LA has won the last two meetings as it beat Boston insix games in 1985 and 1987.
Some of the greatest players to ever lace up a pair of sneakers haveparticipated in this historic rivalry. Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Dennis Johnson,John Havlicek, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and BillRussell are some of the great Celtics who have been part of the intensechampionship battles between these two squads, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, ElginBaylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Jamaal Wilkes and JamesWorthy were there for the Lakers.
Boston is appearing in the NBA Finals for the 20th time and has won 16 titles.

seattlepi.nwsource.com

Atlanta, GA 5/16/2008 03:01 PM GMT (TransWorldNews)
The 2008 NBA playoffs commence Friday with two second-round playoff games.
The Boston Celtics will travel to play the Cleveland Cavaliers, while the Los Angeles Lakers play the Utah Jazz on the road.
The Celtics, led by NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett, will face the Cavs at 8pm EST on TNT.
is led by NBA All-Star LeBron James.
The Lakers, led by NBA MVP Kobe Bryant, will play the Jazz, who are led by Deron Williams, at 10:30pm EST on TNT.
The Celtics and Cavs are the first and fourth seeds in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket, while the Lakers and Jazz are the first and fourth seeds in the Western Conference.
The Celtics and the Lakers lead their respective series 3-2. Both can advance to their respective conference finals with a win in Game 6.

transworldnews.com