[Kurn]

A couple of observations, and obviously, I'm biased.

I read an article on ESPN.com by an NBA scout where he made a very key point regarding the Celts' postseason performance. Because of how their rotation worked in the regular season, their starters were not logging heavy minutes throughout the regular season (and even less down the stretch), and in the Atlanta series, they tended to look a bit gassed late in the 3rd period. Now they seem to have adjusted to the extended minutes.

Second, their bench matches up much better against the Lakers than against the more physical Eastern teams. I expect more out of leon Powe in this series than vs Detroit, and guys like Cassell and House won't face they kind of relentless ball pressure they faced in the EC finals.

Third, while Kobe is the best player in the league and almost unstoppable, he will have to work harder at both ends of the floor, and the Lakers do not have a pure scorer like Rip Hamilton or a big physical guard off the bench like Stuckey. Maybe Gasol won't be as spotty as 'Sheed, but so far (and I haven't seen him play much) he doesn't worry me as much as Ilgauskas did.

Bottom line, Pierce and Perkins have to be able to play close to their top form, but in the end I think the Celtics are the better team 2-12, and Kobe isn't as much the better player than Pierce as he is vs any other oppponent.