Cmon TD...
1. You cannot use the
transitive property of mathematics and apply it to sports.
2. You cannot compare the regular season to the post season.
Having said that, here's my analysis....
Unless Farmar (aka, Far-Less) and Shannon Brown step up to give DFish some help, Rondo has the talent to run circles around the crafty veteran. If the Lakers have to resort to sending Kobe after Rondo, it will affect him on the offensive side. Rondo isn't an aging Steve Nash, or an overhyped Deron Williams; think more of a Russell Westbrook, who gave the Lakers trouble throughout that series, and personally, was the reason that series went to 7.
The Gasol/Garnett match up will also be an interesting and entertaining one. I think both are evenly matched, probably the best two finesse power forwards in the game today.
Paul Pierce and Ron Ron....South Central versus Queensbridge. West Coast versus East Coast. Artest has held Pierce below his season average this year, and is an excellent defender that will crowd Pierce, who excels in step back jumpers, and lean in paint play. With Artest static cling defend, it will prevent Pierce from getting into his game. Conversely, Artest's sketchy shooting and questionable shot selection will be fresh in Doc River's head and he will test Artest by drawing double teams to Kobe early on. I just hope Ron Ron can be patient and smart with shot selection, or else he may fall right into Boston's man to man defenisive trap and shoot the Lakers out of ball games.
Khlomar Odom needs to grow a pair, and break defenses down with his dribble drive. Bynum will not be a factor, so Perkins may be the wild card in Boston's deck.
Finally, Kobe versus an aging Ray Allen. Not even a matchup, no matter how much Ray Allen's momma yells from the sideline. The Mamba will have his way with Allen, and even on the defensive side, if Kobe gets lost around a Perkins screen and Gasol switches off to Allen, Gasol is a pretty agile 7 footer that can disrupt the spot up shooting of Allen.
Lakers in 7. This series is perfect for David Stern to stretch it as much as possible so the NBA gets their cash. The home field advantage is extremely important, and will be the key to the Lakers winning the championship.