The Los Angeles Lakers took the defending champion San Antonio Spurs out in five games, and I must admit, I hardly expected that to happen. However, the Spurs did show their age, tiring out in the second half to the tune of 44 points or less in all but one of the games against Los Angeles. In addition, the Lakers, with strong defensive performances spear-headed by their youth movement, are ready to tussle for the title, and Kobe Bryant showed that he is indeed this generation's "Mr. Clutch" from Los Angeles, ala Jerry West.

The Lakers proved that the loss of defensive-minded Andrew Bynum to a knee injury was not only something they could overcome, but also one they could make the rest of us forget. Of course, having Bryant on your team means you have a player who knows that he needs to fill a void, and does so in resounding fashion, as he did with 39 points against San Antonio, a team that doesn't give up points like that very often. 

Need a big-time performance in a game that could either be the clincher or send you back to the opponent's home floor with the possibility of returning home for a game seven after two crushing losses? Don't worry about such trivial matters if Kobe's on your squad. 

He hit some unbelievable shots when his team needed him the most and he got some solid support from Pau Gasol (12 points, 19 rebounds, and four blocks), Lamar Odom (13 points and eight rebounds), and Jordan Farmar off the bench (eight points, three assists, and zero turnovers), as the Lakers disposed of the proud Spurs and now tackle the Boston Celtics for the crown.

How do you think the folks at ABC are feeling with the start of one of the most storied championship rivalries in sports waiting in the wings? What will  happen in the Finals?

The Celtics are the better fit over Detroit for Los Angeles, despite the fact they beat the Lakers in both meetings during the season. Fans take note that was the regular season, and we all know that the regular season is a whole different element than the play-offs. In addition, in those two regular season games, Gasol was not yet a Laker.

Gasol's ability to score, pass, and defend in the middle will have to be accounted for at all times by Boston once one considers how he more than filled the void left by Bynum's injury (Gasol brought 18.8 points, 7.8 boards, 1.6 blocks, and 3.5 assists to the table compared to Bynum's 13.1, 10.2, 2.1 , and 1.7).

Although Kevin Garnett will probably neutralize Gasol, should Lamar Odom bring his "A" game, then the Celtics, particularly Kendrick Perkins up front, could be in for a world of hurt.

On the other hand, Ray Allen is a big key, as he will need to consistently score around 20 points a game (can you say Jesus Shuttlesworth?) in order to present that magical third of the three-headed monster with Paul Pierce and KG if Boston is to "beat L.A." 

Perhaps larger than any of the stars are each squad's reserves. The Lakers bench, including Sasha Vujacic, has been superb in giving the team much-needed defensive energy, which was shown in game one against San Antonio, when L.A. overcame a huge lead. The Lakers bench scored over 20 points a game during the entire San Antonio series.

Meanwhile, Boston's subs, led by James Posey, will need to do better than the 14 points per game they put up against Detroit if they are to have a chance to beat the Lakers. That said, too much Kobe, the experience of Derek Fisher, the versatility of Gasol and Odom, and an effective bench will carry the Lakers back to the top in six games.