[BIG_DADDY]

My favorite in this thread was the Celtics fans saying they had a deeper bench. I called everyone out on this but nobody responded. Here is Charles Barlkey's take.

Barkley: Many reasons to love L.A. in this series
Updated 17h ago


Enlarge By Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

Charles Barkley holds court in his role as an analyst for TNT's studio show, where he's worked since 2000.






Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?By Charles Barkley, as told to USA TODAY
David Stern has a smile wider than the NBA's favorite postseason graybeard, Phil Jackson.
The commissioner presides over a mouthwatering Los Angeles-Boston showdown in the Finals, a dream pairing that ranks up there with Yankees-Red Sox. (Tell my boy, D-Wade, that I'm building up a powerful hunger just imagining the possibilities.)[/B]The Lakers-Celtics is good for the game and good for the league. Just like found money.

Conspiracy? Uh-uh. These are the two best teams.

What's even more delicious is that the only folks in the preseason who thought the Lakers would get this far were —surprise— the Lakers. Let's be honest, right off jump ball street: The Celtics are going to have to play perfect basketball to win the NBA title.

Boston's big trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen must play well every game just for the Celtics to have a chance. They also need major contributions from Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. They must shoot a high percentage from the floor. And they can't afford too many turnovers.

The Celtics have no room for error.

The Lakers, however, have plenty of margin for miscalculations, though I'm sure Phil doesn't want his players to hear that. Pau Gasol does not have to play exceptionally well. Neither does Lamar Odom.

Three reasons why the Lakers will beat the Celtics:

• No. 1: Kobe Bryant.

• No. 2: Phil Jackson.

• No. 3: A superior bench.

With Kobe, the Lakers have the NBA's most accomplished player. Worse for the Celtics, they have no one who can shut down No. 24. He can score from anywhere. His mental discipline is fabulous. His is one of the most remarkable turnarounds this season I've ever seen, not just in the NBA, but in all of sports.

One day, the guy wants to be traded. They booed him the first game. Training camp started, they squashed it: "Shut the hell up. We're here, let's go."

Meanwhile, the Celtics do not boast a single player of Kobe's ilk. Then again, not many teams do.

Secondly, Jackson is the best coach-psychologist.

C'mon, the dude's won nine championships. Doc Rivers is a good coach and a great guy, and you have to give him credit. He was in a lose-lose situation. The Celtics had to get to the Finals after those trades.

Phil also gives his Lakers a huge advantage in at least one important area: He touches players' minds.

Remember, in a close-out Game 5 against the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, and down by 17, Phil had his best players — Kobe, Pau and Lamar, who had three fouls — on the bench.

It was a stroke of genius — the Lakers made their run. That's the plan of a master motivator. It was one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. Any other coach would have yelled, "Kobe! Back in the game!" Phil was breeding confidence in his bench.

The X factor: the Lakers' bench strength. Boston can't match it. The Celtics go through stretches when they can't score; they don't get easy baskets.

Boston has three guys who can score — Los Angeles has 12. Besides Odom, Gasol and Kobe, (Vladimir) Radmanovic can score. So can (Jordan) Farmar, (Sasha) Vujacic, (Derek) Fisher, (Luke) Walton, etc.

The Lakers have a distinct advantage at every spot on the floor. The only spot where the Celtics might have an edge is Kevin Garnett against Odom or Gasol, depending on who guards him.

The Celtics no have physical advantages. Perkins is too little to guard Gasol. Garnett can't cheat on him because he probably has to guard Odom.

Don't try to convince me about home-court advantage. Yes, it has been a difference-maker this postseason. But, no, it does not serve Boston well. I've always believed that the 2-3-2 format is a significant disadvantage for the home team. Yes, the Celtics could play four games in Boston, but they need to win the first two. Advantage: road team, baby.

If the Lakers split in Beantown, it's a victory. Yes, they must win at least one game in Boston, but they get two cracks at it and a possible big head of steam going back to Los Angeles. They could even lose the first two and go home, win three in a row and recapture the series' momentum. I don't see the Lakers going into Boston and losing Games 1 and 2.

It doesn't matter that Boston was 2-0 against L.A. during the season. Ancient history. That was 2008 PG — Pre-Gasol. He took the Lakers to another level.

These Lakers are a totally different animal. They have so many advantages, it's tough to keep up …

The MVP guard, the inscrutable coach and the young, talented reserves.

Take it from your favorite "fat boy" TNT analyst: It is the Lakers who look really phat right now.

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