Can't help it. The Celtics are ahead of the Pistons, and the Lakers are ahead of the Spurs, and by this time next week we could be knee deep in Magic/Larry throwback jerseys and "Beat LA" chants. It'll be time to dust off that video of Kevin McHale taking down Kurt Rambis on the breakaway at the Forum in 1984.
If things go according to plan, Game 1 of Celtics vs. Lakers starts next Thursday night at the Garden (Tuesday if by some miracle the Celtics and Lakers both win in five).
It's been a while since the Celtics and Lakers met in the Finals. Those Rambis Youth Kids of 1987 today have AARP cards. The retro black-frame eyeglasses they once wore for fashion now have bifocal lenses.
The Celtics have a long way to go before getting to the Finals, of course. Before Saturday night's game at the Palace, there was doubt Boston ever would win a road game in these playoffs. The Pistons are a formidable opponent with a roster of grown-ups and six straight appearances in the conference finals. Detroit is a good bet to win tonight, and knot the series at 2. The Pistons have demonstrated the ability to win at the Garden.
But the Celtics have reclaimed home-court advantage, Chauncey Billups (hamstring injury) is playing like Chauncey the Gardener, Rasheed Wallace takes a lot of nights off, and Flip Saunders looks about as secure as Willie Randolph. So I've been saying Celtics in six. Or seven.
Whenever it happens, the Lakers will be waiting. And the NBA will have its best showcase since Michael Jordan retired.
Celtics-Lakers was the theme of these playoffs before they even began. Sports Illustrated introduced its postseason preview with an April cover that featured Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett next to the headline: "Playoff Dreams, Lakers vs. Celtics? The Ultimate Crowd-Pleaser."
