Headline PH: NBA finals is Lakers-Celtics, Part 12

Here comes Kobe Bryant's chance against the team that beat him two years ago.

He's far from the only Lakers great to fall short against Boston.

Get ready for Lakers-Celtics, Part 12, the league's most storied franchises renewing their rivalry in the NBA finals.

Boston beat Los Angeles in the 2008 finals, with a dominant defense that made life miserable for Bryant, that season's MVP. When they meet again starting Thursday at Staples Center, the Lakers can show how much better they are since then.

"We'll see, we'll see how much we matured," Bryant said. "They challenged us extremely well in the finals a couple years ago. Now is a chance to see how much we've grown."

Los Angeles will be going for its second straight title and No. 16 overall. The Celtics still have the edge, hanging their 17th banner with their victory two years ago in six games.

"We remember more than anything losing on our home court, a situation where we had some defensive lapses and they took advantage of it," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "This year we have homecourt advantage, and we look forward to the rematch with great intensity."

The Celtics improved to 9-2 in the finals against the Lakers, having dominated the series for decades even against the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor until Los Angeles won twice in the 1980s.

That was back when a Lakers-Celtics finals was expected. Nobody predicted this one.

By BRIAN MAHONEY,
AP Basketball Writer

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