A funny thing has happened to the Los Angeles Lakers as they make their way to a possible NBA Championship: they ran right into their old nemesis, the Boston Celtics. What makes this year’s version of this often-played clash between these two basketball titans even more interesting is the contrast in each team’s style of play.

The Lakers are the highest scoring team in this year’s playoffs while the Celtics are the league’s best at defending their basket. The contrast is so stark that a closer look at possible player matchups should shed some light on who will be the eventual NBA Champion.

While Boston easily beat the Lakers both times they met this year (107–94 at Boston and 110–91 in Los Angeles) both games were played BEFORE high-scoring center Pau Gasol was acquired by the Lakers from Memphis via trade. So, first, let’s look at the current matchups of each team’s center position, where Gasol goes up against Boston’s Kendrick Perkins.

The Celtics didn't see Pau Gasol when the two teams met in the regular season. (AP Images)

Center: The Lakers probably wouldn’t be here without Gasol’s acquisition. He’s perfect for Phil Jackson’s triangle offense as a big man who is a good passer. He’s averaging 17.7 points and almost 9 rebounds a game. Perkins is a different type of cat. While hitting 61.5 % of his shots in the regular season, he got stronger and more impressive in the playoffs, including an 18 – point, 16 – rebound explosion against the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. While Perkins is a beast at 6’10,” 280 pounds, the edge here goes to Gasol because he’s more of a well-rounded NBA center. However, look for Perkins to play Gasol physically around the basket. Keeping him out of foul trouble will be important for the Celtics.

Power Forward: Kevin Garnett vs. Lamar Odom. Garnett, the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, got more “offensive” as the playoffs moved on. He averaged 22.8 points per game in the Celtics win over Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals. Odom is a versatile player who can hit 3’s in streaks but he cannot handle Garnett’s strength and toughness around the basket and he cannot consistently keep him off the defensive boards. Big edge to Boston here.

Small Forward: Paul Pierce vs. Vladimir Radmanovic is a mismatch of gigantic proportions. Pierce, a native of the Los Angeles area, has been one of the league’s stalwart scorers. He has a deadly shot and can easily get to the basket around Radmanovic, converting those fouls into points. Radmanovic is a one-dimensional 3–point shooter who is not known for his offensive moves to the hoop. Even if he could get by Pierce, Garnett and Perkins will be waiting for him near the basket. Big edge to Boston.

Shooting Guard: Ray Allen vs. Kobe Bryant. Allen has been a sweet scorer for years but he comes up against the sweetest player of all in the NBA, Kobe Bryant, this year’s regular season MVP. Bryant is not only a hellacious scorer, averaging 31.9 PPG in the playoffs but he is a perennial all-NBA defensive first team member. While he’ll probably shut Allen down, Allen will need big-time help keeping Kobe under his playoffs scoring average. The Celtics did keep Bryant relatively quiet in the regular season, holding him to “only” 25 PPG in their two regular season meetings. Tony Allen and James Posey off the bench will have to help out, if they can, against Kobe. (Note: Tony Allen has a hamstring injury and is ‘doubtful’ for the Finals). Big Edge for Lakers.

Point Guard: Rajon Rondo vs. Derek Fisher. Rondo is younger and faster but more erratic. Fisher is more experienced and a better shooter. This matchup could be more important than at first glance. If Rondo continually beats Fisher off the dribble and sets up wide open shooters like Pierce and Allen or is able to dish the ball in the paint to Garnett or Perkins rather easily, the Lakers are in for a tough series. If Fisher heats up from the outside, which he is very capable of doing, doesn’t turn the ball over and stays with Rondo, it will be tough sledding for the Celtics. Fisher’s post-season experience gives him the slightest of edges.

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Reserves: The Celtics bench includes James Posey, P.J. Brown, Sam Cassel, Eddie House, Leon Powe, Glen Davis and Tony Allen. It is considered the deepest and most experienced bench in the NBA. These guys bring intensity, smarts and great defense with them when they’re in the game. The Lakers bench is good, too, with the likes of Jordan Farmar, Luke Walton, Rony Turiaf, DJ Mbenga and Sasha Vujacic bringing hustle and up-tempo energy into the game. This matchup is close, with a small lean to the Celtics.

Coaches: Doc Rivers vs. Phil Jackson. Rivers did a great job molding all the Celtics' new pieces into a 66-win team. But it appears that he tends to lose confidence in some of his role players during the postseason, creating some inconsistent rotations. Jackson, the career leader in postseason victories, did one of his best coaching jobs this season on a team that started with the turmoil surrounding a possible Bryant trade and was never expected to be here. He seeks a 10th title, which would break Red Auerbach's record. Big edge to the Lakers.

In conclusion, these are two great teams meeting in the very NBA Finals that most fans were hoping to see since the season began. They match up well against one another even though their styles of play couldn’t be more different.

It’s time to sit back and watch this sports spectacle play itself out. One of these teams will be able to imprint its will on the other. I won’t give away my Finals winner today, but I will tell you that the Boston Celtics win Game 1!