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Lakers look to steal Game One from Celtics

Jun 5, 2008 - 3:01 PM LA Lakers at Boston, 9:00 pm EDT

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Kobe Bryant guides the Los Angeles Lakers in Wednesday's Game One of their best-of-seven series against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

After capturing three straight titles from 2000-03 with the Lakers under coach Phil Jackson, Bryant endured one non-playoff season and two first-round exits before getting back on track this season.

With the addition of Pau Gasol and the return of Derek Fisher, Bryant seized the moment with an impressive MVP campaign while getting Los Angeles out of the toughest Western Conference in recent years.

"(Bryant's) the captain of this team, and we follow his lead," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "Kobe is the first one in the gym, the last one to leave. He's the first one in the weight room, the last one to leave.

"You try to compete against him and there's no competing against him. If we have a 10:00 practice, Kobe is there at 8:45, preparing to be the best."

While the 6-6 Bryant receives most of the praise for the Lakers' stellar season, it was the trade for Gasol at the midway point that put Los Angeles over the top.

Since acquiring the 27-year-old Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles has had an interior post presence to counter the perimeter-oriented Bryant.

After going 23-5 with Gasol in the lineup during the regular season, the Lakers rolled through the Western Conference playoffs, posting a 12-3 record.

Los Angeles secured an NBA Finals berth seven days ago by posting a 100-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, eliminating the defending league champions in five games.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers counters with the "Big Three" of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

Headlining the trio is Garnett, who came over from the Minnesota Timberwolves during an offseason blockbuster trade with the hopes of reaching the Finals. The 6-11 forward earned Defensive Player of the Year and helped Boston post a league-best 66 wins.

Pierce will be the most difficult matchup for Jackson due to his rare combination of size and power. The swingman is averaging 19.0 points through 20 games in the postseason.

The historic franchises are facing against each other in the Finals for the first time since Magic Johnson paced the Lakers past Larry Bird's Celtics in 1987.

"I feel like a little kid," Pierce said. "Now I understand that, hey, I'm going to be a part of history. This is something I grew up watching, the Laker-Celtics rivalries."