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Lakers try to slow down Celtics in finals rematch

Dec 25, 2008 - 11:17 AM Boston (27-2) at LA Lakers (23-5), 5:00pm EST

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Lakers have been waiting six months for this opportunity. After falling to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals, the Lakers will get their first shot at retribution on Thursday.

Christmas, it seems, is right on time. However, defeating this season's Celtics may prove an even tougher task than June's six-game series turned out to be.

That dominant Celtics club from 2007-08 has turned into a practically immovable object one season later - with the likes of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett seeming even more determined to go all the way than they were last season, when they were still searching for that elusive ring.

The Celtics have been buoyed by the emergence of point guard Rajon Rondo, who is making a surprising All-Star bid in his third season. His explosiveness both as a scorer and creator have been a major reason why Boston has been so much more dangerous on the offensive front.

Last season's group got it done on the defensive side - and certainly the Celtics haven't lost anything in that area this fall. They've also been getting it done on the other end, putting up more than 102 points per game to rank fifth in the league. Over their last three games, they are averaging 120 points.

Rondo is averaging 11.6 points and 7.4 assists while shooting 54 percent from the floor.

Of course, the Lakers are no slouches. After claiming the Western Conference crown for the first time since 2002, they have continued to establish their dominance over the rest of the West. They made that point quite clear on Tuesday , as they defeated one of their top challengers - the New Orleans Hornets - on the road for the second time already this season.

Kobe Bryant scored 26 points and Pau Gasol added 20 to pave the way for a 100-87 triumph.

Of course, mere revenge against the team that denied them a championship isn't the only motivation for the Lakers - another win would be No. 1,000 in the career of head coach Phil Jackson.