Mercurial small forward Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers likened the ongoing NBA championship series into a boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Artest, a self-confessed Pacquiao fan, waxed metaphors when he let loose a scenario in Lakers-Celtics match-up.
Depending on who shows up during the championship series, Artest said it will be a triumph between aggression and finesse.
Round 1 (Game 1) went to the Los Angeles Lakers who dumped the Boston Celtics 102-89 Friday.
Finesse took the second fiddle as the Lakers displayed aggression throughout the game, outplaying the ageing Celtics in virtually all facets of the game.
The Lakers? underrated defense was spectacular, allowing the Celtics Big Four to score rather easily only when they had established a 20-point lead at the beginning of the final quarter.
Finesse, however, was still in display as Bryant ?quietly? exploded with 30 points in a variety of shot making that were mostly lacking in the degree of difficulty category.
Pau Gasol likewise totally erased the memory of the Lakers? humiliating defeat in the 2008 championship series where they lost to the physical Celtics punctuated by a 39-point massacre in the sixth and clinching game.
Gasol stood his ground, took the charges and blocked three shots to add to his 23-point and 14-rebound performance.
Artest was in his unusual subdued self after a tense lockdown struggle with Laker nemesis Paul Pierce in the opening minute of the first game of the championship series. Nothing explosive ? just quiet efficiency in silencing his assigned man in Pierce.
The Celtics, after absorbing their own doze of medicine, will undoubtedly adjust their gameplan in the wake of the Lakers? newfound toughness.
This 2010 series will highlight tough defensive rotation and aggressive crashing of the boards.
They who blink first will go down in defeat.
Pacquiao, whose favorite NBA team changes with the flavor of the year, will serve as Artest?s inspiration in the series.
NBA championships are won over defense as they say. But it is a defense that is punctuated by aggression and mental and physical toughness.
An NBA trophy is not won solely on defense, however. The Lakers will have to dish out that potent offense they are known for.
Like Pacquiao, with his lighting quick and powerful punches, the Lakers will need to bury the Celtics basket after basket every time they put stops to their hated rivals.
If the Lakers-Celtics series is likened to a Mayweather-Paquiao fight, I will take the Lakers winning in six provided they maintain their mental and physical toughness.
Pacquiao may be lacking in finesse like Mayweather is known for. But his toughness and aggression is unmatched in today?s boxing world.
Pacquiao once rooted for the Celtics who won in 2008 against the Lakers. He may have to switch loyalty this time. After all, Los Angeles is his second home while in the US.
