Mean Green

"Business before pleasure..."

P. Diddy - Victory

Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off tonight in the City of Angels...and while this matchup will go into the history books as the most storied rivalry in basketball...I feel there is no clear favorite.

No Fear

I was watching an NBA Finals preview on ESPN Wednesday, and everyone on the show picked the Boston Celtics to win the series in 6 games...and while agree that the C's are a very tough team, I just don't see one team over the other. Tonight's game will not give me enough information on either franchise, so I'll reserve my full opinion until after Game 3 in the TD Banknorth Garden.

This is the Finals that both teams wanted. With bragging rights and basketball history on the line, my expectations are few...I understand that everyone on the floor has the experience, heart, and savvy to win.

The big story right now is Derek Fisher and Rajon Rondo, however the Lakers have had to deal with really good point guards throughout the playoffs, so the bigger story is team defense which the Lake Show lacked in their '08 Finals loss.

This series goes the distance, and we as fans will be there for a memorable ride. These teams are even, and it's the team that does the little things and pays attention to detail that will emerge victorious.

Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images