Monday, June 2 2008 -- It's all down to 3 days. NBA fans are going to witness history in the making. The Lakers Vs Celtics is one of the awaited games of the season, especially as the Lakers' improbable pursuit of an NBA championship begins its final lap.

A year ago, the teams were playing at their best but never faced each other in any finals. Now, they are at the pinnacle of the sport fighting for the most precious title in NBA.

But if the Lakers needed any hard evidence of just how far they've come in the past six months, the team only has to check its record books of both double-digit losses to the Celtics.

Lakers point guard Derek Fisher reported "I think these are two different teams now," he added "Both teams were figuring out who they were, both teams have grown a great deal since those early season matchups." Especially players like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have shown massive improvement throughout the season and have won numerous matches for their teams.
On Nov. 23, 2008 the Celtics hammered the Lakers 107-94 at their home arena. Then on Dec. 30, 2008 with the Lakers wearing their Sunday finest shorts and throwback jerseys, the Celtics won again, 110-91 with 33 points from the Boston's superstar Paul Pierce.

"It was last year basically," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "I think there's a bit of how they played Kobe, what they did against this and that in those games, but it's certainly not the same personnel that we're playing now."

Jackson also added that "both the teams have improved a lot at the end of the season"�. Experienced players like Cassell and P.J. Brown have also been included in the team. Both the teams are now relying on experience as well as the young talent of their teams.

For the first time during this postseason, the Lakers will not have home-court advantage in this series. This is especially very important in the Finals, in which the Lakers will have to change their format to 2-3-2 instead of a 2-2-1-1-1 format like previous games played in the season.

Jackson said that "yes it is always a big advantage for a team playing at their home-court, but didn't want to make an issue out of it". It does make it difficult to win on your home court three games in a row," he said. "Some teams have done it, but I can't remember more than one. Detroit may have been the only team that's done three games in a row."
As these two teams ready themselves for a historic NBA finals, the struggles of the Celtics throughout the playoffs is a cause of major concern for many. Meanwhile, the Lakers have breezed through the playoffs without a home loss, as superstar Kobe Bryant looks as unstoppable as ever.

But the Celtics three big players Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Alen Ray who are playing in an NBA finals for the first time are looking confident and hungry for wining the NBA title. The first game of the playoffs will be played on 5th June 2008 at the TD Banknorth Garden Arena.