LOS ANGELES - Two years after being outmuscled and outplayed in the NBA Finals by their arch-rivals the Boston Celtics, the reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers have a perfect opportunity for redemption, starting this week.
The two heavyweight teams, who have a combined 32 NBA titles, will play a mouth-watering, best-of-seven championship series for a 12th time with Game One set for Thursday at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.
They went on to win the 2009 NBA championship, outclassing the Orlando Magic 4-1, and stiffened their defense during the off-season by acquiring volatile forward Ron Artest from the Houston Rockets.
Artest, a formidable defender known for his physical presence, is likely to guard Boston's Paul Pierce in the upcoming series, an intriguing match-up between two players who are six-foot seven.
The Lakers also have the advantage of seven-foot center Andrew Bynum, who two years ago was sidelined with a knee injury. Although Bynum is still struggling with injuries, he has been ever-present in the playoffs and will start Thursday.
All-Star guard Kobe Bryant, Spanish forward Pau Gasol and veteran Derek Fisher complete the Lakers starting unit, each of them members of the team humiliated by the Celtics in 2008.
"We'll see how much we have matured," Bryant told reporters after the Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns 111-103 on Saturday to win the Western Conference championship series 4-2.
"It's a great challenge for us to see how much we've improved, how much we've gotten better, to be able to go up against this team in a playoff series."
CELTICS CHALLENGE
Asked how much he was spurred on by memories of the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant replied: "The challenge is to win the championship. The Celtics are in the way. They feel the same way about us.
"Last time we played them, it was a great learning experience for us. It taught us what it takes to be a champion. With the defensive intensity they play with, the tenacity they play with, we learned a great deal in that series."
The Lakers lost seven of their last 11 games in the regular season and were forced to battle hard before overcoming the Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2 in the first playoff round.
Since then, however, they have raised their level and intensity, sweeping the Utah Jazz before overshadowing the impressive Suns to claim a 31st Western Conference title.
"We're good. We're good," said Bryant, widely acknowledged as the best closer in the game with his remarkable ability to make shots from every angle when under pressure. "We're playing a different style of ball now.
"We've had three series here (in the playoffs) and every single one of them has been different. Now we're going to this series where the level of intensity and physicality is going to be at an all-time high."
The Lakers, who perhaps significantly hold home court advantage, will be bidding for their 16th NBA title while the Celtics are seeking their 18th.
"It's obvious the Celtics are a rivalry with LA," Lakers head coach Phil Jackson said. "There's a renewed fervor between both these towns.
"It's something that has been anticipated now for the last couple weeks. This year, we have home court advantage and we look forward to these playoffs with great intensity."??