These are the easiest profiles to write.  Here goes...

Los Angeles - Rehab Andrew Bynum's knee so that he's ready for opening night.  That's it.  The Lakers are loaded and will likely be back in the finals again next year.  And the year after that...and the year after that.

Boston - With their first round pick in next month's draft the Celtics should try to select either Chris Douglas-Roberts or Brandon Rush and groom him to replace Ray Allen.  If neither are available, then consideration should be given to dealing the choice for someone like disgruntled Magic guard J.J. Reddick.   Other than that, it's just a matter of continuing to develop Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe, and Big Baby Davis.  If the Celtics don't win it this season then they should have one more opportunity to get it done next year before Allen, Garnett, and Pierce start to break down. 

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Now a few thoughts about what should be a phenomenal championship series between the two best teams in basketball:


Well, David Stern got his dream match up and I'd be very surprised if it doesn't live up to the hype.  The way I see it, one player will determine the outcome:  Lamar Odom.

Kevin Garnett can't guard both Odom and Pau Gasol so one of them is going to have an unbelievably huge series.  The problem for Boston is that there is nobody else on their roster besides Garnett who has a prayer of covering Odom.  He's just too quick and has too much length (Jay Bilas: your residual check is in the mail).  If Garnett guards Odom, Gasol should be able to dominate against young and inexperienced players like Kendrick Perkins & Leon Powe as well as the cagey veteran P.J. Brown.  If Garnett covers Gasol then Odom should absolutely abuse Boston both from the low block and perimeter.      

Although James Posey and to a lesser extent Paul Pierce are both formidable defenders, Kobe is going to get his twenty-five to thirty points a game.   However, something to watch is whether Boston continues to have Garnett leave his man to double the opposing team's best small forward/big guard (e.g. LeBron James & Joe Johnson) to prevent penetration into the paint.  If this happens Gasol and/or Odom are likely to score at will and Bryant should average ten assists a game.    

The wild card is that Odom is a bit of a head case.  If he plays well, I just don't see how Boston wins four out of seven games...even with the home court advantage.  Conversely, if Odom has mental lapses or repeatedly gets into foul trouble then Boston could prevail.  Prediction:  Lakers in 7...with a re-match this time next year.