Is it 6:00 p.m. yet???  I'm just giddy with anticipation.  There is absolutely no way that this championship match-up won't live up to the hype.  The May 31st In the Spotlight profile on the Lakers & Celtics gave you the two keys to the series:  Lamar Odom and whether KG leaves his man to double Kobe.  Here's a bonus key as we are now only about 7 1/2 hours from tip-off:  The number of minutes Rajon Rondo plays in each game.

Simply put:  other than Kobe there is only one player on the Lakers roster who can guard Rondo.  Derek Fisher?  Surely you jest.  Fish is smart and clutch, but wouldn't have been able to stay with Rondo 10 years ago let alone at this stage of his career.  The one player other than #24 who can keep up with RR is Jordan Farmer and I don't know if he's going to get much more than 10-12 minutes per game.  That leaves Sasha (who has become one of the better shooters in the league but is hardly a defensive stopper) and Kobe to chase Rondo around.  If it's Kobe, then Fish is going to have to guard a bigger guy (Allen or Posey) and that could be problematic for the Lakers.

If the box score in the morning says that Rondo played 36-40 minutes, the Celtics will likely have won the game.   However, if Eddie House and Sam Cassell are stealing Rondo's minutes and he finishes with only 20-25 then don't be surprised if the Lakers steal game 1...



Reports have surfaced that Hill has made the agonizingly difficult decision to "suspend" her campaign.  How magnanimous of her.   Word is that she wants to be Obama's #2.   Please.  I have a better chance of being named as Barack's running mate.   So if it's not Hill, who is going to be tabbed?  Hard to say, but don't be shocked if Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell is the guy.  He was an ardent supporter of Hill and Barack may throw her bone by choosing him.  If not, then Bill Richardson is a possibility.  I'm not certain how much BRich really adds to the ticket, but he's been in several previous administrations and brings experience to the table.   Bottom line though:  Other than death and taxes, the 3rd sure thing in life is that Hillary won't be Obama's running mate.  Take that to the bank...