Ira Winderman

The simple truths:

Could Lakers-Celtics become the first repeat NBA Finals since Jazz-Bulls in '98?

Sure.

Do the Lakers have what it takes for a reversal of fortune (the good kind, not the Joey Chestnut kind)?

Probably not.

While Lakers-Celtics is as appetizing as it has gotten on Christmas Day for years, Dec. 25 hardly is the time for definitive answers.

Not with these two, and not with where the league stands.

Then again, these hardly are teams with much in common beyond the tags of conference leader and championship contender.

The Celtics have a wonderful sense of self. They know what they are.

The Lakers, by contrast, are as muddled a leading contender as the league has witnessed in years.

In Boston, Ray Allen shoots the jumpers, Paul Pierce attacks the rim and Kevin Garnett rules the lane. Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins feed off ample leftovers.

And then everyone plays defense. Always.

In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant gets his, and then everyone else is left to wonder what the whims of Phil Jackson's revolving rotations will otherwise provide.

And then everyone might, or might not, play defense.

Yes, they are the top teams in each conference. And yes, by point differential and in the standings, they are dominant.

But the Celtics, even with the offseason losses of James Posey and P.J. Brown, are locked in and loaded.

The Lakers? They're just loaded.

At times, other than through injury, it is difficult to envision how the Celtics could lose, let alone four games in any playoff series. There are too many reliable weapons. If it's not Pierce, it's Allen. If it's not Rondo, it's Garnett. And when needed most, it's all of the above.

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But the Lakers? If you didn't know better, you'd think this is some sort of Phil Jackson mindfreak, messing with everyone to keep things interesting until the games truly matter. It's as if he's channeling Criss Angel.

First it's the shift of Lamar Odom to the bench. Then it's unabashed praise of Odom, followed by criticism of the veteran forward for not even being up to second-team challenges.

Then there is Vladimir Radmanovic in the starting lineup and Luke Walton in the deep freeze, until Walton is returned to the first five and Radmanovic apparently is sent off skiing. Along the way, the now-injured Jordan Farmar acknowledges confusion with his role and Andrew Bynum questions his place in the offense.

If that's not enough, there's holding Bryant out for so long in the second half of a nationally televised loss against the Heat that even first-year coaching adversary Erik Spoelstra seemingly can't quite figure out why he's being given so much time to similarly rest Dwyane Wade.

Through it all, no less than Magic Johnson expresses concern about what the heck exactly is going on.

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