So, the current scouting report on the Lakers: They're still soft around the basket defensively, and Bynum's return hasn't helped because he's nowhere near the player he was before his latest knee injury; the bench, especially when Lamar Odom is in the starting lineup, is a C-plus unit at best. Houston's Aaron Brooks is too fast for anybody in a Lakers uniform to guard, even Fisher, who's held his own in that regard for a dozen years . . . until the last week or so; Jackson hasn't been nearly as demanding as he was on the Shaq-Kobe Lakers, or the Michael Jordan Bulls. Los Angelenos want to hear somebody in the locker room calling out the Lakers the way Magic did last Sunday on TV. But it hasn't happened.

"Yes, there's a certain way you envision that you need to play to win a championship," Fisher said. "But it's totally impossible to stay at that level for all 200 days of the season, each and every one. You can't just bottle it up and carry it around with you. There are too many variables to presume you can do that."

Of course, it seems the Cavaliers and Nuggets have been able to bottle it and carry it around, at least through the first two rounds, which leads to even more examination of the Lakers. If LeBron can do this, why can't Kobe?

The only caution should be that Utah and Houston (the Lakers' first two opponents) are much tougher outs than Detroit and Atlanta (Cleveland's first two opponents). Still, Denver, after winning each of its first two series in five games, looks like it should be the favorite against the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

Lakers, Celtics face Game 7s Opinion: Kobe's future, and NBA gold, at stake Wilbon: Game 7 worries Lakers, delights Celtics Opinion: Kids holds key for Lakers in Game 7 Opinion: Celtics desperately seeking Ray Allen Celtics will need 'D', not just decibels, vs. Magic Opinion: Celtics running out of gas with one left Vote: Which Game 7 are you most excited about?

Cleveland's lack of a challenge through two rounds might serve the Celtics well if Boston can wring one more clutch performance from Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo in Game 7 against Orlando, which is about the goofiest club at times. The Magic's players clearly have issues with their coach, Stan Van Gundy. They don't seem to know they ought to move heaven and earth to get the ball to Dwight Howard. And now, my man Patrick Ewing has done something he's simply no good at: issuing a guarantee. Ewing said Friday on radio to his former coach John Thompson, "Even though I'm not playing, I'm guaranteeing a win."

Ooooooooh.

The Celtics are 17-3 all-time at home in Game 7s. They're positively beaming that they're still alive, despite the injuries, and beating a team that looks better on paper. There's no chance that Orlando beats the Celtics in Boston in Game 7, is there?

The Lakers will beat Houston or face an uncomfortable offseason. The Celtics, despite Ewing's guarantee, will beat Orlando. An already dramatic postseason, mostly because of fouls and officiating and off-court theatrics, will put the tension back where it belongs Sunday: on the court, with the two most important franchises in the sport.

Also on NBCSports.com Rosenthal: Steelers’ struggles could sink their playoff hopes Circling the Bases: Halladay to Cubs? That’s unlikely College Football Talk: Weis to resign? That’s ‘not happening’ Opinion: So far, Nowitzki is NBA’s MVP  |  Fan Ranker Twitter: Follow us @nbc_sports

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