How refreshing would it be, to revive the NBA’s golden era by having a throwback/showdown, in a Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals? How invigorating and inspiring it would be to have the Los Angeles Lakers’ (second best) 14 NBA Championships, go up against the Boston Celtics’ all-time best, 16 NBA Championships? And how fitting would it be for the best head coach of our era, Phil Jackson, to finally separate himself from (perhaps the best of all-time) the legendary Celtic, Red Auerbach, by beating the franchise Auerbach gave birth to?  (Currently Jackson and Auerbach are tied for most NBA championships by a head coach with 9 apiece). SportsBook.com has the best game 5 betting odds as the Los Angeles Lakers are a -8 pt. favorite over the visiting San Antonio Spurs (+8).

If one thing is certain, is that the NBA would like nothing more than the above-mentioned prediction; but we are still quite a ways from that. Nevertheless tonight, beginning at 9 pm EST. the Los Angeles Lakers can get one step closer to fulfilling that majestic prophecy… a possible Finals match-up with the Boston Celtics. SportsBook.com has the Over/Under set at 193 ½ combined total points.

Any questions pertaining to a young LA Lakers team having the poise necessary to be a legitimate championship-contender, have indisputably been answered. Truth is, no one team has looked more championship ready than Phil Jackson’s bunch.

They ended the season blistering hot (undefeated at home), and have carried that over into the playoffs, as the LA fans are the only ones, yet to see their team loose at home in these 2008 playoffs. But will it stay that way tonight? Are the Lakers really that good, as to close out the defending NBA Champs/current NBA dynasty, in 5 games? If you don’t know by now, check your pulse.

Can the Lakers really hold off/send the Spurs’ chances to repeat packing, tonight in an elimination game 5? Absolutely. But here’s the catch:

The projected points spread is currently at -8 for LA, very suspect. Here’s what I recommend: play SAS +8. Now, by this I’m not saying LA can’t win tonight, what I’m really saying is that, the Spurs will not lie down, and will not go down without a fight. Besides, I really don’t like the way game 4 ended for LA, with a 7 point lead disappearing in a mater of seconds, because of poor clock-management in the part of LA.

My NBA Prediction: SAS +8, but don't be surprised if at the end of the night, the Lakers are celebrating.

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