By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

In some ways the NBA Finals have already begun for the Celtics and Lakers. Of course the Magic and Suns could come back from their 0-2 holes to get to the promised land, but it doesn’t seem likely.

The Celtics are going home for two games and can clinch the series by taking them both.  The Magic need to beat the Celtics 4 out of 5 and win at least 2 games in Boston to win the series.  The Celtics haven’t lost a home playoff game yet this postseason.  Meanwhile the Lakers have won 8 playoff games in a row and Phil Jackson has never lost a playoff series when he’s up 2-0.  A collapse from the Celtics and Lakers wouldn’t be at a Bruins level, but it would be very surprising.

The Celtics and Lakers are eyeing each other.  The competition has begun. Both teams want to stay hot and finish their series’ quickly.  An epic NBA Finals is on the horizon as the two best franchises in NBA history are also clearly the two best teams right now.

This is when being a fan is so great. We don’t have to pretend like the players often do that we aren’t looking ahead to the NBA Finals.  Instead we can tell it like it is and say, Celtics vs. Lakers is coming and it’s going to be awesome!

The Celtics continue to turn the clock back two years with their defense.  This team looks better then the 2008 title team in some ways.  Rajon Rondo is much improved from their last title and unlike in 2008, this team has had no problem winning on the road in the playoffs.  The bench has been superb in the playoffs from Tony Allen to Glen Davis to, gulp, Rasheed Wallace.  The Celtics look worthy of banner 18.

The Lakers also look better then their last title team, which of course was last season’s edition.  The offense has been crisp and their size overwhelmed the Jazz and now appears to be wearing down the Suns.  Add in Kobe being Kobe and the Lakers feel they deserve back-to-back titles.

Moreover, add in the Lakers wanting sweet revenge from 2008.

In other words, at the risk of speaking too soon, the 2010 NBA Finals are going to be fantastic. Both conference finals shouldn’t go longer then 5 games.  The Celtics and Lakers know what they have to do.  Don’t expect the Magic or Suns to stand in the way of the titans of the NBA matching up in June.

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