Dubai: While the much-anticipated 2010 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers is eagerly awaited by millions of passionate NBA fans worldwide, three fans here in the UAE are itching to share their feelings on this historic match-up.
A Lakers fan since he can remember, Talal Baya'a gives us little doubt where his loyalties lie: "I hate Boston. I attended Game 4 of the 2008 Finals in LA when the Celtics made a historic comeback. It was the most disappointing game in my life," he said.
He says "the intensity is akin to Real Madrid-Barcelona".
Zak Taha, another Lakers fan, expressed similar disappointment in 2008 where he "was looking forward to a Lakers championship parade on Figueroa Street."
Equally forthcoming on his disdain for the Celtics, Zak traces his hatred for everything Boston to the NFL, where there is no love lost between his Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots. On the flip side, Bostonian Sean Farrell bleeds green.
"This is what every Celtics fan dreams of — playing the Lakers in the NBA finals for all the marbles," he says. "Nothing's more satisfying than beating LA."
So what is the key to victory? Talal feels it comes down to the Lakers big men versus Boston's.
"Bynum has to step up and give us a physical presence. Gasol needs to dominate an older Garnett, and Artest will have to hound Pierce defensively. I doubt Rondo will continue to be effective with the wily veteran Fisher guarding him, and Odom coming off the bench is our X-factor. If Kobe continues his post-season tear, the Lakers will prevail in 6."
Zak concurs: "Bynum needs to keep Boston from dominating the glass; and Odom's production off the bench will prove crucial. Home-court advantage could make a huge difference because of the way referees call home games." His prediction? "Lakers in 5", he quips with unfiltered optimism. The Celtics fan expects this to be an intense match-up dominated by defence.
"I doubt the Lakers will effectively reduce Rondo's impact offensively and he will dictate terms by involving everyone; also the Lakers' Triangle Offence can be complicated, so we need to be disciplined defensively".
His emphatic prediction: "I believe in leprechauns, Celtics in 7!"
As our three basketball fans have made resoundingly clear, these finals are far from ordinary. The Boston-LA rivalry incites a passion unheard of among US sporting quarters (though baseball's Yankees-Red Sox rivalry can lay similar claims) and such polarised enthusiasm evidently is not only confined to the residents of Los Angeles and Boston, but halfway across the world in the UAE too.
Fixtures
Game 1- Today, at Los Angeles, 9 pm ET (0100 GMT)
Game Two - Sunday, June 6, at Los Angeles, 8 pm ET
Game Three - Tuesday, June 8, at Boston, 9 pm ET
Game Four - Thursday, June 10, at Boston, 9 pm ET
*Game Five - Sunday, June 13, at Boston, 8 pm ET
*Game Six - Tuesday, June 15, at Los Angeles, 9 pm ET
*Game Seven - Thursday, June 17, at Los Angeles, 9 pm ET
* If necessary
