[Porsche-O-Phile]

Yes I'm a Boston transplant of sorts. I grew up in New England (assuming one considers me "grown up"). But I've also lived in Florida, Chicago, Oregon, Los Angeles and now here. Grew up watching the Celtics/Lakers rivalry as a kid in Boston - pretty awesome. I remember being at the Game #7 of the Conference playoffs in 1982 as a kid when Dr. J and the 76ers were beating the Celtics to advance to the Finals against the Lakers and the entire crowd rooting on the 76ers to "Beat L.A." Never will forget that - it struck me as truly sportsmanlike, even though I was maybe 10 or 11. Unfortunately the 76ers lost, but at the time it was just cool. Next best thing to a win was to root for the team that was good enough to beat the Celtics.

I just can't rally behind this Lakers team - even living here in SoCal now. Even in the last few years when they were good (with or without Shaq) and the Celtics were non-existent, I couldn't really follow 'em. They just seem like a bunch of full-of-themselves, sensationalist goons. Especially Kobe. The guy's a talented player but he's a spoiled brat and a rapist. I can't stand it when people try and draw parallels between him and Michael Jordan. He's no Michael. MJ had class. Kobe has none. MJ elevated the entire game and those around him - both those on his team and on the opposing team, and I don't just mean their basketball. Their overall sportsmanship rose too. It was something to behold (I lived in Chicago during the height of the MJ era, which was fun to watch). Kobe is no MJ. Not by a longshot. He's got talent, but that's all.

I think the Celtics take one of the next three on the road and finish this in Game #6 at home.