All that said, if Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown and Vujacic step up and keep the Cav defense honest, it doesn’t matter what the Cavs do coz the Lakers will have too many big versatile weapons. LO and Ariza are like sharks with blood in the water and that is quite apart from the fact that we got Kobe, Bynum, and Gasol to defend. Fish is a fine wine, he just gets better with age. Yeah, Gasol is a bit, I won’t say soft because he’s tough, but sometimes he does go missing when you need him. Young Drew is a stopper in the middle.

I said as soon as the Celtics destroyed us in game 6 last year……we got THAT close…….without Andrew. Don’t tell me they would have won if we’d had Andrew Bynum. And I say the same thing this year.

Ben Wallace hasn’t played well for awhile, but, if he can approach his old form – I might have to rethink some of that.

The Cavaliers need LeBron to be dominant in those games. He has to match Kobe on both ends of the floor. LBJ has to shoot a high percentage and fill up the stat sheet with assists and rebounds in order for Cleveland to win it all.

Mo Williams is nice, but he isn’t so nice that I expect him to go for 25 to 40 in every game vs. the Lakers. Frankly, if he gives Fisher too much trouble, he can expect a heavy dose of the younger, taller, stronger Shannon Brown (former MSU Spartan). Brown may not shut him down, but he will fatigue him — and that means Mo’s jumper will go on vacation after Game 4.

Cleveland’s best shot to beat the Lakers is to get home court advantage and win four games at home — but that will be a tough thing to do. They don’t have a defensive answer for Bynum or Gasol, let alone Kobe. Kobe could get straight historic in a series vs. Cleveland. I wouldn’t be surprised to him go for 40 in every game.

It’s worth saying, though, that the veteran Celtics are under the radar and have had the ability to rest this season. The injury to Garnett was definitely a blessing. They’re going to be a tough out because they’re just biding their time. Last year was Paul Pierce’s year. This might be Ray Allen’s showcase post-season. Moreover, the continued development of Rajon Rando should scare any team that relies on points from the point guard position. Rando is a walking, talking steal.

I think the Cavs have two advantages over LA: Mo Williams should be able to run rings around Fisher, and they’ll probably have home court advantage.

But those two advantages are offset by:

1- The Lakers have a huge psychological advantage because they’re the ONLY team to win at Quicken Loans Arena this season.
2- Since being dominated inside by Boston in the Finals, I feel like Odom and Gasol have been tougher. I feel the Lakers have a better inside presence.
3- Bynum returning only adds to that inside presence.
4- The Lakers are much deeper. Their bench will surely outscore Cleveland’s second unit.

And, also, if the series comes down to one game or one possession, I would much rather have Kobe Bryant on my team.

So Lakers in 6.