I’m not sure that it has completely sunk in for me yet so let’s say it out loud - THE CELTICS ARE GOING BACK TO THE NBA FINALS!!  That’s right folks - back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987. When that happened 21 years ago, the Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals to set up a showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers. Sound familiar? This will be the 11^th time that these two teams will meet with the NBA championship on the line. The Celtics own an 8-2 record in the first 10 meetings.

There are so many plot lines for the series. Old footage of previous Celtics/Lakers battles is already all over theTV and numerous interviews with former Celtics and Lakers players will soon follow.

First up you have the story of the 2008 Celtics and the new Big 3. Three veteran players brought together ten months ago with only the goal of winning an NBA title in mind - something none of them have ever been this close to before.

Next you have NBA MVP Kobe Bryant and his burning desire to win another championship. Not just any championship though – a championship without Shaquille O’Neal. Kobe is out to prove that he can do it on his own just as Shaq did with the Miami Heat in 2006.

There's also Lakers coach Phil Jackson looking to set a new NBA record by winning his 10^th NBA championship as a head coach. After six titles with the Bulls and three more with the Lakers, Phil is currently tied for the all-time career lead with Arnold “Red” Auerbach who was the architect behind the Celtics NBA leading 16 titles. I’m sure the current Celtics would rather not have Red’s record broken on their watch.

There are clearly many intriguing storylines with this upcoming match-up - David Stern’s wet dream if you will. I think my favorite storyline of all is the return of Celtics captain Paul Pierce to the place where it all began for him - Los Angeles.  As Paul explained during last night’s post-game press conference he grew up hating the Boston Celtics. Pierce grew up a Lakers fan and went to Inglewood High School. If you remember the days before the Staples Center then you will recall that the Lakers played at the The Forum which was located in Inglewood.  With that being said - of course Pierce was a Lakers fan.

Imagine the emotions Pierce must be feeling right now. I can’t imagine myself even being in the NBA to begin with but let’s play pretend just for a minute. I’m a lifetime Celtics fan, born and raised just outside of Boston. I get drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. After ten long years in the league and after making more than enough money for myself and my family to be set for life, I get an opportunity to come back home to Boston and play for an NBA championship in front of my family and friends - all while wearing the jersey of the team that me and most likely the rest of my family and friends grew up despising. It has to be a strange feeling.

One thing that the Celtics have on their side in the upcoming series is Paul’s penchant for playing at an extremely high level in front of his “home” crowd. I can remember Antoine Walker’s struggles anytime the Celtics would play a game in Chicago where he grew up. The C’s would have probably been better off giving Antoine a DNP – Coach’s Decision every time they played in the Windy City. Pierce on the other hand is an entirely different story. He’s made a habit of coming up big against the Lakers – especially when playing in LA.

As you probably know, it was after a game in LA against the Lakers in 2001 when Paul Pierce picked up his most recognized nickname.  After Paul scored 42 points in a Celtics loss – Shaquille O’Neal unleashed the following quote to reporters during a post-game interview.

"My name is Shaquille O'Neal and Paul Pierce is the motherfu*king truth. Quote me on that and don't take nothing out. I knew he could play, but I didn't know he could play like this. Paul Pierce is the truth."

Pierce has definitely held his own against Kobe Bryant throughout their careers and you may be a little surprised at these numbers from their 14 head-to-head battles.

I think most people would agree that Kobe Bryant is a better basketball player than Paul Pierce.  I also believe that many people don't recognize exactly how good Paul actually is. He can undoubtedly play with anyone in the NBA on any day of the week...including Kobe. 

Pierce has finally made it to the NBA Finals and he finally has a chance to show the world exactly how good he is. I can't wait to watch him perform on the main stage. So as the Celtics/Lakers rivalry is renewed and the series gets ready to kick off on Thursday night - I will leave the Lakers fans with a quote from English author and poet Aldous Huxley.

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you mad.