NBA Finals: Keys to Victory

How great is the Lakers/Celtics rivalry? After the Finals end this year, the two teams will have combined to win more than half of the championships in NBA history.

This year, perhaps more than any other, the two teams have clear-cut strengths and weaknesses that can make or break their chances of adding another trophy to the case.

Boston Celtics

They've obviously still got the "Big Three" of Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett, and despite an undeserved label of being dried-up from age, they're still the best core of players in the game today. But despite still being a good player, K.G. has not been one of three most important pieces to the puzzle for Boston. Rajon Rondo has been.

So let's take a quick look at the three most important keys to success for the Celtics:

1. Paul Pierce getting open for three-point shots

Pierce is the most talented of the three, at least overall, although this is fairly common knowledge by now. His ability to dominate every facet of a game makes him an integral part of any success they hope to have moving forward. In the Celtics' losses this postseason, he has made only 18% of three-point attempts; in wins, he's made 49% of such shots.

2. Ray Allen getting open for three-point shots

Allen is the best pure-shooter on the team (and possibly in the league), and this has never been more clear than in Game 2, in which Allen wowed everyone with a nearly perfect performance from beyond the arc. It's been the story of his career, and it's no different now — if you want to beat Ray Allen's team, you have to keep somebody near him to make contact on every shot attempt. When you don't, he can, and usually does, make shots at will.

3. Rajon Rondo consistently contributing in every facet of the game

How good has Rondo been? He's averaging a double-double in postseason play this year, and he led the dominating Celtics performance in Game 2 with a triple-double in Staples Center. Along with Ray Allen, he completely changed the complexion of the latest installment of the biggest rivalry in the NBA in a single game by sending his Celtics back home for three games with a series tied at a game apiece.

So how confident should the Celtics be now that they're back in Boston? I'd say really confident, especially considering that they're 7-1 at home this postseason when Rondo scores 10 or more points, and because the Lakers have proven they can't keep him from producing at least that many points.

Los Angeles Lakers

But the Lakers do have some hope of defeating the Celtics, and possibly in doing so in the final two games of this series.

Obviously, they've got Kobe Bryant, who is either the best or second-best player in the world, depending on who you ask, and is almost indisputably the best closer in the game since Michael Jordan. In a series that has a history of close games, you have to like his chance to impact the outcome of at least one more before this series is over. But he's not the only important piece the puzzle for Los Angeles, even if he is the most important.

Let's take a look at the keys to the Lakers' success:

1. Getting the ball to Kobe Bryant in the fourth quarter.

This one seems almost too obvious, but for some reason, the Lakers have failed to do this in some of their postseason losses. The guy is simply clutch, and as was previously mentioned, the Lakers' chance of winning is significantly higher when he takes more shots late in games.

2. Getting Rajon Rondo in foul trouble.

On the statistical side of things, the Lakers can feel confident by looking at the Celtics' 4-5 record this postseason when Rajon Rondo commits more than three fouls. They've certainly got enough tough, physical players to bump Rondo up-and-down the floor and force a few fouls. If they can do so, they should have a better-than-average chance of winning.

What does winning Game 3 mean to the Lakers? Besides the fact that they're now guaranteed to go back home to Staples Center, they also proved that they can overcome any momentum the Celtics might gain at any point in the remaining Finals games.

Based on what we've seen so far, I'm not going to even try to predict a series winner, but I'd be surprised if the series doesn't go seven games. Regardless of who wins, this year's Finals matchup will make history, and that's more than enough reason to tune in no matter how long it lasts.