Gasol, Garnett matchup may decide NBA Finals

LOS ANGELES — Of all the intriguing matchups in a mouth-watering NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, the power forward confrontation between Pau Gasol and Kevin Garnett could decide the series.

Two years ago, ace defender Garnett outplayed Spaniard Gasol in bully-boy style as the Celtics clinched a record 17th NBA championship with a crushing 131-92 victory on their home court in Game Six.

Since then, however, the seven-foot Gasol has largely put to rest widespread suggestions that he is a highly skilled but 'soft' player and is now favored by many to hold the edge in his duel with Garnett.

At the age of 34, Garnett is not the force he once was but, since recovering from a knee injury that sidelined him for much of the 2008-09 season, he is still active around the rim.

“Kevin is like the force of the (Celtics) defense, he's really the glue that kind of holds them together out there a lot of times with his activity level, his ability to help and recover on guys,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson told reporters at Staples Center on the eve of Thursday's Game One.

“And Pau is the guy we have to have to be part of the scoring combo that we've had with Kobe (Bryant) and Pau. So he has to provide some of that for us in this series against probably one of the top defenders in the game.”

The 29-year-old Gasol has gelled superbly with Bryant in his first three seasons with the Lakers and has averaged 20 points and 10.9 rebounds in the playoffs to leave the NBA champions four wins away from a 16th title.

However, Gasol knows he will have to be ultra-aggressive against Garnett if the Lakers are to win that matchup in the best-of-seven series for the championship.

“He's still a very hard competitor. He's proven that through the (knee) injury," the Spaniard said of Garnett. “You still have to be aggressive, you've still got to attack, you can't be hesitant. You can't be reluctant to get into the paint. That's one of the main things, just keep attacking them.”

The NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics will be shown live with Game 1 beginning Friday at 9 a.m. on Basketball TV (BTV) and Solar TV.

The complete schedule:
Game 1 – Friday (June 4)
9 a.m. – Boston at LA Lakers

Game 2 – Monday (June 7)
9 a.m. – Boston at LA Lakers

Game 3 – Wednesday (June 9)
9 a.m. – LA Lakers at Boston

Game 4 – Friday (June 11)
9 a.m. – LA Lakers at Boston

Game 5 – Monday (June 13)
8 a.m. – LA Lakers at Boston

Game 6 – Wednesday (June 16)
9 a.m. – Boston at LA Lakers

Game 7 – Friday (June 18)
9 a.m. – Boston at LA Lakers

* — Games 5-7 will be played only if neccessary