NBA Finals Betting : Tonight is Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers , two of the most storied franchise the league has ever seen. The greatest players in league history have been here–Chamberlain, Russell, Byrd, Magic to name a few. Tonight they move over and allow the names of Bryant, Fisher, Pearce, Allen and Garnett take center court at Banknorth Garden when the Finals tip off at 9:10 p.m. ET on ABC. It feels like Déjà vu. We have been here before and can’t wait to get back.
Let there be no doubt, the most important game of this series is tonight’s Game 1. Lakers coach Phil Jackson, owner of nine championship rings is 41-0 in playoff series after taking the first game.
Oddsmakers at online sports wagering giant Sportsbook.com have installed the Celtics the favorite for Game 1 by a 2.5 point chalk with a 191.5 total.
“Even though names have changed, players and coaches, when you think about most fans round the world, if you ask them what two teams they want to see in the finals, they’d pick these two teams,” Magic Johnson said in a report posted by Jeff Skibiski at NBA.com.
“I remember my brother always asking me, ‘Do you want to be good or do you want to be great?’” Paul Pierce said. “And those are the questions you ask yourself when you go out and work hard each and every day. In order to be great, in order to be a legend, you have to win a championship."
The Lakers lost their 2007-08 season series with Boston 0-2 after having swept last
season’s series 2-0. The Lakers are 6-4 against the Celtics in their last 10 overall meetings.The Lakers struggled against the Celtics this season and it will be difficult to come away with a win in the Finals opener.
