Marblehead is Predicting Celtics Will Win It All

After losing a not-so-close Game 1 contest to the Los Angeles Lakers, 102 to 89, Thursday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Celtics bounced back in Game 2 and evened the series at one game apiece, winning 103 to 94 Sunday night.

The Green brings the ball back to Boston for the next three games where they will continue fighting for their 18^th NBA Championship starting tomorrow night.

Marblehead Patch asked some local basketball fans their thoughts on this heated rivalry between two championship caliber teams.

Skip Likins, MHS Girls Basketball Coach

"My prediction is the series will go seven games with the Celtics pulling out a great win. The Lakers are a great team, but I think the Celtics will be the underdog and pull through with the championship," Likins said. "I think the key for the Celtics to win is to have the game rely on Ray Allen. I am tired of watching Pierce choke at the end of the games and why not put the ball in the hands of one of the best shooters in the NBA?"

Colin Clark, bartender at Three Cod Tavern

"It's great to have the Celtics playing; this place is a lot busier because of the Finals. I think that the Celtics are going to win because of their defense."

Wayne Hanscom, MHS Boys Basketball Coach

"My pick is the Celtics. Even though they lost the first game I really think they have L.A.'s number," Hanscom said. "For this particular, experienced group, this might be their last round up; so I just think the experience factor will trump everything else."

Mike O'Neil, Advertising/Sales

"Celtics in seven," O'Neil says. "Here is what's going to happen; they are going to take them down to the wire. They are going to send Phil Jackson off for the first time in his career after winning his first game to losing the series. I think he'll end up in Miami with LeBron; and I think Dewayne Wade will end up in Chicago, back home with [Celtics Associate Head Coach Tom] Thibodeau."

Michael Plansky, MHS Athletic Director

"As a life-long Celtics fan, I could never pick the Lakers to win," Plansky said. "I see the Celtics winning in six games. The key is going to be the Kevin Garnett/Pau Gasol match-up. If Garnett can win that match-up, the Celts will hang banner number 18."