Many familiar faces return for Celtics-Lakers Finals

If it seems as though this year's NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers is simply a continuation of the 2008 event - won by Boston in six games - it's with good reason.

The Celtics have the same five starters they used in '08. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are two years older, but Boston put the age issues away by knocking off Cleveland and Orlando in impressive fashion.

Four of the top five Lakers scorers are still around from '08. The newcomer is Ron Artest, who is averaging 11.5 points in the playoffs and had a game-winning putback basket against Phoenix in the Western Conference finals. Of course, Ron-Ron was at the '08 Finals in spirit, tracking down Kobe Bryant in the shower after the series ended to offer his help.

Here's a look at three key issues in the series, along with a prediction:

Kobe stopper: Perhaps the most important factor in 2008 was Boston's physical defense limiting Bryant to 25.7 points and 40.5 percent shooting from the field.

James Posey, an important role player for the Celtics in those Finals, is long gone and things could be different this time around if the referees refuse to let things get so rough. Chicago native Tony Allen played some pretty good defense against LeBron James in the second round, so he might be an important factor.

New addition: Back in 2008, it was all about the "Big Three" in Boston. Now point guard Rajon Rondo might be the Celtics' most valuable player. He's averaged 16.7 points and 10.0 assists in the playoffs.

The Lakers will have a difficult choice to make, whether to trust 35-year-old Derek Fisher to guard Rondo or turn to Shannon Brown or Jordan Farmar. Once the Lakers do that, they lose Fisher's clutch shooting.

Big men in town: Another difference in the Lakers from '08 is center Andrew Bynum missed those playoffs with an injury. Now the Lakers can send all three of their 7-footers - Bynum, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom - at the Celtics.

Gasol (20.0 points, 10.9 points in playoffs) does most of the damage, but Odom has a knack for getting clutch baskets and Bynum certainly has younger legs than Garnett, 34, and Rasheed Wallace, 36.

Prediction: The Celtics have the sense of urgency, but the Lakers probably have too much size and talent. Lakers in seven.