BEAT L.A.

When the Celtics and Lakers meet today in Los Angeles there is nothing more at stake than a regular season victory and pride for the victors. This game means just as much in the standings as does Tuesday's game in Sacramento. However, after losing to the Lakers in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, the Celtics will come into this afternoon's game looking for revenge on Kobe Bryant's team. A win today would not make up for losing the championship last June but it would help get the bad taste out of the mouths of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo. The bottom line is that the loss last year has motivated the Celtics to come back this year and take the title back from the Lakers. Doc Rivers decided to come back for another year on the Boston sideline and Danny Ainge went out and added Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, and Delonte West to his roster. Despite many injuries, Rivers has guided his team to a 35-11 record and the top spot in the Eastern Conference. With Kendrick Perkins back from knee surgery after going down in Game 6 of the Finals, the Celtics are starting to resemble the team that Ainge put together over the summer. Today should be a preview of June when these two teams are expected to square off in the Finals for the third time in four years. With KG, Perkins, Shaq, and Big Baby Davis dominating the paint and Pierce, Allen, and Rondo holding things down on the perimeter, the Celtics are the better team and will prove that to the Lakers.