Posted by Teddy Panos, Sun Staff

So it’s finally come to this. 21-years after their last NBA Finals appearance, the Celtics are back where they belong, against the opponent destiny always seems to put in their path.

How the Celts and Lakers got here is a rather remarkable story. Had anybody brought the suggestion up last June, they’d have been laughed off not only this blog, but the planet. Boston had lost the lottery and Los Angeles was looking to trade disgruntled superstar Kobe Bryant. Enter Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, a bunch of solid role players and a happy Kobe, and you have the recipe for a fantastic series.

There were times during these playoffs I wasn’t sure the C’s would get there. Two months into the season, I’d written them in as the Eastern Conference representative, yet the post-season exposed flaws I didn’t think they had. Still, you have to give them credit for persevering, especially during a Game 6 in Detroit which the officials did their best to hand to the Pistons.

I picked the Lakers as the Western Conference representative about a week after the Pau Gasol trade, when I saw how seamlessly he fit in and how Kobe Bryant had finally become what we thought he could be…Michael Jordan. A lot of folks laughed at me for those suggestions, yet here Bryant and the Lakers stand, four games away from another crown.

Boston HAS to get it done this year. LA is getting Andrew Bynum back next year and will definitely be favored to win it all. The Celtics will be a year older, without much wiggle room to add new pieces. And don’t forget, somewhere along the way, LeBron James will take over the East.

The pick here? I’ll stick with my guns and say Celtics in 7, though I definitely think it’s a toss-up at best.

That’s the view from here…how do you see the NBA Finals?