It is so sweet that KG is now a Celtic. Not that I am a fan of Boston teams, but it just gives me an excuse to post a classic Bird and Magic photo. Our finals pit a (current) Laker and a Celtic. It’s a good one, people! Dropping Dimes just turned one year old, and we couldn’t have handpicked a better match-up to close our one-on-one tourney!

Here is the summary of the comments for the semi-final round.

Round 3, Game 1: Kobe Bryant vs. Dwyane Wade

Will: “I think Kobe would win this one, and many will agree with me here. Kobe has much better range than D-Wade along with all-defensive team honors. I can’t imagine D-Wade pulling some moves off that we haven’t seen Kobe already do years ago. Kobe just has more tools to beat Wade.”

Dennis: “Kobe would treat Wade like Flash was a hotel worker in Colorado…” and then insert graphic unnecessary mental image here. I get it, you think Kobe wins. Great.

Round 3, Game 1: Chris Bosh vs. Kevin Garnett

Will: “...KG wins. He’s proven for the past years that he’s a beast. Leading the league in rebounding isn’t just luck. KG is stronger, just as mobile, and smarter than Bosh. He even has some consistency from the long…” Will ain’t a Bosh fan, it would seem, and dissing the chief writer’s home team’s star can be walking on thin ice. But I get the feeling Will wishes for a warm and fuzzy world where we all agree, and he soldiers on with his comments for this tourney, so in the end, I give you props.

Dennis: “I’ll go with KG here because he’s more experienced, and like Will said, stronger and just as mobile. KG will just flat out get it done.”

Chris: “My reasoning for both picks (Kobe and KG) is exactly the same; they both go out there and want to destroy their opponent, and this fact would be especially glaring in a one-on-one game…” Well put, Chris, and thanks for the participation!

I would love to be in the stands for both of these games, but the panel has made the right picks. Perhaps the Kobe vs. Wade match can be revisited after both retire and we can reflect on the full body of their work in the NBA. But right now, Kobe holds the edge in experience, skillset and killer instinct. As for KG vs. Bosh, interesting KG’s stats against Toronto last year were below his season averages (34.2 FG%, 20.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg), but that was in the context of the team game. Bosh was reduced to a rebounder against Minnesota (13 boards), and did not take many shots (4 for 9) in his one game against KG and the Wolves last year. This year, Bosh will get lots of opportunities to show the all-time great what he can do.

The Finals: Kobe Bryant vs. Kevin Garnett

There were rumblings earlier in the summer that KG was going to Lakerland to team up with Kobe. Now that KG has moved to the East, is Kobe pissed? Although Kobe has had more team success than KG over their careers, I cannot give a significant mental edge to Kobe here. They’ve been in the league for about as long. Both have an extremely bountiful set of offensive skills. Obviously KG has a size advantage. So how does it all shake down in the end?

Call it like you see it, people! Take that time-warp with a smile, because it’s Lakers vs. Celtics all over again!

Peace.