KOBE BRYANT

Bryant, who turns 30 in August, is completing his 12th season. He didn't mix much with older teammates early in his career. Although he teamed with Shaquille O'Neal to lead the Lakers to three consecutive championships, the two feuded like crazy. Bryant demanded to be traded last summer.

Bryant, though, remained in Los Angeles and won his first Most Valuable Player award in May. The Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis in February for two first-round draft picks, three players and the rights to Gasol's brother Marc. That move sparked the team to a 57-25 record, the best in the Western Conference.

THE BIG THREE

Like Bryant, Paul Pierce wanted a trade after Boston's 24-win season. There was a trade, but Pierce wasn't involved.

The Celtics traded for Seattle's Ray Allen on draft day last June and a month later imported Kevin Garnett (above) from Minnesota in exchange for their supposed future -- Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson and Sebastian Telfair -- and Theo Ratlif.

Almost overnight the Celtics went from one of NBA's worst to one of the best. They won 66 games this season.

After 2,774 career games, Boston's Big Three finally get to play their first in the Finals.

THE LAST TIME

When these teams last met in the Finals -- a poignant six-game series in 1987, won by Los Angeles -- the Lakers of Magic Johnson and Celtics of Larry Bird were merely the leading men for sublime, supremely talented rosters dominated by future Hall of Famers.

Magic and Bird. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Robert Parish. Michael Cooper. Dennis Johnson. Bill Walton. There was K.C. Jones and Pat Riley on the sidelines, Jerry West and Red Auerbach in the front offices, the gravel-voiced Johnny Most and legendary Chick Hearn in the broadcast booths.

HISTORY LESSON

Back in the mid-1980s, when they met for the championship three times in a four-year span, Los Angeles and Boston had the most important rivalry in pro sports.

It lasted through three cities, starting with the Celtics' sweep of the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959, and more than 25 years.

The Celtics and Lakers met 10 times in the finals from 1959-87, with the Celtics winning the first eight. From 1983-87 alone, they played nearly 30 games, counting playoffs.

In all, the teams have combined for 30 NBA championships.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

1962 -- Bill Russell scored 30 points and grabbed 40 rebounds as the Celtics won in overtime in Game 7.

1984 -- Boston's Kevin McHale's hard foul takedown of Kurt Rambis is still enduring. The Celtics won in seven.

1985 -- Los Angeles ended its 0-for-8 skid against the Celtics in the Finals, beating Boston 111-100 in Game 6 to clinch the title on the parquet floor of Boston Garden.

1987 -- Magic Johnson's baby sky hook pulled out a victory in Boston. Los Angeles won in six games.

-- From wire services

Tonight

L.A. Lakers at Boston

SUNDAY

L.A. Lakers at Boston

TUESDAY

Boston at L.A. Lakers

June 12

Boston at L.A. Lakers

June 15

Boston at L.A. Lakers

June 17

L.A. Lakers at Boston

JUNE 19

L.A. Lakers at Boston