We all know how Kobe Bryant yearned for a shot at the title sans Shaq. Heck, last summer he demanded a trade away from his beloved Lakers.

We have all cringed at stages of Kevin Garnett’s quest for the title with Minnesota, when he only made it out of the first round of the play-offs once. How Paul Pierce had to struggle with some embarrassingly dreadful Boston Celtics teams. How Ray Allen came so close with a very talented Milwaukee Bucks team that got dismantled shortly after a conference finals appearance.

Now these two teams have the ultimate chance of winning it all. Unfortunately only one of them can win. Thus the question that comes to mind: Who has more to gain and more to lose in this year’s finals?

'If you can’t beat the Lakers now, forget about next season when they are expected to be at full strength, with the youngsters notching up a year of experience'


In the case of Kobe he could achieve legendary status with a win. He has already shown us that he is the ultimate scorer, the best closer, the most cold-blooded assassin in the NBA, but with a win he would finally prove he can be the ultimate leader. With all of those Michael Jordan comparisons flying around already, a win would definitely open up a whole new argument here. Kobe’s not done yet, the Lakers are young and he could surpass MJ’s six titles.

Does Kobe lose a lot though if his team lose? That is a tough question, but theoretically since the Lakers have a young nucleus they could take this as a learning experience and focus on next year, in which case the loss is not all that bad. The Lakers will get even stronger next season when Andrew Bynum gets back from knee surgery.

The circumstances of a lost finals matter a whole lot in this situation. It would be more favorable if they lose because Boston somehow manages to slow Kobe down. In that case Bryant will work vehemently in the summer to better himself and to come back even better than he has been this season. If, however, the poor play of the Lakers’ supporting cast is the cause of the loss, does Bryant continue to trust them?

Kevin Garnett has a world to gain from all of this. He already is a surefire Hall of Fame inductee, but this finals series could determine whether we would remember him as a player who could never win a title or simply as the most versatile power forward this game has ever seen.

Garnett also has a lot to lose here. He might be only 32, but with 12 seasons already behind him he definitely has a lot of mileage. His window of opportunity is closing steadily, and you never know when it is going to get shut tight.

Ray Allen will go down as one of the greatest shooters in the game, and we will all remember him for his role as Jesus Shuttlesworth in the movie He Got Game. If Allen were to win a title, it could give him some considerations for a Hall of Fame nomination. Without the title I do not think he has a shot at it.

Paul Pierce could probably gain a whole lot more respect with a finals win. He has been a Celtic from day one of his rookie year. He is going to be at least the second best scorer of the team on the all time list, yet somehow, when we talk about the best players in the league, we tend to forget about him.

Mostly it’s because he has been out of the play-offs for so many years. He is the undisputed leader of his team. When they need the points he is the one who delivers. A title would elevate Pierce into the upper echelon where in my view, he already belongs.

Finally, as far as the teams are concerned, Boston definitely have more to lose and the Lakers have so much more to gain. The Celtics put this team together to win now. KG, Allen, Pierce, PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, James Posey are not getting younger. Their best shot at a title is right now.

Especially if you consider the fact that the Lakers have an even brighter future. Kobe is at the peak of his career, the nucleus is young, and they are getting a top center prospect back next season, when Bynum rejoins the team. If you can’t beat the Lakers now, forget about next season when they are expected to be at full strength, with the youngsters notching up a year of experience.

Some people in the media even started mentioning the "d" word (as in dynasty) when imagining a Lakers win in this finals series. Looking at that Los Angeles roster, I can't say that I have a legit argument against the possibility...