It is now just a few hours before the greatest rivalry in basketball history will yet again meet on the grandest battlefield. Perhaps after this series (and season) is over, we will come to a realization. This is no longer the game decided by whoever has the big men. The NBA today has come to a battle of shooting guards. It has become that battle that the NBA drafts we had for the past few years, has very little to offer when it comes to the number 2 position.

See, long ago, it was the battle of big men. Bill Russel was the player to symbolize the big man of NBA. When your big man is good, you'd win your championship. Then came Abdul Jabbar, with his unstoppable hook shot.

Come, the age of the 90s and Michael Jordan started to prove that if you cant stop the 2, then youre in bid trouble. He's got 6 rings to prove that. Early 2000 and Kobe did that, 3 times.

The Spurs and Pistons did come in, but see, during this time, no shooting guards were good enough to stop them. In fact, the very essence of their style of play was to stop the shooting guard from scoring. Do that and you win, Fail and you lose.

Now, its Kobe's time in the spotlight. He has endured the best style that is capable of stopping a 2. This time, if he has to win, then that wont be the style he needs to deal with, but his very own. Im talking about Paul Pierce, the Celtic's number 2. Whoever stops the other will win for his team a championship, i guarantee that. Whoever plays better will win it.