We’ve got another person to blame if the Celtics somehow lose to Orlando. (Dan Wetzel, Yahoo!)

Phoenix just doesn’t look capable of beating L.A. in four of the next five games. The Magic not only would have to do the same to the Celtics, they’d have to win twice in Boston.

So here in California they dream of green. And in Boston Saturday, the “Beat L.A.” chants are sure to start early.

It’s not just the two best teams of these playoffs hurtling toward each other; it’s the two greatest franchises with a past intertwined in elbows, clothesline fouls and legend-making, game-winning shots.

Wetzel then explains the beefs the two current teams  have with each other.

When our Marc Spears asked Bryant earlier this week who he wanted to see in the Finals, Kobe just responded with a knowing smile. If losing to Phoenix in the early rounds with flawed teams still grinds him, then imagine what that Finals defeat to the Celtics meant?

And don’t think for a second Kobe has forgotten or forgiven Boston fans for throwing rocks at the Lakers’ team bus as it tried to pull away from the Garden after the final Game 6 loss.

Lakers icon Jerry West has gone on record recently saying Bryant is the best player in franchise history. That might be true, but the one hole in Bryant’s résumé is not beating the hated Celtics in a final. He’s 0-1. Magic went 2-1.

Meanwhile in Boston, there’s a sense that if not for last season’s injury to Kevin Garnett, the Celtics might be going for a three-peat and L.A. would still be stuck on 14 titles.

Kobe wants Boston, and I’m sure the Celtics want a piece of L.A. too.  It’s looking more and more like we’ll all get our wish soon.

(P.S. NOOOO!!!! I’ve done it again!!! That’s like my own 9,482nd jinx of the day.  If I say one more jinx, Red Auerbach is going to visit me in my sleep and bludgeon me with a baseball bat.)