The Regulator

The only person who didn't under estimate the Phoenix Suns was Charles Barkley. Phoenix took the playoffs by storm, slaying giants like a modern day David. They stood toe to toe and blow for blow with the Lakers. In every boxing match at some point a fight will break out and the suns hit the Lakers dead in the mouth and didn't back down.
Just as every champ faces the up start number one ranked contender and finds a way in the latter rounds to muster up a title defense, so did the Lakers. If ever a series brought out the heart of a champion, it was this one. This Laker team showed a resolve and a toughness like never before. They countered every run that Phoenix made. As Champions do, they found a way to win.
Now its back to the grill again, Boston Gardens, Celtics, Lakers, and an under tone of payback. The saga continues for the quest of one for the thumb in the historic career of Kobe Bryant. The key lies not in Kobe's hands, but in the hands of Ron Artest. The match ups in this series are tailored made for Ron. He has spent the last 2 series chasing down some extremely athletics forwards, now he faces a more conventional in the paint Paul Pierce. At times Paul will stretch the court and throw up some threes, but not at the likes of Kevin Durant or Jason Richardson who Artest had to face. Paul's lack of speed plays to the tune of the strength of Ron Artest.
If you remember the Chicago Bulls back in the day, there was one individual to me that made the flow of the triangle offense complete. Horace Grant. Because of the attention that Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen drew, Horace Grant often had open 10 to 15 foot jump shots. We saw this happen by design in the series against the Suns more so then the actual flow of the triangle offense with Ron Artest being given open shots. What makes Artest the key to this series is he can stretch that 1o foot jump shot into a 3 pointer. This will force Boston to switch on pick and rolls to protect the 3 point line giving way to an open lane for Kobe to dish and dominate in the paint without the worry of a double team.
In games past, the Celtics have always been able to double Kobe in the paint and clog the lane. I guarantee you, if Ron Artest can average 20 points throughout this series it will be very hard for Boston to beat the Lakers.
Granted we need for everyone else to play their normal roles offensively and defensively, but so as Ron goes, so will the Lakers go.