Sports News: Team Match ups.

LOS ANGELES (AP)—A position-by-position look at the match ups in the NBA finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

CENTER: Andrew Bynum vs.Kendrick Perkins. The Lakers sorely missed Bynum two years ago against the Celtics in the finals, when he was sidelined with a knee injury. He’s back now but still has knee problems that have limited him to only about 24 minutes per game in the postseason. Perkins, an excellent defender, will look forward to an easier cover after having to defend and be defended by Dwight Howard in the last round. Edge: Even.

POWER FORWARD: Pau Gasol vs. Kevin Garnett. The match up that could swing the series. Garnett easily had the better of it two years, but Gasol is much tougher than he was then and is having a terrific postseason. Still a top defender, Garnett scored at least 18 points in every game against Cleveland in the second round, then managed more than 10 only once against Orlando. Edge: Lakers.

SMALL FORWARD: Ron Artes vs.Paul Pierce. Artest will drive the Lakers’ fans and coaches nuts with some bad shots, but all will be forgiven if he can do what Los Angeles couldn’t do two years ago: defend Pierce. Pierce’s offensive game is back on track after he had to sacrifice scoring while defending LeBron James in the East semifinals, so Artest will have to be at his best. Edge: Celtics.

SHOOTING GUARD: Kobe Bryant vs.Ray Allen. Bryant comes off a magnificent series against Phoenix in the West finals, averaging 33.7 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists while making 52.1 percent of his shots. He wants this one badly after the Celtics held him in check in their victory two years ago. Allen, still one of the NBA’s best shooters, scored 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting in Boston’s regular-season victory over Los Angeles but was limited to seven and shot just 2 for 10 in its loss. Edge: Lakers.

POINT GUARD:Derek Fisher vs. Rajon Rondo. Rondo has been one of the best players in this playoffs, but he’s taken a lot of bumps along the way and wasn’t as spectacular in the conference finals as he was against Cleveland in the previous round. Still, his athleticism makes this the one match up that should definitely favor Boston. Fisher still can be counted on to hit a big shot somewhere along the way, as he did in Game 4 of last year’s finals. Edge: Celtics.

RESERVES: A lot depends on the health of the Celtics, who watched Davis and Wallace get banged up in the previous round. If the Celtics are healthy, they are deeper. Tony Allen will get plenty of chances to defend Bryant. Edge: Celtics.

COACHES: Phil Jackson vs. Doc Rivers. After the Celtics delayed him two years ago, Jackson won his NBA-best 10th championship last June. Rivers carefully monitored his aging stars’ minutes late in the season, even as it cost the Celtics wins. The most intriguing part of the coaching matchup this year could be the rumor mill: There’s talk that neither will be back with his team next season. Edge: Even.

LAKERS IN 6 ( My game by game summary, holla at cha Boy)

GAME 1 LAKERS BY 15

I think Kobe will set the tone for the series in game one. Don't look for a big game scoring wise from Kobe, he will be more of a facilitator. Look for a big game from Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Fisher's offense will suffer because he will be spending a lot of energy on defense trying to contain Rondo. Look for Ron Artest to score in double figures which will take up much needed slack in the scoring stats. This series is tailor made for Josh Powell to be effective off the bench. The Lakers will use a lot of fouls at the point guard position (combination trying to stop Rondo from driving to hole and help defense when the ball goes in the paint). One of the 3 reserve guards for the Laker needs to have a big game (Shannon Brown should be extremely effective because he will be able to take Rondo or Ray Allen off the dribble)

GAME 2 LAKERS BY 5

Boston will make major adjustments, but look for Kobe to have a monster game (40+). He will be the difference maker.

GAME 3 BOSTON BY 12

Don't panic Laker fans, home cooking and an advantage in free throw attempted will be the difference in this game. Look for Kevin Garnett to be aggressive early in the game and don't be surprised to see Gasol, Odom, and Artest in foul trouble. Kobe will get his points but his shooting percentage will be horrible.

GAME 4 BOSTON BY 3

This will be a very close game. Boston's bench will step up and make the difference. Don't be surprised if Michael Finley plays quality minutes to give Boston a lift. Rasheed Wallace will have a big game as well. Lakers front line will again be neutralized by foul trouble. Laker's bench will suffer. Kobe will pace himself in this game, playing more for the length of the series than to spend energy trying to dominate every game.

GAME 5 LAKERS BY 7

Derrick Fisher and Kobe Bryant will shine. They will carry the Lakers in this game. Look for Jordan Farmar to add valuable points to the stat sheet.

GAME 6 LAKERS BY 15

As a team the Lakers will smell blood in the water. The Laker's bench will be huge in this game. Kobe unleashes for another 40 points. Game, Set, Match, Lakers in 6. Kobe Series MVP and 1 for the Thumb.

Sports News: Seahawks abruptly waive RB LenDale White

SEATTLE (AP)—The uncle for running back LenDale White says his nephew is “confused” and “broken up” over the Seahawks’ decision to unexpectedly waive the running back just weeks after a draft-day trade that brought him to Seattle from Tennessee.

Herman White told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday night that he had been speaking with the former USC star throughout the day.

“I have no idea what happened.”

The uncle said he does not know what’s behind a report that White was facing a four-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy. He said he was due to speak to the Titans’ former leading rusher later Friday night or Saturday to find out more.

“He was surprised,” Herman White said, adding LenDale told him this week how great his second NFL chance was going with his former college coach, Pete Carroll. “I’m pretty shocked, based on what he’s been telling me.

“His emotions and all … he wasn’t doing good (Friday).”

Seahawks general manager John Schneider announced the surprise move just over a month after he traded a couple of lower-round draft picks for White and defensive tackle Kevin Veickerson.

“It became apparent at this time that LenDale was not ready to be a member of the Seattle Seahawks,” Schneider said.

He did not elaborate.

NFL Network, citing unidentified sources, reported that White was “likely” facing a four-game suspension.

“We have not announced any such suspension,” league spokesman Greg Aiello told the AP Friday night. “I have no other information on it.”

The list of players enrolled in the league’s substance-abuse program for a prior incident, and therefore subject to discipline, is confidential.

The 25-year-old White set touchdown records and won two national championships with Carroll at USC. He was seemingly getting a second chance as a pro in Seattle—maybe to even become a starter again—while being reunited with his college coach.

Issues with weight, work ethic and the emergence last season of Chris Johnson cost him his job with the Titans.

“I was a lot younger in my mind, honestly,” White said Monday of his early seasons in the NFL. “I put myself in a lot of situations.”

Now he’s in another one.

“He understands what position he’s now in,” Herman White said. “He’s got to recommit to rectify what’s happened.”

The Seahawks gave up on White after he had only limited chances to display his work ethic—and months before he was even going to put on full pads. He participated in just one minicamp and a handful of organized team activities on the practice field before the team waived him.

White had lost more than 45 pounds over the last year and a half. He was down to 220 in his brief stay with the Seahawks.

White said he wanted to get back up to 228 pounds for this season. Seattle’s starting job seemed within his reach as Carroll opened every position to competition.

He missed one day of organized team activities this month. He said on Monday there was some “family stuff I had to take care of.

“I think in the last six months I’ve grown up a lot more,” he said.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus did not return phone and e-mail messages.

Earlier this week, White said he felt great. He again thanked Carroll for rescuing him from his dead end in Tennessee.

“Going from ‘SC, back-to-back national championships to not playing at all, it’s a life-changing thing,” White said Monday. “But I’m still here. Pete gave me another chance. I don’t think I’ve been this healthy since I was 18 years old.”

Carroll had said Monday that the team would see how everything fit together with White.

“He’s got a long ways to go to get back in here with this club, but we’re going to certainly wait it out and see how it does,” he said.

The wait lasted all of four days.

“It just did not appear to be the right fit at this point in our program,” Schneider said. “We wish LenDale all the best with his future.

Sports News: Andrew Bynum Has Knee Drained.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP)- Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum troublesome right knee was drained of excess fluid Monday.

Bynum hopes the procedure will allow him to play closer to full strength in the NBA finals against the Boston Celtics. Los Angeles hosts Game 1 on Thursday night.

“It was getting worse,” Bynum said. “The swelling wasn’t leaving, so they had to do it. I was doing the treatment, but it wasn’t going anywhere.”

The Lakers discovered a small tear in Bynum’s meniscus during their first-round playoff series against Oklahoma City, and the injury has limited him since. He still has started all 16 of the Lakers’ playoff games, averaging 9.1 points and 7.7 rebounds but playing only 24 minutes per game.

Bynum expects to return to practice Wednesday. He has sat out most of the Lakers’ recent practices to rest his knee.

Coach Phil Jackson said Bynum is likely to be limited, but should play against the Celtics. Bynum’s low-post defense could be valuable after two previous playoff series against teams that couldn’t match the Lakers’ height.

“I’m out there for whatever they ask me to do, any amount of minutes,” Bynum said. “You don’t come this far just to say, ‘OK, I can’t go any more.”’