VAN GUNDY SEES LAKER DYNASTY

By MARC BERMAN

LISTEN UP: Former KnicksNew York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy predicts
the Lakers will bump off the Celtics in the NBA finals.
June 3, 2008 -- Sl-o-o-o-o-w down, Jeff.

Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy not only likes the Lakers to take
out Boston for the NBA championship but sees the makings of another
purple-and-gold dynasty.

Van Gundy spoke on an ABC conference call yesterday to promote the
tradition-drenched Celtics-Lakers finals matchup beginning Thursday at
the new Boston Garden. He says LA is too powerful offensively for even
his buddy, Celtics associate coach/defensive guru Tom Thibodeau, to
stop.

Van Gundy envisions a glorious Laker future with Kobe Bryant, Pau
Gasol and Lamar Odom still in their primes, an up-and-coming point
guard in Jordan Farmar and a team doing it without budding injured
star center Andrew Bynum.

"My pick, I think the Lakers are the most talented team in the league,
and they're missing their third or fourth best player in Bynum," said
Van Gundy, who will join Knicks broadcaster Mike Breen and Mark
Jackson for the 11th finals meeting between two storied rivals.

"So when they get [Bynum] back next year, I think they can be a
dynasty. The Lakers will win it this year over a very good Celtic
team."

Van Gundy has LA in six or seven, winning it on the road. "The Lakers
have the best offense," he said. "They've ratcheted up their defense
in the playoffs and they have the ultimate closer in Kobe Bryant."

The fearsome Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce will
have something to say about Van Gundy's prediction. Perhaps Van Gundy
is putting the pressure on Phil Jackson. The two coaches sparred
verbally when Van Gundy guided the Knicks and Jackson led the Bulls.
He often referred to Jackson as "Big Chief Triangle."

Van Gundy is not discounting Thibodeau, his former Knicks assistant
whose legend is growing as a defensive taskmaster and budding head
coach. Van Gundy called the Celtics "the best defensive team in the
NBA."

"It's a great contrast," Van Gundy said. "It should be a compelling
series. Defensively, Boston has quite a number of challenges. I think
you have to guard all five spots of the Lakers. They don't put anyone
out there who can't shoot or pass."

Queens product Odom "is the the key," Van Gundy added. "You can only
do so much to limit Bryant."

The Lakers, roughly 1-2 favorites, lost both times to Boston this
season but the meetings came in 2007 before the Gasol trade.