McKie

	Fisher

Point Guard: Derek Fisher vs. Aaron McKie
Fisher has been obscene from the perimeter in the postseason, mainly because the pressure Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal put on defenses has given him wide-open looks. The Sixers will have no choice but to give him a lot of those same looks, though Iverson will likely get a lot of defensive spins against him. McKie only plays the point until Larry Brown can get Eric Snow in the game; then McKie goes to small forward. Bryant has wrecked opposing offenses by attacking their point guard during the playoffs; don't be surprised if he harasses McKie as well. The Lakers know that after Iverson, McKie is Philly's most important offensive player. He's earned their respect. And they'll do whatever they can to shut him down.

EDGE: Sixers

	Iverson

	Bryant

Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant vs. Allen Iverson
An actual matchup of superstar players. Even though the Sixers won't likely use Iverson on Bryant defensively, Bryant will frequently match up against AI. Kobe has had good and bad days against the Answer; he locked Iverson up in Philly a year and a half ago, but the last time the two teams met, Iverson got off for 40. It's easy to say "push Iverson left," harder to do. But Bryant can do it, and with his six-inch height advantage, he's able to smother Iverson's fadeaways. It's hard to imagine Kobe won't be motivated to the max going up against the reigning MVP. But Iverson has established new standards for toughness this season. He has gotten pounded time and again and come back for more. He has had huge games for the Sixers when they needed them most. Equally importantly, he trusts his teammates and will give up the ball now to open shooters. He will have to distribute even better than he shoots if Philly is going to have any chance of an upset.

EDGE: Lakers

	Jones

	Fox

Small Forward: Rick Fox vs. Jumaine Jones
Jones is playing what the Lakers call "cheaters' minutes;" the opening few of each half. He's not afraid to shoot open shots, and he can finish in the open court, but Fox has been outstanding defensively in the playoffs, shutting down Peja Stojakovic and closing out on the Spurs' three-point shooters. Jones isn't likely to be a factor, especially on the road, but things will probably change when the Sixers play Snow and Iverson in the backcourt and move McKie to small forward. Because Philly doesn't get a lot of scoring from the frontcourt, Fox won't have to dig to double team the Sixers' big men and recover. Offensively, Fox is an opportunity scorer, flowing to the open spots in the triangle for jumpers and scoring in transition and on putbacks.

EDGE: Lakers

	Hill

	Grant

Power Forward: Horace Grant vs. Tyrone Hill
After having to guard Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber and Tim Duncan in succession, Grant finally gets a bit of a break. Hill will occasionally post up or shoot a baseline jumper, but he's not near the threat on offense that the others were. He will rebound if you don't put a body on him, though, and that's how he can best help the Sixers-get them second and third shots with offensive boards. It wouldn't be a shock if the Lakers put Grant on Dikembe Mutombo defensively a few times, either, to keep O'Neal out of potential foul trouble. Nor would it be a surprise if the Sixers double off of Grant to try and slow O'Neal, giving Grant open jump shots. He's been hitting those for 13 years now.

EDGE: Lakers

	Mutombo

	O'Neal

Center: Dikembe Mutombo vs. Shaquille O'Neal
George Karl got up and huffed off the stage before answering the question, but the answer was obvious: Mutombo, the man Hill said wouldn't be much of a factor in the Eastern Conference finals, was the difference in that series, averaging 16.6 points, 15.6 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. He was able to clang across the lane before launching ugly but effective sky hooks and drop steps. That will not happen against Los Angeles, which has the ultra-quick O'Neal and very effective help defenders who'll drop in the lane and wreak havoc any time Mutombo puts the ball on the floor. O'Neal won't need any help guarding Mutombo in all likelihood. At the other end, Mutombo is a force as always. Defensively, he's a better help defender coming from off the ball than an on-ball position defender. O'Neal manhandled David Robinson, who's quicker than the Mount, and it's hard to see how he won't have similar success against Philly. He's just too fast, especially coming across the lane, and he's too strong, even for the 7-2, 260-pound Mutombo. Would Philly sacrifice Hill (or maybe Todd MacCullough) against O'Neal, leaving Mutombo to come and help? It may not make much difference, but it's something to try. Philly's best hope-and it's not an idle one-is for officiating to be a factor. If the refs call a game or two tight, as they did the last time Mutombo, then in Atlanta, played the Lakers, the Sixers could have a chance.

EDGE: Lakers

Bench: Raja Bell, Matt Geiger Todd MacCulloch, Kevin Ollie, Eric Snow vs. Devean George, Ron Harper, Robert Horry, Tyronn Lue, Mark Madsen, Brian Shaw
Philly is greatly injured here by the loss of George Lynch, who usually started, which meant McKie could come off the bench and provide scoring against reserves. Now, points are hard to come by, though Bell-who the Laker coaches literally didn't know was on the Sixers' roster-scored 10 points in Game Seven, and Snow came through with two huge buckets in Game Five. MacCullough played well when matched with Mutombo in a Twin Towers look against the Bucks. He's got great hands and a deft touch around the basket. Along with the oft-injured Geiger, he gives the Sixers 12 fouls in reserve to use against Shaw. Horry has shown he can guard just about everyone. His versatility at both ends of the floor makes him one of the most important playoff performers in the league, and he rarely disappoints in the postseason. The Lakers don't expect much scoring out of their reserves; they want tempo. They took apart the Spurs' bench in the Western Finals, though.

EDGE: Even

Coach: Larry Brown vs. Phil Jackson
Two of the all-time greats, they don't have much of a history with one another. Brown passed Jackson over for an assistant coach's job in New Jersey in the early 80s; one guesses that Jackson doesn't mind now. Both are outstanding at series preparation and even better at adjustments from game to game. Both will use the media to make points to their team, to the league and anybody else. Both have shown an ability to modify their game plans to accommodate star players. Both have a deep love for the game that shows in their demands to play the team game and play the right way. Their teams reflect each man's personality. A coaching clinic.

EDGE: Even

Intangibles
The Sixers fight. And fight. And fight. Their ability to find a way to win games when they're in the midst of controversies and injuries has made them the best team in the league for most of the season. They have won without each of their top players at times this season. They relish being Iverson's "supporting cast." They believe in themselves and they can win on the road. They will truly believe at 9 p.m EDT Wednesday that they can beat the Lakers. Unfortunately, belief is not enough. The Lakers are chasing history and even though they won't admit it, the chance to go unbeaten throughout the playoffs is an incredible carrot. They would love to distinguish themselves further from the Showtime Lakers and this is one way to do it. Even if they don't sweep Philadelphia, they should dominate the series. The Sixers just don't have anybody to guard Bryant, and it's hard to see Mutombo being the defensive factor against Shaq that he was against the east's centers. The Lakers are the NBA's version of the Borg in the new Star Trek franchise. Resistance is futile.

The Pick
Lakers in five.