Update: Kobe to guard Rondo, Bynum to start

[Roy Hobbs]

Andrew Bynum will start in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night despite a troublesome right knee.

"He's doing pretty good," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "He said it felt good today and he's ready to go."

Los Angeles is hoping to increase Bynum's minutes against Boston. He averaged just 18 minutes per game in the Western Conference Finals.

"I said that we hope we get over half a game," Jackson said. "We're looking for that."

The Lakers expect Kobe Bryant to begin the NBA Finals guarding Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.

"[It will] probably [be] Kobe, but if we get cross-matched, Fish [Derek Fisher] will be on him a lot," Los Angeles coach Phil Jackson said.

Rondo is one of the main reasons Boston is making their second Finals appearance in three years.

He is averaging 16.7 points, 10.0 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.06 steals in 41.4 minutes per game in the playoffs.

Link.

[rjsuperfly66]

No surprises there.

Begs me to ask the follow-up tho...

Who guards Kobe?
Who guards Pau?

[celticinorlando]

ray starts on kobe...i would put perk on gasol to start

[BballTim]

No surprises there.

Begs me to ask the follow-up tho...

Who guards Kobe?
Who guards Pau?

  I'm surprised they'd start out with Kobe on Rondo. What if it doesn't work out for them? What's the backup plan to cover him? Fisher?