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My girlfriend, of all people, was nice enough to remind me that if Kobe Bryant wins another NBA championship this year, he will then be the proud owner of five chocolate chip cookies.

Thanks Nike marketing.

It also serves as another painful reminder to Cavs' and LeBron fans that the King's cookie jar will remain empty for yet another summer.

Well, if Kobe is chomping down on Otis Spunkmeyer's finest, what are Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce gulping down? Eight ounces of Ensure?

The running joke, which has nearly run out of steam, is that this year's Celtics are over the hill and past their prime. Boston is four wins shy of breaking the hearts, not their own hips, of those who doubted them.

Using our NBA simulation engine, Whatifsports.com has simulated the 2010 NBA Finals 1001 times. The computer provided the Celtics' and Lakers' average points per game and each team's winning percentage.

2010 NBA Finals - 1001 Simulations
Matchup	Win%	AVG PPG	Series
Boston Celtics	41.5	98.5	3
Los Angeles Lakers	58.5	100.5	4

The Laker and Celtic dynasties of the past are etched in NBA history books and recalled often by the men who played on those classic franchises. But it's the rivalry between the two, East Coast meets West Coast, that truly grabs hold of the fans and tosses them right in the middle of the debate as to who is better. Heading into these 2010 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics have won 17 NBA titles in their history; the LA Lakers have won 15.

But after a seven game series, in which the home team won every game, Kobe will enjoy his 5th chocolate chip cookie and the Lakers will close within one title of the Celtics.

The Whatifsports.com NBA simulation engine predicts the Lakers will win the 2010 NBA Finals in seven games.

Game 1
Matchup	Score	WIS Interactive
Boston Celtics	99	Boxscore
Los Angeles Lakers	103

For the second time this post-season, Pau Gasol came up clutch for the Lakers.

The Spaniard knocked down a game tying turnaround jumper at the buzzer to send Game 1 to overtime Thursday night at the Staples Center. Kobe Bryant took over from there, scoring nine points in OT to bail out the Lakers and hand Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the seven game series.

All five Celtic starters finished with double-digits as they rallied to erase an eleven point halftime deficit. Kendrick Perkins played like a man possessed, scoring 17 points and ripping down 16 rebounds in the loss.

Bryant was the player of the game scoring 37 to go along with seven rebounds.

Game 2
Matchup	Score	WIS Interactive
Boston Celtics	97	Boxscore
Los Angeles Lakers	106

The Lakers trailed by five heading into the fourth quarter in Game 2. But Los Angeles quickly delivered a haymaker to the jaw of the Celtics. The Lakers rattled off a 10-0 run mid-way through the quarter to re-take the lead from Boston en route to a 106-97 win.

Six different players scored in double-digits for the Lakers, including Ron Artest who also snagged 11 rebounds.

Rajon Rondo collected a triple-double (12 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists) in the loss. The Celtics find themselves in a 2-0 hole heading back to Beantown.

Game 3
Matchup	Score	WIS Interactive
Los Angeles Lakers	91	Boxscore
Boston Celtics	100

The Celtics crept back into this series with a 100-91 win, but it wasn't a cake walk.

Los Angeles held a two point lead with four minutes to go in the game. But Boston finished with a strong kick, ending the game on a 12-1 run. Rondo provided a balanced (19 pts, 7 reb, 9 ast) attack as Paul Pierce led the C's with 25.

The Lakers were once again led by Kobe who scored 28 in the loss.

Game 4
Matchup	Score	WIS Interactive
Los Angeles Lakers	100	Boxscore
Boston Celtics	107

An offensive explosion hit the Garden in the first half of Game 4. The Celtics and Lakers combined for 120 points after 24 minutes of play.

Both defenses tightened up in the third and fourth quarters, but the two-headed monster of Piece and Kevin Garnett provided the jolt of energy the C's needed.

The two veterans combined for 51 points and shot over 50-percent from the floor (16-30 FG). The Celtics also shot over 50-percent from behind the arc as Boston evened up the series at two games apiece with a 107-100 win.

Game 5
Matchup	Score	WIS Interactive
Los Angeles Lakers	94	Boxscore
Boston Celtics	96

Normally when you are outrebounded by 17, your chances of winning are cut in half. But the Celtics somehow managed to survive Game 5 and take its first lead in the series 3-2.

Boston finished the game with the most balanced scoring attack of the series. All five starters scored in double-digits, but none finished with more than 17.

Andrew Bynum had a chance to force overtime with a jumper at the buzzer, but it clanked off the rim.

Los Angeles now faces a must-win Game 6 at the Staples Center.

Game 6
Matchup	Score	WIS Interactive
Boston Celtics	95	Boxscore
Los Angeles Lakers	104

What was a must-win for the Lakers in Game 6 is now a must-win for both ball clubs in Game 7. The Lakers took the C's behind the woodshed in the third quarter and beat them down. Los Angeles held a 19 point lead after three and avoided a last quarter surge by Boston to win 110-101.

Pau Gasol scored 18 points and grabbed 17 more rebounds, while Kobe led all scorers with 33.

The Celtics were outrebounded again, 52-40, and allowed the Lakers to shoot 50-percent (43-86) from the floor.

Game 7
Matchup	Score	WIS Interactive
Boston Celtics	96	Boxscore
Los Angeles Lakers	106

There's nothing quite like a Game 7. With everything on the line both teams raise their game to another level. Well, that's the theory. Boston must have missed the memo.

Los Angeles put an emphatic stamp on the NBA Finals with a convincing 106-96 thumping of the Celtics. The Lakers take the series 4-3 to collect their 16th NBA title in franchise history.

The Celtics only managed 15 points in the first quarter, while the Lakers shot the lights out all 48-minutes, finishing at 54-percent (44-81). Kobe ended the season with a bang, scoring 33 points to lead the Lakers to another banner season.

Kobe's only one chocolate chip cookie away from Jordan now.

Ryan Fowler is the Content Manager for Whatifsports.com. Shoot him an email at rfowler@whatifsports.com.

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