Does this game really have to start at 9? The fretting, the pacing, the worrying, the shot after shot of tequila - can't the NBA string this brutal and glorious anticipation out for three more hours? How about midnight basketball?

No, it's going to start at 9. Or 9:07 or 9:15 or whatever. The Celtics and the Lakers are finally going to play basketball. It's almost impossible to sift through all the previews and projections, but we've found a few highlights: The LA Times and Globe bloggers are going back and forth. Steve Weinman at CelticsBlog has a good lengthy preview. Bill Simmons digs into Phil Jackson's book to talk about everything associated with the Finals (jaw-dropping revelation: "Word on the street is that Jack Nicholson dropped $35,000 per ticket for two courtsides for Game 1." Again: Do NOT cheer him tonight, and let's find out who sold those seats and bring back tarring and feathering.)

The LA Times goes to a Malibu psychologist to provide a game plan for the Lakers, and kick The Dude out of their beach community. They also note that Phil Jackson has much more experience rolling the ball out on the floor towards Jordan and Shaq than Doc Rivers does. From back home, here is the Herald preview, and Bob Ryan recaps the Ainge era. ESPN is almost unanimous in awarding the title to LA. Finally, the Onion breaks down the series.

(Also, Dick Bavetta is the lead ref for Game One. Good thing no one took us up on our offer to bet the farm on Steve Javie, huh?)

The Sox reclaimed first place, stifling the Rays 5-1. Josh Beckett was solid, but got pulled after six because Terry Francona didn't want to risk him on the sloppy muddy mound any longer than he had to. Instead, he risked Delcarmen, Okajima and Hansen. Each pitched a scoreless inning. The Sox rallied for three in the third - more than enough - on RBI hits by Ellsbury, Drew, and Manny. The game has been moved to 6:05 tonight, and everyone will be rooting for a lot of strikes and a 1-0, 2:23 game so they can get home for basketball. Jon Lester still has a shot at two straight no-hitters at home.

The people of Detroit can put their ECF loss out of their minds quickly, as they can now celebrate the Red Wings taking the Stanley Cup home for the fourth time in eleven seasons. Big Brown drew the #1 post for the Belmont this weekend; he'll be gunning for the first Triple Crown in thirty years, but there are nine naysayers trying to deny him.