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.