Bresnahan’s take

Times staff writer Mike Bresnahan ties up some loose ends

before Lakers playoff games:

Q&A; of the day

Question: As a Lakers fan in L.A., I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been asked if I’m related to you by fellow Lakers fans. I’d like to ask (I know this is shameless) if there’s any way you can get me a ticket to a Finals game (I can pay for it). I know this is probably tacky, but I figured what the hell, there’s not many Bresnahans out there, maybe you can throw a favor to a fellow last namesake to witness what we know will be one of the most exciting NBA championship matchups in a long time.

--Tom Bresnahan

Answer: I’m all for helping out a member of the Bresnahan clan, but I couldn’t even have found tickets for the other Tom Bresnahan, who happens to be a cousin of mine in Pekin, Ill.

Best-case Lakers scenario

The Celtics look old, the Lakers look sprightly. Kobe Bryant, left, hears the “M-V-P” chant from the same small group that showered him with it in a Lakers victory last season in Boston. The Laker Girls even win a dance-off with the less renowned Celtics cheerleaders.

Worst-case Lakers scenario

Vladimir Radmanovic, left, orbits back to “space cadet” status by continually losing his assignment, Paul Pierce. The infamous “Beat L.A.” chant carries the day. The Celtics show why they trounced the Lakers by an average of 16 points in two regular-season games.

Even Kobe bleeds

When asked whether he had watched clips of the Lakers’ losses to Boston, Bryant said yes, because, “I don’t know, just to torture myself, I guess.”

Final thought

A full six days between games and the home-court edge should be enough for the Celtics to forget they’ve played five more playoff games than the Lakers. Celtics by a few points tonight.