``Everybody wanted the rematch,'' said Vujacic yesterday after practice. ``We wanted to play the Celtics no matter what. You can't pick your opponent in the Finals and they were not good enough to make it this year. Orlando plays smart, plays good Basketball, and they deserve to be in the Finals. The best team in the East and the best team from the West, that's what we are looking at right now.

``The green thing is done. Everyone wanted the rematch and was talking about Lakers- Celtics again, back to back. We've just got to win it first, but I don't like green anyway. I did wear [green] on one of the [recent] road trips. [The Celtics ] were eliminated, so I didn't care.''

The Lakers expressed hope early this season that they would get a chance for revenge. But with Kevin Garnett out for the entire playoffs and Leon Powe playing just two postseason games because of a knee injury, Boston eventually lost in seven games in the second round.

``As far as a reaction to the Celtics being eliminated, I don't think I had one really,'' said Lakers guard Derek Fisher. ``It was unfortunate for them that they got hit with the injuries that they did and they didn't really get a chance to defend their title fully. At the same time, I thought they stood up pretty strong for a team missing Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe. There were a lot of personnel changes that they had to go through.

``They were one game away from being in the Eastern Conference finals. I think Doc Rivers and those guys are to be commended on the season that they had, based on what they went through.''

Said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, ``We fully anticipated the champions would come out of the East. That's something you anticipate. But with the loss of Kevin Garnett, we understood that the hurdle that they would have to climb . . . But they still were very valiant playing a seven-game series with [the Magic].''

Kobe Bryant and Fisher each have won three titles with the Lakers. But no other Lakers entered the series against the Celtics with Finals experience.

``This time around, the guys know what to expect and are ready to roll,'' said Bryant.

The Magic have only two players with Finals experience, reserve guards Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue. Johnson played for the Nets team that lost to the Lakers in 2002 and the Spurs in 2003. Lue won championships with the Lakers in 2000 and '01. The Magic start a 23-year-old at center in Dwight Howard and a rookie at shooting guard in Courtney Lee.

``So many things go on in the Finals that can easily get you off track and easily get you distracted,'' Johnson said. ``The team that eliminates those distractions and takes care of their business away from the court will allow for success on the court. You just try to help guys by giving insight to getting their stuff done early as far as tickets, travel, hotel, leisure time, get all that stuff out of the way so when it's time to concentrate on the ballgame everyone is putting themselves in a position to be successful between the lines.''

Said Lee, ``The vets are doing a good job of sharing their experiences and giving us tips and info on what to do and how to handle things.''

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears @globe.com