Lakers vs. Celtics: A Rivalry Renewed

For the first time since 1987, the Celtics are headed back to the NBA Finals, this time commanded by an entirely different "Big Three". The players are different, but the scenario is the same—two arch rivals battling it out to become the team that takes it all and can call themselves World Champions.

The rivalry between the Celtics goes way back to the 1960's, to the days of Bill Russell and Jerry West. Back then, the Lakers and the Celtics dominated the rest of the league, meeting in the finals six times in eight years. Each one was more exciting than the next, but none more memorable than the 1969 series, the last series of Bill Russel's career.

At the time of the 1969 series, the Celtics were an aging team, and after taking the last five finals' meetings between these two teams, most people thought it was time to throw the towel.

Bill Russell was nearing the end of his career, while Bob Cousy had already retired. The series began how most would have expected, with the Lakers taking the first two games.

However, Game Three in Boston became the turning point of the series. After taking it with a buzzard-beater finish, the Celtics went on the win Game Four as well. The two teams split Games Five and Six, which created the need for a deciding Game Seven in Los Angeles.

Game Seven of the 1969 NBA Finals is one of the most famous games in NBA history to this day. It was a close game, with the Celtics leading at the beginning and the Lakers, fueled by Jerry West, storming back near the end.

The game went down to the final seconds, and ended with a pull-up jumper by Don Nelson which rolled in off the back of the rim to give the Celtics their 11th title in 13 years, and the sixth championship in the Lakers/Celtics rivalry.

However, this was not the end of this epic match-up, for these two teams would meet again three times in the 1980's. Then, the Celtics, lead by the original "Big Three" Parish, Bird and McHale, were matched up against the formidable combination of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, and Bob McAdoo.

The first match up of the 1980's went much like the previous six meetings in the finals between these two teams. It was a close series, with Boston once again taking the trophy home. However, the Lakers had taken enough sitting down and demolished the Celtics in 1985 and 1987 finals to take home two titles and reduce the series to 2-6 for the Celtics.

Now for the first time since their epic match-ups in the 1960's and 1980's, the Lakers and the Celtics are set to meet up in the 2008 Finals once again. This time, the Lakers currently hold a two-game streak in the overall historic series. The Lakers, carried by determined Kobe Bryant, will try to keep the streak alive when he and his team face off against Boston's new "Big Three", Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

Who ultimately will take home the Larry O'Brien trophy and take the win in this historic match up between two of the greatest teams in the NBA? Only time will tell.

Let games begin!