Lakers-Celtics Meet in Finals: It's a Good Thing, but Don't Expect a Rivalry

Enjoy the classic Lakers-Celtics games on ESPN Classic while you can.

Because if you're expecting that type of drama from this year's NBA Finals, you've got another thing coming.

Yes, this is one of the most anticipated match-ups between two of the NBA's most storied franchises.

Yes, the ratings from the Lakers-Celtics series will make last year's ratings look like a season of Cavemen or Homeboys from Outer Space.

And yes, this series will have more star-power than last year with Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce.

As great as this series will be to watch, there's no reason to hype it up solely because of the classic series back in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

There won't be any wrestling moves in this series, like the Kevin McHale clothesline to Kurt Rambis in the 1984 Finals.

No intense trash talking between a handful of Hall of Fame players. Of course—Bill Russell, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Magic, Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish won't be scoring the points.

And as unimportant as this may be, there will be no short-shorts worn in this series.

Will this series be a good thing for the NBA? Nope, it's going to be a great thing for the league. 

I may be wrong about this—but until I am proven wrong, I stand by my assessment.

So in closing, don't believe the hype.

Little Known Facts About This Series

• This year will be the first time the regular season MVP has played in the NBA Finals since 2003. (Tim Duncan) 

• I was two-years old the last time these two teams met in the Finals.

• The last time the top seed in both conferences faced each other in the Finals was in 2000, when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Indiana Pacers 4-2.

• If the Lakers win this series, Phil Jackson will become the all-time leader in championships won by a head coach. He is currently tied with Red Auerbach.

• This will be the Lakers fifth appearence in the Finals this decade. Their record is currently 3-1.

Michael Whittenberg, a senior writer for bleacherreport.com, is also one of two NBA Community Leaders.