Pivot Points: L.A. Lakers, Boston Celtics Are NBA's Best, Who Reigns Supreme?

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics are by far the best franchises in the history of the NBA, and they have proven this through their championship pedigree, their Hall of Fame players, and the manner in which their organizations are run.

Between them they have amassed 32 NBA championships—Boston accounts for 17 of those and Los Angeles has earned 15—and have consistently churned out players that have changed the game.

Although it would almost be impossible to rank the teams based on the parallel lines that their destinies have run, it can be fun to speculate on which team has the overall edge in the battle for the best team of all time.

The Celtics own 17 championships, but the Lakers have participated in 31 out of 60 possible NBA Finals and have won 15 of those opportunities, which is impressive considering that it accounts for 50 percent of every NBA Finals ever played.

More amazing is the fact that the Lakers have only missed the playoffs five times in the history of their organization, which is an example of consistency at its finest and the commitment it takes to achieve that feat.

Boston can counter with an amazing streak of eight consecutive NBA championships, a mark that stands as one of sport's all-time greatest achievements and will possibly never be challenged or even approached.

The players that have donned the colors of the respective franchises are not only legendary, but in some cases have been partly responsible for the evolution of the game itself.

Although Boston's Bill Russell was under-sized for the role, he is perhaps the most dominant defensive player to ever have played the game and changed the way in which centers play defense.

Larry Bird was one of the more versatile players to ever play the forward position, and his knowledge of the game, coupled with his ability to excel despite his lack of athleticism, endeared him to fans across the globe.

The Lakers have had some dominant players of their own. Just as the Celtics had Russell, Los Angeles is able to hold Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the same type of manner as centers who helped shape the game.

If Russell defined the standard for defense, then it can be said that Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar did the same for offense, as they rank as the premier scorers of all time from the center position.

Magic Johnson is regarded in most circles as the greatest point guard to ever dish an assist, and his epic battles with Bird and the Celtics in the 80s have become a part of NBA lore.

What the duel between Johnson and Bird did more than anything was to help resurrect what was seen as the dying product of professional basketball and make the game more enjoyable for a wider variety of people.

It can be argued that Bird and Johnson had perhaps the biggest impacts ever on the game because of their excellence during a time when the NBA was struggling to remain relevant in the midst of a shrinking fan base.

The tides of time have rolled over those players, but only the names have changed because even today the Lakers and Celtics remain the standard by which all other franchises are judged.

Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and a host of other players now carry the aura of greatness that exists within both organizations, and they are the prohibitive favorites to reprise their fierce rivalry in the Finals this year.

Overall I would say that the Lakers have the most dominant franchise due to their consistency and ability to remain competitive throughout the course of time.

Boston had to wait a period of 22 years between championships, while the Lakers have won a total of four this decade alone and have participated in at least one NBA Finals in every decade since the 60s.

My opinion may contain some bias, but it is hard to overlook the continued relevance of the Lakers and their Finals' participation, despite the small advantage of championships that Boston holds.

What is certain is they are the best professional basketball franchises ever assembled, and their achievements are so historically entwined that distinguishing them is a highly subjective but entertaining debate that will rage on forever.