Boston Celtics: “I (Love To) Hate the Lakers”
Some of the biggest names in NBA history have come from the Lakers or the Celtics, from George Mikan to Kevin Garnett, and from Derek Fischer to Dennis Johnson. In every decade of the NBA these two teams have exchanged blood, sweat, and tears to prove who is better, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics.
Before the referee tosses the ball into the air for a Celtics/Lakers game, everyone who is watching knows that this game will be played with toughness from each player, and no one will let his match up get the best of him.
Before the Celtics were known as the “team to beat”, the Minneapolis Lakers were in charge of the NBA, winning 3 championships in the Early 1950’s. Later in the 1950’s the Lakers moved the franchise to California becoming the first team to move to the west coast. Even though the Lakers had star players like Jerry West and Elgin Baylor they lost each of their eight finals appearances.
During the late 1950’s through the mid 1960’s the Celtics ruled the hardwood and won 11 NBA titles in 13 years and also winning 8titles in a row. During that streak the Celtics and the Lakers met for the NBA finals 5 times, with the Celtics winning 4 out of their 5 match ups.
Theses two teams renewed their rivalry in the 1980’s, better know as Bird vs. Magic era. But it was not until their second NBA Finals meeting that these two teams were compared more as teams and not just their respective best players.
The Lakers developed the infamous “show-time” style of play that was almost unstoppable when Magic Johnson had the ball on fast-break. The Celtics had a strength of their own. With the most talented and most feared front line in NBA history, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish each player brought their own talents to the table and formed “The Big Three”. The Celtics tough and gritty style of play was the perfect contrast to the Lakers high energy, Flashy style of play. The 1980’s Lakers and Celtics met in the NBA finals three times with the Lakers taking two championships and the Celtics only winning one, but these two teams were still the most dominant teams in the NBA. During the 80’s the Lakers won 5 titles and the Celtics won 3. Though the Lakers won more championships during this era these two teams were somewhat tied in terms of which team “won” the 1980’s.
After the Bird-era for the Celtics, the team went into decline and started to rebuild. The Lakers were still competitive but lost out to the new face of the NBA, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The rise of the Bulls sent both of the once headline franchises into the back light and during, the mid 1990’s, the Lakers and Celtics were both in rebuilding mode.
Success came quickly for the Lakers who traded for the most dominant big man of all- time Shaquille O’Neal. The Lakers also traded for the 13th pick in the 1996 draft, 18 year old Kobe Bryant. During the late 1990’s and early 2000’s the Lakers were by far the more dominant team, winning three championships in a row which solidified their dominance as the better team.
The Celtics on the other hand were clearly in rebuilding mode, but with the 10th pick in the 1998 Draft the Celtics selected the scoring Paul Pierce. Pierce was an experienced senior from the University of Kansas, but that did not mean he was ready to make a big impact for the Celtics. As the season went on and Pierce started to grow it was clear that he was the center piece to build around during the time of decline.
After winning the Championships the Lakers had a brief decline between 2004 and 2007. With rumors of feuds between the two stars, Shaq and Kobe, the two split up and Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat. All of the burdens of the franchise were dropped onto Bryant’s shoulders and he was forced to put up big numbers every night just to keep them competitive. It wasn’t until all the pieces came together and the Lakers traded Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and two 1st round picks for the efficient big-man Pau Gasol. Also the Lakers resigned once starting Lakers point guard, Derek Fischer. That same summer the Celtics signed Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to Form the Celtics new “Big Three”.
More recently these two teams have renewed their rivalry meeting up 2 times in the last 3years. In 2008 the Lakers and Celtics met for the NBA finals and the rivalry was officially renewed. Going into the playoffs the Celtics were rolling and fed off of the play of their new acquisitions Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The Celtics won the series in 6 games not much to the Celtics surprise who were the league favorite all season.
Last year during the 2010 NBA finals these two teams met again, but this time Kobe Bryant was looking for revenge and vowed to beat the Celtics as payback for the 2008 loss. The series was close and until game 7 it seemed like neither team could win 2 games in a row. The Lakers ended up winning Game 7, due to the exciting play of their entire team. The new century rivalry is now tied1-1 during this renewed rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers.
The history between theses two teams is amazing. Imagine what the NBA would be like if these two teams never existed, or these great games never happened, or if some of the greatest players in NBA history played for a different team. As a Celtic fan it is impossible for me to imagine a NBA without the Lakers, and for Lakers fans they can’t imagine a NBA without the Celtics. Without a rival, as a fan and a player, the game is less exciting and it just means more when you lie down and say to yourself that you beat them.
In the NBA, over time, rivalries die out because one team becomes far superior to the other, but not with these two teams their rivalry will live on forever and ever, even if one team is better than the other, the other team will always jump at the challenge of beating the Lakers/Celtics. That is why as a Boston Celtic fan I can say I love to hate the Lakers.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
