Lakers vs. Celtics

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Mister T
by Mister T
31-May-2008
 

"Beat LA!" "Beat LA!"

It seems like just yesterday that you would hear the chants by the Celtics fans at the storied Boston Garden. An arena filled with tradition. A parquet floor filled with "dead spots" that were only know to the Celtic’s players. In fact, the Boston Garden was rumored to have been the most difficult place to play, not only because of its fans or the supposed lucky leprechaun (remember Larry Bird’s steal against Isiah Thomas), but also because they would take the term "home court advantage" to another level by not providing the visitor’s locker room with warm water, heat or towels.

And now......the rivalry is renewed. The NBA, after its most dismal ratings last year when the Spurs (fundamentally sound but boooooring) defeated the Cavaliers (other than LeBron James, a bunch of "whos"), has Christmas come in June....yes it’s the Lakers versus the Celtics.

Growing up in Los Angeles, I get goose bumps thinking about this match up. This is, bar none, the greatest rivalry in all of sports. Ever since college rivals Magic Johnson and Larry Bird joined the Lakers and Celtics respectively, the stock of the NBA rose to new heights and catapulted these storied franchises to the top.

The Celtics were always the dominant team, with their record 16 championships, but the Lakers were certainly no push overs. For their Bill Russel, Bob Cousey and John Havlechic, we had our Wilt Chamberlin, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Nevertheless, the Boston mystique was a difficult one to break. The 1980's belonged to the Lakers and Celtics with the Lakers winning 5 championships and the Celtics winning 3 championships.

In 1984, the Lakers were close and pushed the Celtics to a decisive seventh game. Boston had never lost a seventh game in the NBA finals and the streak was not about to end as the Celtics beat the Lakers to capture the championship.

The following year, the teams met again in the finals. It looked as if it would be another Celtics championship run as they defeated the Lakers on Memorial Day in game 1 of the finals by a score of 148-114 (a game which has been dubbed "the Memorial-Day Massacre)." This game was a true gut check and the Lakers actually won 4 of the next 5 games to capture the championship.

Two years later, in 1987, the Lakers and Celtics once again squared off and once again, the Lakers came out victorious. Before the Lakers had the opportunity to uncork the champagne, their Hollywood coach Pat Riley declared that they would repeat as champions, a feat which had not occurred for two decades. The last team to repeat as champions....you guessed it, the Celtics.

The Lakers made good on their coaches’s guarantee and defeated the Detroit Pistons the following year to repeat as champions.

The old rivalry is filled with guts, glory and glamor. The short shorts. Magic’s hook shot over Kevin McHale and Robert Parish to win game 4. Kevin McHale’s close line of Kurt Rambis as he drove into the lane for a lay-up. Larry Bird holding onto James Worthy’s jersey like he wanted to tear it off. James Worthy diving for a loose ball to change the momentum in not only a single game, but an entire series. Kareem’s hook shot as the normally unemotional center ran down the floor pumping his fist like a kid.

For the past two decades while certain teams have dominated, such as the Bulls, Spurs and Lakers, there was never any true rivalry. Well........they’re back. The Lakers versus Celtics is everything that is right with sports. It’s nostalgic. It’s good versus evil. It’s Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vadar. It’s loud and obnoxious east coast fans versus laid back and relaxed west coast fans.

For the Celtics, Larry Bird, Kevin Mchale and Robert Parish have been replaced by Ray Allen, Paul Peirce and Kevin Garnett. For the Lakers, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy have been replaced by Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The players are different, the arenas are different, but one thing never changes.....the Celtics hate the Lakers and the Lakers hate the Celtics. Just like old times.

Balatarin
Share/Save/Bookmark

Recently by Mister TCommentsDate
Willis Reed You Are Not
2
Jun 07, 2008
more from Mister T
 
default

yeah yeah yeah....

by American Wife (not verified) on Wed Jun 18, 2008 04:58 PM PDT

You say that now... but when it comes to decorating the house and dog with orange and purple... who starts complaining...:-)


  •  
Majid

LOL

by Majid on Wed Jun 18, 2008 04:55 PM PDT

That's my two favorite NCAA teams too........

(1) Clemson Tigers, 

(2) who ever (not just playing), but beats the crap out of SC. Gamecocks!


  •  
default

Steelers (and Packers)

by American Wife (not verified) on Wed Jun 18, 2008 04:47 PM PDT

College = Clemson Tigers (or anyone playing South Carolina Gamecocks).

My husband told me I should put aside my childish ways and go all California since we're living here now... but NO.

I stand fast and firm behind the ACC.

 


  •  
Niki Tehranchi

Dallas Cowboys in NFL

by Niki Tehranchi on Wed Jun 18, 2008 04:07 PM PDT

Trojans in college


  •  
default

Football? Did you say FOOTBALL!!

by American Wife (not verified) on Wed Jun 18, 2008 02:58 PM PDT

I was feeling a little down... adrenalin fading a little after the final game last night... can you say GO CELTICS!.... anyway, as I was saying, I was a little dejected that BB was over.  But not to worry!  You have reminded me that football is right around the corner... whoo hoo! 

Are y'all all NFL or any college fans out there?


  •  
Niki Tehranchi

Mister T... Awfully Sorry :(

by Niki Tehranchi on Wed Jun 18, 2008 01:45 AM PDT

At least, only 2 months and change before football season starts!


  •  
Anonymouse

Lakers are man-whores!

by Anonymouse on Sat Jun 14, 2008 11:50 AM PDT

This year.


  •  
default

let me see....

by American Wife (not verified) on Fri Jun 13, 2008 02:40 PM PDT

hmmm... what am I going to do with all those dollar bills...lol

Great game last night... but I'm not about to count the Lakers out.  They're too damn good.  The Celtics aren't the number one defensive team in the nation for nothin'.... Go Irish!


  •  
Anonymouse

So

by Anonymouse on Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:27 PM PDT

what happened?


  •  
Anonymouse

The GAME has changed

by Anonymouse on Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:31 PM PDT

and so have the players.  They were showing the old Lakers-Celtics Finals this week and it was interesting to watch again how each point was fought out and how much they hustled to actually earn their money.  Nowadays, the players are just goofing around waiting for the game to end so they can go to the pool.

Lebron is a little different and similar to the old style of hustling. Some of it may be because he is young. 


  •  
default

Old-fashioned rivalry

by American Wife (not verified) on Fri Jun 06, 2008 11:48 AM PDT

There's been alot said about this decades old rivalry... most of it dismissive of the current teams.  I think what people are missing is the fact that it's a tradition more than anything else.  Yes, it was about Bird versus Johnson... the "white man's team" versus the Lakers.  But what people love and what keeps these rivalrys alive is the TRADITION.  I'm not sure it really matters who is actually on the court, whether in long shorts or short shorts.  I can relate it to inter-state college football and basketball rivalries.  And I can absolutely state without a doubt that it has nothing to do with specific players.  It's the GAME, Baby... the big show down... the rabid fans in their green or purple.  You want to see rivalry at it's best?  Head to a small southern college town and watch 80,000 bleed orange at Death Valley! 

I'm a good winner and a good loser... I'd just rather show off my gracious side in this series...lol


  •  
Anonymouse

Phil Jackson is slick (kinda)

by Anonymouse on Fri Jun 06, 2008 09:52 AM PDT

He may be doneh mipash-e (throwing seeds/bribes) to Celtics and letting them mount Lakers so he can find the weaknesses.  Then later he is going to adjust and stick it to Celtics.  The problem is that he doesn't have enough depth in bench to adjust as much.  I think Celtics have a better bench.  Lakers bench seem all bache khoshgel (man whores :-).

Disclaimer; I loved Lakers when Magic was there.


  •  
default

Game 1

by American Wife (not verified) on Fri Jun 06, 2008 09:31 AM PDT

to the Celtics...

My signed dollar bill is sitting on the top of the TV waiting to be joined by three more for each of the four wins it will take to beat the Lakers... with the final "big bet" to be determined... excessive pampering to be included, without a doubt.

 

 


  •  
Anonymouse

Sucks to Kobe!

by Anonymouse on Fri Jun 06, 2008 06:33 AM PDT

I know Kobe is the Supreme Leader in LA and bad mouthing him is equivalent to blasphemy but he is not liked elsewhere.  He ruined his image few years ago and this year he is trying to buy his way out.  So sucks to him!

NBA is going to get better in the next few years.  It is trying to get out of the stalemate that some of the no good left over old timers have created in the past few years.  I'm not talking about the Celtics.  Lebron is the guy who is bringing back what NBA should look like (without his tatoos ;-)


  •  
Kaveh Nouraee

To "American Wife"

by Kaveh Nouraee on Thu Jun 05, 2008 03:22 PM PDT

There was supposed to be a "strike-out" through the word "seven"... what did I do wrong?

I'll tell you what did wrong. You're rooting for the Celtics!!!

LOL


  •  
default

Dang...

by American Wife (not verified) on Thu Jun 05, 2008 01:40 PM PDT

There was supposed to be a "strike-out" through the word "seven"... what did I do wrong?  Hope you get the point nonetheless...

:-)


  •  
default

Excuse me?

by American Wife (not verified) on Thu Jun 05, 2008 01:36 PM PDT

What's this talk about fetching you GUYS a beer?  What about ME?   I'm right there front and center too.  If I'm going to spend all my time fetching beer and pretzels for my man (like I USUALLY do), who's going to cater to my needs?  I'm the Irish-American pulling for my beloved Celtics!  Bad enough my man is a Lakers fan and I've got to sign a dollar bill saying "Lakers Rule" every time I lose a bet... irregardless of the subject of the bet... now I'm expected to obey his every whim during the seven four games it's going to take the CELTICS to whip your butt!

I don't think so. 


  •  
Kaveh Nouraee

Majid

by Kaveh Nouraee on Wed Jun 04, 2008 09:59 AM PDT

I can help you get it patented....

Of course, manufacturing will have to be done in China to minimize production costs and maximize profit per unit......

Then again, with the quality control issues that are sure to occur with manufacturing these things in China, there will be a need to set up tech support, so that means going to India......

That's about $1 million spent before even the first drop of beer reaches my lips!!

Screw it...I'll just get a keg and a big straw. Its cheaper.

This is all woman's fault. If they knew to leave us alone during the NBA Finals this wouldn't be an issue!!  :-)


  •  
Majid

Kaveh

by Majid on Tue Jun 03, 2008 04:50 PM PDT

NAH.......LOL

I'll send you a picture of the most inovative beer mug That I invented myself, It's a beer mug with a bycycle cling bell attached to the handle, and I just cling ! and the cold beer is right there, without  even taking my eyes off of the screen....no muss no fuss !

I bet you would LOVE to have one of those! That's a guuuuy's thing....LOL 

 


  •  
Kaveh Nouraee

Majid.....

by Kaveh Nouraee on Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:21 PM PDT

I will have a dorm fridge plugged in next to my couch!!! I can fit a small microwave on top of it too!!


  •  
Majid

Kaveh ?

by Majid on Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:03 AM PDT

I loved your idea...LOL      but...

If you're seeking a TRO, then who'll fetch you beer while you're watching the game?

GO LAKERS !


  •  
Kaveh Nouraee

Let's Go Lakers!!!

by Kaveh Nouraee on Sat May 31, 2008 11:52 AM PDT

I have informed my wife that I am seeking a temporary restraining order against her on the following days:

Game 1 (6/5), Game 2 (6/7), Game 3 (6/9), Game 4 (6/11), and if necessary, Games 5, 6 & 7 (6/13, 6/15, and 6/17).

Depending on the score, I may permit her to approach me during halftime.


  •  
default

Go Celtics!

by L-Train (not verified) on Sat May 31, 2008 09:04 AM PDT

It can never be as good as it was mainly because the new stars don't have same attachment to their teams and cities. Unlike Magic, Worthy and Kareem, who spent the majority, if not all of their years on the Lakers, only Koby is a true Laker this time around. Same for Boston, with Pierce being the only true Celtic. But it's still the Purple & Gold versus the Celtic Green, which is enough to get me pumped up!


  •  
ebi amirhosseini

Dear Mister T !!!

by ebi amirhosseini on Sat May 31, 2008 07:34 AM PDT

Thanks for your lovely post.

Back in Iran,in 70's we who loved NBA;grew up with these Magic players;who you mentioned. Here & now,I love both teams;don't know why!?,BUT!! for sake of old/ nostolgic memories :

GO CELTICS !

P.S.

I remember this banner from Celtics fans in 70's:

God, Christ, Havlicek


  •  
Niki Tehranchi

Go Lakers!

by Niki Tehranchi on Sat May 31, 2008 12:48 AM PDT

I am very excited for this championship :)


  •