Greatest Rivalry In Sports Celtics Lakers
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If you don't get this rivalry you shouldn't watch basketball. Celtics Lakers is pure basketball, It's Russell vs Wilt, Havlicek vs West, Cowens vs Kareem, McHale vs Rambis, and of course Larry Legend vs Magic.The rivalry rose back to the pinnacle of sports in 2008, when the Celtics defeated the Lakers in 6 games. After taking a year off for Kevin Garnett to heal up, it is back again in full force. This series features two of the best clutch shooters in NBA history Ray Allen the best 3 point shooter in todays game. Against Kobe Bryant a cold blooded clutch shooter, that has the admiration of NBA commishoner David Stern, who blushes when he hears Kobe's name mentioned. This match up also squares off 2008 Finals MVP Paul the Truth Pierce against defensive stopper Ron Artest, and KG vs Gasol. The match up that has the most disparity is at point guard where Derek Fisher has the daunting task of trying to stop Rajon Rondo. While Fisher is clearly over matched, the Lakers are counting on him to keep Rondo somewhat uncomfortable, otherwise this could be a very short series. The Lakers are the media favorites again, however the same media picked both the Cavs and the Magic over the Celtics, so take it for what it's worth. Both teams have a strong bench. The Lakers have the versatile Lamar Odom, and the extremely athletic Shannon Brown. While the Celtics answer with Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Nate Robinson, Michael Finley, and Tony Allen. Whenever this rivalry is brought up, it spurs arguments over who's better, Bird or Magic, Red or Phil, along with countless more comparisons. Evan Hollywood is divided by this rivalry with the Lakers having the support of Jack Nicholson, Diane Cannon, Andy Dick, Paul Reubens,Tim Donaghy, and David Stern. While the Celtics have Matt Damon, Mark and Donnie Wahlberg, Dane Cook, Maria Menounos, Ellen Pompeo, Tom Brady, Steven Tyler, and Dennis Leary. What we have here is the two most storied franchises in NBA history. The Boston Celtics have 17 NBA Championships, while the Los Angeles Lakers have 10. The Lakers have 5 additional championships if you count their days in Minneapolis, however it's not like we credit the Oklahoma Thunder with the championship that they won in Seattle. The series tips off Thursday at 9pm Eastern time. This is not a Finals you want to miss.
Who will win the 2010 NBA Finals?
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Thanks Micky Dee, The Celtics are angry also, all the media is picking against them again.
Go Lakers ! You know I love this classic matchup Truth ! I expect we will have alot of fun goin back and forth. The Lakers will take this in seven !
THANKS Tony, I obviously can't agree with your pick. But I appreciate you supporting your team. This is a great rivalry. I am taking the Celtics in five, but that does not mean that it will be easy I would not be surprised to see it go six.
I have loved the Lakers since Wilt played there, but I have to root for Boston and Kansas alum Paul Pierce. I also have to root for Rajon Rondo, who only two years ago had everyone wondering if he was good enough to play point guard on a championship team. Question answered.
It will be interesting to watch the play of Rasheed Wallace. Wallace knows what it takes to win, and with another title within reach I am wondering if he can turn back the clock and help inside against the Lakers' big men. Their inside play was the difference in their Western conferences matchups for LA, but Boston can match them in the middle if Garnett and Wallace don't shoot too many jump shots. They have to shoot some to open things up for Pierce and Rondo to drive, but they need to get physical down low, also.
Pierce, Allen and Garnett are still young enough to make for another good series, and with the addition of Wallace and the improved play of Big Baby and Rondo, the Celtics should still have enough to beat Kobe and the Lakers. (The X-Factor will be what Ron Artest does, both on offense and defensively vs. Pierce....)
This will be a fun series to watch and I am ready.
Mike
Its looking like your poll is a little biased??? So i will give you my real prediction here. I think that the Lakers will win it in 6. I think that the lakers are a way better team than the old celtics.
As for best rivelry, I think that lakers-celtics are great. But here are a few more that I really like.
pakers-bears
giants-dodgers
giants-A's
Just to name a few
@ nick ya gotta throw in the Red Sox/Yankees too !
Thanks Micky, Tony, Nick.
Those are all great Rivalries, but when was the last time the Bears and Packers played a significant playoff game. None of these other great Rivalries have the consistent stating power of Celtics Lakers. Outside of the 90's they met for championships every decade. The Celtics not only hold the edge in total championships, but also in head to head match ups in the finals 9 to 2. Phil Kobe, Wilt Jerry west, all have come up empty against Boston. That being said this should be a great series. I do think the Lakers have no one who comes close to matching Rondo's speed. The Celtics also have a better bench, and 4 automatic hall of fame players. The Lakers have one, a really good one in Kobe, however in head to head match ups it's Paul Pierce that won the Finals MVP. There is a green storm cloud looming over LA. If you listen tomarrow you can still hear Johny Most "Rondo steals the ball!"
Hi T from T, Glad to see you are still doing it and so often.
Take care, Amy
Truth, Nickg480 NEEDS TO COMMENT ABOUT SOMETHING HE IS A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT. IF YOUR ARE KOBE OR LEBRON (AKA little dave) STERN IS ON HIS KNEES AND WILLING TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY. THE SHITCALLS GIVING THE LAKERS A 15 TO 20 FREETHROW ADVANTAGE MAY OBVIOUSLY EXTEND THIS SERIES AS YOU ARE RIGHT AGAIN TRUTH. HELL OTHERWISE WE ARE LOOKING AT A SWEEP UNLESS BOSTON BEATS THEMSELVES BY SHOOTING 30%. TRUTH, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO PUT SOMEBODY WISE.
YOU SEE NICKG480, TRUTH FROM TRUTH IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. IF YOU CANT RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS YOU NEED TO STAY ON THE PORCH SON. YOU ARE WELCOME BACK ANY TIME AFTER YOU CHOOSE TO INFORM YOURSELF, WHILE STAYING A LAKER FAN OF COURSE.
STEVEN RANDALL
Kevin Garnett must go inside and post up Pau Gasol. The Celtics need an inside presence, and Garnett has to provide it. He has got to give up the turnaround jumpers that leave him out of position to rebound.
C'mon Boston, hang in there!
Mike
The Lakers wanted this one more, Pau Gasol is a bitch for floping on every single play, I have to believe he floped out when he was born. That being said the Lakers played smarter and fought harder. Boston made a nice run then turned 3 straight plays. Well I picked Boston in 5, I guess they need to win 4 straight.
Thanks Mike you are correct. I felt Rasheed played better than KG. KG hit some shots, but was too indecisive. Boston beat them selves, and that is not to say LA didn't play well. Boston is simply better than they displayed.
Thanks Mystic Amy.
Thanks Steven
Well Truth even though we did take the first one I have no doubt that Boston will be more then ready for the next game.One other thing I like about these two teams , whenever other NBA teams win their conference there is champagne and celebration. Not with the Lakers or Boston to them they just did their shift at work , the job is not done yet. That is why this is one of the best rivalrys in sports.
Thanks Tony, you are right, the Celtics and the Lakers don't celebrate anything other than Championships. Your team played well tonight. I do believe my team will back angry at themselves, and with more of a sense of urgency.
I like BIRD so I am rooting for the Celtics, been a fan of them ever since I was a child! Loving the game, they will bounce back next game, Take care Truth, Maita
Thanks Maita, they will bounce back.
Hey pau gasol! You are brilliant, you pull one game out of your ass, and now you think you can question KG? There is no question about Kobe Bryant showing up or not. But you? You have been owned by KG your entire career. Now one game and you say KG is washed up? Maybe you should have taken it one step further and said KG has no heart. Well, enjoy getting it handed to you all night on Sunday.
He ain't lying!
My thoughts for Sundays game. Gasol gets beat up and shut down, Rondo lights them up, Boston wins by 20 plus.
Hi, Truth! Wow, Celtics win on the road with both Pierce and Garnett playing a bad game! Nate Robinson only played about five minutes, but his contribution can't be overlooked. He played well enough that Rondo could rest to start the fourth quarter and then come back strong in the end. Shelden Williams played hard for the time he was out there, also--he has no offensive game, but I always thought he could defend. Rasheed Wallace and Big Baby played some good ball, and of course, Ray Allen showed why he is mentioned in the same breath with the others. That guy can shoot.
Game Three should be fun.
Mike
Ray Allens first half I believe is one of the main reasons the Celtics got this one. But the Lakers did not go to the hole enough. To many outside shots. But I gotta give credit where credit is due.
Thanks Mike, your observations were right on target. I totally agreed Glen Davis and Nate along with Rasheed, gave outstanding performances off the bench. Rondo and Ray were out of this world. KG, though his foul trouble and offense were a concern, still had impact plays down the stretch. The Truth will light the Lakers up at home. While I did not complain about the calls in the loss, the refs and David Stern were clearly out to fix this game. There was points in the game where for stretches of 10 to 15 seconds I observed 5 to 6 no calls on the lakers on reaches or over the back on rebounds. On the other side if Pau Gasol flops and that is clearly his best talent, he is automatically headed to the free throw line. I realize Kobe was in foul trouble, but did anyone really expect them to call him for his sixth foul, Even though He got away with 2 no calls after that point. Ray Allen deserves a great deal of credit for his defense of Kobe, granted the Celtics sent help some of the time. The Lakers actually had more free throws than field goals. The stats don't lie as the Lakers took 41 to the Celtics 26, the 26 was also helped be the late intentional fouls that produced 8 of there free throws when the game was all but over. I will give credit to Bynum who was a beast in the paint, He was tough for Perkins to stop.
Once again no complaints about game one calls, but outside of watch them fight through the calls, this was a game that was not enjoyable until it was over. There was a good no call when Ken Mauer blew the whistle but issued a warning to Perkins and Bynum instead of issuing double technical fouls. I have always thought double technical fouls were a waste, they are just used to control the game, if Mauer would have called it Perkins would be suspended for the next game. I would hate for a suspension to come from a double technical. As Perkins should have had two of his tecs rescinded instead of just one in the Orlando series. That being said I totally understand Lakers fans if they are mad about the no call there, as the Lakers had nothing to do with the Orlando series. Anyway Great win by the Celtics, I believe they can still win in 5 games, but it will not be an easy task, as the Lakers are the defending champions.
Thanks Tony, Ray was a difference maker along with Rondo's triple double, especially his rebounds and the block on Fisher late in the game. Bynum was a monster in the paint, he is playing inspirational considering his tore up knee. It was a good win but game three is a huge one.
Bad game all around, KG showed up, but terrible foul calls on Pierce, and no calls when Glen Davis and KG were fouled. Poor rebounding and lack of effort on the 50/50 lose balls. awful shooting night by Ray. But a winnable game even though the game was called obscenely. Great Game by Fisher, he won the game for them as Kobe had a bad shooting night also. The Lakers, and the Refs just wanted it more.
It's over in 6. Phil, did they show you how to lose a game? Good call phil. The Celtics had 20 more points in the paint , but LA had double the free throw atempts.
Phil Jackson's comments on the Celtics knowing how to lose in the fourth quarter may come back to haunt him. While a couple games were hurt with too many fouls called, this has been a fun series to watch, no matter who eventually wins it. Paul Pierce really played well in Game 5. It also looked like Bryant was getting frustrated. Series has become too close to call, but it has been one of the most enjoyable Finals I've seen in a long time.
Looking forward to Tuesday.
Mike
Hi T, how are you now? hmm, I need help, a favor from you again T, can you vote for my hub it is chosen as one of the finalist in this week cooking contest, here is the link, http://hubpages.com/topics/food/1491 -- prettydarkhorse -- Cooking Techniques in Noodle Soups. Just cast your vote and please consider me, Thank you very much
Hope Celtics win tonight,
It is very hot here now, Maita
Hey, Truth! Are you still there? Wondering if you are enjoying the basketball season, and also what you think of the Miami Heat and their "big three". Been awhile since we've heard from you, my friend.
Mike
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Micky Dee Level 4 Commenter 24 months ago
I'm not so partial these days as I was when McHale, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Robert Parrish, and that Larry Bird fellow used to be the most entertaining FIVE in basketball! It's a matter of taste for choosing sides but I loved the Celtics back then. They were crippled and had a shallow bench. But they were MAGIC! I guess I'd vote for the Celtics again. I don't like LA and I don't know why. Maybe it's remembering the Laker bench that would tax those FIVE Celtics so much. That was then and this is now. The Lakers are angry coming into this series. Thank you Truth!