the rilvary- Myth vs Reality

[snaquille oatmeal]

The Classic NBA finals- The Lakers vs Celtics.

well I have been a fan of the Lakers since the 80's and I vividly remember the rilvary between Magic and Bird. it felt like threre was a real rilvary between those two. Magic had taken Birds college trophy and it irked Bird to no end. when they play in the NBA Bird would make it a point that he was not just beating the Lakers he was personally beating Magic and vice a versa. the rest of the players hated eachother and you could feel it. now that was a rilvary!

so here we are again and aside of the franchise rilvary (which has not been relevant in so long that I am a bit disapointed I don't feel like it is even an issue) I am failing to really see a rilvary between this new Lakers and new Celtics.

the subplots that the media will make a big deal about are the franchises, Phil vs Red, the fans, Kobe vs KG competitve nature and the Celtics players vs the LA players.

the franchises- there is history there no doubt, but it feels like when the Lakers play the Kings now in the sense that you know is gonna be a very competitive game and any team could win, but the rilvary is long gone and come on, will a Lakers win really make a dent on the overall greatness of the Celtics franchise? do the Celtics need another championship to let the NBA know that they are the best in its history?

Phil vs Red- is there any fun in beating a dead guy? and I don't mean Doc Rivers either.

the fans- although the Celtics fans have not learned yet that the "beat LA" chant helps the Lakers more than it hurts them it is only natural that the two fan bases go at eachother full force. would not expect anything less.

Kobe vs KG competitive nature- this two are competitive because of their desire to win not because they want to beat eachother personally like Bird and Magic did.

the rest of the players- Pierce is from LA and his team growing up was the Lakers and his most hated team was the Celtics can anybody really say that there isn't any bittersweet irony in his heart. I doubt the Laker Euros even knew the rilvary history between this two franchises prior to Friday. the Kobe-Allen thing happen a long time ago and since then they have become friends. KG lives in LA and hangs out with Kobe in the summers. Kendrick always looks p***ed at the world and not particularly at the Lakers.

other than the natural desire for ones team to win is there a real rilvary this time around or is it all a myth?

[Tommy Trojan]

C's chanting "beat LA" it's just a wish
Lakers chanting "MVP MVP" that's reality

thats the diffrence between their fans and ours

[snaquille oatmeal]

C's chanting "beat LA" it's just a wish
Celtics chanting "MVP MVP" that's reality

fixed!

[ko8e]

There is a real rivalry between these two franchises historically. Believe me both teams wanted to play the other. The best from each conference is a story in and of itself, but the things you mentioned makes it even more of a rivalry. I can guarentee the Lakers know that everybody picked the Celtics to win the title this year. Only through the Lakers play through the playoffs have everybody's opinions changed on who will win it all. I can also guarentee the Celtics are pumped up over the fact that everybody has switched and is now picking the Lakers. Some of those predictions have the Lakers winning in 5.

This historical rivalry has found new life. I'm sure both of these teams will be rivals for a few years to come. My hope is that Phil crushes Red's championship total, where there won't even be a debate on who the greatest of all-time was or is.

[Sedale Threatt]

I agree wholeheartedly with Snaq. Excited as I am to be back in the Finals, I'm just not feeling the rivalry like I used to. I just want to win, and the fact that it's the Celtics doesn't make the slightest bit of difference to me. Not like it did back in the day.

This is the series that got me hooked on basketball back in the 80s. I knew nothing about the history back then, barely knew anything about the game in fact, but the hatred between the two teams and the pedigree of the players involved was palpable even to an ignorant middle-school kid like me.

This was back when my dad was stationed in Rapid City, S.D., hours and hours away from the closest NBA outpost, yet even in the middle of nowhere Lakers-Celtics was all anybody could talk about when they hooked up. You picked sides back then, and I chose wisely.

Fast forward 20-some years, and I just can't muster up the same level of animosity. I guess it's kind of like bumping into an ex-wife that you used to hate, but so much time has passed that you almost forget what you hated her for.

The Celtics have basically been a non-factor ever since the Lakers bounced their ass back in 87. In a strange way, if we were going to lose in the Finals I'd almost rather it be Boston, if for only that KG has always been one of my favorites and I think he deserves to hoist the trophy.

Hopefully, though, he'll have to spend the summer moping around his beach house in Malibu knowing that the entire city of L.A. is celebrating around him.

[snaquille oatmeal]

There is a real rivalry between these two franchises historically. Believe me both teams wanted to play the other. The best from each conference is a story in and of itself,

I never said there wasn't a historical rilvary, my point is that it doesn't feel like these particular players have a rilvary. sure there is going to be intense competion, but not a rilvary. the level of competion in this finals would not be any different than if the Pistons had advanced. I guess it feels like a any other finals would feel.

but the things you mentioned makes it even more of a rivalry. I can guarentee the Lakers know that everybody picked the Celtics to win the title this year. Only through the Lakers play through the playoffs have everybody's opinions changed on who will win it all. I can also guarentee the Celtics are pumped up over the fact that everybody has switched and is now picking the Lakers. Some of those predictions have the Lakers winning in 5.

sorry, but that does not make a rilvary, that is just fuel for advesaries with a common goal.

This historical rivalry has found new life.

sounds like you bought the media hype already.

I'm sure both of these teams will be rivals for a few years to come. My hope is that Phil crushes Red's championship total, where there won't even be a debate on who the greatest of all-time was or is.

I hope it does turn into a real rilvary with these players.

to explain myself with a metaphor- the Lakers/Celtics in the finals is like racing a Porsche vs a Ferrari sure there is history of a rilvary there, but if the models racing never race each other and the drivers are indeferent about each other then the race is just about the race, but if there was a negative history between the drivers and pit crews then the rilvary is kicked up a notch and it goes to a new level and that is what I am missing about this NBA finals.

I have watched the Celtics playoffs games in the hopes of finding something to really hate them for because of the possibility of a Lakers/Celtics finals and I got to say that the only thing I hate about them is Sam Cassell selling out and abandoning the Clippers and Perkins fata$$ because we don't have a fata$$ of our own to keep him from bulldozing us. the rest of them I respect and actually enjoy watching them play. if the Lakers weren't in the finals I would actually cheer for them.

[DEEP3CL]

Your exactly right snaq, these players know nothing of the bitterness and nasty games that took place even before Magic and Bird.

Some how the Celtic fans think they are relevant when the fact of the matter is they've been dead for 21 years as far as winning titles and being a consistent factor in the East.

And besides for it to even heat up again both teams have to continue to meet in the Finals for like the next 4 out of 5 years or something like that. But in reality we know that AIN'T happening because the Celtics for all their recent success have a small window while the Lakers are really just scratching the surface.

[theFRANCHISE]

anyone remember odoms body tackle of ray allen during their game in december?

[milesfides]

Phil vs Red- is there any fun in beating a dead guy? and I don't mean Doc Rivers either.

heehee.

Great post. I'd agree that the rivalry is mostly media hype right now. Fans who are long in the tooth might still harbor some residual animosity from the 80s.

I think both franchises are more relieved and happy to be relevant again.

As of this point, there's not enough blood spilled between these two teams to justify this being a rivalry.

But that can change.

A dirty play here, a dirty play there. Careless comments given to the media. Controversial calls. Tasteless fans holding offensive signs (probably regarding Kobe).

Laker fans hated the Suns for just a few reasons: the MVP given to Nash, Bell's clothesline to Kobe, and a competitive series (the first time). The Suns fans hated the Lakers for even fewer reasons, probably just because of Kobe and our past success as a franchise. Inexplicably, even the Suns organization hated the Lakers, as revealed in that book. D'Antoni and Phil had some beef about a timeout. Things can snowball.

The big potential for drama in this series is that fact that Kobe and KG are such great competitors. Somebody is not going to be happy with the progression and outcome of the series. Both MVP candidates have followed a similar trajectory this season, perhaps even Paul Pierce as well, with the difference being Kobe carries with him some shades of ignominy and infamy, which makes him an easy villain to many people.

These are two cinderella teams, full of emotional players, fueled by renewed, grateful fans thirsty for redemption. Though it's been two decades since this generation of players stepped into the shoes of their predecessors, they might find the blood rivalry a good fit.

The stage is set for an epic battle.

[TommyTheCat]

your right that there is no rivalry between the players but i feel way more jacked up knowing that the lakers are playing the celt vs playing the pistons. it's really a franchise thing now with the celts having 16 titles (most of them at the expense of the lakers) while the lakers are looking to catch up and pass them with 14. so with that kind of history on the line and the memories for people that have been fans of either team since the 80s (and more so for fans of the 60s teams), it has way more of an impact on me than if the lakers faced any other team.

i mean i was hyped up for the finals in the early 00's but this one has me down right bitter at the lakers opponent.

[RJM]

We can't let the C's claim the all time lead in NBA Championships.

[Sedition]

They already have. It's our team's quest to finally catch up, and hopefully even surpass them over the next decade.

[YiYaoYue]

I just want lakers to surpass boston in number of championships. I agree though, there isn't any tension between players of both clubs. Starting with the season where lakers goofed around in tight shorts, to KG wanting to come to LA but kobe being uncertain... then Pierce growing up a laker fan. Outside of the older laker and boston fans that were in the middle of the rivarly before there really isn't a tension between fan base or players... not like btw lakers and kings.

[MAMBAEMD]

It may or may not elevate to the level of the rivalry between LA and Boston of the 80's but I have plenty of built up hatred and animosity for the C's.
I was listening to Jerry West on the Dan Patrick show the other day and he said he does not have any green colored clothes in his closet because of his bitter feelings left from his years of play.
I can really relate to Jerry. As silly and childish as it may sound coming from a 41 yr old, I really can't stand the C's. I don't have any green clothes. I once worked in a hospital where I had to wear green scrubs and hated it.
If the Lakers lose this series, I will grow to be a bitter botter old man
On top of that, both Kobe and KG BADLY want this title. This series will have a significant impact on their legacy.
Call it rivalry. Call it hatred. Call it what you want. This will be an incredibly hard fought series, I think probably as hard fought as those of the 80's IMO.

[Hawaii]

I am extremely excited over this year's Finals matchup. Lakers vs. Celtics. IIRC, they have played each other in the NBA Finals more times than any other two teams, with Boston leading the cumulative series.

Both teams are fresh, after making blockbuster moves this season. Both teams defeated the reigning "best team in the conference" to advance to the playoffs (the Spurs and Pistons). Both teams have players that, with their own personal reasons, feel they need to win a championship NOW to cap off seasons, careers, and to show they can win at the highest level. There are a few personal connections: Odom vs. Pierce, after that tackle earlier this year; Kobe vs. Ray, with their history, although their thing was a long time ago; Pierce growing up a Laker fan, etc. that will add to it.

One has to wonder if each team will get past players to attend, and be in the stands. You know Magic's gonna be there...will Bird be sitting in support of Boston? How about Bill Russell?

I think we will see some highly competitive games, and hopefully the series will go to 7 games, just because game 7's are so cool.

One thing's for sure...the NBA's loving this one! Dolla dolla bill y'all!

[snaquille oatmeal]

the reigning team in the Eastern conference was the Cavs not the Pistons and Odom tackled Allen not Pierce.
and how does Pierce being a Lakers fan and playing for the Celtics adds to the eximent? that just makes me feel sorry for him because I know my loyalties would be very conflicted.

[Erik Eleven]

... On top of that, both Kobe and KG BADLY want this title. This series will have a significant impact on their legacy.
Call it rivalry. Call it hatred. Call it what you want. This will be an incredibly hard fought series, I think probably as hard fought as those of the 80's IMO.

I hope you're right, sir. I'd love watching a hard fought, heavy-weight seven game finals series. As long as we come out on top in the end.

[MAMBAEMD]

-= original quote snipped =-



I hope you're right, sir. I'd love watching a hard fought, heavy-weight seven game finals series. As long as we come out on top in the end.

Agreed. As long as we win this series, everything will be alright

[Anklebreaker702]

I just want lakers to surpass boston in number of championships. I agree though, there isn't any tension between players of both clubs. Starting with the season where lakers goofed around in tight shorts, to KG wanting to come to LA but kobe being uncertain... then Pierce growing up a laker fan. Outside of the older laker and boston fans that were in the middle of the rivarly before there really isn't a tension between fan base or players... not like btw lakers and kings.

I'm co-signing here. I want the Lakers to pass Boston in titles. Also at last check the Lakers were the winningest team in pro sports period. So to put that exlamation point on it we need to have the most titles also. I was caught from the blind side to know we had been to the finals more times than the Celtics also. I knew we lost to them 8 times in the Finals but had no idea we had been more times

[LLcoleJ]

Not sure its a rivalry anymore....but

fun fact:

After this finals the Lakers and Celtics would amount for more than half of all NBA titles. ( 31 of 61)
Not to mention playing in a combined 49 finals.

Current rivalary? Not so much.

But ya, there is something there....