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The Lakers on Christmas have become just as much of a holiday tradition as The Christmas Story on TBS. Just as you can’t have Christmas without Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB Gun, you can’t have Christmas without Kobe and his Lakers.

Back in 1999, Christmas went showtime, but it hasn’t always left that jolly feeling in the Lakers. Since then, going into last night’s game against the Celtics, the Lakers were a disappointing 3-6 on Christmas Day, which includes a string of 5 consecutive losses between 2002 and 2006. As you can see, they havn’t really embraced receiving the nationally televised game every December 25th.

The Lakers’ Christmas ineptitude along with their horrible showing in last year’s finals against the Celtics, the Celtics’ record breaking start to the season with 27 wins and only 2 losses , and the fact that Boston was on a 19-game winning streak, pointed to another Christmas disaster for L.A.

Hope you didn’t have any money on the game, because St.Nick had different plans this year. He had a win under the Lakers’ Christmas tree. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers pulled out a 92-83 win over the Celtics, ending Boston’s 19 game winning streak. The win takes L.A.’s western conference leading record to 24-5, while the Celtics drop their record to 27-3, but rest assured Boston. Your Celtics are still in first place.

The Lakers won a hard fought game, getting all the necessary stops down the stretch. They had a 7 point lead going into the 4th quarter, but the Celtics made their run and took the lead at 81-79 with 3:57 remaining in the game.

With the Game 4 Finals debacle still fresh in their minds, the Lakers weren’t about to let the Celtics steal another one on their home court. They had to get this win. They needed it. They wanted it. They got it.

The Lakers locked up on defense and went on a 13-2 run to end the game. Paul Pierce had 20 points for Boston, but was held scoreless in the 4th quarter. Kevin Garnett finished with 22 points and 9 rebounds, while Ray Allen had a bad night with 14 points, shooting 5-14 from the field, missing eight three-pointers.

Kobe Bryant had his usual 27 points, 9 rebound, and 5 assists and controlled the game throughout. Pao Gasol got off to a slow start, but made key baskets, played great defense, and hit big free throws down the stretch, scoring 7 points in the final three minutes. Lamar Odon finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds off the bench, and Andrew Bynum scored 9 points and grabbed 7 boards debuting in this present day Celtics-Lakers rivalry after missing last year’s finals with an injured knee.

It really was a merry Christmas in Los Angeles this year, but the Lakers aren’t done just yet. Neither are the Celtics. This was just plain ol’ Christmas in December. Kobe and the Lakers are starting to get greedy now. They want Christmas in June.

THE LAKERS ON CHRISTMAS (since 1999)

Christmas 1999- Lakers-99(W) Spurs-93(L)

Christmas 2000- Lakers-104(L) Blazers-109(W)

Christmas 2001- Lakers-88(W) 76ers-82(L)

Christmas 2002- Lakers-99(L) Kings-105(W)

Christmas 2003- Lakers-87(L) Rockets-99(W)

Christmas 2004- Lakers-102(L) Heat-104(W)

Christmas 2005- Lakers-92(L) Heat-97(W)

Christmas 2006- Lakers-85(L) Heat- 101(W)

Christmas 2007- Lakers-122(W) Suns-115(L)

Christmas 2008- Lakers-92(W) Celtics-83(L)

Can see some of the teams that were hot for a short time, Kings/Portland/heat, they come and go. But the Lakers are still here.

Wow, just looking at these list of Christmas games you can see the evolution of the Lakers and their rivals and what they were going through since 99. With our beefs with portland, then the Kings, then they tried to re live us and the 76'ers because we were too dominant that year before and no team really stood up as our rival. Then they tried to play Shaq vs Yao as a story line for Christmas. Then Shaq left and we had the whole Kobe v Shaq feud. Which I might add, that I'm glad is over because they swept us on each of those games. Then we had our revenge on the Suns and now the Lakers and Celts rivalry is back on. That's a lot of storyline in each game.

Wow, just looking at these list of Christmas games you can see the evolution of the Lakers and their rivals and what they were going through since 99. With our beefs with portland, then the Kings, then they tried to re live us and the 76'ers because we were too dominant that year before and no team really stood up as our rival. Then they tried to play Shaq vs Yao as a story line for Christmas. Then Shaq left and we had the whole Kobe v Shaq feud. Which I might add, that I'm glad is over because they swept us on each of those games. Then we had our revenge on the Suns and now the Lakers and Celts rivalry is back on. That's a lot of storyline in each game.

I remember Terry Porter was still on the Spurs in the 1999 game. I remember in that Portland game Kobe fouled out on a questionable offensive foul. I don't really remember 2001 I think it was when this happened http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EINnpafDQE. I think the Lakers started wearing the white uniforms in the Kings game. I don't remember 2003 and I missed 2004-2006 and last year was when Bynum dunked it and started jumping up and down.