Post#447 » by LamarMatic7 » Sun Jul 16, 2017 6:22 pm
Saw a YT video where Bill Simmons surprised Dan Patrick on his show by saying that he hasn't yet seen the Lakers - Celtics 30 for 30. It allowed me to sum up my similar thoughts. I just didn't get the hype about it:
Even if it doesn't sound good because of Bill's relationship with ESPN, I totally get his point. The idea behind this film just doesn't scream 30 for 30 for me or what at least it used to mean (no coincidence that back then Bill was there, or at least I think that's what he means). About the first two seasons they made documentaries on people, topics or events that either were not all that covered at their time, were misunderstood (probably ahead of their time) or were a unique, yet trivial standout in their field. Almost all of the documentaries made sense in a "we can now sum this all up for the first time X years later and understand the magnitude/reasoning of what truly happened". Lakers vs. Celtics? Haven't we already spent enough time on that whole thing? It's not like books or interviewees haven't covered that whole rivalry a gazillion times.
Sure, you can provide us with unseen footage and new stories that are cool to hear. This isn't by any means a dig at the people who made the film as they did a good job at it. However, I don't see the "why" in the whole thing. Also, they end up giving it five hours which seems like too much, yet in the end it almost works against them. OK, you give all the attention you can to the 80s. Why don't the 60s get the same shine, though? Those first 30 minutes seemed like an awkward series of "we know you all know these basic facts about Auerbach's Celtics, yet we can't do the film without them".
I hope this doesn't mean 30 for 30 is turning towards the more sexy names for their documentaries. It used to be that at about this time we'd get the late 70s Bullets - Sonics Finals where a league with no super teams, yet plenty of perception and drug issues produced two totally forgotten championship teams. All of this doesn't mean that I didn't watch the Lakers - Celtics one. Yet I would rather see the Bullets - Sonics one. Because that's why you used to tune in for a 30 for 30.
