On Thursday the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers renewed their storied rivalry as they tipped off Game 1 of NBA Finals. And as far as rivalries go, it doesn’t get much better than this. The two teams have gone head-to-head for the title 12 times, with Boston leading the series 9-3. In the NBA’s 64-year history, 34 championships have been won by either the Lakers or Celtics. Needless to say, the two teams have a lot to settle.
But that doesn’t mean we saw this coming. Just last month, a Lakers-Cavaliers showdown seemed to be what everyone wanted and expected. After all, they were the two best teams during regular season. It would have put the league’s two biggest superstars, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, on the same court to decide a championship. That’s something that the Finals have lacked since Larry Bird and Magic Johnson headlined the great Celtics-Lakers rivalries over 20 years ago. But those certainly weren’t one-man teams, which is exactly what the Cavaliers proved to be in their series with Boston.
Neither team will be accused of that in this series. While Bryant is LA’s best player and undisputed leader, his teammates are much more than sidekicks. Big man Pau Gasol can dominate games under the basket and will take pressure off Bryant by doing so. Role players Ron Artest and Derek Fisher will also be vital in this matchup. Not only can both guys can hit outside shots, but they will be called upon to match Boston’s signature defensive intensity with physical play of their own.
The Celtics play team basketball better than anyone in the league, relying on a trio of future hall-of-famers that promotes defense and toughness above all else. That mentality was created prior to the 2007-2008 season, when veterans Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett left struggling teams to join Paul Pierce in Boston. All three were established superstars without NBA titles, but put individual concerns aside for the ultimate goal. Eight months later, they claimed the championship trophy by defeating Los Angeles in the rivalry’s latest chapter.
Quite frankly, there has been a little too much emphasis put on the last 50 years and not enough on the previous three. This is not your father’s Celtics-Lakers rivalry. Any fan younger than 30 was too young to appreciate the days of Magic-Bird, let alone the Vietnam-era clashes between Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russel.
Just look back to the 2008 Finals. Although the Celtics embarrassed the Lakers on their way to a 4-2 victory, the series served its purpose. If nothing else, it gave Los Angeles the motivation it needed to win a title last season and set up this year’s rubber match with Boston. There is nothing that heats up a rivalry like a little revenge.
As far as picking a winner, it’s almost too close to call. Boston has four All-Star quality players, including point guard Rajon Rondo, who went from being the team’s weak link in 2008 to perhaps the it’s best player this year. But what they don’t have is Bryant, The Most Competitive Person Alive and a player as clutch as anyone. But that was supposed to give the Lakers an edge in 2008, when he was shut down by Boston’s suffocating defense. If it can happen once, I believe it can happen again. As much as the Lakers are focused on getting even, I’m picking the Celtics to win in seven games.