Two years ago the Boston Celtics captured their seventeenth NBA title at the expense of their long time rival Los Angeles Lakers in six games. Shortly after you could here Celtics forward Kevin Garnett utter the words, ''anything is possible'', leaving many of us craving for a second serving and believing that the once prominent rivalry was back in full tilt. The Lakers and their star Kobe Bryant answered the bell last season, returning to the finals and besting the Magic to garner the clubs fifteenth title, while the C's were forced to play (although valiantly)without Garnett and fall short of the much anticipated rematch.
Fast forward to the present where both the Lakers and Celtics find themselves not only in there respective conference finals, but both up 2-0 going in to this weekends game 3's. I have to admit that I am a tad bit giddy, but I can promise you one thing.... I am not the only one. Not by a long shot. Basketball purist want this match up. David Stern wants this match up. The media wants this match up. But more importantly the Celtics and Lakers want this match up. To not is to not want to be apart of history. Think Ali vs Frazier. Steelers vs Cowboys. Yankees vs Redsox. Heck me vs anything edible. It is must see TV.
Hall of famers Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale and many other Celtic greats lived for their yearly wars waged against their western counterparts. While Laker legends Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy and showtime city could not wait to get their feet on the hardwood and take it to their eastern nemesis. Now it's Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen leading the Celtics as Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum are the faces of the new Hollywood showtime.
Both teams look primed and ready. Playing their best basketball and peaking just as a trip to the finals and a date with history is a mere arms length away. We deserve this rivalry renewed, with all it's sub-plots and star power. A rematch two years in the making that would make all who came before them proud and those that will come after dreaming of Celtic pride and Laker glitz.
By Ephraim Vega
Blog or Bust News
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