NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

Props to both teams, top seeds in their conferences, for making it to the big dance. This is going to be fun.

The Lakers and Celtics have combined to win 30 of 61 Championships....this is a match made by the basketball gods.

I was a one year old when the Celtics and Lakers first met in the finals and my parents being big Laker fans ingrained the pain of all the losses to the Celtics and my unwavering support of the Purple and Gold. I signed all my school papers as Johnny West in second grade.

To this day I will not drink Sam Adams beer (unless there is nothing else and even then ); I will not allow parquet flooring in any home I live in nor for any dance floor where I host a party; I will root against any Boston or New England team even when it involves the Evil Empire Yankees; I have disavowed any Irish heritage I may have from my mothers side; I have almost thrown out my 5 year old son because his favorite color is green....there is still hope....his second favorite color is gold and his sister and I are working on it every day; St. Patrick's Day in not in any calendar in our house and shamrocks/leprechauns are not allowed; and I will not even smoke cigars (BF may even hold this against me).

I can die happy the day after the parade when the Lakers surpass the Celtics in total Championships.....3 to go and counting.

I would wish you good luck celtic fans but I would be lying. All I can say now is:

GO LAKERS

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

Props to both teams, top seeds in their conferences, for making it to the big dance. This is going to be fun.

The Lakers and Celtics have combined to win 30 of 61 Championships....this is a match made by the basketball gods.

I was a one year old when the Celtics and Lakers first met in the finals and my parents being big Laker fans ingrained the pain of all the losses to the Celtics and my unwavering support of the Purple and Gold. I signed all my school papers as Johnny West in second grade.

To this day I will not drink Sam Adams beer (unless there is nothing else and even then ); I will not allow parquet flooring in any home I live in nor for any dance floor where I host a party; I will root against any Boston or New England team even when it involves the Evil Empire Yankees; I have disavowed any Irish heritage I may have from my mothers side; I have almost thrown out my 5 year old son because his favorite color is green....there is still hope....his second favorite color is gold and his sister and I are working on it every day; St. Patrick's Day in not in any calendar in our house and shamrocks/leprechauns are not allowed; and I will not even smoke cigars (BF may even hold this against me).

I can die happy the day after the parade when the Lakers surpass the Celtics in total Championships.....3 to go and counting.

I would wish you good luck celtic fans but I would be lying. All I can say now is:

GO LAKERS

I love it! Ok, your NE'sers, let hear it for the Celtics.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Lifelong Laker fan hoping for a repeat of 1985.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Lifelong Laker fan hoping for a repeat of 1985.

Now that you mention 1985....

The 10 best Lakers-Celtics moments


The 10 best Lakers-Celtics moments

By Randy Hill

Updated: June 3, 2008, 11:04 PM EST

When he's not mistaking those insipid end-of-quarter TV interviews for open mike at The Improv, Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson often serves as a master of basketball psychology.

His catalog of motivational gold includes a recommendation for players to stay "in the moment." While Jackson's advice underscores the ability to retain a prescribed focus, it also brings us to the examination of many compelling elements that add up to create one great NBA Finals series.

When Phil's Lakers and the Boston Celtics square off in the 11th Finals series contested by these franchises, the crucial moments will be piling up. The list of defining and unexpected happenings might include Rajon Rondo knocking down two consecutive wide-open jumpers or Pau Gasol abstaining from performing that Tim Duncanesque pout after a weak offensive move fails to be rewarded with a foul call.

A few big moments from the 2008 Finals may be even more remarkable than those. A series full of interesting events would jibe with a hoop history that has not been shortchanged when these teams collide at the end of a playoff run.

The golden moments from '08 will need some staying power to rank with those pulled from the first 10 times these franchises reached the same stage. We're here to revisit the 10 greatest moments recorded during those 10 series and rank them in subjective order of their ability to impact basketball history.

Some of these moments are specific plays; others are extended moments propelled by individual greatness or historical circumstance.

10. Memorial Day Massacre, Game 1, 1985

With reserve Scott Wedman bagging all 11 of his field-goal attempts, the Celtics annihilated the Lakers, 148-114, in Boston.

Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar checked in with only 12 points and three rebounds. Current Celtics general manager Danny Ainge put 15 points on the board for Boston in the first quarter.

This seemingly convincing blowout provides a great assist in the determination of our No. 1 moment.

9. Henderson Steals The Ball, Game 2, 1984

Backup Celtics guard Gerald Henderson (whose son plays at Duke), picked off a pass by Lakers forward James Worthy with 18 seconds left and converted the lay-up that tied the score at 113-113. The Celtics went on to win, 124-121, in overtime.

8. West Steals The Ball, Game 3, 1962

Lakers Hall-of-Fame guard Jerry West intercepted a pass from Sam Jones to Bob Cousy and scored to break a 115-115 tie and give the Lakers a 2-1 lead in what became a memorable series.

7. Basketball Jones, The Early Days, Game 4, 1969

In a maneuver that would make Jimmy Chitwood proud, the Celtics used the ol' picket fence play to free Sam Jones for a jump shot that gave Boston an 89-88 victory and tied the series at 2-2.

6. Fight Club, Game 4, 1984

In one of the first Celtics-Lakers games stuck in the memories of our younger readers, the Celtics prevailed, 129-125, in overtime. This contentious date included a Celtics takedown performed by forward Kevin McHale on Lakers forward Kurt Rambis.

Game 4 also included Abdul-Jabbar's popular face-off with Celtics legend Larry Bird, a bad pass by Magic Johnson and Cedric Maxwell offering the choke sign with Worthy standing at the free-throw line.

5. Whoa, Nellie, Game 7, 1969

In the last game for Hall of Fame Boston center Bill Russell, Celtics forward Don Nelson bounced in a free-throw-line jumper to secure a 108-106 victory.

For Nelson, this was an even neater trick than becoming a three-time NBA Coach of the Year without taking his team to the NBA Finals (yeah, I know it's voted on before the playoffs begin).

4. Don't Forget About Elgin, Game 5, 1962

Thanks to his association with the L.A. Clippers and/or the sheer stupidity of those doing the ranking, Lakers great Elgin Baylor often is downgraded when lists of greatest NBA superstars are offered.

Baylor, who may have been the NBA's first true acrobat, pumped in 61 points and took 22 rebounds to help the Lakers seize a 3-2 series lead.

3. Beware The Baby Hook, Game 4, 1987

Demonstrating Abdul-Jabbar's influence on his teammates, Magic Johnson dropped a game-clinching, junior sky hook that lifted the Lakers to a 107-106 advantage and a 3-1 lead in a series they would win in six.

The Celtics, who had a 16-point lead at intermission, had gone up, 106-104, on a three-pointer by Bird with 12 seconds left to play.

2. Russell-mania, Game 7, 1962

Russell poured in 30 points and took 40 rebounds in a 110-107 overtime victory for Boston.

The Lakers had a chance to win the series on a shot by Frank Selvy at the end of regulation, but the Celtics controlled an overtime that ended with Cousy dribbling out the clock before it was fashionable for opposing coaches to suggest forcing a ballhandler to his weak hand.

1. The Lakers Break Through, Game 6, 1985

Sure, Cs fans will hate having a Lakers triumph at No. 1, but this moment was almost as much about Boston's prolonged greatness. Before this game, the Lakers had whiffed in eight Finals series against the Celtics, and the Cs had never experienced defeat in an elimination game at the Boston Garden.

With the Memorial Day Massacre a distant memory, series MVP Abdul-Jabbar scored 29 points in the Lakers' 111-100 victory, while Bird managed to make just 12 of his 29 shots from the field.

In a post-game interview, Lakers owner Jerry Buss said, "This trophy removes the most odious sentence in the English language. It can never be said again that 'the Lakers have never beaten the Celtics.'"

© 2008 Fox Sports Interactive

[Fisch Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Fisch]

I'm going with the Lakers in 5.

Boston will blow out the Lakers tonight.

LA will rebound Sunday to take Game two in Boston.

LA will hold serve in LA and finish the Celts off.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

Lifelong Laker fan hoping for a repeat of 1985.

After my mocking laughter of Boca's prediction of the Lakers beating the Spurs, I think I need watch my mouth and rofl emoticons.:

[buff Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close buff]

lakers in 6

[biskits Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close biskits]

Celts have best defense in the league (not to mention most wins during regular season, 66)...No way this series is only going 5 games....

My son, who lives out in LA, is flying home Friday night and we are doing a double header Sunday....Sox in the afternoon and
Celts/Lakers game 2 Sunday night.. Should be a great day!!!!

CELTS IN 7

[biskits Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close biskits]

One down, three more to go!!!!


GO CELTICS!!!!!

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

One down, three more to go!!!!


GO CELTICS!!!!!

Good game. Even game until Paul Pierce left the game and came back. He gave the entire team a boost. Then, the Lakers went cold in the 4th Quarter.

We'll see how the Laker's came out in game two. The goal is always to win game 2.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

Boston in six. Boston are playing for the one smoking the cigar, Mr. Red Auerbach.

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

A really good start!!
Connie

[kbletzer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kbletzer]

GO CELTICS!

[CaliDave Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close CaliDave]

If Boston would have been in the west , they would have been lucky to make 7th place. THey really aren't that great. Garnett is great, Pierce is streaky, Allen is old and just about washed up.

Boston better hope they win it.. this is there last chance..
I'll give them one good year per decade.

Lakers were favored by all the experts, knowing they are the better team.. but sometimes the best team has a bad series..

Lakers in 6... It'll be fun to win it in Boston

Lakers will only get better next year

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

Can every NBA team in the East be that bad ?