There have been great rivals in pro sports, but none compares to the championship confrontations between the Celtics and Lakers.
Since the first finals in 1947, when the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the Chicago Stags, there have been 61 NBA champions. The Celtics and Lakers have combined to win 30 of those titles – with the Celtics owning 16 and the Lakers 14, including 5 as the Minneapolis Lakers. It will soon be 31 championships.
As a reminder, the Lakers moved to Los Angeles in 1960. Prior to their move, the Minneapolis Lakers won 5 championships in 6-years from 1949-1954. They were led by the great George Mikan. The 6′10″ Mikan was voted one of the 50-greatest NBA players of all-time in 1996. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.
Since 1959, the Celtics-Lakers have played against each other in the finals 10-times, with the Celtics winning 8. The dominance of the Celtics began during the Russell-era when, from 1957-1969, Boston won 11 Championships in 13-years. Seven of those titles were versus the Lakers.
In the 70’s, the Celtics and Lakers played in the Finals 5-times (none versus each other). The Lakers played in 3 – winning once (’72), while the Celtics won both of their appearances (’74 and ‘76).
However, it was their dominance of the 1980’s that is best remembered by most. Those Bird-Magic years were unforgettable. During that decade, the Lakers appeared in 8 Finals – winning 4. The Celtics played 5 – winning 3. They each played in 4 finals in-a-row; the Lakers’82 –’85, and the Celtics ‘84 – ‘87. Their head-to-head battles were legendary. The Celtics won in ‘84, and the Lakers in ‘85 and ‘87. And, if not for the crazy shot LA fans will never forget – by Houston’s Ralph Sampson, they would have also played in 1986, which was won by the Celtics over the Rockets.
So here we are … Celtics versus Lakers one more time. It may not be Bird, McHale and Parish versus Magic, Kareem and Worthy… but there are plenty of stars to satisfy the NBA marketing team.
I can already hear the Celtics’ fans chanting … “BEAT LA”.
Posted by Don Gilbert
Who will win the NBA title? Vote now at www.HOFN.com.
I am looking forward to the ghost of Bird landing on Jack Nicholson’s courtside shoulder so he can eat some crow.
Comment by Bostonian — May 31, 2008 @ 8:06 am
i’m a lakers fan but let’s get that ralph sampson shot part corrected. that shot was in game 5 with houston up 3 games to 1. houston won the series 4-1 and outplayed the lakers. even if his shot hadn’t gone in, it would have been overtime, and no guarantees they would have won that game and the next two.
Comment by vim m — May 31, 2008 @ 10:34 am
Bye Bye Red…..Long Live King Phillip……
Comment by Mendy R — May 31, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
Hey Mendy R (as in Rudolph - I get it, but no one else does)…Red built his championship teams…Phil walked into his!
Comment by GZG — June 1, 2008 @ 8:41 am
red got to play the same horses year after year….phil could win with three different cast of characters…….AND Phil is playing a man down (without Bynum)
Comment by bill gates — June 1, 2008 @ 12:54 pm
Anyone could have coached some of those Celtics…..heck, they won with Tom Heinsohn in charge…
Comment by Ernest T — June 1, 2008 @ 3:46 pm
Maybe so, but it was Red who drafted and traded for them. He did it all … and didn’t have 6 assistants helping him. …Oh, and it was tough coaching Michael, Shaq, and Kobe…
Comment by Manny — June 1, 2008 @ 4:47 pm
How is Manny like a race horse………they both have blinders on…….
Red was great….No doubt about it……but come on, sports have continued since 1969……
and even you would say that Russell was better than Michael, Shaq or Kobe so what’s your point …..maybe phil would have won 13 - 13 coaching Russell
Comment by Ernest T — June 2, 2008 @ 7:32 pm
Manny & Ernest T……You two ought to get married already…..you sound like an old married couple…..
Comment by Judge Ito — June 3, 2008 @ 10:30 am
Hey Ernest T …
Phil isn’t even as good as the second best Red to coach in the NBA ….. Holzman.
Comment by Manny — June 3, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Every time Manny blogs he reveals himself as the homer he is……no one else in the world would say that Red Holzman has a greater coaching legacy than Phil Jackson…..keep blogging Manny….you make responses unnecessary
Comment by Ernest t — June 3, 2008 @ 6:03 pm
Homer? I’m from Boston - giving credit to a great Knicks’ coach. Not sure how that makes me a homer. If you knew anything about coaching basketball, you might realize how good Holzman was. Phil learned from Red Holzman.
Comment by Manny — June 12, 2008 @ 9:33 pm