Celtics–Lakers rivalry

The Lakers-Celtics Rivalry or Celtics-Lakers Rivalry is a rivalry between two of the most storied basketball franchises in National Basketball Association history, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. The rivalry has been less intense since the retirements of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the early 1990s. The Celtics currently lead in total championships with 16 to the Lakers' 14.

Overview

The Lakers and the Celtics have met a total of 11 times in the NBA finals, with Boston winning the first eight meetings, and Los Angeles wining the last two. The outcome of the 11th meeting is pending.

Year	Champion	Series	Opponent
1959	Boston Celtics	4–0	Minneapolis Lakers
1962	Boston Celtics	4–3	Los Angeles Lakers
1963	Boston Celtics	4–2	Los Angeles Lakers
1965	Boston Celtics	4–1	Los Angeles Lakers
1966	Boston Celtics	4–3	Los Angeles Lakers
1968	Boston Celtics	4–2	Los Angeles Lakers
1969	Boston Celtics	4–3	Los Angeles Lakers
1984	Boston Celtics	4–3	Los Angeles Lakers
1985	Los Angeles Lakers	4–2	Boston Celtics
1987	Los Angeles Lakers	4–2	Boston Celtics
2008	Boston Celtics	2–1 (ongoing)	Los Angeles Lakers

The first NBA Finals match-up between the two teams was in 1959 when the Boston Celtics swept the then Minneapolis Lakers for their first of 8 straight titles. However the rivalry truly originated in the 1960s, when the Celtics defeated the Lakers six times in eight years (1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969) to claim the championship, and featured greats such as Bill Russell and Bob Cousy for Boston and Elgin Baylor and Jerry West for Los Angeles. In three of those NBA Finals ('62, '66, and '69), the series went to seven games, with the Celtics winning each time.

The rivalry continued with renewed fervor in the 1980s when both teams were strong, and was personified as Larry Bird (Boston) vs. Magic Johnson (Los Angeles). During this period, this rivalry took on many dimensions, such as East Coast vs. West Coast, Working class grit vs. Hollywood glitz, old tradition vs. air-conditioned luxury, and some believe white vs. black (the Celtics teams of the 1980s were predominantly composed of Caucasian players, while those of Los Angeles were mostly African American). Additionally, prior to the 1980s, the NBA had been struggling financially, with low attendance and television ratings. The battles between the two teams contributed mightily to the success of the league. Coupled with the emergence of the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan in the following years, the NBA became a media juggernaut and one of the dominant sports leagues of the United States as well as the rest of the world. The effect the rivalry had on the league is remarkable, since the two teams only met in an 80's Finals three times (1984, 1985, and 1987) and only played each other twice each season.

The rivalry has died down since Johnson's and Bird's retirements and the rise of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990s. Both teams suffered setbacks in the subsequent fifteen years, with the Lakers finally returning to prominence with three championships in the 2000s but then failing to advance in the playoffs after trading Shaquille O'Neal. The Celtics have only advanced past the conference semifinals twice since 1988. Since then, the Sacramento Kings replaced Boston as the team Lakers fans love to hate (see Lakers-Kings rivalry).

One of the lasting effects on the Lakers-Celtics rivalry was the usage of the famous "Beat L.A.!!!" chant, sung by fans in opposing arenas whenever a Los Angeles-based team plays in their home venue. Celtics fans sang the slogan in the 1960s at Boston Garden, and again in the 1980s in the Johnson-Bird rivalry. Perhaps its most famous usage was during Game 7 the 1982 Eastern Conference Championships when the Boston fans urged the victorious Sixers to "Beat L.A."[1]. It has kept on with every Los Angeles sports franchise since then. The two teams will meet again in the 2008 NBA Finals, reviving the rivalry once again.

1969 NBA Finals recap

Main article: 1969 NBA Finals

With Bill Russell and Sam Jones in their final season, Boston's dynasty was but a memory. The Celtics were the league's oldest team and struggled to make the NBA playoffs as the fourth and final seed in the Eastern Conference. They upset the 76ers in the first round and postponed New York's finals appearance for another year. Awaiting the Celtics were the powerful Los Angeles Lakers who had a nucleus of Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and newly acquired Wilt Chamberlain.

After losing the first two games in the Forum in L.A., no one thought Boston would even pull out a victory. However, they won game 3 and a buzzer-beater by Sam Jones tied the series up at 2 games apiece. The home team won games 5 and 6 which set up a dramatic seventh game. Before the game started, Laker's owner Jack Kent Cooke placed flyers in every seat stating "When, not if, the Lakers win the title, balloons will be released from the raftors, the USC marching band will play "Happy Days Are Here Again" and broadcaster Chick Hearn will interview Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain in that order." Celtics player coach Bill Russell got word of this and told his team "A lot of things can happen but the Lakers can not beat us. They can't beat us. But it's going to be funny watching them take down those balloons."

Boston, who had not won a game in the Forum all season, played tough through the first half and would keep the game close, with a score of 60-60. Remarkably, Boston would pull away and entered the fourth quarter up by 18. It seemed to be over when Lakers center Wilt Chamberlain was injured and replaced by reserve Mel Counts. The Celtics, however, would begin to show their age when they began missing shots and turning the ball over and Laker Jerry West pulled L.A. to within one. Despite having numerous opportunities, the Lakers couldn't get over the hump and Don Nelson would make an incredible foul-line jump-shot which bounced off the back-iron and fell back in. During this, another battle was heating up off the court between Jack Kent Cooke and Lakers coach Butch Van Breda Kolff. Chamberlain was pleading for Breda Kolff to put him back in, but he refused. Cooke then came down to personally order the defiant coach to insert Wilt to no avail. This would prove fatal as the Celtics held on and won 108-106.

The only consolation for Laker fans was the naming of Jerry West for the first NBA Finals MVP Award, but even he was saddened. West, along with the MVP Award, had also received a new car, which was a green Volkswagen Beetle. It was considered an insult to injury for their star player.

1980s: Bird vs. Johnson

1984 NBA Finals recap

Main article: 1984 NBA Finals

By virtue of a 62-20 record, the Celtics had homecourt advantage over the Lakers who finished the regular season with a 54-28 mark. The first two games were played at the Celtics home court, the Boston Garden, while the next two were held at the Lakers home court, The Forum in Inglewood, California. The Celtics then hosted games 5 and 7 while the Lakers would host game 6.

The Celtics defeated the Lakers four games to three. The Lakers opened the series with a 115-109 victory at the Boston Garden. In Game 2, the Lakers led 113-111 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup and the Celtics eventually prevailed in overtime 124-121. In Game 3, the Lakers raced to an easy 137-104 victory as Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists. After the game, Larry Bird said his team played like "sissies" in an attempt to light a fire under his teammates. In Game 4, the Lakers had a five point game lead with less than a minute to play, but made several execution errors as the Celtics tied the game and then came away with a 129-125 victory in overtime. The game was also marked by Celtic forward Kevin McHale's takedown of Laker forward Kurt Rambis on a breakaway layup which triggered the physical aspect of the rivalry. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would go after Larry Bird later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure. In Game 5, the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead as Larry Bird scored 34 points. The game was known as the "Heat Game", as it was played under 97-degree heat, and without any air conditioning at the infamous Boston Garden. In Game 6, the Lakers evened the series with a 119-108 victory. In the game, the Lakers answered the Celtics rough tactics when Laker forward James Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. After the game, a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. Carr as he left the floor, causing him to label the series "all-out-war." In Game 7, the Celtics were led by Cedric Maxwell, who had 24 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists as they came away with a 111-102 victory. In the game the Lakers rallied from a 14-point-deficit to three points down with one minute remaining, when Maxwell knocked the ball away from Magic Johnson. Dennis Johnson responded by sinking two free throws to seal the victory. Larry Bird was named MVP of the series.

1985 NBA Finals recap

Main article: 1985 NBA Finals

The Celtics, looking to repeat as NBA Champions, had homecourt advantage for the second year in a row as they finished the regular season with a 63-19 record while the Lakers compiled a 62-20 record. For the first time, the Finals went to a 2-3-2 format with games one and two in Boston while the next three games were in Los Angeles. The final two games of the series would be played in Boston.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Celtics four games to two. Game 1 became known as the "Memorial Day Massacre" as the Celtics soundly beat the Lakers 148-114. The Lakers responded in Game 2 with a 109-102 victory as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 30 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists. In Game 3, the Celtics had a 48-38 lead in the second quarter before the Lakers lead by James Worthy took a 65-59 lead at halftime and then pulled away in the second half to come away with a 136-111 victory. The Celtics tied the series in Game 4, 107-105 as Dennis Johnson hit a jumper at the buzzer. In Game 5, the Lakers raced out to a 64-51 lead and stretched it to 89-72 before the Celtics cut the deficit to 101-97 with six minutes remaining. However Magic Johnson made three shots while Kareem added four more shots and the Lakers came away with a 120-111 victory to take a 3-2 series lead. In Game 6, the Lakers were led by Abdul-Jabbar who scored 29 points as the Lakers defeated the Celtics 111-100. It was the first and only time a visiting team had claimed an NBA championship in Boston Garden. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named MVP of the series.

1987 NBA Finals recap

Main article: 1987 NBA Finals

After being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals a year earlier, the Lakers returned to the NBA Finals and were awarded with homecourt advantage as they accumulated a 65-17 record while the Celtics finished the season with a 59-23 record. The first two games would be played in Los Angeles, the next three games in Boston, and the final two games were scheduled to be played in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Celtics four games to two. In Game 1, the Los Angeles Lakers came away with a 126-113 victory. In Game 2, the Lakers took a 2-0 series lead with a 141-122 victory. In Game 3, the Celtics posted a 109-103 win. In Game 4, the Celtics had a 16-point lead in the third quarter before the Lakers stormed back into the game. Bird had hit a three point bomb with 12 seconds remaining to give the Celtics the lead, however, with two seconds remaining, Magic Johnson sank a "junior sky hook" to give the Lakers a 107-106 lead, then Larry Bird missed a second 3-point shot, with no time remaining, to allow Los Angeles to escape with a three games to one lead. In Game 5, the Celtics prevented the Lakers from celebrating in the Boston Garden by coming away with a 123-108 win. In Game 6, the Lakers trailed the Celtics 56-51 at halftime but regained control of the game in third quarter to cruise to a 106-93 victory and their fourth championship in the decade. Magic Johnson was named MVP of the series.

2008 NBA Finals recap

Main article: 2008 NBA Finals

The Celtics and the Lakers are currently facing off in the finals for the first time in 21 years. During the regular season, the Celtics beat the Lakers in both meetings. However, these games occurred before the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies. In the first game, held in Boston on November 23, 2007, the Celtics beat the Lakers 104-97. The second time they played each other was on December 30, 2007 and the Celtics again beat the Lakers 110-91.

The Celtics won Game 1 of the 2008 Finals, 98-88.

In Game 2, the Celtics built a 24-point lead early in the fourth quarter. However, the game turned out to be a nail-biter at the end--the Lakers scored 41 in the final frame, cutting Boston's lead to two points late in the game. The Celtics hit free throws to hold on, and won 108-102.

In Game 3, the Lakers beat the Celtics 87-81 with only a 6 point lead. Paul Pierce had a terrible game only makeing 2 of his 14 field goals, which analysts attribute to early foul trouble. Garnett also had trouble shooting having only 12 points. Ray Allen was the only member of Boston's big 3 that did well with 25 points. In a suprise, Sasha Vujacic scored 20 points in 28 minutes, similar to Boston's Powe's performance in game 2, while Odom and Gasol (though making several critical tips in the 4th quarter) were struggling in field goals.

Trivia

• During the seventh game of the 1982 Eastern Conference Finals, with the Lakers waiting in the wings after sweeping the Spurs in their Conference Finals matchup, the chants of "Beat L.A.!!!" were heard amongst the Boston Garden crowd, even though the Celtics would lose to the 76ers. The chants were used to psyche the 76ers heading into their Finals matchup with the Lakers. L.A., however, thanks to their 12-day rest between playoff series, would beat the 76ers in six games.

External links

• The origins of 'Beat LA'

See also

• Pistons-Celtics Rivalry
• Sixers-Celtics Rivalry
• Lakers-Kings rivalry
• Spurs-Lakers rivalry
• Rivalries of the NBA
• History of the Boston Celtics
• History of the Los Angeles Lakers