Now that Boston has won the ECF and they will play the Lakers, I think it is the right time to explain to all those non-Laker/Celtic fans why this is the matchup everyone wanted. Let's start with the most obvious of reasons:
HISTORY: The Celtics and the Lakers are the NBA. No matter how much anyone wants to argue, these two franchises are the two most important franchises in league history. Boston has 16 titles, LA 14. Boston had players named Russell, Bird, McHale, Parrish, Cousy, Havlicek, DJ, etc. LA had players named Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Mikan, Chamberlain, West, Baylor, etc. Even the recent players are some pretty good players. Pierce, Garnett, Allen for Boston. Kobe, Shaq, and, whether he should be on this list or not he has 7 rings, Horry. During the 1980's these two teams were the pinnacle of the NBA. They played each other in the finals 3 times. Combined, they took home 8 titles in the decade. They staged some of the greatest games in the history of the NBA. The Boston Massacre, the Magic skyhook, the McHale clothesline, these are just a few examples in this great rivalry. There may be a few teams that have an argument. After all, the Chicago Bulls do have 6 titles. However, there is really no arguing that the Bulls will most likely be remembered for the fact that MJ played there and that is it. Like I said at the beginning Celtics-Lakers is the NBA. Not only with this have today's fans watching, it will have yesterday's fans paying attention as well. No other possible matchup could do that, or come close to it for that matter.
ENTERTAINMENT: Barring some unforseen events, this finals matchup should be the most watched finals in a long time. It features two teams with likable players, and the one player that is either hated or loved. It features a team that can get up and down and score, and a team that plays the best defense in the league. It features two of the better markets in the league in Los Angeles and Boston. I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.
FRESH BLOOD: Like it or not, a Detroit-San Antonio final would have been a DISASTER. While both are very good teams, seeing the same teams over and over can get very boring. Unless one of those teams has a transcedent star, such as Michael Jordan (and sorry Spurs fans, Tim Duncan just isn't that), the teams are going to get old. Its true the Pistons only made the finals twice, but the fact that they kept getting so close every year made people want to see their opponent win. This year's finals features two fresh ballclubs. The Celtics have not been here since 1987, and the Lakers, while they were here just a few years ago, are a totally different team than the one that showed up (or didn't, which ever way you want to look at it) in 2004.
STORY LINES: This year's finals also has the most storylines since MJ's last title run. Here are all the ones I can think of off the top of my head:
- Kobe trying to win a title without Shaq, officially making the Lakers HIS team.
- Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce finally making the finals, and the fact that they more than payed their dues for the last 10+ years.
- Pau Gasol going from lottery hell to the NBA finals in the span of 4 months.
- The inevitability of ESPN Classic showing nothing but Lakers-Celtics finals games over the next month.
- The countless number of times Kevin McHale's Garnett trade will be talked about.
- The fact that Danny Ainge will be lauded as a genious despite his almost ruining the Celtic's franchise.
- A possible dynasty in LA, seeing as how there is only one Laker, who plays, over the age of 30.
- The very real possibility that these two teams could square off 2 or 3 more times in the next 5 years.
- And, maybe the most intriguing story line of them all, the ultimate David vs. Goliath coaching match in Doc Rivers vs. Phil Jackson.
So, as you can see, not only is this matchup great for the Celtics/Lakers, it is great for the league itself. Nothing against Detroit and San Antonio, but Cetlics-Lakers is the ONLY matchup that could generate this much interest. Now, if the NBA could do something about that David Stern guy, and the situation in Seattle, then maybe it could get back to its glory days.