It's here, Celtics-Lakers or Lakers-Celtics, depending on the coast. We here at Sportstoilet are all LA guys so we try not to be bias unlike the evil four letter network that single handedly killed hockey just because NBC won the bidding war to air the games. Disney and ABC should be ashamed, Mickey is fraud and goofy is a heroin addict. ESPN should stop stroking New England based teams and start recognizing the West Coast uprising. The leader of the LA-based resurgence is Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. David Stern is creaming himself over the fact that he has two of the top 5 markets in the finals and the absolute dream match-up, historically, Laker-Celtics. It all started at the trade deadline of the 2007 season. Kobe, obviously fed up with the team's current standing, voiced his opinion on killing the youth movement and the team's need to make big moves and bring in veteran talent. This failed to happen. The Lakers had a chance at Jason Kidd, Kevin Garnett and current Laker, Pau Gasol. Mitch Kupchak, Laker GM, failed to pull the trigger on a deal mainly because all deals included the departure of the young center and oft-proclaimed, future of the Lakers, Andrew Bynum. The Lakers had a miserable season according to the standards set by fans and ownership expectations of the greatest basketball, and maybe sport's franchise of all time.
The off-season was quite eventful, it seemed like whole team was at odds with the backbone, the living legend, the star of stars of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant. Kobe hated them back, or so it seemed. Local radio stations such as AM 570, expressed mixed opinions on Kobe's public tirades about the lack of effort by Laker management. He wasn't particularly happy about the fact that Mitch failed to deal Bynum for the obviously over-the-hill, Jason Kidd. Thank God that didn't happen. The threats started to pour on as Kobe continued his public displeasure and continued to state his desire to be traded. The public also had mixed opinions on Bryant, whether you loved him or hated him at the time, every fan had an opinion on what would be the best for the Lakers. Everyone had a plan for the future and everyone thought a big change was needed. Opportunity arose in the 2007 off season for the Lake show to bring in none other than Kevin Garnett. Finally, this was the answer. A big man, a big name, a "Big Ticket." Talks went on for weeks between Mitch Kupchak and the Evil Celtic, Kevin McHale, T-Wolves GM. All deals had Andrew Bynum somehow involved and Mitch would not deal the young Laker's Center.
The public was torn, and why? The team could not win now without a big name like Kevin Garnett, it just wasn't possible, according to us. The fictitious deadline for this deal had to be the draft, we had to trade pick, we had to trade players and bring in Garnett ASAP. it never happened. The draft started with the obvious picks going one-two, Greg Oden to the Blazers and Kevin Durant to the Sonics. The Celtics were on the board at 5 and they threw quite the curveball. After not being able to dish Paul Pierce, they decided to build around him, now. They traded the #5 pick to the Sonics for their superstar Ray Allen. What? Yes, it was true. This was a solid 1-2 combo that would at least allow them to do just fine in the lackluster east. The draft went on without the Lakers making a move and maintained it's young roster with Kobe Bryant remaining as the teams only true star. Then the unthinkable happened. The two evil Celtic GM's got together and sealed the deal on a trade that would bring Kevin Garnett to the Celtics for a slew of young talent to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Garnett deal and Kobe's situation did not settle well with Bryant, the fans, the media or anyone who cared about the future of the Laker franchise. The one bright spot of the off season was bringing back the backbone of the 2000-2002 championship Laker teams, Derek Fisher. This was a start, but not enough according to Bryant. The depressing off season carried into the beginning of the 07-08 campaign. Kobe led a young starting lineup that didn't show much promise for the upcoming season. This didn't look great on paper but after a couple months, the Lakers were looking like a playoff team. Andrew Bynum was maturing and becoming and dunking and shot blocking force in the low post and Kobe was being Kobe. D Fish was being the floor general everyone expected he would, being a professional and doing his job. Lamar was up and down as usual and Kwame "DooDoo" Brown had his moment but still couldn't palm a tennis ball and was being Kwame which means he was still dumb as cow shit and very inconsistent. Somehow they were still in the playoff race. Hopes were high in LA, hey, we were gonna at least make the playoffs. Then, the Lakers lost all hope when it's center Andrew Bynum went down with a 2 month injury.The trade deadline was nearing and Kobe still didn't drop his desire to be traded, then the bomb dropped on the league. There was supposedly a trade in the works that would send then, Memphis Grizzly, Pau Gasol to LA for his little bro, Marc, Kwame "PooPoo" Brown, young PG, Javaris Critterton, who I still think has promise and a couple of first round picks. Couple that with the shipping of Maurice Evans and Brian "Puppy Crap" Cook, it was now apparent that the Lakeshow was serious. Pau was a nice replacement for Bynum, to say the least and Trevor Ariza was a fine defensive anchor for the opposing teams best player. The rollercoaster continued in LA as Boston was in cruise control, dominating the east. They looked like the best team in basketball and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that they would win the 2008 title.
The Lakers thought differently. They started climbing the ranks in the very tough western conference and all was well in Lakerland. The hype of a Lakers-Celtics final started as both teams climbed to first place in their respective divisions.Sure enough as the season ended both teams finished first and the hype continued. The Lakers plowed through the Nuggets in no time flat while the Boston Celtics struggled with the 8th seed Atlanta Hawks. The series went to 7 and The Celtics finished them off in convincing fashion. On to round 2. The Lakers had to face the best home team in the league, the Utah Jazz. While at times the Lakers looked like they could fall, Kobe stood up, put the team on his shoulders and put away the very tough Jazz team in 7, despite a great serious by young pg, Deron Williams. The Celtics went to seven again and had lots of trouble playing 5 on 1, Lebron was proving he is in fact, the 2nd best player in the league and gave a good fight. The Celtics Big 3 was too much for LJ23 and the Celtics would now have their first real test by facing the 2004 NBA Champion, Detroit Pistons. The Lakers drew the defending champion, San Antonio Spurs. The only two teams who are in the running for the team on the current century would be pitted against one another in what was supposed to be a knock down-drag out afair. The series ended in 5 and the Lakers were proving that they were not only the team of the decade, but the best team of the 2008 season.
The Celtics struggled against a Chauncy-less Piston team but eventually pulled off the win in the series. So now, the table was set. The hype happened. David Stern got his wish, he got the Showdown of the Century. Mainly the showdown of 2 centuries ago, but still, Lakers-Celtics is the best possible series for the league, no matter what the generation.
The nostalgia is everywhere. Visions of Bird, McHale, Parrish, Magic, Worthy, Jabbar (Alcindor), West, Chamberlain, Russell, Auerbach and Buss. Showtime was back and so was the rivalry of all rivalries. So this is it. Game one is on tap for this evening and who knows what will happen. The C's are favored by 3 tonight and rightfully so. The Celtics were the best team of the regular season and appear to be pumped for the first Championship in Boston hoops since the 80's. The Lakers have 3 at home following the 2 in Boston. This should be one of the best series in basketball history but I think the Lakers take this bitch in 5. Kobe Bryant is now in debate as the best player of all time and this series win would be another step towards being just that. Phil Jackson could also take the championship ring record from the late Celtic great, Red Auerbach. So many storylines, so much rich history, so much to look forward to, yet I still see the father's of LA celebrating when the Lakers win game 5 on father's day and bring the gold back to the downtown hoops dojo, Staples Center. This championship will be for the current dads and the future dads of BH. The house that Shaq built will forever be known as the house that Kobe called home and built his path to the greatest player of our time.That's what LA is about Basketball and avacados, y'all better know that.
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