The Rivalry Has Been Renewed Print E-mail
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Written by Darren Odellot   
Monday, 02 June 2008
The Rivalry Has Been Renewed


The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are at it again. Celebrating one of the most intense rivalries in sports history, Boston and LA are once again meeting up in the NBA Finals, just like they did during the 80s. That was the time when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, two of basketball’s greatest players, fought against each other’s team to win a championship. This year, a younger batch of players is giving it their all. This is the time of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen for the Celtics. This is the moment for Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol for the Lakers.

The Lakers are all too familiar with the Finals scene. Two of their main gunners have played in the Finals during this decade. These are Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher. Their team has recently won three NBA Championships under the tutelage of their coach Phil Jackson. However, it is a different story this time. During their recent championship run, they had the league’s most dominating big man, Shaquille O’Neal, in his prime. Kobe was just the second offensive option. This time, Kobe is their natural leader and their team’s offense revolves around him.

Meanwhile, the Celtics have not been consistent playoff contenders for the past years since their last championship in 1986. Their franchise player Paul Pierce did not get the support he always wanted. But this year, the team management gave him more than he could ever ask for by trading for former MVP and current Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett. They also managed to pry the streak shooter Ray Allen from the Seattle Sonics. Armed with three studs playing for a purpose, the Celtics have become the pride of the East. All three are hungry for the elusive championship as they have all not gone beyond the Conference Finals.

It is interesting to note that Phil Jackson of the LA Lakers is now trying to surpass the number of titles Red Auerbach holds. Jackson holds 9 trophies – 6 with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls; 3 with Shaquille O’Neal and the Los Angeles Lakers. He now has an opportunity to make it ten against Auerbach’s nine. Jackson is already among the elite coaches of all time yet he still strives to make his team better through his sound approach to coaching. Kobe and the team understood his system and they are ready to make things happen by following their coach’s rules.

The excitement is building and every basketball fan around the world would love to see the renewal of this rivalry. The battle for supremacy between Green and Yellow is once again alive and kicking. This will be a memorable NBA Finals, one that deserves a note in the history books. These teams have met 10 times in the Championship game and Boston always had the upper hand. Who will win this year’s trophy? Will Bryant add the title to his already impressive resume or will Garnett, Pierce, and Allen finally get the one thing that has been missing in their storied careers?



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written by mikef85205 , June 08, 2008
great read! someone will talk about Garnett vs Kobe 20 years later
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