Indeed it is.


You just know David Stern is sitting somewhere in the NBA headquarters and creaming himself over and over again.




Edit: Glad to see Doc Rivers getting to the Finals as well, he was definitely deserving of an opportunity such as this one. As good a coach as he is (going back to his Orlando days), he's also a stand-up guy off the court. I've actually talked with the man before as I previously mentioned in this thread, and well, I'll just say that I'm definitely happy for him.

Who is the favourite , I know that the Celts have a more mature and older team and the Lakers are younger . Also how many games in the final .

Why did Lakers play 5 games against the spurs and the celts played 7 against pistons ?

best of 7 in the final

The Celtics played 6 and won 4-2, the Lakers only needed 5 to win 4-1

I would love to see the Celtics win, i think they deserve it slightly more, but theres a real name and colour problem there . Kobe has to run out of steam at some point, and if he does it could be curtains for the Lakers

It's distinctly old school though this final

The Historic Rivalry:

1958-59 Boston Celtics Minneapolis Lakers 4-0
1961-62 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4-3
1962-63 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
1964-65 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4-1
1965-66 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4-3
1967-68 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
1968-69 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4-3
1983-84 Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers 4-3
1984-85 Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics 4-2
1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers Boston Celtics 4-2

This is big. I can't even believe we've made it to the finals for the first time in 21 years and we're facing the Lakers. I don't think it's quite hit me yet.

Realistically, we have to win the first two games which are in Boston because the next three will be in LA. If we can bag one of those and go 3-2 before we come back to Boston I'll feel good.

It should be a good series.

The first Lakers-Celtics final in my living memory, and it's probably the same for many of the NBA aficionados here. ESPN is already inundating us with old 80's highlights from the three legendary match-ups between the two teams. If nothing else, the hype machine will definitely be in full use for the revival of this old rivalry.

I was at a sports bar nearby with a few friends on the night the Celtics won the East, and I thought they looked pretty impressive in going into Detroit and beating them on their home court. Even then, the majority of the people at the bar were tipping the Lakers to win. Didn't stop my friend from betting $100 on the Celtics to win, though

As much as I want the Celts to win, I also think the edge goes to the Lakers. Kobe just can't be stopped right now, and his supporting cast seems to be peaking just at the right time. They also looked pretty damn good in disposing of the Spurs in five games, including the big comeback at home in Game 5. Boston has their latest version of the Big Three, but I worry a bit about the team's consistency -- Ray Allen in particular. For them to have an upper hand in the series, he has to play like he did in the last few games, and not like he did during the whole series vs the Cavs.

I've already got my popcorns and drinks out for this one, though. It should be one helluva series.

I'm old enough to remember when the Celtics were at their previous peak, but I was a kid so I wasn't paying super close attention to it. Later when I seriously got into basketball I went back and watched a bunch of the classic matches much closer. The form of Bird, McHale, Parish et al was really something special. A pleasure to watch and now, witnessing the likes of Peirce, Garnett and Allen who are willing to come together and share the spotlight with each other as well as the rest of the players, willing to put the little moments of personal glory aside at times to keep the bigger goal in mind, reminds me of those legendary players of the past. The Celtics "Big Three" have significantly lower point averages this year than they did last year when they played on different teams, but now they are in the finals. That says a lot about their approach and mentality and whether we win or lose this series this has been a historic year for the Celtics and a complete thrill for Boston fans. Paul Peirce is already a legend for staying with us when times were tough. I'm hoping the rest of our fine players can help him win the title as he and Doc Rivers truly deserve it after all they've done for the team.

I agree that the Lakers have the edge. Not just Kobe but the fact that they have three matches at home in a row and we've had a rough away record in the postseason. Granted we've put two away wins under our belt in this last series when we've absolutely needed to, but everything just before that doesn't suggest we're going to bag too many wins in LA. So we've got to win the first two matches. If LA wins in Boston before the journey west, the mountain we'll have to climb will be all but insurmountable.

But then again it's the playoffs and anything can happen.

I will be a nervous wreck this week.

Game one tonight. ESPN's been playing a bunch of the classic finals games from the eighties. It's getting me all fired up.

There's none of that here (classic games that is), but I'm really looking forward to it too. I think over the course of the finals the Celtics will have too much for the Lakers.

I heard this is like the 11th time the two will face up in the finals, so it's gonna be a great one for the fans.

If Kobe makes things difficult for Allen then the Lakers have a great shot. Otherwise, its hard to see how they can pull this off.

That was a tight game. Celtics had amazing defense but couldn't seem to capitalize on it as much as possible so the Lakers were never really out of the game until the very end. If we can get over the pressure of playing in the finals and maintain focus I'd say we can take the series. But if we give LA the chance at too many turnovers they will make us pay for it especially when we're in their house.

When Paul Pierce went down and they carried him off I thought I was going to lose it. When he came back on it was the greatest of reliefs, (and my worries were allayed for now when he hit those two threes in a row) but we'll still have to wait and see if he's still fit to play in two days. We might be able to survive a game without him, but trying to go the distance without our captain isn't something I even want to think about.

KG's halfcourt pass from the loose ball to Brown to Cassell who scored was one of the best plays I've seen in a longtime.

Every time I see those stats (and my best friend is a Celtics fan and always reminds me of them ), it feels like my Lakers are like the Germans... Tons of finals appearances but only 3 trophies to show for it.

Ok, Luckily for LA, they haven't met too many Celts in the finals after the 60s, Luckily for moi

Also in general, the 80s were AWESOME for me (when I started following football "soccer", basketball and hockey) and not as awesome for my bud. For the younger crowd here, LA nailed 5 championships in 8 tries I even have an old T-Shirt saying: Team of the 80s, with the 5 championships on it.

Aaaaaahh, the nostalgia!

Tonight, going to his place to watch Game 2! Just like the good ol' days! Was a teen back then... Damn those were fine years! Crazy 80s!!

I must say though, I'm not as in "love" with today's basketball players in general and Lakers for that matter compared to LA of old. Simply because, nowadays, most teams are "1 man" teams and a bunch of "hang alongs" for the rest.

Back in the day, yes, there was Magic, but there was also Abdul-Jabar and MONSTER James Worthy a good Pat Riley and one heck of a running game. Nowadays, scoring OVER 100 points needs a whole of praying at Church to happen.

When I think back to the 80s team... I just don't see what made me fall in love with LA ball today. Kobe is great and all, but it's just not the same... Hey, maybe it's just nostalgia talkin'.

However, I must admit, I did love the LA of the early millenia too. Shaq Diesel, Kobe, Fisher and "Big Shot Rob" Horry were damn nice to watch too. Wasn't the run and gun style either, but it did have its own "loveable" style. Big series against the "Up and Coming" Sac Kings, "Twin Towers" San Anton and "Game 7, 15 point comeback" Portland were simply unforgettable series too.

This year, LA didn't really have the crazy nail biting series to get to the finals. I thought the Spurs would have been a 7 game thing, but the Spurs imploded so many times (big leads down the tubes in 3-4 games... Made the 15 point comeback against Portland from a few years back seem so "casual" now).

The Celts will be a HUGE challenge, but I will NEVER put it up against the matchups of the 80s. The teams simply don't have that "thing" the 80s versions had.

I seem to have more fun going down memory lane than watching the current games honestly.

Still hoping it will be epic though.

Here on the East Coast of North America the N.B.A. Finals games are on really late at night, sometimes as late as midnight or thereabouts. I really do not see how people who sleep during normal hours can be expected to watch or listen to these games.

I got work at 7am in the morning , wake up at 5:50 am .

Yet the finals come on at 1:50 am and i stay up and watch all of it before work , did it with the stanley cup too



HARDCORE SPORTS FAN

You are lucky to be in a time zone that allows you to do that. I have found that I have no problem waking up early in the morning. It's staying up late in the evening that I can't do very easily.

You dont get it but , i didnt sleep before that , i was out during the day

A wee bit off-topic, but...



The dude that sang the national anthem... he won the American Idol???

That was a mercy "clap" if I ever heard one. Roseanne was better... kinda

Yeah, to tell the truth, his rendition of the national anthem sounded exactly like the one by the "Ow My Balls" guy in Idiocracy


Game 4 coming up tomorrow, should be another gritty yet cracking matchup. Rondo could be limited in this one, if he actually plays at all.

They seemed to have Rondo's number the other night. He shouldn't have come back on when he did as we had a great run against the Lakers after he came off. He's a great player, but LA figured out how to shut him down and we had them off balance for a little while when we changed the approach. Why we went back to the original approach baffles me and it allowed them to get the lead back.

Tonight will be a telling night.

Oh, hey. Boomer, the team from closer to my home will certainly beat the team from closer to your home in this next game.

Annnnnddddddd.... that's the end of my insight into this sport.

I will ready some Boston baked beans and Harpoon brown ale to accompany your meal... when you eat those words!!!! Boo-ya!!!!

(I don't know any cuisine that is specific to LA, so feel free to school me on that one if I turn out to be mistaken.)

Well, what a game that was!


The Celtics can smell the title at this point.

Apologies to all Celtics fans... that was my fault... I didn't have my number 34 jersey on until the fourth quarter... once I donned it we tied it up... sorry for all the stress and gnashing of teeth and rending of garments etc... my bad...

seriously though that was historic. i can even process it right now. maybe tomorrow. wow.

Did Seltic win? Is that why nobody brought this up at work?

LA was up by 24 at one point in the first half. They lost by 6. That might have something to do with it.

Yes, and that is something that I cannot easily do.

Game 5 is officially upon us. Lakers 55-52 Boston Celtics at halftime.

I mentally shut down after Game 4. Though I must say, I felt REAL REAL REAL good firing a couple annoying employees the next day.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOONG!!!

LA still leading, 6 minutes to go

Oh JEEZUS!!! What a dumbass foul by Walton. All respect to your dad, but I WISH I could fire you too!!!

The Celts within two points now...


... and the Lakers escape. Game Six in Boston.

Those last two games were epic, i was sure that Boston were going to come back when they were within one basket from tieing the game. I just saw the stat's for the first three games, i missed them. WOW, Pierce has been huge..

I live in Los Angeles but I'm hoping more than ever that Celtics win it. After the three-peat by the Lakers during which I was somewhat of a fan, the whole city was going crazy over them, after Shaq left though and the Lakers were shit for a couple seasons, I didn't hear anything of the Lakers from anyone, you didn't see any Lakers flags of people houses and SUVs as you did before. Now, all of a sudden, when the Lakers are winning again, the whole city is on their back, that pissed me off, and I just saw the first Lakers miniflag on someones car for the first time in years and that made me realize how full of shit everyone is (everyone that follows the Lakers as of late at least). So, now I just want the Celtics to win it just so that everyone can STFU for once about how good the Lakers are and how much of a Lakers fan they have been. Besides, I think Paul Pierce and especially Kevin Garnett deserve to win this title because of how hungry they are to win a Championship.


PLEASE GET THIS OVER WITH CELTICS AND WIN IT AT HOME IN GAME 6.

That's a nice sentiment, Txurdi, but you are forgetting one key detail. Kobe Bryant, someone told me, scores like 25 goals a game. That's more than Torres and Crunaldo combined, then times like 20. That's a lot of goals.

Sorry, it just doesn't work that way. Either that or Kobe is in the wrong the sport.

Today's the day the Celts will make all of LA shut up. I can't wait for the celebration.

lol, and you were somewhat of a lakers fans?? Shows how much worse you are then the other orbital fans. People have lives, sport isnt the be all and end all of existence.

Ive gone to see the celtics play alot of times in the past. Boston isnt painted in Green and White you know. the same thing applies. When you win, you get more fan support.

Anyways, ill agree KG deserves it. But not Pierce. No respect for fakers in basketball. Kobe works harder than he does anyways.

Fakers? I think you mixed up Pierce with Kobe. Kobe is ridiculous when asking for a foul. I know you're talking about the knee thing with Pierce, but Kobe is starting to look like a soccer player, at least the Ronaldo type of player.

Anyway, I know Boston isn't painted in green and white, but I know they are more loyal than Lakers fans.

As for the bold statement, when I lost interest in the Lakers, I lost interest in them completely, I didn't come back when they started winning again. IMO, I think that's better to loose interest altogether than to come crawling back as soon as they start winning again. People say they are hardcore fans yet I didn't hear anything from them from season past until now. All the time they're just hollering "Lakers baby!" and I'm sick of it. These aren't fans or supporters, they're just glory hunters.

quarter time, Boston leading by 4 in game six

Boston up 14 midway through the 2nd quarter!

Mon the Celtics


What a basket by KG!


Celtics up 23 at half-time!

half time update, Celtics up by 21

looking good. as is KG

The Celts having their way with their purple counterparts at the moment.

Game over for LAL. Another superb performance from Boston. KG & Rondo were great.

The chants of "na na na na" ringing out in the Garden


A few more minutes until the coronation.

whos the guy that equaled the record for most 3 pointers?

Congratulations to the Boston Celtics for winning the NBA Title. I have to say, this was as impressive a beatdown as I've ever seen in the NBA Finals, let alone professional sports.

We just saw three Hall of Famers cement their status as legends, and Paul Pierce finally gets his just rewards for sticking with the team through the tough times.


As for Doc Rivers... he'll surely get a hero's welcome whenever he comes back down to Orlando. And when he does, he'll no doubt be bathing in the Florida sunlight, and bathing in joy knowing that he has reached the top of the basketball world.

A well-deserved title for the Celtics.

Congrats to all Celtics fan... Meh.

I know the odds were against the Lakers but ffs at least try to perform well. Know I have to watch my uncle and brother celebrate this stupid win.

Congrats to Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

I swear, all my teams are getting their asses kicked all over the place this year!

- Hockey: Montreal Canadiens got RIPPED by the Flyers. And the Canadiens were first in the conference!!!

- Basketball: Lakers finish numero uno in their conference, pretty much ripped through all comers in the playoffs and then *poof*... pimp slapped in the finals (it was against the number one team in the league after all, but still expected a better fight than this... and tonight's last game? OYEVAY!!!!)

- Football: I'm a Buffalo Bills fan... Nuff said. Been suffering forever! Montreal also has a CFL team (Alouettes)... we keep blowing up in the playoffs... this year? No different.

- Football/Soccer: Montreal Impact are sucking this year. Flamengo got RIPPED in the worst way possible in the Libertadores!! Fluminense, most hated rival, might actually WIN the Libertadores. Brasil NT? HISTORICAL loss to Venezuela and suckage in the qualifiers, Olympics doesn't look promising at all either... Nuff said.

Not a very good year for me sports-wise I must say.

This makes me so incredibly happy. I can't wait to start seeing all the Lakers miniflags coming down from peoples houses and SUV's. What an embarrassment, let's see which Laker fan wants to talk to me about basketball now. Watching KG celebrate like that was something special, you knew he was desperate for it. Those MVPs, All-Star games, and Defensive Player of the Year awards don't mean anything compared to this.

Congrats Celtics and Congrats to all the fans as well, it was very nice hearing those chants at the end.

K.G. with '“I got my own! I hope we made you proud.' into Russell’s ear was class.

Congrats to Boston, very well deserved. By far the best record in the regular season, and they simple have too much quality for a team like the Lakers IMO. They had two tough series at the start, especially againest the Cavs but got through it and never really got into trouble again from there.

Number 17!

It still hasn't completely hit me yet. First title in 22 years. When we were up by forty points I started to think it might happen.

The moments that will stay with me:

-Paul Pierce stepping back on the floor in game one after being carried off, staving off countless Boston heart-attacks and ulcers.

-Pierce hitting two consecutive 3's after aforementioned return to action. Letting everybody know he was truly back.

-Leon Powe's fourth quarter jumpshot in game 3, tying the game after we'd been down by 24 in the first half.

-Celtics staying on the Lakers' heels in game five even though we lost.

-Seeing Perk back in the line-up after the media was reporting he's still be out for game 6.

-Ray Allen hitting seven 3's in game six. These would be 21 of his 26 points.

-Rajon Rondo, after being stifled by LA throughout the preceding games, coming up big in game six. 21 points. 8 assists. seven rebounds. six steals.

-Posey, Powe, House, Tony Allen, Davis et al. putting in clutch performances when we needed them.

-Garnett hugging Bill Russell at the end of game 6.

-Garnett pulling his hat low to cover his tears while being interviewed after

-Paul Pierce who stayed with us for ten years through good times and bad, my favorite active player, holding up the trophy.

It was glorious.

I want to thank LA and their fans for being a part of this historic moment. The Lakers are a phenomenal team with a legendary coach and the best player in the game today. I know losing the final must be hard to take, but I'm sincerely glad with all our history together that you were our opponents in this competition. When I posted the list of previous Celtics/Lakers finals, my intent was not to highlight that we'd won more of them, but to show how massive it is that these two teams were coming together to face each other yet again. Thank you. Best of luck next season.