Rivalry Revival

The wait is over. The revival of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry has finally started with game one in Beantown. (I predicted this matchup ever since Gasol came to Lakers in midseason) Unfortunately, the Lakers (who I support) went on to lose the game. What’s even more unfortunate is that league MVP Kobe Bryant, who I thought would make the difference, struggled. While part of it was due to the Celtics’ defense, Kobe seemed exhausted, especially in the final quarter – the part of the game that he usually dominates. His shot wasn’t there, and he never got his offense going. In fact, he didn’t have a layup (he had one dunk but it was an open court fast break play). Moreover, he was kinda forcing up some shots, especially in the 4^th quarter. Before the series started, I though that the Lakers would ultimately win because they had the NBA’s best closer and clutch performer in Kobe Bryant. Somehow though, he didn’t live up to this in game one.

Kevin Garnett, on the other had, performed like an MVP. He was all over the floor. He was not very efficient on offense, but he contributed in a lot of other ways. The biggest play of the game, aside from the back-to-back threes by Paul Pierce in the second half, was KG, against the odds, saving the ball at the half court line, which led to a Sam Cassell field goal. That play, to me, summed up the game. The Celtics were the hungrier and more determined team. Interestingly, the Lakers crumbled in the fourth quarter, which was rare for a Phil Jackson coached team.

The biggest x-factor was 38-year old PJ Brown, who worked tirelessly in the paint. He, along with fellow 38-year old Cassell, stabilized the inexperienced Celtics.

Going back to the series itself, NBA fans have been waiting for years to see these two teams play again. I was too young to have seen and remembered their last finals meeting in 1987, but I was able to watch their classic games on DVD.

I dunno if it was just me, but seeing both teams on the parquet floor in Boston gave me goose bumps as I remembered the Bird-Magic rivalry of the 80s. There are similarities: Boston has another “big three” – Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen instead of Bird, McHale and Parish; Lakers has their own Magic in Kobe, who has his own “flair” to the game; the Celtics are more defense minded and physical, while LA was more offensive minded. There are a lot of storylines too, aside from renewing the rivalry among the two winnigest teams in NBA history: if the Lakers win, Jackson would surpass Celtics legend Red Auerbach as the coach with the most NBA championship rings (both have 9 as of now); Pierce (who once admitted hating the Celtics as a kid) growing up as a Laker fan (in fact many of the players participating in this series have grown up watching the Lakers and Celtics); Luke Walton’s dad once played for the Celtics. I’m pretty sure David Stern’s quite happy seeing these two teams meet again – the teams who also met in the Finals (with the Lakers winning) when Stern entered the league back in the 84-85 season. Interestingly, the Finals MVP was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was 38 years old at the time. I guess it is not surprising then that Brown and Cassell are still able to contribute.

These things alone would make the Finals worth watching. Personally, I feel this is the best Finals match-up in years. And this year’s version, to me, is even better than those of the past. Don’t get me wrong, the 1980s rivalry was a classic. But today’s game is even more fun to watch: No short shorts. The athleticism of Kobe and KG, which was rare in the 1980s. And of course, today’s technology: high definition, different camera angles, super slow motion, the internet (which builds up the hype even more, moreover, liveblogging makes the games more fun).

The series has just started, and it will be a long and interesting one. Kobe will definitely play better – he has to. But right now, all I could say is this: the winners are the fans, me included!