Lakers Versus Celtics: The Greatest Rivalry in NBA History

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics just added another amazing chapter in their ongoing rivalry in National Basketball Association history at the recently concluded championship series for the 2010 NBA title. This series marked the 12th meeting of these two gallant franchises in the NBA finals, with the Celtics winning nine championships while the Lakers grabbed the other three coveted rings, including the 2010 NBA championship. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers was named as the NBA Finals MVP in this grueling championship battle, after leading his team to get back in the game after trailing by as much as 13 points in the third quarter.

Both teams have quality players to carry a franchise to earn a championship title but Lakers got the best of the Celtics this time around. Kobe Bryant led the Los Angeles Lakers together with Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher and Ron Artest in defeating the Celtics Team comprised of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace, and Rajon Rondo. The Lakers might have won the 2010 trophy but they need six more victories over the Boston Celtics to match the latter's successful winning ratio in their championship title rivalry. That would be difficult to achieve because the Boston Celtics squad is no pushover team. Truly, the Boston Celtics franchise of today does not have Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, K.C. Jones, and Larry Bird, but it is still a very formidable team in today's league.

There will be more championship games to see between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics because of what they have shown throughout the history of the NBA. Both teams have what it takes to rise up to the occasion and overcome all adversities as they have proven in the recently concluded 2010 NBA championship. There are many other great teams in the NBA league that are known for their remarkable rivalries like the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons, Portland Trailblazers and Seattle Supersonics, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks, among others, but the Lakers and Celtics are on a different level. Together, these two teams garnered thirty championship rings since the start of the NBA league.

The fascinating game of basketball will continue to thrive so long as there are strong teams vying for the coveted NBA title and the greatest rivalry will no longer be measured by numbers but by the heart and tenacity of the players involved.

Sources:

Frank Fleming, Boston Celtics, Sports Ecyclopedia

Web Administrator, History of the Los Angeles Lakers, TFD Encyclopedia