Admit it — you’re pulling for K.G.!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 6/06/2008

 

 

 The very history of the National Basketball Association has been built on the success of two franchises, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. This is year 62 of the NBA, and 30 times either Boston or Los Angeles has captured the biggest prize of all, the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

 It has been 21 long years since these two franchises last squared off with the title on the line. It’s classic East vs. West with the two big cities, Boston and Los Angeles, in contention.

 Legends are born in the NBA Finals: Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, John Havilicek, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, Dennis Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, Tim Duncan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal, Willis Reed and Rick Barry.

 Boston has won 16 NBA Championships; the Lakers have 14. In fact, this is the 11th time these two franchises have met with a World Championship at stake. The first eight times they met in the finals, it was all Boston. But thanks to Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Magic Johnson, that all changed.

 In 1985, the Lakers finally beat Boston. The series now stands at 8-2 in favor of Boston, with the Lakers having won the last two.

  The season started with Los Angeles in turmoil, Kobe Bryant badly wanting to be traded and Kevin Garnett, the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves franchise, being traded to Boston. Boston had the NBA’s best record, 66-16. Led by Garnett, the NBA defensive player of the year, teaming with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the Celtics took off.

 The Lakers, on the other hand, waited until mid-season to make their move. After trading late in the season for Pau Casol, the Lakers rose in the West. This is the first time since 2000 that the top seeds in the West and East have met for the championship.

 Bryant was second in the NBA in scoring at 28 points a game, and the boo’s turned to cheers as he grabbed his first-ever NBA Most Valuable Player award. For the second year in a row, two players, Bryant and Garnett, like LeBron James of Cleveland all drafted right out of high school, will have a chance to secure their legacy as legends of the NBA Finals.

 Boston played Los Angeles twice during the regular season with the Celtics winning both times. This may be the biggest mismatch in history when it comes to head coaches in the finals. Phil Jackson is tied with Boston’s legendary Red Auerbach for the most NBA titles won by a coach, and is the winningest coach in NBA playoff history with 181 wins and 90 losses.

 Jackson has won nine NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls and Lakers; this is his 11th trip to the finals as a coach. While Doc Rivers has done a great job guiding this talented Celtics team, this is his first shot at a title as a player or coach.

 The NBA has what it wants, a series that will command attention and deliver ratings. But will it deliver drama? Can Garnett join Russell and Bird and do what great Celtics do — deliver a World Championship? In Boston that’s all that matters. Can Kobe lead this team and win without Shaquille O’Neal and get his fourth title? This is what it’s all about, imposing your will and desire for greatness.

Game one, starting Thursday in Boston, will be critical. The Celtics have the home-court advantage, but this is a 2-3-2, meaning two at home and three on the road.

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and biweekly he commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.