Headline PH: Lakers have a long memory of Celtics

PHOENIX – The Los Angeles Lakers’ title hopes had disappeared with one last embarrassing loss in the NBA Finals, leaving those on board the team’s bus to sit in stunned silence. As the bus started to leave the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston on that night two years ago, chaos quickly broke out around the Lakers. Boston Celtics fans had filled the streets to celebrate the franchise’s 17th championship, not far from a statue of longtime patriarch Red Auerbach smoking a victory cigar.

With traffic snarled and no police escort to take them to their hotel, the Lakers could do nothing but sit and stew. Before long, someone recognized Phil Jackson sitting in the front seat, and then the rocks began to fly. Revelers pelted the bus and shook it, mocking the Lakers at their lowest moment.

“It was painful,” Lakers forward Pau Gasol(notes) said. “It is a feeling that I want to keep in my mind for every single minute that I’m out there playing them.”

Yes, the Lakers and Celtics are now set to renew their legendary rivalry in the NBA Finals. One night after the Celtics eliminated the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference finals, L.A. took out the Phoenix Suns in the West to set up the latest chapter between the teams.

“Obviously, this is a matchup that’s very easy to talk about,” Kobe Bryant(notes) said. “There are a lot of things that people can write about and talk about. It’s a sexy matchup.”

The rivalry picked up in the 1980s thanks to Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. There were three Finals meetings then between the Celtics who were then viewed as tough, hard-working and predominately white while the Lakers were Hollywood glamour, show-boaters and mostly black. The “Beat L.A.” chant was born as was the “Boston Sucks” taunt. Before Michael Jordan took over the NBA, it was Bird and Magic who saved the league with their impassioned rivalry. With the Lakers losing to the Celtics two years ago, it’s safe to say the rivalry has been reborn.

By Marc J. Spears,
Yahoo Sports

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