Information AboutLakers-celtics Rivalry |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT LAKERS-CELTICS RIVALRY | |
| los angeles lakers | |
| national basketball association rivalries | |
| boston celtics | |
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The rivalry started in the 1960s , when the Celtics defeated the Lakers six times in eight years to claim the championship, and featured greats such as Bill Russell (Boston) and Jerry West (Los Angeles). It continued with renewed fervor in the 1980s when both teams were strong, and was personified as Larry Bird ( Boston ) vs. Magic Johnson ( Los Angeles ). During this period, this rivalry took on many different dimensions, such as East Coast vs. West Coast and white vs. black (the Celtics teams of the 1980s were predominantly composed of Caucasian players, while those of Los Angeles were mostly African-American ). Additionally, prior to the 1980s, the NBA had been struggling financially, with low attendance and low Television Ratings . The epic battles between these two teams contributed mightily to the success of the league. Coupled with the emergence of the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan in the following years, the NBA became a media Juggernaut and one of the dominant sports leagues of the United States as well as the rest of the world. The effect the rivalry had on the league is remarkable, considering that the two teams only met in the finals three times (1984, 1985, and 1987) and only played each other twice each season. The rivalry has died down since Bird's retirement and the rise of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990s. Both teams suffered setbacks in the subsequent fifteen years, with the Lakers finally returning to prominence with three championships in the 2000s but then failing to make the playoffs after trading Shaquille O'Neal . The Celtics have only advanced past the conference semifinals once since 1990. Since then, the Sacramento Kings replaced Boston as the team Lakers fans love to hate (see Lakers-Kings Rivalry ). 1983-84 NBA FINALS RECAP By virtue of a 62-20 record, the Celtics had homecourt advantage over the Lakers who finished the regular season with a 54-28 mark. The first two games were played at the Celtics home court in Boston Garden, while the next two were held at the Lakers home floor, The Forum in Inglewood, CA. The Celtics then hosted game five and seven while the Lakers would host game 6. The Celtics defeated the Lakers four games to three. The Lakers opened the series with a 115-109 victory at Boston Garden. In Game Two, the Lakers led 115-113 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup and the Celtics eventually prevailed in overtime 124-121. In Game Three, the Lakers raced to an easy 137-104 victory as Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists. In Game Four, the Lakers had a five point game lead with less than a minute to play, but made several execution errors as the Celtics tied the game and then came away with a 129-125 victory in overtime. The game was also marked by Celtic forward Kevin McHale's takedown of Laker forward Kurt Rambis on a breakaway layup which triggered the physical aspect of the rivalry. In Game Five, the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead as Larry Bird scored 34 points. The game was known as "Heat Game" as the game was playued in 97-degree heat. In Game 6, the Lakers evened the series with a 119-108 victory. In the game the Lakers answered the Celtics rough tatics when Laker forward James Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. Carr as he left the floor, causing him to label the series "all-out-war". In Game 7, the Celtics were led by Cedric Maxwell who had 24 points, eight rebounds and eigh assists as they came away with a 111-102 victory. In the game the Lakers rallied from a 14-point-deficit to three with one minute remaining when Cedric Maxwell knocked the ball way from Magic Johnson. Dennis Johnson responded by sinking two free throws to seal the victory. Larry Bird was named MVP of the series. 1984-85 NBA FINALS RECAP The Celtics looking to repeat as NBA Champions had homecourt advantage for the second year in a row as they finished the regular season with a 63-19 record while the Lakers compiled a 62-20 record. For the first time, the Finals went to a 2-3-2 format with games one and two in Boston while the next three games were in Los Angeles. The final two games of the series would be played in Boston. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Celtics four games to two. Game One became known as "The Memorial Day Massacre" as the Celtics soundly beat the Lakers 148-114. The Lakers responded in game two with a 109-102 record as Kareem-Abdul Jabbar had 30 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists. In Game Three, the Celtics had a 48-38 lead in the second quarter before the Lakers lead by James Worthy took a 65-59 lead at halftime and then pulled away in the second half to come away with a 136-111 victory. The Celtics tied the series in Game Four, 107-105 as Dennis Johnson hit a jumper at the buzzer. In Game Five, the Lakers raced out to a 64-51 lead and streched it to 89-72 before the Celtics cut the defecit to 101-97 with six minutes remaining. However Magic Johnson made three shots while Kareem added four more shots and the Lakers came away with a 120-111 victory to take a 3-2 series lead. In Game Six, the Lakers were led by Abdul-Jabbar who scored 29 points as the Lakers defeated the Celtics 111-100. It was the first and only time a visiting team had claimed an NBA championship in Boston Garden. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was named MVP of the series. 1986-87 NBA FINALS RECAP After being eliminated in the Western Conference Finals a year earlier, the Lakers returned to the NBA Finals and were awarded with homecourt advantage as they accumulated a 65-17 record while the Celtics finished the season with a 59-23 record. The first two games would be played in Los Angeles, the next three games in Boston, and the final two games were scheduled to be played in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Celtics four games to two. In Game One, the Los Angeles Lakers came away with a 126-113 victory. In Game Two the Lakers took a 2-0 series lead with a 141-122 victory. In Game Three, the Celtics posted a 109-103 win. In Game Four the Celtics had a 16-point lead in the third quarter before the Lakers stormed back into the game. With two seconds remaining Magic Johnson sank a "junior" sky hook" to give the Lakers a 107-106 victory. In Game Five, the Celtics prevented the Lakers from celebrating in Boston Garden by coming away with a 123-108 win. In Game Six, the Lakers trailed the Celtics 56-51 at halftime but regained control of the game in third quarter to curise to a 106-93 victory and their fourth championship in the decade. Magic Johnson was named MVP of the series. SEE ALSO
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