The Top 5 Best Sports Rivalries: Difference between revisions

The Lakers-Celtics rivalry is not only the greatest team rivalry in pro basketball, but also the greatest championship rivalry in America.  The Lakers and Celtics have met for the championship 12 times - a record across all major sports.  They have won a combined 33 of the 67 NBA championships.  In addition to the team's rivalry, basketball's two greatest one-on-one rivalries played out on the Lakers-Celtics stage.  The Wilt Chamberlain-Bill Russell rivalry largely took place while Wilt played for the Warriors and 76ers, but the final chapter was written in the 1969 NBA Finals.  The Magic Johnson-Larry Bird rivalry returned the teams back to the Finals spotlight and rejuvenated the fledgeling NBA. The tension between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers goes back to the days of the Eisenhower Administration. This rivalry has met in a championship setting an astounding 12 times—making it quite possibly the best in all sports. Names like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Jerry West, Bob Cousy, Kobe Bryant, and John Havlicek echo in the hallways of "fandom," along with that respectful disdain from their opponents' supporters that remind us this one is has had multiple generations of fans. Overall, the main perception by NBA fans is that the Celtics are the best and most successful franchise, because they have won the most titles, and have dominated the Lakers in the Finals. However, the Lakers are the best franchise; they have been the most consistent, and they have had the most great players, as well as some of the best coaches and the best general manager. The Lakers have also won the most games ever, and have the highest winning percentage of any team in the league, the most playoff appearances, as well as the most division titles. The Lakers also have made it to the Finals an amazing twenty-nine out of sixty-one seasons, which is just under half of the seasons in the league's history. Finally, they are also the most popular team in the league both on and off the court. Even Robert Parrish, the Hall of Fame Celtic, said: "When you talk about dominance, you have to talk about the Lakers." Also, the long time commissioner of the league David Stern had this to say when asked what his dream NBA Finals match-up would be, "Lakers vs. Lakers." He also said "I'd be lying if I told you there wasn't a special fascination with the Lakers." 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. 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. 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.