Sports Redux: The Rivalry Renewed

Remember when Celtics-Lakers games used to mean something? In the Sixties, the Celtics championship road seemed to always end with a victory over LA. In the Eighties, the Bird-Magic schism divided the NBA right down the middle, but the Lakers took two out of the three Finals in which they went head-to-head. The rivalry even has its own Wikipedia page.

Alas, for the last 20 years or so, the cachet has been long gone. While the Lakers have succeeded and added a few rings to their collection, the Celtics (as you probably know) spent years and years in the NBA wilderness, culminating in last season's embarrassment when the Lakers came to town and heard more cheering for Kobe Bryant than for the home team.

Now, the hand is on the other foot (as Ted Striker would say). The Lakers are a good but flawed team trying to stay competitive in the West, while the Celtics have nothing but the highest hopes for the near future. The rivalry continues with a brand new look tonight when they tip off at 7:30.

The Lakers were heavily rumored this offseason to be in the Kevin Garnett Sweepstakes. We all know that had a very, very happy ending, but Laker coach Phil "The Luckiest Man Alive" Jackson saw supernatural elements at work. "Red came out of the grave and got Kevin to make the trade the right way and they're back on top," said the ever-classy Phil, no doubt longing for the far-off day when Jordan or Shaq will come out of the grave and carry him to another title.

Before that, though, the Bruins have an afternoon tilt with the Islanders. The B's will try to build some momentum off the awesome debut of Tuukka Rask in Toronto (though a well-rested Tim Thomas is back in goal today). This is the first of two back-to-back games against the Isles, and with both teams in the playoff hunt, the intensity should overcome the turkey lethargy everyone's presumably in. This Bostonist will be live-blogging from the Garden, thanks to our friends at BostonNOW.

Image from NBA.com