NBA Finals

“It’s obvious that there is a fervor between both of these towns and it’s something that has been anticipated for the past couple of weeks. Here it is.”
- Lakers coach Phil Jackson

Lakers vs. Celtics.

There’s something magical about the matchup, built as the two rivals have combined for 32 of the NBA’s 62 championships, including 11 meetings between the two.

Boston won the first seven, six in the 1960’s and one in 1959, before the Lakers won 2-of-3 in the 1980’s before dropping the 2008 Finals in six games.

That, of course, is the loss that’s on the minds of Kobe Bryant and Co. heading into a mouth-watering 2010 rematch.

L.A. got there by beating Oklahoma City in six games, sweeping Utah and defeating Phoenix in six as well, while the Celtics handled Miami in five before needing six against both Cleveland and Orlando.

After the C’s beat Orlando, head coach Doc Rivers stated that Boston’s starting five had never lost a playoff series. That’s true, since Kevin Garnett was out injured when the team lost to Orlando in the 2009 playoffs.

In fact, there’s only one other starting five that has yet to lose a playoff series: the Lakers.

It’s no secret that everyone in the Lakers’ organization from Dr. Jerry Buss on down would like nothing more than to catch Boston’s 17 championships, and could be within one, instead of three, with a victory.

Certainly Bryant, Derek Fisher, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and on down the roster need no extra motivation, and neither do Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo or their teammates.

Here’s their chance to see who’s really the best team of the past three years.

Could we ask for anything more?