LA Lakers: Top 10 NBA Rivals All-Time
By Keith Rivas
Boston Celtics
Jan 17, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) works the ball against Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Jodie Meeks (20) in the second half at TD Garden. The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Celtics 107-104. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
If a self-proclaimed Lakers fan can’t tell you that the Boston Celtics rivalry is number one — or, if they try to argue against it — it shouldn’t take much of your time to convince them that this is the rivalry for the ages.
Throughout each generation, both Boston and Los Angeles have found a way to be the cream of the crop in professional basketball.
Whatever the style of play between or across eras, both teams were always able to meet those expectations and then go on to provide extra leverage when they would play against each other.
Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce pushed the most recent Celtics push in the NBA Finals against the Lakers, coming in the 2009-2010 season.
There was also a Finals clash between them at the end of the 2007-2008 campaign, but the 2010 title fight was one of the best ones we’ve seen the rivalry give us in a long time coming.
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Between the legendary franchises are 33 NBA titles, with the edge going to Boston, who owns the rights to 17 championships.
Rondo and Pierce are no longer on the team, and neither is Kevin Garnett, who was a big force down low for the Celtics.
While Boston has moved on from not-so-long-ago in terms of who’s on their roster, their attitude has kept them in the discussion for a while, and they could easily make some big noise in the Eastern Conference playoffs this season.
Whenever it comes, though, the next installment in this legend of a rivalry will be one for the record books.
Next: Closing Thoughts