Los Angeles Lakers: Biggest enemies of the 1970s
By Jamaal Artis
1. New York Knicks
When the Boston Celtics dynasty ended it was the New York Knicks who filled the vacuum in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. With Willis Reed in the middle and guard Walt Frazier on the perimeter the Knicks were one of the best teams of the early 70’s. Meanwhile, the Lakers were still looking to win their first NBA championship in Los Angeles.
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Between 1970-1973 the Lakers and Knicks would meet three times in the NBA Finals and provided many memorable moments. In 1970 the teams would meet in an epic seven-game series, with the game in New York’s famed Madison Square Garden it looked like the Knicks would be shorthanded as Reed had been out injured since game 5 of the series.
Reed shocked everyone including the Lakers by making the opening tip-off inspiring the Knicks to a Game 7 win and championship.
In 1972 the Lakers finally got the monkey off their back by defeating the Knicks in five games, this time it was Chamberlain who would inspire his team playing with soft casts on both hands due to a sprained wrist. Chamberlain scored 24 points and hauled in 29 rebounds clinching the team’s first championship in Los Angeles.
The teams would face off again in 1973 but this time it was the Knicks who would prevail in five games, signaling the end of the rivalry as veterans from both teams retired or moved on to other teams signaling a rebuilding period for both teams.