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05/16/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When you talk rivalries, the Lakers- Celtics is right up there with Yankees-Red Sox and Ohio State-Michigan as the best in all of sports.
The NBA's two marquee teams have met in the Finals 11 different times, dating back to the 1958-59 season when the Lakers nickname actually made some sense and they still called Minneapolis home.
Boston and the game's ultimate winner, Bill Russell, dominated the early years of the rivalry and it was as lopsided as Pete Carroll's USC Trojans vs. Charlie Weis' Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Red Auerbach's Celtics took the Lakers all seven times they met in the Finals, although the Jerry West, Elgin Baylor fueled LA clubs did manage to take Boston to seven games on three different occasions.
The rivalry laid dormant for 15 years until Larry Bird and Magic Johnson "saved" the NBA by bringing their storied college rivalry to the pros. Bird avenged his loss at Indiana State to Magic's Michigan State Spartans in the 1979 NCAA Finals when the Celtics got past the Lakers in seven games to win the 1983-84 NBA title.
Johnson and his Lakers responded the next season as LA finally beat Boston in the Finals for the first time. Magic also won the rubber match two years later before the rivalry went dormant again, this time for 20 years as the Celtics struggled mightily in the post-Bird era.
Danny Ainge re-ignited things by acquiring both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen before the 2007-08 season. The two All-Stars teamed with Paul Pierce to create the "Boston Three Party" and the Celtics were relevant again. A 17th Boston championship was the result as Garnett and his Celtics got the best of Kobe Bryant's Lakers.
A rematch could have been in the offing last season but a knee injury to Garnett derailed any hopes of a Celtics repeat. Instead, LA earned its 15th championship by taking Orlando in five games.
If Hollywood, or ESPN for that matter, was writing the script for this year's Finals, clearly the Lakers and Celtics would be battling for league supremacy again.
Of course, the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic care little about rivalries, history or potential television ratings.
It's all about winning in the NBA's final four -- storylines be damned.
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS:
(2) ORLANDO vs. (4) BOSTON
The Magic are the more rested, younger and deeper team. They are also almost impossible to match up with when they stretch the floor and the threes are falling.
Boston is aging but proved they have a lot left in the tank when they dismantled top-seeded Cleveland and LeBron James. The Celtics' Tony Allen is the wild card for me. He spent the last series chasing James all over the floor. Now, he will have to close out Magic shooters consistently from game to game for Boston to have a shot.
In the end, the Orlando snipers will get it done.
"The thing that is unique about Orlando is that they have so many players that can shoot threes," Former Celtic-great Kevin McHale said. "If one or two guys go through a tough period in a game or in a series, it doesn't matter because they can come in with another guy and find someone that is hot from the three point line."
MAGIC in 6.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS:
(1) LA LAKERS vs. (3) PHOENIX
The Suns are far more athletic and deeper than Los Angeles but it's hard to bet against Kobe and the Lakers' length with Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. Phoenix obviously wants to run and force Phil Jackson away from major minutes for Odom and Bynum.
The series should be a classic clash of styles with the Suns trying to push it at every opportunity and the Lakers attempting to slow things down and turn it into a half-court game. The team that dictates the pace and forces the opposing coach to stray from his usual rotation should come out on top.
At some point, playoff basketball always seems to come down to who executes in their respective set offense better. If that's the case, this series is a no- brainer.
LAKERS in 6
<< Another Serie A crown for Inter
Siena, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Inter Milan claimed its fifth successive Serie
A title on Sunday as Diego Milito's goal in the 57th minute was enough to give
Inter a 1-0 win at Siena.
The Nerazzurri entered the final day of the season wit
<< Rangers activate INF Arias
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers on Sunday activated infielder
Joaquin Arias from the 15-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Pedro
Strop to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Arias had been sidelined with a lower back stra
<< Derby and Preakness winners to skip Belmont
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and
Preakness Stakes champ Lookin At Lucky will both skip the Belmont Stakes.
Both respective trainers, Todd Pletcher and Bob Baffert, said Sunday morning
that both
<< A's try to get on track in finale with Angels
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Suffering with the longest losing streak in the American
League at the moment, the Oakland Athletics try to close out their three-game
set in southern California on a positive note as they take on the Los Angeles
Angels of An
Orioles scratch Hernandez from start >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher David
Hernandez was scratched from Sunday's series finale against Cleveland due to
discomfort in his right shoulder.
Long reliever Mark Hendrickson will start in Hern
Americans split with Australia in World Team event >>
Dusseldorf, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sam Querrey beat Peter Luczak to give
the United States an early lead over Australia on the first day of play at the
ATP World Team Championship, but Lleyton Hewitt topped John Isner to give the
Aussies
Magic's Barnes to start Game 1 despite ailing back >>
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -Orlando Magic forward Matt Barnes will start against the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals despite recent back spasms.Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said before Sunday's game that Barnes is feeling ``better an
Rox activate Francis to make first start since 2008 >>
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies activated pitcher Jeff
Francis from the 15-day disabled list to start Sunday's series finale against
Washington.
Francis hasn't pitched in the majors since September 12, 2008 due to a
shoul
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