Page 35 - Sports Illustrated Kids (October 2018)
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Every NBA
Finals series With Kevin
in the 1980s Garnett on
featured board, in 2008
either Bird the Celtics
or Magic— ended a 21-year EHHDBG@ ?HKP:K=
and in three Finals absence.
seasons During that The basketball world had to
both of them time Kobe wait more than 20 years for the
made it. Bryant and the Celtics-Lakers playoff rivalry to
Lakers made be renewed. L.A. had Kobe Bryant
eight Finals
appearances and Shaquille O’Neal. Boston had
and won Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and
five titles. Ray Allen. The Celtics took the
2008 title, and the Lakers got
revenge two years later.
1990 2000 2010 But by 2014 something funny
had happened. Boston and Los
Angeles had not only both fallen
to the point that they missed the
but they didn’t face off in the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after playoffs, but each team also failed
Finals until their fifth season. L.A.’s 111–100 victory. to win 30 games.
Boston won the 1984 title in Bird and Johnson met one The Celtics traded their entire
seven games. After the series more time in the Finals, in Big Three, amassing a trove of
Lakers coach Pat Riley was so 1987, and the Lakers came draft picks. Within two years
upset that he decreed that out on top. By then the they began to see results. Last
his players were no longer NBA playoffs had become year’s trade for Irving and the
allowed to socialize must-see TV; the days signing of free agent Gordon
with the Celtics. of tape-delayed Hayward gave Boston veteran
“We used to work coverage seemed talent to go alongside its
out in the summer a distant youngsters. Even though Irving
with DJ,” said Magic, memory. and Hayward missed the playoffs
referring to Boston guard “The with injuries, forward Jayson
Dennis Johnson. “Coop [Lakers hostility Tatum and guards Jaylen Brown
sixth man Michael Cooper] and I was a big and Terry Rozier led the team to
BOB ROSATO (BRYANT AND GARNETT); CHRISTIAN PETERSEN/GETTY IMAGES (BALL)
were good friends with him. But part of the the conference finals.
after that loss Riles said no more reason people tuned in The Lakers also began building
friendly games, no more picking and got excited,” said a strong young nucleus behind
each other up and driving around, Magic Johnson. “Larry guards Lonzo Ball and Brandon
not even casual conversation. and I were part of that.” Ingram and forward Kyle Kuzma.
It was all business.” But the rivalry became Adding LeBron to the mix makes
The next year Los Angeles friendly—at least off the Los Angeles a threat to return to
finally found a way to get court. They starred together the playoffs this year. And if L.A.
past Boston, winning in commercials and released can add another star next
Game 6 of the Finals on the ;:EE @:F>K dueling sneakers (Converse summer, the Lakers will be a
hallowed parquet of Boston Weapons). Their relationship force to be reckoned with.
Lonzo was second
Garden. “Celtic pride was in among rookies was chronicled in books, And that means we could
this building, but so were with 7.2 assists documentary movies, and easily see a new chapter written
we,” said Lakers center per game. even a Broadway play. in the NBA’s greatest rivalry. Q
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