Whenever the Celtics play the Lakers it is reason to sit up and watch. That is why the game is going to be on TNT tonight. But does it have that same buzz that it has had in recent years past?
Celtics, Lakers heading in opposite directions - Framingham, MA - The MetroWest Daily News
While it’s a stretch to hype tonight’s game as a NBA Finals preview for two teams that didn’t get out of the conference semifinals last year and currently sit in the lower half of playoff qualifiers in their respective conferences, any Celtics-Lakers matchup is a marquee one. But as the familiar, "Beat L.A.!" chants echo through the Garden well before the opening tip, the Celtics will be more focused on continuing their own recent resurgence than sending a statement to the opponent. "I think we’re a little unhappy where we are at right now," Paul Pierce said Tuesday night after passing Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list in a 94-84 victory over the lowly Bobcats. "We don’t want to be the seventh seed. We feel like we should be in the top three or four teams in the Eastern Conference." The Celtics have been that over the past three weeks, but are still trying to make up ground from their 5-9 start.
While both squads still boast the core of their Finals teams, neither one is favored to return to the Finals. So the temptation is to consider this just another game on the schedule.
However, with all that said, I can't help but get excited when the Lakers come to town. This is the best rivalry in the sport and the only one that really matters to anyone in Boston and L.A. I don't care if both teams are in last place and fighting for ping pong balls, I would still want to crush the Lakers.
Note: Here is a little more motivation:
Celtics turn it around after bad start - The Boston Globe
The Celtics have not defeated the Lakers in a regular-season game at home since a 107-94 victory Nov. 23, 2007. At that time, the economic meltdown was still heating up and “Banknorth’’ still figured into the TD Garden naming rights.
0 recs | 34 comments
Not the same but ...
The atmosphere of the game may be different and the intensity may not be as high but beating L.A. is as enjoyable as always even if the Lakers are 0-25
getthat18now - February 9, 2012
xcited to watch the game
BEAT L.A.
celtics2011 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
ditto go boston go you are #1
7tony2 - February 9, 2012
Put it this way...
I didn’t know they were playing until I read this post.
rickyfan3.0... - February 9, 2012
lol
fordescort - February 9, 2012
I think that reflects more upon yourself than anything about the game
I still think this game carries great weight. Of course it’s not the same as after ‘08 or 2010 but its Celtics and Lakers in likely the last competitive matchup in Boston of this era (although I’ve said that the past few years but this time does seem kind of final).
PierceMVP08 - February 9, 2012
On the other hand...
we know about one team and suspect about the other that you can’t count them out until it has been mathmatically proved…
thirstyboots18 - February 9, 2012
It's buzzing in my head ...
Beat LA! … Beat LA! … Beat LA! …
mmmmm - February 9, 2012
Beat LA! ... Beat LA! ... Beat LA! ...
PierceMVP08 - February 9, 2012
yea go boston go
7tony2 - February 9, 2012
I think....
with neither teams being a current defending world champion or leader in there conferences the rivalry is not as glamorous as it has been in past years
I also think with the loss of Jackson and Lamer, beating the Lakers will not be as much as a incentive or as sweet, since I could not stand the both of them.
But I do think think with Gasol & Kobe still on the team, with Kobes recent comments semi knocking the big 3 for only winning 1 title in their era instead of winning more like Kobe did by winning 2, and the fact it is still Celtics vs Lakers which is one of the most storied rivalries in sports history, it should still be a exciting and fun game to watch.
fordescort - February 9, 2012
Hate the Herald's headline: "Aging Lakers, C’s set for toe-to-toe tussle "
Aging? Really? And which living thing on the planet is NOT aging, pray tell.
JR99 - February 9, 2012
Would "aged" suit you better?
clover - February 9, 2012
I think it’s still got the same vibe for fans of LA and Boston, but not so much for anyone else.
muckduck - February 9, 2012
I just want the C's to get to 15-10......
and crush the Lakers in the process.
JPV - February 9, 2012
+1
vgarcia890 - February 9, 2012
It’s going to be a good basketball game. These guys want to win. They play hard.
johnnymost - February 9, 2012
No
The final focus for the C’s is to win a championship. But at this time the goal is to get the team playing the right way, which they have made great progress on. So, as far as the Lakers or any other team, I really don’t care about them this year, regardless of rivalries. This year it’s all about the Celtics. The coaches say that, the players say that, Danny says it and so should we.
Sure, we want to win every game, but winning and playing poorly is not the plan. We just need to play well, regardless. But a win doesn’t hurt.
TrueGreen - February 9, 2012
Bought the snacks and drinks
all i have to do is wait now
relja111 - February 9, 2012
I'm all a twitter over this game. Beat la
Mooose - February 9, 2012 via mobile
BEAT LA!!!!!!!
win 6 straight… put the Fakers out of 8th seed in the west!
KG took you lunch money - February 9, 2012
Im still getting the same amount of hate mail/text from my officmates and friends so I its still the same buzz for me. Its one of those things that hardcore fans dont really care what the standings say. Its just bad blood.
The green mamba - February 9, 2012 via mobile
A big game for fans but not much significance otherwise
Especially in recent seasons the games against the Lakers were used as measuring stick games against a team the Celtics would possibly face in the NBA Finals. Right now it’s just a game between 2 barely above .500 teams without much real significance.
It’s still Lakers vs. Celtics though which will always carry hype and huge interest from fans of both teams. Either way though a win or loss tonight isn’t much of an indicator for prospects over the rest of this shortened season…
warnerjohn - February 9, 2012
For the teams, the rivalry may take a back seat to simply being hungry and desperate for wins.
Both teams right now have talent but have struggled at times this season putting it all together and both now find themselves with far fewer wins than they think they should have at this point.
I suspect this is going to be a very, very hard fought game because both teams want that 15th win.
mmmmm - February 9, 2012
We can all say the rhetoric but this game matters a little let's face it
How could someone overlook the fact that this was the team standing in our way for our last two title shots? Not to mention they’ve been the team standing in our way for about 60 years. These teams are adversaries. People might play it off but I don’t see how you couldn’t have a little something in the back of your mind for the Lakers.
p-peazy - February 9, 2012
We need our own Jeremy Lin!
KG21 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
Beat LA has been going on in my head for the past 18 hours and will continue to
Hammerhead7 - February 9, 2012
Celtics-Lakers
nuff said!
cltc5 - February 9, 2012
ditto yea go boston go
7tony2 - February 9, 2012
rivalry will always live
the only 2 things more satisfying than beating the Lakers is:
1. winning the title
2. winning the title while beating the Lakers
slamtheking - February 9, 2012
“I don’t care if both teams are in last place and fighting for ping pong balls, I would still want to crush the Lakers.”
I am fan of neither team and with the history I always hope for hate and intensity from fans and players alike of the respective teams during the games or at any time—great rivalry and I will be watching.
mjtig - February 9, 2012
caption this
I love the caption on the AP photo of PP and Kobe! lol…
BleedinGreen417 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
I think
We still have the same rivalry but the rest of the league sees it as 7th in the east vs 7th in the west.
AussieGreen - February 9, 2012
Both teams are longshot contenders
So it has some meaning. Definitely not as much meaning as a couple years ago, but always great and you know both teams are going to bring their A games.
kg2128 - February 9, 2012
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