Of course, things were much more magical the last time around ... pun fully intended, as Magic Johnson led the Lakers to the title. I've lost much interest in the Lakers and the NBA since then, never jumping on the Michael Jordan bandwagon as enthusiastically as I did the Showtime Lakers of Magic, Kareem, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Kurt Rambis and Pat Riley.
In fact, the best thing about this go-around is the attention being paid to the classic '80s rivalry. The other day they replayed one of the Celtics-Lakers championship games on ESPN. From that game and memory, I will argue several points that I will believe until the day I die:
- That style of basketball was far more entertaining than anything they're doing today.
- James Worthy could slash to the basket and finish a fast break better than anyone in NBA history.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's sky hook was the only indefensible shot I've ever seen ... like the crane kick in the first Karate Kid (if done correctly, of course).
- Magic Johnson pushed the ball up the court harder and better than anyone. He also saw the court better than anyone ... yes, better than Larry Bird, John Stockton, Isaiah Thomas, Jason Kidd, etc.
It's not quite the same these days with people who aren't really Lakers or Celtics leading each team. Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol and Ray Allen are all great players, but don't really belong to the teams whose uniform they currently wear. Free agency has ruined much of the former mystique of professional sports, as have the labor problems, contract disputes, inflated salaries and general whining from millionaires.
But yet all the happy feelings came flowing back last night when the Lakers in purple and the Celtics in white met on a parquet floor in Boston. Game 2 on Sunday night and then back to the Staples Center in L.A. for games 3-5. No Showtime, no Magic, no Kareem, not even the Great Western Forum or the real Boston Garden. But still Lakers and Celtics. Good stuff.
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