Josh Q. Public:And tomorrow we might not be together. I’m no prophet and I don’t know nature’s ways. So I’ll try and see into your eyes right now. And stay right here ’cause these are the good old days. -Carly Simon
Public Service Announcement: OK, here we go! Guess who’s back, back again. Shady’s back, tell a friend. Yup, tell a friend. Tell a friend the Celtics are back. Tell a friend the Lakers back. Back in the mix. Back to their old tricks. Getting their kicks. Been feeling a little empty without them getting in their licks. My bed’s too big without you. Sure the Lakers had their fill. Threepeated their fill. Filled with rings up to their gills. But it just wasn’t the same. Wasn’t the same without the Celtics in the game. It might feel good. Sound a lil’ somethin’. Bit damn the game if it don’t mean nuttin’. It means something now. It ain’t Russell/Chamberlin. A rivalry between two legendary centers that defined basketball in the ’60s. It ain’t Cooz/West. Two of the greatest playmakers to ever lay a handle on the rock. It ain’t Larry/Magic. The dynamic duo who resuscitated the NBA and gave new life to March Madness. It ain’t McHale/Big Game James. Second fiddles to no one. Nobody puts baby in the corner. It ain’t them. It ain’t me babe. It doesn’t have to be. Center stage on the mic. And we’re puttin’ it on wax. It’s the new style. It’s the new Big Three. It’s the Big Ticket. It’s Ray Ray. It’s the Truth. It’s the new Showtime. It’s Kobe Bean. It’s Kung Pau. It’s Andrew Bynum. Even before Gasol’s arrival, the old rivalry has been heating up. When the Celtics played the Lakers in their if you dare wear short-shorts, Nair for short-shorts at the Staples Center earlier in the season, the rivalry was already heating up. Sweetening up. Grade A meatening it up. When the Celtics played the Lakers at the Staples Center earlier in the season Paul Pierce and Lamar Odom immediately began a shoving match. Kevin Garnett and Trevor Ariza earned early technicals for a shoving match of their own. A League of Their Own. To achieve the incredible you have to attempt the impossible. In all, five technicals were called in the first half. Seven in the game. Garnett bled from his eye. A frustrated Odom smashed into Ray Allen late in the game and notched a flagrant foul. Ultimately, the Celtics won handily. Dandidly. But that was pre-Pau. Now anything is possible. Impossible is nothing. Now, you, me and David Stern are begging for a Celtics/Lakers final. Why not? The Spurs aren’t so jingly this year. Not so jangly this year. The Suns are desperately trying to keep up. Desperately Seeking Susan. New Orleans? C’mon. Meanwhile, with Pau, the Lakers have evolved into arguably the best rebounding team in the league. Meanwhile, with Pau, the Lakers have a bona fide second option on the offensive end. In the East, the Celtics are rolling, rolling, rolling though the streets are swollen with the best record in the league. Rolling with the best defense in basketball. So why not now? Why not them? Why not go back to the future? Yes. Yes. I’m George, George McFly. I’m your density. I mean…your destiny. Why not one of the NBA’s most enduring rivalries? NBA Action. Where amazing happens. I love this game. Fan-tastic!
Public Acknowledgements: Eminem, The Police, Public Enemy, Dirty Dancing, Bob Dylan, Gregg Patton, Adidas, Madonna and Rawhide
Lakers had better hope they're now the best rebounding team in the league, after the two double-digit losses to the Celtics this year where they were outrebounded by a total of 13 boards!
I'm with you, these two teams are the favorites for making it to the finals this year!
ya, the lakers got swept. but like i said, that was pre-Pau. With him odom bynum and kobe at the two spot, i don't see who has a better team around the glass.
I just can't see anyone beating Boston in a 7-game series, even the Lakers. I'm still not even completely sold on the Lakers just yet. I'm sure they'll get deep into the playoffs, but at this point, I'd take the Suns (even with their pointless trade of Shawn Marion) over the Lakers.
Biggest advantage for the Celts is their full-spectrum defense, they stop what the other team is trying to do more than any other team. This has allowed them to have by far the best record so far, even with several players being out from time to time. The sweep of the Lakers was with Bynum, I don't know that Gasol's rebounding will make THAT much difference to them. The fact that the Celts have been together all year, compared to just over half a year for the Lakers plus Gasol at year's end will be a factor.
Easy to pick the Celtics to win it all, I hope they don't have any major injuries before playoff time!
jqp - I agree, picking him up was the shrewdest move by the Celts management besides grabbing Kevin and Ray. People are giving Doc the credit, most non Celts-fans don't know about Thibodeau
Good stuff again Josh. Me and some buddies were talking about the same thing a couple nights ago. A Celtics/Lakers Final would great indeed. Best of luck to your Celts, they definitely seem to have the 'it' factor this year. For us Gen X'ers the Celtics and Lakers clashes of the 80's have, and always will be legendary.
Deli's been drinking that cactus-flavored Kool Aid that Shaq's been serving up in the desert. The Suns are a WORSE team now than before the trade. They MAY have been a #2 seed pre trade. They're now a #6 or #7 seed. I'm just wondering which Lakers team he's seen. I'm seeing the one where Pau and Kobe look like they've been playing together for several years instead of three games.
I am OPENLY rooting for a Lakers-Celtics final. The ratings would be OFF THE FREAKING CHARTS. A Lakers-Celtics final WOULD go seven games and would have the potential of being one of the all-time great Finals series.
Nice read JQP....
We hope that Kobe can live up to his own expectation....
His the one player now a day that doesn't give up for any thing to accomplish his GOAL.
josh q. public. For the public, by The Public. Irreverent sports opinion from a Bostonian in New York. The one blog to read, when you’re reading more than one. Good to the last drop!
Bit damn the game if it don’t mean nuttin’. It means something now. It ain’t Russell/Chamberlin. A rivalry between two legendary centers that defined basketball in the ’60s. It ain’t Cooz/West. Two of the greatest playmakers to ever lay a handle on the rock. It ain’t Larry/Magic. The dynamic duo who resuscitated the NBA and gave new life to March Madness. It ain’t McHale/Big Game James. Second fiddles to no one. Nobody puts baby in the corner. It ain’t them. It ain’t me babe. It doesn’t have to be. Center stage
on the mic. And we’re puttin’ it on wax. It’s the new style. It’s the new Big Three. It’s the Big Ticket. It’s Ray Ray. It’s the Truth. It’s the new Showtime. It’s Kobe Bean. It’s Kung Pau. It’s Andrew Bynum. Even before Gasol’s arrival, the old rivalry has been heating up. When the Celtics played the Lakers in their if you dare wear short-shorts, Nair for short-shorts at the Staples Center earlier in the season, the rivalry was already heating up. Sweetening up. Grade A meatening it up. When the Celtics played the Lakers at the Staples Center earlier in 
the season Paul Pierce and Lamar Odom immediately began a shoving match. Kevin Garnett and Trevor Ariza earned early technicals for a shoving match of their own. A League of Their Own. To achieve the incredible you have to attempt the impossible. In all, five technicals were called in the first half. Seven in the game. Garnett bled from his eye. A frustrated Odom smashed into Ray Allen late in the game and notched a flagrant foul. Ultimately, the Celtics won handily. Dandidly. But that was pre-Pau. Now anything is possible. Impossible is nothing. Now, you, me and David Stern are begging for
a Celtics/Lakers final. Why not? The Spurs aren’t so jingly this year. Not so jangly this year. The Suns are desperately trying to keep up. Desperately Seeking Susan. New Orleans? C’mon. Meanwhile, with Pau, the Lakers have evolved into arguably the best rebounding team in the league. Meanwhile, with Pau, the Lakers have a bona fide second option on the offensive end. In the East, the Celtics are rolling, rolling, rolling though the streets are swollen with the best record in the league. Rolling with the best defense in basketball. So why not now? Why not them? Why not go back to the future? Yes. Yes. I’m George, George McFly. I’m your density. I mean…your destiny. Why not one of the NBA’s most enduring rivalries? NBA Action. Where amazing happens. I love this game. Fan-tastic!
