Boston Celtics and LA Lakers: An NBA rivalry for the ages

How the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers rivalry evolved in the 21st century

2000s

LA Lakers had a three-peat with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal at their helm

The Three-Peat duo of Kobe Bryant (left) and Shaquille O' Neil (right)

After the Boston Celtics secured their first three-peat in the early 1960s, the post-Minneapolis era from 2000-2002 saw the LA Lakers’ do so.

The duo of Bryant and Shaquille O'Neil for the LA Lakers was unstoppable during this period as they brought out many offensive and defensive plays for the highlight reels.

In 2000, the LA Lakers beat the Indiana Pacers, who were coached by Boston Celtic legend Larry Bird, 4-2 in six games.

In 2002, the Boston Celtics, who featured Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, were set to make it to the NBA Finals but fell in six games to the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals. Their run to the Conference Finals was so impressive that many fans rooted for a LA Lakers - Boston Celtics NBA Finals, but that was not to be.

The LA Lakers then completed their three-peat by sweeping New Jersey Nets 4-0. It marked the third three-peat for Phil Jackson, who was known for the use of zen magic in his approach, with the other two coming while he was at the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics' Big Three after signing Kevin Garnett

In 2004, Shaquille O’Neal was traded to Miami Heat after the LA Lakers lost to the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals.

The raw strength and defensive abilities of the Pistons saw them winning the Championship by defeating the LA Lakers. That same year, the Boston Celtics hired Doc Rivers as their head coach, and in 2007 Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were added to the line-up. With Pierce added to the mix, a new 'Big Three' emerged.

Both Boston Celtics and LA Lakers were well stacked. The Lakers added Pau Gasol to their roster in a mid-season acquisition as the next few seasons brought the rivalry between the two historic franchises back to life.

The two franchises met in the 2008 NBA Finals where the Boston Celtics won in six games that featured inspiring performances at both ends to win a record 17th NBA Championship.

That apparently didn’t sit well with Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers, and they were hungry for a re-match the next season. However, the Boston Celtics lost the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals to the Orlando Magic. The Lakers beat the Magic 4-1 in the NBA Finals as Kobe Bryant won his fourth NBA Championship.

In the summer before the 2009–2010 season, Phil Jackson ran into Paul Pierce and told him:

"Get it back! We want to meet you in the Finals!"

The LA Lakers played the Phoenix Suns in the 2010 Western Conference Finals, with chants of “We want Boston!” erupting in the arena. Similarly, chants of “Beat LA.!” erupted at the TD Garden when the Boston Celtics played Magic.

Both teams won their respective series 4-2 to set the stage for one of the best NBA Finals battles in the league's history.

Bryant led the LA Lakers in scoring in six of seven games; Ray Allen's produced a Finals' record eight 3-pointers in Game 2; Derek Fisher carried his team to victory and then cried in Game 3; Game 7 became the highest rated NBA game since Michael Jordan's second retirement in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals as the 2010 NBA Finals witnessed a bevy of historic moments.

The LA Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the series to win their 16th NBA Championship, with Kobe Bryant named the Finals MVP for the second time in as many seasons. Game 7 was the third most-watched game in NBA history, with 28.2 million viewers (Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals was number one while Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals was number two).

Post 2010

The re-building phase for both the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers

Despite adding Shaquille O’Neal to the their roster in the 2010-11 series, the Boston Celtics were sent packing by Miami Heat who had their own 'Big Three' of Dwayne Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

The LA Lakers, on the other hand, were defeated by Dirk Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks. Similarly in the 2012 NBA season, the Lakers and the Celtics lost in their respective conference finals to bring an end to a dominance that lasted for a long time.

Both the Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers missed the playoffs in the 2013–14 season, marking only the second such instance in the epic rivalry's history.

The next few seasons saw the two teams enter into a rebuilding phase. While the Lakers struggled to make the playoffs, the Boston Celtics had a few chances at the playoffs but could make no deep runs.

The Boston Celtics got a boost when rookies Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum joined the team after the franchise made trades for All-Star free agents Gordon Hayward and Al Horford and acquired Kyrie Irving from the Cavaliers.

The year 2018 marked the arrival of 3-time NBA Champion LeBron James to Laker Nation, which was followed by the signing of Anthony Davis from the Pelicans a year later. Many compared the new duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis with that of Bryant and Shaquille O'Neil.

That same year, the Boston Celtics brought in Kemba Walker after Irving left to join the Nets.

2019-20: LA Lakers win a record-equalling 17th NBA Championship

The 2020 NBA Champions - LA Lakers

In the 2019-20 season, the Lakers took the top seed in the Western Conference as Lakers fans yearned for a title run from the franchise.

The 2020 NBA Finals was a historic one for many reasons; the COVID-19 pandemic forced things to a halt. The season resumed in a bubble in Orlando , with teams invited to complete the remainder games to decide the final seeding and begin the Playoffs.

The Boston Celtics had a promising run to the Conference Finals where they faced the Miami Heat. Miami had entered the bubble as the underdogs in the East, but played as a strong unit at both ends.

The Heat beat the Boston Celtics 4-2 to advance to the 2020 NBA Finals where they faced the LA Lakers where LeBron James and Anthony Davis helped the LA Lakers win the Championship in six games.

Rondo was also instrumental for the LA Lakers as be brought in his energy and veteran experience into the mix. The triumph with the Lakers made Rondo only the second player ever to win an NBA championship with both the Lakers and the Celtics.

The 2020 NBA Championship brought LeBron James' total number of rings to four, with the player achieving the same with three different teams, which is no mean feat. LeBron James also won the 2020 Finals MVP, which was his fourth such honor.

The Boston Celtics and the LA Lakers' rivalry means a lot to the players as well. It is a 'Win at all costs" match-up for players from both sides. Ex-LA Lakers player Metta World Peace (a.k.a Ron Artest) sounded excited about what next year could have in store for the Boston Celtics and LA Lakers rivalry:

Big time history next year for @Lakers Vs @celtics . What chances do you give this rivalry to make the @NBA finals next year. That would be sick. Going for number 18

— Metta World Peace (@MettaWorld37) October 15, 2020

The LA Lakers' 17th NBA Championship equaled the record of the Boston Celtics for most NBA Championships. Although it would have been great if they managed to tie the record by beating the Celtics, fans would hope for the historic rivalry to be reborn in the coming seasons as either team would look to be the first in NBA history to win 18 Championships.

After @Lakers won their 17th NBA title, they're now sharing the top spot with @celtics who also have 17 titles. Who do you think will reach 18 Championships first? Make your pick!#LALakers #BostonCeltics #NBAFinals

— Akhil S. Khatri (@AkhilKhatri24) October 20, 2020