The fiercest rivalry in the history of the NBA is between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angles Lakers. They have matched up in the Finals more than any two teams at 11. They are the two most celebrated teams in the NBA. There have been 62 NBA Championships in the history of the NBA, The Celtics and the Lakers hold exactly half of those Championships (17 and 14 respectively).
NBA fans aside from liking their favorite team can be divided into one of two categories... Celtics Fans or Lakers Fans. Debates have ensued about which is the better franchise, the Celtics or the Lakers. Who has had the overall best talent, who has had the best coach?
What if you could combine the two franchises? What if you could have Larry and Magic on the same team? Here it is the All Celtics- Lakers team.
PG Magic Johnson: A player who could play any position on the floor. A 6'9" floor general with his exceptional court vision changed the point guard position forever in the NBA.
SG Kobe Bryant: Debated to be one of the best players in NBA history with comparisons to "His Airness," Michael Jordan. One of the most clutch players in the history of the game.
SF Larry Bird: Dubbed the "Great White Hope" by a former teammate. Larry the Legend epitomized what hard-work, natural talent and insane competitiveness produced in a player.
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PF Bill Russell: Russell won 11 championships and was the center of creating the Celtic Dynasty.
C Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: NBA's all-time leading scorer, six time MVP award winner. Abdul-Jabbar so beloved by fans and NBA teams he received standing ovations at every game of his last season (home and away) and received retirement gifts from every NBA team.
Coach Red Auerbach: as a coach he won 9 NBA titles. As a GM and Team President he won an additional 7 for a grand total of 16.
Bench
PG Bob Cousey: One of the purest point guards ever seen in the NBA.
SG Jerry West: Sharp shooter West holds the record for points averaged in a playoff series (46.3).
SF Paul Pierce: Six time all-star was named the 2008 Finals MVP, has been with the Celtics through thick and thin.
PF Kevin McHale: A seven time all-star. McHale caused fits for opposing players on both ends of the court with his long arms and his ability to shoot from any angle (Kevin Garnett honorable mention).
C Shaq: The diesel one of the most dominant players in the game. Shaq's size 23 shoe doesn't compare in size to his personality on and off the court.
Assistant Coach Phil Jackson: Ties Red with nine NBA titles as a head coach.
As a Jazz fan it was somewhat painful to write an article about the greatness of the Lakers but as a NBA fan I could not ignore that these two teams, the Celtics and the Lakers have made the NBA the success that it is today.
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about 1 month ago
Where in the world is Bill Russell????
I would try it his way...
Kareem
Russell
Bird
Magic
West
Wilt
Baylor
McHale
Kobe
Cousy
Coach- Magic...give him a chance to finally be a winning coach!! Just joking:)
about 1 month ago
you're right I don't know how he didn't come to mind. It's so hard with how many great players both franchises have had. I really should change out Garnett for Russell
from about 1 month ago
Can't blame you for that...I even think a third team could be competitive:
Shaq
Parrish
Worthy
Pierce
Goodrich
about 1 month ago
changed it Russell in the starting lineup McHale on the bench. Man what an omission on my part.
about 1 month ago
Lucky your third team would be very competitive.
about 1 month ago
I assume we are talking about all these players in their absolute prime...that being the case, this team would be unstoppable (provided that egos didn't get in the way)!
about 1 month ago
Nice article Diana...I would probably just delete the sentence where you admit to not knowing who Russell was...Just for credibility's sake.
Good work though!
about 1 month ago
As a Lakers fan and a Celtics hater, this is very disturbing. Thinking that our beloved Magic would be wearing same jersey as the likes of McHale. This is just wrong. I am going to go take a walk and try to get this image out of my head.
Nice work though!
about 1 month ago
i dont see how you put kevin mchale in at power forward over arguably the greatest power forward ever in elgine baylor!
about 1 month ago
No James Worthy or Elgin Baylor?
about 1 month ago
"Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1984); 10-time NBA champion (1959-66, 1968-69); All-NBA Second Team (1965, '66, '67); Five-time All-Star; One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)."
Some one with these credentials doesn't make this list???
SAM JONES neeeeeeds to be on this list!
And if you are trying to win w/ this team and not just score points and be a bad role model for kids then you should probably take out Kobe Bryant, he just can't win w/out Shaq.
about 1 month ago
I will take Cousy, Jones, Bird, Garnett, and Russell. With Havlicek, Pierce, Mchale, JoJo White, Ray Allen, and K.C Jones and I would wipe the floors with any team you can provide including LA Lakers. In a 7 game series I would start my 2nd team and sweep you guys. LA will never be seen as the dynasty Boston was. They won 8 championships in a row! Are you kidding me!? And 10 championships in 12 years! If LA can make it back to the finals this year I cant wait to see Boston destory them again!
about 1 month ago
No one cares unless you are a lakers or celtics fan.... Oh wait, everyone and their motheir is.
about 1 month ago
This was a great article idea. I agree with all but one player. I think that John Havlicek or Elgin Baylor should have been there instead of Pierce. Pierce is a great player and all but he isnt going to be a legend like Baylor or Havlicek are.
from about 1 month ago
I know it was so hard to know who to include and exclude. i think you could make several teams of Boston and LA players and they'd still be more competitive than a lot of the NBA teams today.
about 1 month ago
Celtics and Lakers?? boring....looks more like an attempt to write the most popular article....lol
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