In a basketball scoreboards feature, we will look at the Celtics and Lakers, and discover just who is the best team ever to have played in the NBA. Just 10 years ago the Celtics were quite simply way better than any other team. They were considered by far the greatest club ever to grace the NBA, and had won 16 championships, way more than any other club.
However, in the last 10 years things have changed dramatically. The Celtics have won only one title, whilst the Lakers have won no less than 5. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant rose to stardom for LA, and their profile as a great NBA team increased. Lets look at the facts, and let’s see which team is the greatest:
The Celtics have never moved, whilst the Lakers moved from their original home in Minneapolis.
The Celtics and Lakers have both had a lot of representatives in the All-Star games. I’m not quite sure what the exact figures are, but I’m sure that the Celtics have the edge on this one.
Both teams have fielded a large number of top players, but the Celtics have had 10 MVP awards, whilst LA’s have had 8. Bird got 3 for the Celtics and Bill Russell 5, whilst Magic and Kereem got 3 each for the Lakers.
In terms of play-off appearances, the basketball scoreboards show that they have 106 between them, but the Lakers have had 10 more than the Celtics: 58 to 48.
In terms of the big show, the Lakers and Celtics have made no less than 52 NBA finals between them. However, it is the Lakers who win this one, having amassed 10 more appearances than the Celtics.
The greatest indicator of all, however, is of-course the number of NBA victories. This is the big goal of every player and coach, and the big hope of every fan. The Celtics edge this: they have won 17 championships to the Lakers 16. However, Celtic fans have every reason to be worried about this. They know that if the Lakers can win one more, they will become in many people’s eyes the best club ever to have graced the NBA. They have had more finals and play-off appearances, fewer droughts, and longer winning streaks. The Celtics remain the best team ever for now as they have the edge on titles, but just one more title for LA and the tables will have turned. Lets face it, the Lakers are looking better than the Celtics at the moment. They will have their core group of players at least until 2014, and their Zen Man will be back for another season. As long as injuries don’t come into play, they are one of the favorites to take nest season’s title. The Celtics are looking good too, but they definitely have more weaknesses.
Whatever happens in the coming season and further on, these are without doubt THE two teams of the NBA, and love them or loath them, you have to respect them!
To find out more, go to:
nba.com