The more you think about it, the more you start realizing the table is set.
We're on the verge of something really big here. Something a little different and a lot better than just your run-of-the-mill playoffs with a nice matchup for the NBA Finals.
What we have is the possibility of a classic NBA rivalry beginning: A rivalry not unlike the one between Larry Bird and the Celtics and Magic Johnson and the Lakers from 25 years ago.
True, LeBron James' Cavaliers and Kobe Bryant's Lakers haven't gotten to the 2009 Finals yet, but it's become clear that each team has a nice driving lane to get there. And if they do, that would be all right with us.
What more can you ask for? The two best teams in the league, with the two best players in the league, going at each other in the NBA Finals. And if you allow your imagination a little leeway, you realize that this may only be Act 1.
One of the ways a true rivalry develops is if two teams and two players go up against each other multiple times. A great series or two doesn't make a rivalry. It needs a more substantial body of work and more depth. And one more thing, great rivalries don't live in the regular season.
The Celtics and Lakers – and Bird and Magic – met three times in the NBA Finals in the span of four years in the 1980s. Yes, the Bird-Magic rivalry began in 1979 with the NCAA championship game, but it was their get-togethers in championship series that turned them into basketball legends.
James and Bryant are two of the best players in the NBA. Many would say they are the two best players in the league, and if each of their respective teams gets to the Finals this season, how could you argue any other way?
But we're not just talking about a one-year thing, and that's what would make this whole Lakers-Cavs thing historically special. It just doesn't happen very often when you get the two best players on the two best teams on the biggest stage.
We could get that this year ... and maybe next ... and maybe the year after that. The Cavaliers won a league-high 66 games this season, and LeBron James hasn't turned 25. In other words, he's not even in his prime yet, and by the way, there is seemingly more and more momentum for James re-signing in Cleveland.The Lakers won 65 games this season, and Bryant, at 30, in his prime. The Lakers aren't going anywhere. They're built for the long haul. Bryant isn't slowing, and the Lakers have a talented young core, including Andrew Bynum, one of the best young centers in the NBA.
So, you see how this could be the start of something special. Cavs vs. Lakers; LeBron vs. Kobe.
For as great as Michael Jordan was, he had no one to measure himself against. He won six titles with the Chicago Bulls, but for the first five years, he saw a different team with a different best player come through the turnstile.
The Bulls and Jordan faced an aging Lakers team, with Johnson, in 1991, and then they ran threw a slew of one-timers: Clyde Drexler's Blazers, Charles Barkley's Suns, Gary Payton's Sonics and then, finally, twice against the John Stockton-Karl Malone Jazz teams.
While the Bulls' six championships can't be denied, and neither can Jordan's prowess, there was never an opposing team or an opposing player that was there to challenge consistently. It was more like ... "Who's Jordan gonna put it to this year?"It might not be fair, but it's why a Magic baby hook on Kevin McHale holds more historical weight than Jordan's little nudge and pull-up jumper over Utah's Bryon Russell. That's just the way it is.
This year's Lakers were already prohibitive Western Conference favorites, and that was before Manu Ginobili and Tracy McGrady went down with injuries. With Kevin Garnett hurt and the Magic banged up, the door isn't just wide open, hell, the hinges are loose for the Cavs.
We're right there, if you think about. Almost at tip-off to NBA history. Let's get started.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-17-2009 @ 11:10PM
Brian Grummell said...
Well, don't forget with Jordan he had to work through an incredible gauntlet in the East, particularly early in his career.
Obviously the Bad Boys of Detroit, Ewing's Knicks, Daugherty's Cavs, Barkley's Sixers before he was in Phoenix, the LJ/Mourning Hornets one year, Dominique. There was no equal to measure against, but the combined forces he went up against were most of the time far, far greater than what he trotted out with the Stacey King, Will Perdue, John Paxson, Cliff Levingston types getting real playoff minutes alongside him and Pippen. Things got more even with Kukoc and Rodman in the mix later but still.
Those early Bulls/Pistons series and Bulls/Knicks were absolutely brutal, much more like a great Finals series every year with the misfortune that they shared the same conference.
I love LeBron but I doubt he'll ever play a single series that matches up to the ferocity and cutthroat nature of many of Jordan's battles before he even reached the NBA finals.
Obviously those don't get showcase billing the way Bird/Magic did, but it doesn't make then any less competitive.
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4-17-2009 @ 11:47PM
George said...
Plagiarism,this theory has been mentioned about 200 times in the past 2 years. There is a big difference between James and Jordan/Bryant,Lebron actually 'passes' the rock. There are many players like ballhog jordan that would have lead the league in scoring if they shot 40 times per game.
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4-18-2009 @ 12:35AM
sandytarrdesign said...
There's somthing about the relation of ball hogs and misogynists........just look at rapist cheater Kobe.
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4-18-2009 @ 12:36AM
Wade said...
Jordan never faced the same player because it was impossible. Very similar to Barry Bonds facing an equal pitcher. It's just not happening. The best is simply the best.
Lebron and Kobe would be great television, just not sure how MJ is involved with this. It's like complaining about Babe Ruth not facing a pitcher equal to his status.
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4-18-2009 @ 2:48AM
csilverx1 said...
Just an observation regarding the ultimate matchup between KOBE AND LEBRON. Unlike previous rivalrys wherein hostilities and even hatred was the underlying competitive incentive to beat their opponents; KOBE AND LEBRON, ARE ACTUALLY A MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY. They have become friends on a completely different level. They have both completely endorced the other for awards and aclaimations;
So, to most of us in LOS ANGELES AND CLEVELAND we do not carry a hatred or hostility towards the other team or city. In fact, many in LA support both players when they dont play EACH OTHER. By contrast, there is DEFINITELY A DEEP RESENTMENT FOR THE BOSTON CELTICS IN CALIF. PARTICULARLY LA. WIN OR LOSE, LAKERS AND CAVS, WILL SHAKE HANDS AND HUG, LIKE TRUE PROFESSIONAL SPORTSMEN AND GENTLEMENT. PEACE
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4-20-2009 @ 3:16PM
Rich Cantwell said...
Sooooo, this hugging, hand shaking, mutual admiration stuff is a good thing? I'll take "Deep Resentment" every time. But don't let me stop the pussification of sports.
4-18-2009 @ 5:40AM
obamaizadope said...
This is all a moot point. Detroit will win the opening series.
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4-18-2009 @ 6:38AM
claytor said...
Aren't we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?
Points to be made..
1)Please don't tout Andrew Bynum as anything. At least not yet. Oh, if you do? maybe it should be how he manages to meet the disabled list for 40 games a year. Sure, Shaq does it, but hes 50 now.
2)This will never come CLOSE to the Lakers/Celts rivalry, the previous post about kinship broadly displays this. There was pure animosity between those two teams, and bad blood is a must, i repeat a MUST for an "ultimate rivalry". Lol, what do you think Magic had on his mind when sinking said baby hook over McHale, hm?
3)Jordan faced teams with serious superstars on teams built for fierce playoff runs, with no cap inhibitions. If we could time warp the Knicks or bad boy era Pistons to these days, frankly speaking, they'd probably say a prayer for Jordan being gone, and then beat the shit out of the Cavs on the way to a Finals trip. James is nice, but doesn't have a true generals touch. Not yet. Jordan didn't just beat teams...he destroyed them. It only took the Cavs forever and a day (and a godsend hometown hero) for them to find their way back to playoff land after Jordans consistent skull humping of the franchise in the post season.
4)THE LAKERS ALREADY HAVE A TIMELESS RIVALRY. The Celtics. To take any player from the Lakers singularly and rival them with someone else is late in the game.
5)These two didn't enter the league together, which often describes a long term rivalry. Sure the team is youthful, but Kobe will probably be out of the game in five seasons, and the way the Lakers seem to goof it yearly, it's hardly time to begin coronation sessions.
6) Downplaying Jordan being peerless is a cheap illusion. Lets not forget who the best assembled and first Dream Team was. He was a king among kings, playing with many fellow HOFers. These were players he often squared off against in the playoffs. Can you truly say that about the new motley crew of "stars" in this league? Were usually talking about five guys being really great, and the rest are well, pretty alright.
7)Finally, the biggest reason of all....trophies. What made previous rivalries worthy or merit were usually two teams with two great stars annually vying for and/or winning the title. Since Kobe cant obviously do this on his own, and Lebron was swept out of his one run, not to mention these teams don't make it to the Finals on a regular basis, kills it. Play for the prize EVERY year, or damn well close to it. two collective finals appearances in the last five years doesn't cut it. The Lakers and Celtics or more specifically "Magic vs Bird" happened three times, while the teams they played on combined for 8 titles in ten seasons. Not quite 0 titles in five, huh.
I know the the sugarcoated definition of rivalry is merely to compete, but when it comes to sport, which is often compared to war or battle, this definition just does not exist. I don't want to see a hugfest in a championship series, i want a combative display of competition.
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4-18-2009 @ 1:00PM
aslanpdx said...
Okay, how can Jordan have faced a slew of "one-timers" that included Clyde Drexler in the second of his three NBA Finals appearances and a pair (yes, that's more than one time) of Finals appearances against Malone and Stockton?
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4-19-2009 @ 8:39AM
sjmarkets said...
There will be no rivalry, Cavs and Lakers. Cavs is no match against the Lakers, James cant win it by him alone but Kobe have Pao,Andrew,Lamar and Derek. Not even close.
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4-19-2009 @ 11:46AM
tsshepard said...
This is the year of the Cavs...Kobe will have no say in the outcome.
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4-19-2009 @ 12:10PM
Ronald Voll said...
WHY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MJ,THIS IS NOT MJ GAME. I HAVE TO SAY MJ WAS A VERY GOOD PLAYER,BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT MJ.THIS IS ABOUT THE TWO BEST PLAYERS IN THE NBA.KOBE AND LEBRON.THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE TEAM PLAYERS.THEY CAN PASS,THEY CAN SHOT,THEY CAN TAKE YOU TO THE BASKET,WITH THE BEST OF THEM.BUT I HAVE TO SAY KOBE IS THE BEST.I SAYING,RIGHT NOW KOBE IS THE BEST NBA PLAYER.
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4-24-2009 @ 4:37AM
mcjesus666 said...
everyone talks about this so called "mutal admiration" but on the court, kobe wants to murder everyone, including his so called buddy lebron. It is that mean streak which seperates the two. Well, that and the fact that kobe's a better shooter than lebron ever dreamed of being. That being said, Lebrons the MVP this year and the cavs should be favored to win it all.
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