<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bostonians have to back the Pistons now because it would take something catastrophic -- losing in the NBA Finals to a team from the East -- to keep the Los Angeles Lakers from cementing their status as the most storied franchise in league history. Check that. The Lakers have already cemented that standing. Sorry, Boston. A loss in the Finals, frankly, would only embarrass the basketball team you detest. Even though the Celtics have 16 championships, which would still account for the NBA record -- by one -- should the Lakers dust Detroit as expected, L.A. has already supplanted their former steel-cage foe as the Greatest Franchise Ever. Says Pat Riley, formerly the Lakers' coach: "I don't think there's any question." Says Robert Parish, who completed the Celtics' 1980s Holy Trinity alongside Larry Bird and Kevin McHale: "If you want to talk about dominance, you have to talk about the Lakers." This is not merely about modern-day prestige. You already know the Lakers are the most glamorous -- and despised -- name in today's NBA, maybe in all of American sport. If an ESPN.com poll earlier this week is any indication, the Lakers are America's most hated team, as only 12.5 percent of more than 150,000 respondents deemed them more likeable than the Yankees, Cowboys or Notre Dame. Hate, of course, often is a sign of respect in sports, and there's a reason the Lakers must be granted serious respect. The Lakers have undeniably amassed substance to supplement the glamour, on the verge of their 15th championship. [...] "You have to give them the nod," Parish said through pursed lips, obviously finding the admission less than pleasant. "Even in the '80s, you have to give them the nod. They won five championships. We won three." </div> Full Article I am sure Hagrid has an opinion on this . What do u guys think? What NBA franchise is the most storied....
doesn't matter if they win..I won't recognize it because of Karl Malone. In my twisted little world the '03-'04 season just won't have a champion. But unfortunelty I have to agree,as much as I hate to.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dee still ballin:</div><div class="quote_post">The Lakers will be something special when they win 11 straight </div> well, no one has ever accomplished that...11 straight Regardless, the article argues that a bulk of the Celtics titles were in that decade (the 60s') while the Lakers have at least made it to the finals every decade...They've been consistent... I honestly don't have much of an opinion, but the article brings up interesting points
I'd have to say, I'd say both rather than neither, either or. They're two of the absolute greatest franchises in history. Having held so many titles and bringing about increased activity in the NBA because of their rivalry. They've produced some of the greatest the game of Basketball itself has ever seen in the likes of Russell, Chamberlain and of course Bird and Magic. They brought out the best of one another. From those eras, they were the greatest teams and the best of rivals. They defined competition and would most likely be the ones to duke it out in finals. Forget about the No. of championships but rather the fight for it. They truly were franchises and are equals, for they always met and fought for the Gold. Also they are the two teams with the most of it as well.
Well, everyone knows top 2 are Lakers,Celtics or Celtics,Lakers. The order is a toss-up. But how about number 3? Nominees: New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Chicago Bulls
I'm not even going to get into this one, because it's an arguement that will never end. The Lakers will claim recent dominance, the Celtics will claim most Titles and there's about a couple hundred arguement points in between. There both great franchises. Even my dislike for the Lakers wouldn't allow me to not acknowledge that. For the most point, I expect this thread to end up being a "what have you done for me lately" type commentary, which means the Celtics will not get the respect the undoubtedly deserve in the debate. The Lakers are on top right now and I fully expect the commentary posted to reflect that. Whether it's right or wrong.
Im not doubting the Lakers. Im going to admit they are good. Im just saying what they're doing has already been done before. Now I give Kobe his props he socred 12 3's in a game, now thats something that hasent been done before, but 4 years from now, somebody else will score about 12 or 13 and then people will be like "Wow hes the greatest" just like now "The Lakers are the greatest etc..." back in the day they were like "The bulls are the best...." then "The Celtics are the best..." Ill leave it like hagrid <div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post"> I'm not even going to get into this one, because it's an arguement that will never end.</div> And to durvasa: #3 team would be the Knicks or Bulls thats a toss up as well.
Both The Lakers & Celtics have great histories. But the Lakers have been much more consistent over the years. Where have the Celtics been over the last 19 to 20 years? Nothing would be better for the NBA & the fans than another Celtics vs Lakers finals, but it doesn't seem like that's going to happen. After this current laker team is gone I wouldn't be surprised if the lakers made it back to the finals before the celtics. It's pretty easy to see who has the better front office.
One thing that can be brought up is that the Celtics won titles with their own players. By that I mean players they drafted or traded for, instead of just buying them on the free-agent market. Dave Cowens, Russell, Bird, McHale, Cousy, etc. They built their dynasty from scratch whereas the Lakers signed Shaq, signed Wilt, signed Kareem, etc. I'm not saying that the Lakers don't have their own great Laker-grown players (Kobe, West, Baylor, Magic), but that tradition is more frequent with the Celtics. At the end of the day, though, I'd have to agree that the Lakers take the title as the best franchise. There's just more of an aura (sp?) of greatness when you just think of the Lakers. It's Hollywood, it's Showtime, it's just a franchise that I believe is more synonmous with greatness than any other.
Theres a few key reasons why the Lakers cannot match the Celtics as the greatest franchise in basketball history. The Celtics are the Yankees of Basketball. 8 titles in a row and 11 out of 13 is the greatest dynast in sports history. the celtics won a title in the 50's, 60's 70's and 80's and would likely have gotten at least one morein the 90's had it not been for the tragic deaths of reggie lewis and Len Bias and its doubtful anyone who really saw those two play would disagree. those guys were cut out to be franchise players. imagine if kobe and shaq had died before reaching their prime. Regardless of woulda beens and shoulda beens the celtics still take it. first of all the LA Lakers dont have 14 titles. a few of those were won in minneapolis and shouldnt be counted. different city, different fans. The main thing as that the Lakers owe every championship they've won since moving to LA to hired guns from outside. of course they still had to win them but winning championiships with players you drafted is what really cements greatness. magic was the best laker ever drafted by the lakers but he couldnt have won titles without Kareem who was traded for after Wilt Chamberlain (another guy brought in from outside the organization after already reaching his prime) retired. Kobe wasnt actually drafted by the lakers but you have to give them credit for developing him but its no doubt he wouldnt have any rings without Shaq who was strictly a mercinary bought to bring more titles to LA.
The Boston Celtics are the greatest franchise in the more than half century of the NBA's existence. The Lakers are a close second, however the Celtics are bar none the greatest and the only reason everyone is on the Lakers bandwagon saying they're the greatest is because of their recent success and the Celtics haven't done anything big as of recent, however that shouldn't even matter when you're comparing the entire history of one dynasty to another. The history of the Lakers, while large and storied, simply does not even compare to the amount of epic history behind the Boston Celtics. Not only are the Celtics the greatest franchise in NBA history, but they are also one of the top 3 franchises in the history of American sports. The current generation of young NBA fans simply talks about the Lakers because that's all they know and they weren't around to experience the greatness of the Celtics, or they were very young at the time. I'm not a Celtics fan per-say, but I was born and grew up in Boston so I still feel a connection with the Celtics and other Boston teams and root for them whenever they aren't facing my Heat or Marlins .
I'm in a rush right now so I will post the actual stats later, but I believe that the Lakers have a better overall record through their existence as well as a better playoff record. I'm not completely sure, but that's why I'm going to post the stats later, or maybe someone will post the stats while I'm gone.
