In 1986, when Larry Bird He won his third ring and gave his number title 16 to the Boston Celtics, it was absolutely unimaginable that the Lakers, then with 9 players, could surpass the Massachusetts team in an increasingly evenly matched NBA. But, 37 years later, that has already happened.
Lakers and Celtics are currently tied at 17 rings as the most successful in the best league in the world, but, although it is not the championship of a lifetime, those in purple and gold have already surpassed Boston with one NBA Cup that breaks the tie for titles to reach 18 with that 17+1.
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol led the Lakers in winning rings in 2009 and 2010.
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Although there are those who may not give so much value to the mid-season tournament – and even less to break a tie like that -, the reality is that the Lakers are adding to their record while the Celtics remain stagnant, since the franchise of the TD Garden They have only won one title in the last almost four decades while the Los Angeles team has won 8 rings plus the Cup.
After that last Boston title in 1986, Magic Johnson added those in 1986 and 1988 to leave his personal tally at five, the same rings that he would wear Kobe Bryantfirst forming a tandem with Shaquille O’Neal (2000, 2001 and 2002) and then with Pau Gasol (2009 2010), while LeBron James and Anthony Davis would renew their laurels in 2020.
Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce of the Celtics at the 2008 ring celebration
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In this period, only the trio Kevin Garnett – Paul Pierce – Ray Allen added a title to the rusty record of the Celtics, although it was already 15 years ago, in 2008. Boston precisely beat the Lakers of Pau and Kobe – who would take revenge in the 2010 Finals -, with Doc Rivers on the bench before becoming a coach with a reputation for squandering leads in playoff ties.
Precisely the Cup has made the Celtics – eliminated by the runners-up Pacers in the quarterfinals – see the need to reinforce the second unit if they want to renew their record with the triumvirate Jayson Tatum – Jaylen Brown -Kristaps Porzingis. And even more so, now that the Lakers have finally made the upset.
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2023-12-10 07:58:49
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