There is nothing sweeter in sports (aside from dynasties) than history repeating itself. And know what they say about things that come in cycles.
We are in the midst of witnessing the second coming of one of the NBA’s most legendary rivalries. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are the millennials’ version of the Los Angeles Lakers/Boston Celtics rivalry of the 1980s.
Both rivalries feature squads stacked with talent.
The Cavs have the “Big Three” (LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love). The Warriors have a super, duper team starring Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson.
The Lakers had Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James Worthy and a fabulous bench. The Celtics had what was arguably the best frontcourt of all time in Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish.
All four teams practically ruled their respective conferences. You know when folks (including your boy here) bitched about how the 2016-2017 NBA season will be perhaps the most boring season in recent memory? Imagine the grief the Lakers and Celtics put fans of other teams through during the 80s!
I have come around on that line of thinking because I think dynasties make any professional sport great.
No one complained when my Steelers dominated the NFL in the 70s. Same for the 49ers in the 80s and Cowboys during the 90s.
The Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls dominated the 90s, followed by the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in the 2000s.
The Cavs’ dominance of the East and the Warriors stature as the best team in the NBA has made both squads “must-see” in all arenas throughout the league, not to mention the high TV ratings. And you know their NBA Finals trilogy will be a ratings bonanza.
The only thing that is missing is the racial element that Magic and Bird unwittingly provided. The mostly black Lakers and mostly white Celtics definitely played to the racial divide of NBA fans to the point of blacks living in Boston OPENLY ROOTING FOR THE LAKERS!
By the way, y’all know LeBron tried to say there is no rivalry between his Cavs and the Warriors, right? That deserves a Cris Carter-like response…
“C’mon, MAN!”
Categories: NBA
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