Celtics vs. Lakers

The last time I cared very much about NBA hoops was the late 80s. These were the twilight years of Celtics greats Bird, McHale, and Parish - The Big Three - when they were showing their age. After dominating the early and mid 80s, the Boston Celtics were tiring. Bird was seen lying on his stomach during timeouts or rests because of his ailing back. Other guys were getting beat down the court. It was sad seeing this happen, but we had terrific prospects. Len Bias, from the University of Maryland, and, years later, Reggie Lewis, out of Northeastern. Bias never ended up putting on a Celtics jersey for a true game; he died of a cocaine overdose before his rookie year. And Lewis, an All-Star, died in 1993 after only playing a few seasons, of a heart ailment.

So it has been a tough time being a Celtics fans these last 15 or so years, especially if you grew up with the Celts winning their division and sometimes the NBA Championship. It is probably a bit like it is being a Yankees fan right now, after witnessing celebrations in the mid to late 90s.

But this season, the Celtics went out and bought - and traded for - some serious talent. They got Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. C0mbined with Paul Pierce, the expectations were high all season.

After an excellent regular season, the Celtics got past the Cavaliers and Pistons and ended up, just like in the 80s, playing the Lakers for the title.

It was the first NBA series I watched - actually carved time out of my schedule for - since, well, Jordan played. The NBA hasn't been too exciting for awhile.

The personalities were not the same as the 80s. It wasn't Bird vs. Magic. Kareem wasn't hitting hook shots. Byron Scott was not a three-point threat. Danny Ainge was still there, this time as Celtics president/GM, not as Boston's point guard. Former Celtics point guard Dennis Johnson has passed away.

But it was good basketball. And there was tension between the teams. There was trash talking. There were outstanding players on either side. The Celts were stacked. The Lakers have Kobe Bryant, who had a weaker supporting cast.

Boston prevailed 4-2, winning at home, in the BankNorth Garden - the building has gone from Boston Garden to FleetCenter to BankNorth Garden since the Celtics last won a championship. A lot has changed since 1986. Sports buildings are usually named for company sponsors. Even the lowly Hartford Civic Center is now the XL Center. Basketball is not played the same. It is less a team sport, and more a show of individuals' skills. We went from a generally successful Republican president (Reagan) to an awful one (Bush II).

But it was nice to see, in 2008, an oldtime rivalry rekindled. Celtics vs. Lakers. NBA championship basketball in June right up I-95. The players aren't the same. That time is gone. But the series touched off an energy and some healthy nostalgia to remind us that professional basketball can be exciting and worth spending three hours watching, rooting for the team you used to as a kid.