Talk:Celtics–Lakers rivalry

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment
This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 7 January 2020 and 13 March 2020. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): GreysonAE.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 17:04, 16 January 2022 (UTC)

Opening Paragraphs Grammar Edit Suggested
The last section of the opening paragraph reads quite poorly. May I suggest the following edit?


 * "The rivalry had been less intense since the retirements of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the early 1990s. In 2008 the two teams met in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1987, with the Celtics winning the series 4–2. They met again in the 2010 NBA Finals, which the Lakers won in 7 games."

If no one disputes this change, I will make the change. Mannan369 (talk) 21:14, 28 March 2020 (UTC)

Celtics-Lakers or Lakers-Celtics?
Celtics-Lakers would make sense if you conisider the current and overall head-to-head record between the clubs. Most other rivalries usually place the leading team first. Lakers-Celtics works for geographical afficiandos due to the West-East allignment. (The 2008 NBA Playoffs "There Can Only Be One" commercial featuring Magic and Larry have Magic on the left and Larry on the right.)

Of course, this might be one rivalry in which both work equally well.

DaDoc540 (talk) 04:09, 9 December 2008 (UTC)


 * IMO it should be Celtics-Lakers per the alphabet. – X96lee15 (talk) 02:08, 10 December 2008 (UTC)

Russell v. Wilt?
If I'm not mistaken, Wilt Chamberlain wasn't on the Laker teams of the 60's - he was traded to the Lakers around 1970 I believe. Thus, Wilt never battled Russell during the Lakers-Celtics finals of the 60's. During the 60's, Wilt played Russell when he was with the Philadelphia Warriors. I'll fix this now, but correct me if I'm wrong. --Jsol5 10:05, 1 May 2006 (UTC)

Chamberlain became a Laker in 1968 and was defeated by Bill Russell (in his last season) and the Celtics. Some controversy in the game damaged their friendship, as well. 71.115.225.150 (talk) 03:31, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Celtics, Lakers both attempt to trade for Garnett, Celtics succeed
I know that this seems like a trifle, but as both teams are trying to become competetive again, they both went for the same superstar Kevin Garnett. After initially declining the idea of Boston, Garnett became interested when Ray Allen was traded from Seattle to the Celtics. Kobe Bryant was adamantly for the Lakers trying to acquire KG, but a potential deal bottomed out and the Celtics achieved a trade instead. How far the Celtics will go with their new trio of all-stars remains to be seen, but the Celtics won this battle, for now.

DaDoc540 01:51, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

Update: The Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies, but the Celtics won the NBA Finals against them. The two teams are now among the top three (along with the Cavs!) and are likely to face each other, as challengers besides Cleveland have not achieved the level of success of either storied team.

DaDoc540 (talk) 04:09, 9 December 2008 (UTC)

Kobe Vs Pierce
I think that the Kobe vs Pierce blurb should be taken out, or something more appropriate should be put down. Like LA Big 3 vs Boston Big 3. Because it would be disputed that it is Kobe vs Pierce. It would make more sense in my mind if it was Kobe vs KG, the DPOY and the MVP. KellanFabjance (talk) 18:34, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

Mentioned on the Onion
Here come vandals, whee! -- 66.91.220.62 (talk) 06:02, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

LA Times article
Good article in today's LA Times if anyone feels like incorporating some of that here.  howcheng  {chat} 21:31, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

Image copyright problem with File:CelticsLogo.png
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Edit request from 24.171.137.13, 16 June 2010
its 3 -3 now

24.171.137.13 (talk) 04:18, 16 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Until we have a source for this, there is not a need to change the article. Please let us know when you have a good source, and we will make the change.


 * Avic enna sis tb? @ 04:25, 4 Tamuz 5770 / 16 June 2010 (UTC)
 * ✅ Lakers rout Celts, force Game 7 in NBA finals moreno oso (talk) 04:29, 16 June 2010 (UTC)

Redirect Problem
I have put some effort the past month into improving this article, including broadening its scope to encompass the rich history of this rivalry, reorganizing sections for clarity and readability, and adding citations. I hope these changes will be considered an improvement.

However, there appears to be a problem that I cannot resolve, so I'm asking other editors for help. When I type "celtics-lakers rivalry" into the Wikipedia search bar, punctuated exactly like that except with no quotation marks, it seems to redirect to an old version of the page. I can't figure out why. Has anyone else had this problem and do they know how to resolve it? Thanks. TempDog123 (talk) 19:44, 9 June 2011 (UTC)

Rivalry Outside of Basketball
Some of the rivalry articles I have helped edit in the baseball realm have sections about how the rivalry is mentioned outside of the actual teams. Examples include the 2008 Republican Presidential debates with Rudy Guiliani rooting for the Red Sox in the 2007 World Series despite being a die hard Yankee fan. I think something like this should be explored by the editors of this article and mention the Maria Menounos comment about how she and Dane Cook had their seats removed during the 2010 Finals because of Jack Nicholson's influence. Think about it. Arnabdas (talk) 17:34, 13 June 2013 (UTC)
 * At a minimum, I think the teams would need to acknowledge the refeerence per WP:IPC. Otherwise, it's an open invitation for every celebrity citing and tabloid overage.—Bagumba (talk) 20:52, 13 June 2013 (UTC)

External links modified
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External links modified
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 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20130922012146/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2002.html to http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2002.html
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The Rivalry And The NBA
How much do you think the relevancy and breakthrough of the entire National Basketball Association is owed to the Lakers-Celtics rivalry? Without it, the NBA would be second fiddle to the NFL. The article should include a section that talks about the rivalry's importance to the league from a financial and ratings perspective, in addition to public reaction. The Lakers have a little more sway in the growth of the league because of Los Angeles and its proximity within Hollywood, paving the way for sports stars as celebrities. Did the Lakers make celebrities out of the Celtics as well just because of their rivalry? ElMeroEse (talk) 19:57, 27 December 2017 (UTC)
 * Sounds reasonable, as I'm sure Ive seen sources stating as much, even moreso with the Bird–Magic rivalry. Before, the NBA had an image problem with drugs and the Finals were tape delayed.—Bagumba (talk) 01:17, 28 December 2017 (UTC)
 * There might be some applicable sources at Magic_Johnson.—Bagumba (talk) 01:21, 28 December 2017 (UTC)

Proposing A Chart
With Rajon Rondo becoming the second player in NBA history to win a title with both Celtics and Lakers, I am suggesting for the list of players to be changed into a chart. Player name, years played with both franchises, where they won their titles. Some players like Bob McAdoo and Shaquille O'Neal, who won their titles with the Lakers, also played for the Celtics, and should be noted accordingly. ElMeroEse (talk) 19:28, 12 October 2020 (UTC)

Pictures that better show the rivalry
I think some of the pictures should be changed if able to better show the rivalry and the players. Such as having a picture with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in it for the 80's section, Kobe and Paul Pierce or the Celtics big 3 for the 2000's section, and Russel and Jerry West or Wilt Chamberlain for the '60s. I'm not quite sure which photos you're able to use or I'd try to find some myself. PatchThat (talk) 17:43, 13 June 2021 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Public Writing
— Assignment last updated by Niwde hus (talk) 15:42, 5 October 2022 (UTC)