Who watched this 3 part series and what did you think? I'm older, but loved the fire and rivalry and the back and forth. Basketball will never be that way again, IMO.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Who watched this 3 part series and what did you think? I'm older, but loved the fire and rivalry and the back and forth. Basketball will never be that way again, IMO.
There was a Magic vs Bird documentary on HBO about 5 years ago. I thought it was a little better than this one on ESPN.
Not surprising considering espn has to spend half the show talking about race.
I loathed the celtics and my genetic heritage is mostly vikings and anglo-saxons.I have seen a lot of the recent 3 part ESPN series and enjoyed it, but I agree, ESPN couldn't help but introduce some racial elements into it. While watching this series I "learned" that whites liked the Celtics and blacks liked the Lakers.
Who knew...I always liked the Lakers and disliked the Celtics. Maybe I am black and I didn't even know it.
Exact same with me.I have seen a lot of the recent 3 part ESPN series and enjoyed it, but I agree, ESPN couldn't help but introduce some racial elements into it. While watching this series I "learned" that whites liked the Celtics and blacks liked the Lakers.
Who knew...I always liked the Lakers and disliked the Celtics. Maybe I am black and I didn't even know it.
As soon as Jordan left the NBA ... so did I ... Lakers/Celtics ... Celtics/Pistons ... Bulls/Lakers ... I haven't watched a complete NBA game in close to 20 years ... I used to be a die-hard Celtic fan ... Bird/Magic ... Kareem ...
Today ... The egos ... the hopping around from one team to the next .. the constant roster and coaching changes ... Nope ...
Not trying to offend anyone or stir up controversy, but for all of Jordan's skills and athleticism, he'd have been knocked on his ass several times during those frays. The game changed, as eras change. Jordan didn't have to deal with head hunters the way the Celts/Lakers did.
Those Celts and Lakers teams were super teams, also. HOFers abound.
I finally caught up with this on the DVR. The 1984 series was one of my earliest sports memories. Watching the Celtics on CBS was some of the best bonding I experienced with my Dad. The stories and characters involved are some of the best in the history of sport. But I would rather be caned than watch another second of anything narrarated by Donnie Wahlberg and Ice Cube. And I love Ice Cube - just not in this character. Wahlberg on the other hand, is an all-time douche bag. Everything about the show was great except for their dialogue, and that made it unbearable.
Jordan also had the benefit of being David Sterns golden goose.
Not trying to offend anyone or stir up controversy, but for all of Jordan's skills and athleticism, he'd have been knocked on his ass several times during those frays. The game changed, as eras change. Jordan didn't have to deal with head hunters the way the Celts/Lakers did.
Those Celts and Lakers teams were super teams, also. HOFers abound.
Not surprising considering espn has to spend half the show talking about race.
What Jordan dealt with from Detroit was every bit as physical as the Celtics-Lakers games.
What Jordan dealt with from Detroit was every bit as physical as the Celtics-Lakers games.
Having six season tickets for the Bulls through the Jordan years, I can attest to the fact that those Detroit vs. Bulls games were, indeed, very physical.What Jordan dealt with from Detroit was every bit as physical as the Celtics-Lakers games.
"ESPN" did not direct the film, Jim Podhoretz did.
I know it's an unpopular opinion, but for one year the '83 Sixers were the best team I have seen play. My memories go back to the early 70s, but in my mind they were the best. Actually the Sixers were my favorite NBA team when they had McGinnis, but that wasn't for long.I usually rooted against Boston because I was a Sixers fan and Boston always seemed to get the best of them. They were in the mix in the early 80’s and finally got a title in 1983 when Moses Malone led them on a one loss playoff run including a four game sweep of the Lakers in the final. However, they couldn’t keep it up and lost in the first round of the 1984 playoffs. Wheels came off after that. As the Celtics/Lakers rivalry progressed, I started to lean more toward the Celtics, just had a huge amount of respect for their players and how they played. That is not meant to take nothing away from the Lakers, my brother’s favorite team of that time.
Or Celtics-76ers. The 76ers often get lost in the focus on Celtics-Lakers, but 76ers-Celtics was often as contentious, if not more, than Celtics-Lakers. Besides being a conference final vs league final, it didn't have the whole Bird-v-Magic storyline. But the 76ers-Celtics series themselves were incredible.I really enjoyed that series. I lived through it and I remembered all those players. There was even a glimpse of Ronnie Lester in a Laker's warm up jacket. For the people who thought the Warriors-Cavs finals were intense, that was nothing compared to the Lakers-Celtics.
Or Celtics-76ers. The 76ers often get lost in the focus on Celtics-Lakers, but 76ers-Celtics was often as contentious, if not more, than Celtics-Lakers. Besides being a conference final vs league final, it didn't have the whole Bird-v-Magic storyline. But the 76ers-Celtics series themselves were incredible.
My first favorite player was Andrew Toney, with Mo Cheeks a close second. Toney didn't get the nickname "the Boston Strangler" for no reason. He used to kill the Celtics.
In my opinion, one of the very, very best moments in NBA history was in 1983 when the Sixers were closing out Boston at the Garden and the Boston faithful, in complete unison, chanted "Beat L.A."
Yeah, but the Bulls were finally able to beat the Pistons, when league officials decided to do away with Piston-style BB. Jordan could deal with it, but Scottie Pippen was nearly useless against the Pistons (and Rodman) until the change.What Jordan dealt with from Detroit was every bit as physical as the Celtics-Lakers games.
Yeah, but the Bulls were finally able to beat the Pistons, when league officials decided to do away with Piston-style BB. Jordan could deal with it, but Scottie Pippen was nearly useless against the Pistons (and Rodman) until the change.
81 and 82 were fun, too. Caldwell Jones was a nice player, and Darryl Dawkins was an unreal talent, and entertaining as hell to watch. Mo Cheeks rookie year, I think 79, they went to conference finals and played San Antonio (George Gervin). Doug Collins was the 2-guard on that team, was injured in the playoffs, Sixers lost I think in 6. But Mo Cheeks as a rookie was a blur.Absolute pleasure reading these posts as a die hard Sixers fan. The 1983 Sixers team was so fun to watch, especially after coming up short so often in previous seasons. Moses was a beast, Dr. J could do it all, Andrew Toney, Mo Cheeks and Mark Iavaroni were just solid. Bobby Jones, Clint Richardson and Clemon Johnson taking care of business off the bench. Great stuff.
Not surprising considering espn has to spend half the show talking about race.
Dr J was MJ before MJ. And I mean that with respect to all parties. He was that electric.
The best Dr. J footage is from documentaries about the playground culture in NYC and the East Coast in general. Clips from Rucker, among others, are worth finding.
Do you not remember the 80's Celtics/Lakers rivalry? It was almost entirely about race. Spending half the show talking about undersold the racial aspect.
Almost entirely? It was mostly not about basketball?
Could have fooled me. Im white and grew up around that time and rooted for the Lakers. Maybe it was different for you.