Before joining forces, the three were the leaders of their respective teams... Such superteam behavior is rare in history.
Besides these three, there are also Rondo and Perkins. Rondo is only a second-year rookie, but he has grown rapidly under the leadership of the Big Three. He is not only tough on defense, but also the absolute brain of the team. Perkins weighs 250 pounds and is a little over two meters tall, but he is more than 20 pounds heavier than Wei Guo.
A large body weight provides an advantage in defense, as it occupies a lot of space.
The Lakers and Celtics are considered two of the league's biggest powerhouses, both boasting a long history of honors and numerous championship trophies. Their arenas are filled with retired jerseys, especially the Celtics, who, under Russell's leadership, achieved the incredible feat of winning seven consecutive championships!
During the regular season...
The two teams have faced each other twice. The first time was at the beginning of the season, when the Celtics' Big Three had not yet gelled and were blown out by the Lakers in three quarters. The second time was in the middle of the season, and that game almost turned into a fight. Pierce and Kobe were locked in a fierce battle, and Cummings, sitting on the bench, was terrified watching it.
The defensive action was too aggressive, but the referee was lenient in his calls.
Even the State of Wei was truly enraged...
During an offensive play, Perkins grabbed Wei Guo's shorts, almost pulling them down. After landing, Wei Guo grabbed Perkins by the neck and slammed him against the basketball hoop!
This action terrified Perkins.
Fortunately, Wei Guo knew that Perkins hadn't intentionally pulled down his pants, and that his pants hadn't actually been pulled down. After the referee came to the rescue, Wei Guo let go of Perkins.
after...
Wei Guo was ejected from the game for choking, making it arguably the Lakers' most thrilling game. Despite leading, Wei Guo's ejection in the third quarter gave the Celtics hope of victory. Fortunately, the game was won by Kobe Bryant in a hard-fought victory!
That's how the Lakers and Celtics started their feud.
Half of the history of the league is about the rivalry between the Lakers and the Celtics. The heroes of the world are the Lakers and the Celtics, and no one else can share a drink with them. This is a true reflection of the league. Even the Bulls, who emerged out of nowhere and won two three-peats, dared not call themselves a powerhouse in front of these two teams.
Speaking of the finals alone, they faced each other 10 times before the 2007-08 season.
In 1959, there were only 72 games in the regular season.
The Lakers, the second seed in the Western Conference, made it to the Finals and faced the league-leading Celtics. The Celtics had just lost to the Hawks last season and missed out on the championship. At that time, the Lakers had Elgin Baylor, but Baylor alone could not stop the powerful Celtics who were eager for revenge. In the end, they were swept 4-0.
From then on...
This sowed the seeds of discord between the two teams.
1962, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1969!
1960s...
The Lakers and Celtics faced off six times, with the Lakers losing all six... This led to the rise of Red Auerbach and Russell.
The most regrettable thing is 1969...
Having lost all six previous Finals meetings, 1969 was arguably the Lakers' best chance for revenge. That season, the Lakers achieved the best record in the league with 55 wins and 27 losses, while the Celtics finished only fourth in the Eastern Conference with 48 wins and 34 losses. The Celtics were in a period of transition, and it was Russell's last season, averaging only 9 points and 19 rebounds per game. The team's leading scorer was Havlicek, who was in his seventh season in the league, averaging 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists per game.
On the other hand, the Lakers...
They have a super-luxury trio of Chamberlain, West, and Baylor. Chamberlain averaged 20 points and 21 rebounds per game, Baylor averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds per game, and West averaged 26 points and 7 assists per game!
There is still a gap, and everyone firmly believes that the Lakers' time has come. They are about to overthrow the mountain that is pressing down on them, the Celtics!
The Lakers easily won the first two games, taking a 2-0 lead. The Celtics returned home and won the next two games to tie the score. In the fifth game, Sam Jones, who planned to retire with Russell, hit the game-winning shot under Chamberlain's defense. This shot greatly affected Russell.
For the last three seasons of his career, Russell also served as the team's head coach. In other words, Russell had two identities during those three seasons, being both a player and a head coach. This scenario of the head coach warming up happened for three seasons!
Speaking of which...
Russell's favorite player is Wei Guo, because he knows very well that Wei Guo's team's tactics are mostly set up by Wei Guo. Like him, Wei Guo is both the father and the mother.
Russell initially disagreed with Jones taking the final shot, fearing that a missed shot would be a regret for Jones' career. It was Jones's insistence that convinced Russell to give him the final ball, and Jones lived up to expectations.
After the Lakers won Game 6, the series went to a Game 7!
Everyone on the Lakers team felt they would easily win the game and lift the championship trophy. When the Celtics arrived, balloons had already been hung in the arena, which angered Russell, who was now a veteran. However, the Lakers' Big Three were very relaxed, and they even hummed a song in the locker room.
that's all...
Enraged, the Celtics unleashed a furious attack at the Lakers' home court, turning the balloon into a cruel joke, and the Celtics entered the fourth quarter with a 17-point lead!
A completely disheartened Chamberlain asked the head coach to substitute him, and the turning point came here. The Lakers' bench launched a scoring surge, which not only boosted the atmosphere in the arena but also brought the score closer, giving the Lakers hope of winning again. The most dramatic scene in NBA Finals history unfolded here.
The Celtics were already exhausted...
Chamberlain immediately asked the head coach to bring him in, wanting to deliver a powerful blow to the Celtics and lead the team to victory, but the head coach refused Chamberlain's request to play!
The fans were furious...
The Lakers' owner went to the bench to have a serious talk with the head coach, but even so, the head coach still casually said the shocking words: "I am the head coach, you go back to the stands."
There wasn't much time left in the game!
The Celtics' second hero stepped up. His name is Don Nelson, and he should now be called Old Nelson. He hit the game-winning shot to help the Celtics win their 11th championship trophy!
It was because of this one ball...
This led to a very bad result: Russell couldn't wear all two of his championship rings!
The Lakers' head coach's perplexing decision to refuse Chamberlain's appearance changed league history. Regardless of how angry Chamberlain was, even the gentlemanly West wanted to kick the head coach's ass. Why the head coach refused to let Chamberlain play at the last minute remains a mystery.
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