Celtics versus Lakers in the NBA Finals….it doesn’t get any more old-school than that. As a lifelong Celtics fan, it’s great to see the boys in green back in the Finals, but putting aside my allegiance to the Celtics, these two teams meeting in the Finals has to be good for the NBA. Though the Celtics haven’t had much success in recent years, they still have to be considered one of the NBA’s flagship franchises, and this renewed Lakers-Celtics rivalry is undoubtedly a great thing for the league.

Most interesting to me are the subplots to this Finals. Sure, both teams want to win the championship, but you’ve got Kobe Bryant trying to a win a championship without Shaquille O’Neal, thus securing his place as the rightful heir to Michael Jordan. On the other hand, you’ve got three veterans trying to win the first championship of their long and illustrious careers, and this year may just be their best shot at winning it all. In parting, here’s a little footage of Larry Bird and the Celtics winning their 16th title in 1986: