“ So please Luka (Doncic), stop the mistakes! » The instructions are those of Mychal Thompson who, like other former Lakers playersopenly take the side of the Mavs in this NBA final.
Pro-Mavs or anti-Celtics depending on how you look at it. Because in the framework of this unprecedented NBA final, the historic rivalry between the yellow and green houses is very present. The stake: the number 1 place in the ranking of the most successful franchises in history.
Celtics and Lakers, who have not had the opportunity to face each other in the final since 2010, have 17 each. “ I know 'Laker Nation' is going to be for the Dallas Laker-Mavericks “, LeBron James recently said at JJ Redick’s microphone.
“ I don't want to deal with Cedric Maxwell if Boston gets the 18th before us. It will be unbearable for me to sit there for three hours with his 'I told you so'. I'm going to have to call in sick for both Boston games next year if they hold on and win this series », Continues Thompson, who comments on Lakers games on the radio.
A permanent obsession
He wore the golden jersey from 1986 to 1991 and won two titles, including that of 1987 against the Celtics. Cedric Maxwell was in the opposite camp and also collected two rings, including that of 1984 against the Los Angeles team.
While the current rivalry has little in common with the one that existed in the 1980s, the Celtics remain an obsession among former California players.
“ These discussions always come up, every time the Lakers get together, about these battles and how historic they were, what it meant for us to beat them, and how much it hurt us to lose to the Celtics. More than losing to any other team, that's for sure », admits Thompson.
Lamar Odom can attest to this feeling. In 2008, he was on the losing side of the Lakers after a Game 6 won resoundingly by the gang of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen: 39 points difference.
“ I'm a Laker at heart and in Game 6, they beat us soundly. Their fans surrounded our bus and wouldn't let us leave. They shook our bus. That's when I went into 'Fuck Boston' revenge mode. », Confides the former lieutenant of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
Lamar Odom is “sick” of it
Revenge that he and his team would obtain two years later, during the Lakers' double. But today, the double champion finds it very difficult to bear the idea that the Celtics are so close to a new banner: “ I know Paul Pierce is happy and it makes me sick to see him gloating because this team is about to win. They were the best team that year (in 2008). I take my hat off to them, even this year, but it makes me sick. »
“ If you have purple and gold in your blood, it's literally impossible to root for the Celtics. And I'm sure they think the same about us “, adds Gary Vitti, former physical trainer of the Lakers (1984-2016), who however distanced himself from the franchise, due to the cold between management and former legends, including Jerry West, who died earlier in the week .
The Celtics have the weapons to create a dynasty
“ The decisions they have made make it difficult to root for the Lakers. It's not impossible. But it is difficult. Because you are divided. Because there are people you love who have been hurt. I'm on Team Jerry West. No matter how things ended with Jerry and the Lakers, if he were still alive, he would never want the Celtics to win another title “, he blurted.
Statistically, the latter, by leading 3-1, have the best chance of winning this series. They will have another opportunity to do so on Tuesday, during Game 5. To get this 18th title which could also lead to others.
“ Boston is built to do the double and win more titles because (Jaylen) Brown and (Jayson) Tatum are so young. So the Lakers need to get back on track and be in contention next year to try to catch up with Boston, because Boston has a good chance of going all the way to a 19th title “, warns Thompson.
