In this same month of last year, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics were flexing their muscles in the playoffs. The Lakers were hardly challenged by the Utah Jazz in the second round of their Western Conference semifinals as they roared to a 4-0 series sweep to march back to the West’s Finals.
On the other hand, the Boston Celtics sent Lebron James home packing with Cleveland following their methodical demolition of the Cavaliers in Game 6 to advance to the East’s Finals, opposite their 2009 tormentor Orlando Magic.
Today, the Lakers and the Celtics are slowly being pushed at the edge of the Playoffs cliffs by their respective post-season opponents.
Yesterday, the Celtics looked older, slower and aging in their 91-102 loss to the surging Miami Heat before the America West Arena home floor or Lebron and Co.
On the other hand, Los Angeles, which many expected would bounce back in today’s Game 2 match up, failed miserably in its return to Staples Center. Instead of ending Game 2 with a series tied at one apiece, the Lakers played with no sense of urgency at all, bowing to the confident Dallas Mavericks, 93-81 and going down to the pit, 0-2 in the semifinals series to the horror of the LA fans.
With the Celtics and the Lakers down, 0-2 in their respective semifinals series, questions linger among die-hard followers of these storied franchises in the NBA whether they could still arrange a date with destiny and face each other one more time in an epic Finals showdown.
Between the two, of course, the Celtics are much older. Their playoffs-tested veterans of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are all in their mid-30s. And questions of whether they could still keep pace with the younger, hungrier and more athletic Heat trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh appear to have been answered following Miami’s Game 1 and 2 victories.
Los Angeles’ story however, is different. Majority of the Lakers players are still in their prime. Kobe Bryant is turning 33 a few months from now, while Pau Gasol is just 30, along with Lamar Odom. Andrew Bynum is just 24. Derek Fisher is the senior citizen at 36.
The main problem coach Phil Jackson has been addressing all season long has been the Lakers’ inconsistent plays. They can be an unstoppable force to contend with if the Lakers wanted to, but oftentimes throughout this 2011 season, they appear to play with no sense of purpose and urgency.
The Celtics’ age issue and Lakers’ inconsistent, apathetic plays can probably signal an end to the NBA’s most colorful league rivalry ever.
For now, the NBA Finals slots remain open for takers. The only question now is, which two teams will make history this 2011?