Kevin Garnett vs. Kareem?I just listened to A.C. Green on the radio promoting the 3BA, where he’ll be coaching a game this weekend at Portland’s Rose Garden against a team coached by Dan Dickau.
During the interview, the host asked A.C. if he thought the ‘08 Boston Celtics could hang with the “Showtime” L.A. Lakers, with whom A.C. of course won a few rings. Normally the diplomatic and humble type — just a minute earlier he’d graciously declined to compare 3BA to AND 1 or any other “alternative” version of basketball — Green didn’t even hesitate in saying the Lakers would have whupped Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and crew.
“We would have worn them down,” A.C. said, adding that the Lakers were deeper and just an overall better team.
What do you think? Could today’s Celtics knock off the ’80s Lakers?
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July 17th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Jim says:
No, from stars to role players, I think the Lakers have a pretty big advantage everywhere.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Ashlov says:
James Worthy would have teabagged the entire Celtics frontline at will.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
MUGEN says:
Magic Johnson. Enuff said.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
dh says:
Magic Johnson
(can’t be said enough).
July 17th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
rangerjohn says:
1st things 1st LMFAO @ # 2
2nd the lakers would DESTROY the celtics of 2008 and KG never would have been able to come off with that dumbshit like “anything is possible” or what ever the fuck he said
July 17th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
SL says:
Hold up.
Am I really to believe these celtics were a better team than some of the best teams to ever play ball?! This shouldnt even be brought up!
Does no one remember they took the longest road EVER to a championship? They were taken to 7 games by the HAWKS and 7 games by the CLEVELAND LEBRONS!
They weren’t nearly as dominating as you want to believe. Don’t get too caught up looking through those biased eyes.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
bballinca says:
This current Celtics squad wouldn’t even beat the great Celtics squad that Showtime whupped up on.
Celtics: Bird, DJ, Ainge, Walton, McHale, parrish
lakers: Green, Worthy, Scott, Rambis, kareem, Magic etal
July 17th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
the lakers would of won but it wouldnt have been blowouts like your all acting, basketball is basketball. Now the biggest thing is the lakers played in a rougher era, so they would of bullied this years celtics, which the celtics aren’t built for. I mean the old pistons beat the showtime lakers WITH magic, and they weren’t stacked with star power at the time. they were just more gritty and the few stars they had at the time did step up. If were playing with todays rules, who knows. Rambis and worthy would be pretty much useless thanks to the quick fouls today.
July 17th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Luigi says:
i mean really. Showtime wud run the Celts outta the building
Magic wud run Rondo out.
Big game james wud score all over them
Coop wud shut down Pierce
Scott could match Ray’s shooting.
While KG wouldnt get a rebound down from AC. not even on kareem.
Rambis would tear the house down with his hustle plays
AND also the lakers had the championship mentality that was more than the celtics. n hell the clutch shooter they had could of been Coop. James. Magic. or scott. while the celts had posey ray n paul
When BOS starts a dynasty with the big 3 for about 3-4 yrs. then i might reconsider
July 17th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
This article is a joke.
I’m sorry AB- This isnt even a contest. You’re talking about a team who dominated the NBA in arguably its peak decade against a team that has won 1 title. The Showtime Bbench would probably beat this Celtic team.
Lakers 4-1 in a 7 game series regardless of who has home court.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
doc says:
What rules.Back then you could clothesline somebody and it was a good foul.But Im still taking the old Lake Show all day.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Austin Burton says:
I agree, the Lakers would smash current-day Boston. I just thought A.C.’s answer was interesting (in how he delivered it) and wanted to see what others thought.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
GEE...WHO YA WIT! says:
Naw they couldn’t knock off those Lakers. They almost got done by the Hawks so naw they couldn’t see those Lakers. I don’t think it would have been blowout games, but I think the Lakers in 5 or 6.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
K Dizzle says:
” If were playing with todays rules, who knows. Rambis and worthy would be pretty much useless thanks to the quick fouls today”
seriously, Bron?
You really think a all-timer like Big Game would be useless?
July 17th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Bruce says:
as much of a kg fan I am. the 08 celtics would have never stood a chance. that was a disrespectful question to ask..
July 17th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
sans says:
kg wouldn’t get handled like y’all say. He’d still get boards, and might have to be more aggressive against players as good as him. KG’s biggest weakness is that he plays down to his competition (and teammates) too often. But LA would be too strong.
What about the Bad Boys? Isiah, gentleman joe, Laimbeer, Mahorn, Rodman, John salley (when he played), Adrian Dantley (finally a HOFer; but at the end of his career),
July 17th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
sans says:
they could compete with anyone. Mahorn and Laimbeer might foul out within the first half today, but they’d send a message within that first half.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
this question should not have even been asked.
and for the record (or off the record; how ever yall wanna take it)
the 1980s Showtime Los Angeles Lakers are/were the NBAs greatest dynasty.
damn right. i said it…and i stand by it.
i know other teams won more chips in consec seasons, but hell….no team got to the finals like them 80s lake show boys. year in, year out.
to let you guys know….Magic Johnson is 5-4 in nba finals play. Thats 9 trips to the finals! NINE!!
and he had to shorten his career due to illness and trickin’.
…yeah yeah yeah….i know most you bums gonna mention the 50,60,70 celtcis, but they made their run with only like 8 teams in the league. and fewer rounds of playoff games.
lakers had a tougher road. more games, more rounds and better competition.
1980s Lakers are the NBAs best dynasty.
yeah said it….
…and 2morrow, i wanna see a column dedicated to asking readerss about the best nba dynasty of all time
July 17th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
@k dizzle,
All i meant was, they were both effective because they were skilled bruisers. With todays ticky tack fouls they woulda had to tone it down, specially rambi, he woulda been downgraded with the quickness today. The rules would change certain things. Thats like askin how much would jordan average with todays handchecking rules, he’d drop 60 a game since no one would be able to lay a finger on him.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Blue says:
@yall…
WORD!
July 17th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Ding Dong We Got Big Snacks says:
No contest here, but in addition the Lakers get extra points could they pulled all the women (except for AC). They probably either finished up or delayed beating teams depending on the quality of the hookers in the city they were playing in.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Ravenfan52 says:
The discussion begins and ends with the greatest point guard of all-time vs. Rondo. Magic would control the tempo and the game and nothing else would even factor.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
plainview says:
yeah, there’s really no debate on this one.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:19 am
kennypayne says:
if todays players had to play with the nba rules in the 80s, alot of them wouldnt last. hands down lakers
July 18th, 2008 at 12:45 am
Meica says:
You know, I don’t know if I’m just playing devil’s advocate, but if we’re talking about a strictly the Lakers and how they played in the eighties and the current Celtics and how they played now, you cannot argue that it would be a contest!
Because of how the game has sped up and an increased incorporation of the three point shot, the matchup would be a series. I personally don’t think the Lakers team of old could quite keep up with the quicker pace of todays game. Posey became a major player in the playoffs for the same reason that Horry has been and Reggie Miller perfected: these guys are cold blooded sharp-shooters and when paired with a tantalizing inside presence like Paul Pierce or Kobe Bryant they make an almost undefendable tandem.
Listen, I’m not saying the Celtics would handedly beat the Lakers of old, or even really come close to winning; however, the game has changed. A game based around shooting a lot of mid-ranged shots off penetration. The game today is pass first. Find the open shot, quickly.
All I am saying is that the game has improved a lot in the past twenty years and it’s not quite fair comparing. The ’80s Lakers are a legendary team and not worth any comparison, new or old, but the Celtics would do better than any of us would think.
The Lakers would still win no matter what, of course.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:45 am
Bank says:
Austin, when are you going to come up with an interesting read?
July 18th, 2008 at 3:16 am
nate says:
i dont even think these celtics woulda beat the heat from a couple of years ago
*wade rules applied*
July 18th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Imperial-Mel says:
You right as much as i hate the Lakers, they would win, but as of today they are the most domineering team in the whole NBA, they had the will, and the heart to go out and take it even though they couldnt win too many away games. The C’s are in the history books, and you cant change that!
July 18th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Smitty313 says:
08 Celtics would not knock off early 2000 Lakers.
July 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
LakeShow84 says:
1) Smitty that opinion right above me is shitty
2) this question was so stupid i didnt even bother answering it but since everyone else is, let me say.. DUMBEST QUESTION EVER
3) Magic would have made Rondo quit basketball period.
4) Perkins big slow ass would get so many sky hooks his eyes would roll in the back of his head
5) Big game James might pop up with five fouls in no time but he would need no time to posterize Pierce or Posey.
DAMN I COULD ON ALL DAY.. Rambis giving PJ Brown buckets, Scott tinkering and destroying ANY guards on the celtics..
Shit did the 08′ lakers nut up that bad??
July 19th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Austin Burton says:
@Bank — Thanks for reading.