With the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers reaching their respective Conference Finals, there was a chance for the fans of the two greatest franchises in the NBA to reignite their rivalry of the good old days. Since the dominance of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson in the 80s, it has been comparatively quiet. We briefly had a glimmer of hope when Kobe Bryant‘s Lakers faced Paul Pierce‘s Celtics in the Finals in 2008 and 2010. However, it’s been quiet since. It might be much longer when we see the two teams in the Finals again because both are now down 0-3 in their respective Conference Finals.
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It is not going to be revived anytime soon, and Skip Bayless believes the legendary duo must be rolling their eyes because of it.
“Magic Johnson and Larry Bird are rolling their eyes!”: Skip Bayless
The Fox Sports 1 analyst is simply terrific at what he does. Right after the Celtics went down in Game 3 against Jimmy Butler and Co, Skip Bayless roped them, the Lakers, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird, all in one Tweet of his, just to berate the two teams.
“Somewhere Magic and Bird are moaning and rolling their eyes: The Lakers and Celtics are both down 0-3 in the conference finals. Just … not … right,” the 71-year-old tweeted.
Somewhere Magic and Bird are moaning and rolling their eyes: The Lakers and Celtics are both down 0-3 in the conference finals. Just … not … right.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) May 22, 2023
Both the Lakers and the Celtics came into the series being the more talked about teams among the fans and the national media than the Nuggets and the Heat despite their dominance in the postseason. And maybe, just maybe, that helped them take inspiration from it in proving the doubters wrong.
However, the Lakers and Celtics have both lacked the intent and desire they had in the first two rounds of the Playoffs. And it showed clearly in both their Game 3 performances. Magic Johnson himself brought it up with his tweet after C’s loss.
In my 44 years of being associated with the NBA I never thought I’d see a Boston Celtics team, a franchise with 17 Championships, quit. I know Celtics fans all over the world must be disgusted and devastated. The Miami Heat blew them out 128-102 in Game 3.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 22, 2023
The alphas of the teams have led their team’s downfall. Jayson Tatum was lackluster in his team’s final quarters in Games 1 and 2, which is when Jimmy stole the game from Cs. LeBron James‘s poor 3-point shooting, with the volume he is shooting at, took his team’s chances of winning in all 3 games.
Is there still a chance for a comeback?
So far in NBA Playoff History, teams are 149-0 when they take a 3-0 lead. The probability of either the Celtics or the Lakers making it to the Finals is frighteningly close to nil.
However, we are talking about a team that has LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading their front and another that reached the NBA Finals led by two of the best offensive players in the league, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Let’s just forget the math and hope these series come to life, be it through a miracle.
