Calendars Still Being Circled in the Land of Green and Purple

On the day NBA schedules were published by the league in the 1980s, Larry Bird would scan schedule, find the two Celtics-Lakers games, and circle them. Magic Johnson did the same thing. In fact, it was a practice shared by every member of the green or purple, whether they suited up in the front office, roamed the sidelines, or put on a uniform and played the game.

To some degree, it sounds like the tradition is still being carried on today.

Asked three weeks ago for his thoughts about the team's first West Coast trip of the year, Danny Ainge said “I’m concerned.” Why? “The Lakers' game will be our fourth game in five nights and the Lakers have the night off before we play them."

First West Coast trip. Four games in five nights. Huge test for the team. All Danny Ainge cares about is the dreaded Ls.

Derek Fisher was equally focused on the return match-up. When asked for his thoughts on the drubbing the Lakers took in the Gah-den, Fisher said he wasn’t too worried because the purple would get the opportunity to return the favor when the green came to LA in a couple of weeks.

Kobe and KG have both publicly played down the historical ramifications of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry on today’s match-ups. But I don’t buy it. Three of Kobe’s top-five rated players of all-time are Lakers, and KG’s already close relationship with Bill Russell has only gotten closer since the Ticket started wearing a Celtics uniform. He's on board with Celtics history and tradition.

So Celtics-Lakers still matter.

Ray Allen's willing to fess up:

"This is going to be interesting, because just as people in Boston remember the Lakers as a team to hate, people in LA have pure hatred for the Celtics."