Here's some unsolicited advice for the Boston Celtics, who host the Los Angeles Lakers tonight:
Win or else.
I didn't mean to toss a little extra hot sauce into pro basketball's hottest rivalry, the epitome of East versus West. But it's warranted. At least it is on the Celtics side of things.
A little early to be sweating about a win or a loss?
Not when it comes to these two franchises.
Since Larry Bird's rookie season (1979-80), when the Celtics and Lakers officially became an "item" again after a decade-long hiatus, history has shown that their regular season match-up is a pretty good barometer for things to come in May and June.
The Lakers won championships in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988. The Celtics, which won the Atlantic Division in eight of nine seasons from 1980 to 1988, were 2-8 in regular season games versus the Lakers in each of those years.
When the Celtics won championships in 1981, 1984 and 1986, they were 4-2 in six regular season games versus the Lakers.
The one fly in the ointment for this argument was the 1983-84 season, when the Lakers swept the Celtics during the regular season (2-0), but lost an epic seven-game series.
The teams meet only twice a season, which increases the "value" of each.
Fast-forward to last season. The Celtics won 20 of their 22 games and they never stopped, finishing with the league's best record at 66-16, which is tied for 11th best in NBA history. The Lakers, who finished with the best record in the Western Conference at 57-25, were mincemeat twice for the "second coming" of The Big Three — 117-94 (in Boston) and 110-91 (in LA).
While the Lakers did win two games in the NBA finals, the Celtics were in charge (up 2-0 and 3-1) the entire series.
Former Celtics Cedric Maxwell and M.L. Carr both understand the importance of beating L.A. in the regular season.
"When they swept us in the regular season in (1983-84) and we beat them in the finals, I remembered saying, 'They won the battles, but we won the war,' " said the chuckling Carr.
"When we beat the Lakers it always gave us confidence. The thing I remember most about regular season games with the Lakers is that they were a measuring stick for us. And we were for them, too."
Maxwell says regular season numbers can be misleading.
"I hear the numbers and they sound pretty good," said Maxwell. "But sometimes you have to peel back those layers and look at things like injuries. After we won in 1984, I was hurt in 1985 ... Last year, the Lakers played without Andrew Bynum. And now Bynum's hurt again. You have to take those things into account."
But Maxwell admits tonight's tilt has a little more meaning for the Celtics, who have another lengthy winning streak (12).
"When they played in LA, the Lakers needed it more. The Celtics beat them to win a championship. It meant more to the Lakers," said Maxwell, of the Lakers' 93-82 win on Christmas.
"Now the Lakers are coming to your building. You're playing the team that broke your 19-game winning streak. And Kobe (Bryant) is coming here after dropping 61 points (on Monday in New York). If the Lakers came in and beat the Celtics it would put something in the back of their minds."
A champion will not be crowned tonight at the Garden. But history says that the "championship" seed could be planted, especially if the Lakers win.
"No question, you don't want to be swept by any west coast team, especially the Lakers," said Carr. "Doc (Rivers) will not have to give a motivational speech. Everybody knows what's at stake. ... All I know is that if anybody on either team says this is just another game, they're lying."
E-mail Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.
Tonight's Matchup
Television: 8 p.m., TNT
Records: Boston 41-9, L.A. 39-9
Current win streak: Boston 12 games, L.A. 4 games
Last meeting: On Christmas L.A. snapped Boston's 19-game win streak with a 92-83 victory
Recent highlight: C's beat 76ers Tuesday on Ray Allen 3-pointer at buzzer; Kobe Bryant scored modern-day Madison Square Garden record 61 points on Monday
ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ
Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.
Stoglin's frustrations boil over following Duke loss-2/12
Timonen "disappointed" in teammates' effort
Morganti: 'Rangers' power play demolished the Flyers'
Timonen: 'I think we got half the guys going and half the guys not'
More shootout woes in store for the Flyers when they face the Red Wings?
The Rangers have the Flyers' number
St. Joseph's vs. Massachusetts Highlights - 2/11
Penn vs. Dartmouth Highlights - 2/11
Drexel vs. Hofstra Highlights - 2/11
La Salle vs. St. Louis Highlights - 2/11
John Wall talks about the loss to the Heat-2/10
Collins takes the blame for the Sixers' final possession
Sixers vs. Clippers highlights
Sixers defensive effort not enough vs. Clippers
Post game plus crew on the Sixers loss
Rose and Zumoff recap the Sixers last second loss
Penn vs. Harvard highlights
Stefon Diggs chooses Maryland, Randy Edsall comments-2/10
Cal Ripken says the Orioles will go as far as their pitching-2/10
Sandusky makes a statement
Julien: 'did it the hard way'
McAdam's Spring Training primer
Doc: Team's effort is 'un-Celtic'
Pierce stresses mental toughness
Globe 10.0 Who was the best free agent in Boston?
Maria Menounos dons a Giants-colored bikini after losing Super Bowl bet-2/7
Thomas' moratorium: 'I'm out, peace'
Gasol: 'Not pleasant' being part of trade rumor
Blakely: Gasol-for-Rondo trade unlikely
Brady-ing is Latest Internet Meme
Globe 10.0: Is Paul Pierce the Celtics greatest scorer?
Ranking Pierce among Celtics greats
Garnett's tale of first meeting Paul Pierce
Pierce's loyalty touted after big night
Hurt Locker: Patriots react to Super Bowl loss
Brown: 'Eli Manning is better than Tom Brady'
Local fans crushed by Patriots loss in Super Bowl XLVI
Marcus Johansson Caps lone goal in loss to Bruins-2/5
Matt Hendricks throws down with the Bruins' Adam McQuaid--2/5
Vinatieri, Law, Brown recount Super Bowl XXXVI
