Podcast: The narratives surrounding the Lakers’ rivalries with the Celtics and Spurs

“I Love Basketball” examines why these rivalries have stood the test of time.

The Lakers are part of the premier rivalry in NBA basketball with the Boston Celtics, one that has spanned 33 championships over decades. But for younger Lakers fans who grew up in an age when the Celtics had fallen off the map, it’s hard to have the same emotional response to Boston as older fans who watched Magic and Bird.

On the latest episode of “I Love Basketball”, Anthony and Sabreena examine why the Lakers-Celtics rivalry still resonates after all these years, focusing on the media portrayal of the Celtics and the way the two franchises still fundamentally differ in their approach to building winning teams.

They then move on to a team that filled Boston’s void as L.A.’s rival during the late 1990s and beyond: the San Antonio Spurs. Anthony and Sabreena go over some of the most memorable moments of the Lakers/Spurs rivalry and discuss what made this particular feud stick including style of play, contrasting superstars, and organizational culture. They dig into how Lakers/Spurs playoff series always seemed to be pivotal points in franchise history, and why the color gray is such a bane on the NBA’s existence.

It’s a cathartic experience for both hosts, and it will leave you hating the Celtics and the Spurs even more than you did at the start.

You can listen to the full episode below, and to make sure you never miss a single one, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts.

You can also follow your hosts on Twitter at @AnthonyIrwinLA and @sabreenajm.