Of all the rivalries in professional sports, few can match the intensity and rich history of the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. After battling it out in the NBA Finals during the 1980s, the Celtics and Lakers renewed their rivalry in 2008.
In their first season with Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce leading the team, the Celtics survived a treacherous path through the Eastern Conference playoffs to reach the Finals. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers were buoyed by a mid-season trade for Pau Gasol.
L.A. went on to finish with the best record in the Western Conference and largely cruised to a matchup with their arch rival.