As we’ll see again on Saturday night, the Celtics-Lakers rivalry never gets old
“It’s an honor to be a part of that, for sure, and I’m sure everybody will look forward to that matchup as they do every single year.”
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Downplaying the significance of a big game less than 48 hours before it happens is one thing.
Jayson Tatum, who has spent his entire career with the Celtics, saying that he doesn’t view the Lakers as a rival is another.
The Celtics and Lakers have played each other in the NBA Finals 12 times, the most in league history. The most recent was in 2010, when Tatum was 12.
Playoff hype is different than regular-season hype. Tatum has a title, but he has never faced the Lakers in the playoffs. His playoff battles have come against teams such as the Bucks, Heat, 76ers, and Mavericks.
“I obviously understand the history between the Lakers and Celtics,” Tatum said. “I would say for my time in the league I wouldn’t look at the Lakers as rivals. We only play them twice. The teams we play over and over again in the playoffs — Philly would be one of them, and the other teams as well — but you respect and understand the history and all the guys that wore the Lakers and Celtics uniform and what it means to the game of basketball and the NBA.
“It’s an honor to be a part of that, for sure, and I’m sure everybody will look forward to that matchup as they do every single year.”
The rivalry features a new twist this season. On Saturday night, Celtics fans will get their first glimpse of Luka Doncic in a Lakers jersey playing on the parquet floor.
Doncic’s trade acquisition has energized the Lakers, who have won 14 of their last 16 games and leapfrogged to second in the Western Conference.
Last year, Doncic led the Mavericks to the Finals, which they lost to the Celtics in five games. Now that he has teamed up with LeBron James, the Lakers look rejuvenated on both ends of the floor, according to Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.
“It looks like they’re playing with a level of joy,” Mazzulla said. “[They have] offensive firepower. Also, really good on defense. I think they’re like No. 1 in defense since the trade. Well-balanced team. It’s going to take a well-connected game on both ends of the floor.”
James, of course, is no stranger to TD Garden. He is averaging 25.1 points, 8.5 assists, 8.1 rebounds, and shooting 51.8 percent from the field at age 40. Tatum marvels at James’s longevity.
“As much as we probably talk about LeBron, we probably don’t talk about him enough,” Tatum said. ”Being 40 in his 22nd season, playing at an All-NBA level, is incredible. It’s a testament to the work ethic he’s put into his game, his body, to stay in the best shape and compete and perform at the highest level for over two decades now.
“It’s something that we should all strive to do even if it might be unlikely. But it’s a joy to be able to compete against him in these matchups for however long we get to do it.”
Although it’s been a decade and a half since the Celtics and Lakers have played in the postseason, the rivalry still holds weight.
Derrick White said watching the HBO documentary “Celtics City” helped remind him of the history that makes this rivalry one of the fiercest in professional sports.
“Watching the documentary or the first episode, you kind of see the beginning of it,” White said. “It’s just cool to be a part of it. A lot of great teams on both sides and great players. Saturday will be no different. It’s going to be a fun one.”
For Celtics rookie Baylor Scheierman, who is unsure what his role might be Saturday night, even the idea of playing in such a storied rivalry is a thrill.
“That’s what you dream of, playing in something like that,” Scheierman said. “Celtics vs. Lakers. Saturday night. It doesn’t get much better than that. So, if my number is called, I’ll be ready.”
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