I may never learn to like Kobe, but I do have respect for the Lakers and call a few fans friends and admire a number of Lakers bloggers out there. C.A. Clark (my brotha from another universe) is one of them.
Lakers - Celtics Preview: Partners In Time - Silver Screen and Roll
Over the NBA's history, no two teams have been more clearly linked than our beloved Los Angeles Lakers and tonight's opponent, the Boston Celtics. On the one hand, it makes perfect sense, since the two teams have far and away the two most cherished histories in the game. But, on the other hand, what has been truly stunning is not how consistently good these two franchises have been, but how consistently these two franchises have seemed to peak at the same time. It happened in the 50s and 60s, when the Lakers were routinely 2nd best to Boston's Bill Russell-led juggernaut. It happened again in the 80s, when Bird and Magic grappled for supremacy. And it's happened again ... since 2008, the Celtics and Lakers have once again been at or near the top of the heap. For 60+ years, the timelines of these franchises have been interwoven.
I hope we are dominant for many years to come. I also don't mind seeing the Lakers in the Finals with us. It just sort of feels right.