The NBA’s marquee franchises have dominated the league like no other, leaving marks that are pretty much untouchable for the rest of the NBA’s 28 teams.

SCOTT JACOBS

When the NBA Finals tip off on Thursday it will look very familiar.  Green and White versus Purple and Gold.  Boston versus Los Angeles.  Sunny versus Dreary.  17 versus 15.  If it feels like you’ve seen this scene before, it’s because you have.  Maybe you’re one of those people who loves anothe grudge match for all the marbles between the NBA’s two token franchises.  Or maybe you’re sick of the same two teams dominating the league decade after decade.

We here at Juiced Sports like a little change.

Boston-L.A. is not change.  It’s the same ‘ol story.  Look to the rafters.  In Boston the Celtics have hoisted 17 Larry O’Brien trophies.  In Los Angeles the Lakers have raised 15 banners to the roof.  If there was a Crips versus Blood to the NBA, these two teams would be it.  They’re different, but the results usually end the same: with one of them winning it all.

The Lakers will make an astonishing 31st championship appearance when the Finals tip off.  The Celtics, not too shabby themselves, have made it to the NBA’s biggest stage 21 times.

Meh.

Sometimes you need to switch it up.

Because the way the Celtics and Lakers have humbled the rest of the NBA isn’t funny.  It’s flat out scary.

The numbers truly are startling.

Boston Celtics
Since their inception into the league, 64 years ago, the Celtics have won 28 division titles, made the playoffs an unbelievable 47 times, and rampaged into the Conference Finals 32 times.  They’ve made the Finals 21 times, and won it all an astonishing 17 times.

The percentages are remarakable.  Since playing their first ever game on November 2, 1946, the Celtics have won their division nearly 44% of the time.  Made the Conference Finals 50% of the time.  Made the Finals nearly 33% of the time.  And they’ve polished off title after title almost 27% of the time.

Those numbers are mind-blowing for a pro sports league, until you go west young man, where you’ll find a Lakers team that has literally been in the thick of things practically every year since their entrance into the league.

Los Angeles Lakers
Since their inception into the league, 61 years ago, the Lakers have won 30 division titles, made the playoffs an absurd 57 times, and marched into the Conference Finals 40 times.  They’ve made the Finals a completely ridiculous 30 times, and won it all a very impressive 15 times.

The percentages are even more insane.  Since playing their first ever game on November 3, 1949, the Minneanapolis/L.A. Lakers  have won their division nearly 50% of the time.  Made the conference finals 65% of the time.  Made the finals nearly 50% of the time.  And they’ve polished off title after title almost 25% of the time.

Those numbers are more than just video game-esque.  They’re nauseating.

In the East, The Hawks, Nets, Cavaliers, Bobcats, Pacers, Magic, and Raptors have never won a title.  The entire Eastern Conference with the exception of Boston has won it all just 14 times.  The Celtics have won it all three more times than the rest of their conference combined.

In the West it’s not much different.  The Nuggets, Mavericks, Timberwolves, Clippers, Grizzlies, Hornets, Suns, Jazz, and Kings have  never won it all.  The entire Western Conference with the exception of Minneanapolis/L.A. has won it all just 9 times.  The Lakers have 6 more titles than their entire conference combined.

The Celtics have more titles than their are teams in their conference.  The Lakers have as many titles as their are teams out West.  16 teams have never won it all.  That’s exactly the average number of titles the Celtics and Lakers have when you combine the two.

So to say that I’m not exactly ecstatic about another one of these power-houses claiming another title is the understatement of the century.  Forget David versus Goliath.  This is King Kong versus Superman.  Titanic versus Avatar.  The immovable object versus the unstoppable force.

We like to root for underdogs. There are none in this clash of the greats.

The Lakers and Celtics could open their own Hall of Fame if they wanted to.

Los Angeles has retired 7 numbers.  Boston has 21.  Twenty one people!  The Lakers have 16 Hall of Famers. The Celtics have 30.  L.A.’s Jerry West is the insignia for the NBA logo.  Bill Russell is the most decorated champion ever.  Magic-Bird revived the league in the 1980’s.  They’re still writing about that rivarly even to this day.  With the exception of Jordan’s Bulls in the 1990’s, The Celtics and Lakers have run the NBA as if it was their own personal arcade.  Two supremely successful units constantly trying to one up the other for league supremacy.

I could go on, but why bother.  It’s pretty freaking clear these are the crown jewel franchises of the sport.

On Thursday night, they face off again for the 12th time.

To determine another champion.  A new champion.

But for some funny reason, it feels like old news.  Very old news.

Graphic: Scott Jacobs

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