Dust off those old VHS tapes and grab that Michael Jackson Thriller leather jacket off the coat room because the '80s are making a comeback.
All signs have been pointing to the '80s flashback for a while. We just haven't fully realized it. Case in point: Bret Michaels and his bandana is relevant again thanks to VH1's Rock of Love and Kylie Minogue's name is back on the billboard charts.
And now the NBA is joining in on the '80s theme.
My gut feeling says that the Lakers and Celtics are destined to play in the NBA Finals. At least that's what David Stern is hoping and praying for.
Two storied franchises.
Two teams that have combined to win 30 NBA titles.
Two teams that launched a popular slogan in the 1980's...NBA ACTION, IT'S FANTASTIC!
The Celtics dominated the '60s.
The Lakers got their revenge by winning five championships in the '80s.
It has been 21 years since the Lakers and Celtics last met in the NBA Finals. To this day, Magic Johnson's junior sky hook to win Game 4 in 1987 still irks Larry Bird and Kevin McHale.
Once the West and East playoff brackets were finalized Wednesday night, it is hard not to think about a Lakers-Celtics reunion.
Sports Illustrated certainly saw it coming (check out this week's issue).
The Lakers have a clear path to the Western Conference finals.
I don't see the Lakers-Nuggets series going more than five games in the first round. Then, I anticipate the Lakers seeing the Utah Jazz in the semifinals. The Jazz, great at home but awful on the road, lucked out by drawing injury-riddled Houston rather than battle-tested San Antonio in round one. They have home-court edge vs. the Rockets but won't have it against the Lakers.
One minor upset in the first round: the Dallas Mavs knocking out the New Orleans Hornets. I say minor because there is very little difference between seeds 1 through 7 in the West.
The Lakers' opponent in the conference finals is either San Antonio or Phoenix. If I had to pick a winner, I'll go with the Suns because I think it is only fitting that Kobe and Shaq face each other in a series for the ages...the young Lakers vs. the old Suns. I see a humbled Shaquille O'Neal bowing out in six games and might even throw a compliment Kobe's way.
As for the East...who cares?
The only series worth watching in the first round is the Cleveland and Washington. I'm picking the Wizards in six.
After that, it is all about the Celtics and Pistons. But both have major flaws. Boston's big three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have yet to win a playoff game together and the Pistons have Flip Saunders as their coach. Tough call but I see the Celtics barely getting past the Bad Boys from Detroit in seven physical games.
In the NBA Finals, ABC gets its dream matchup: the Lakers vs. the Celtics. We should be inundated with '80s themes throughout the series. That means lots of air time for Magic, James Worthy, Kareem, Danny Ainge, McHale and Bird. Phil Jackson already fired the first shot by saying that "someone will be rolling in his grave" (i.e. Red Auerbach) should the Lakers meet the Celtics in the Finals.
Can't wait for June.
Keywords: Celtics, Lakers, NBA Finals, NBA playoffs
