The
Philadelphia 76ers could have been overtaken in the Atlantic Division by the
Boston Celtics days ago. Instead, Sixers fans like myself are relieved that Philadelphia is starting to win again while Boston is back to being inconsistent. The Celtics are still an aging team that probably needs an overhaul and to start over soon - yet not every team like that is in such problematic straits.
The
Los Angeles Lakers are also aging and likely need new pieces to win another title for
Kobe Bryant. However, the Lakers are rounding into form anyway, as they proved to the Celtics with a 97-94 victory on Mar. 11. While Boston and Los Angeles are in virtually the same boat, as aging superpowers trying to stay relevant and in the elite, the Lakers have done a much better job in that quest.
In fact, the Lakers overtook their Los Angeles brethren, the Clippers, for first place in the Pacific for the first time in ages with this win.
At 25-16, Los Angeles's most famous basketball team is quietly getting into position for another title run. If it somehow gets the pieces together for a big trade, as it has been trying to do all season, then perhaps the
Oklahoma City Thunder won't take over the West quite yet.
Meanwhile, Boston is also trying to make one last run before it has to rebuild its roster, although it has more urgency to start an overhaul now. The Big Three and
Rajon Rondo may mostly be gone for one reason or another by this time next year, as the end of the new Celtics dynasty is coming much sooner than the end of the Lakers'. It shows in their record, as the Celtics are only 21-19 and three games back of the Sixers again, right when it was ready to overtake Philadelphia.
But after a horrendous loss to the Sixers on Mar. 7 ended the Celtics' five-game winning streak, they have gone back to mediocrity. A win in Los Angeles would have been a boost, but despite all five Boston starters scoring in double figures, Bryant's 26 points and
Andrew Bynum's 20 still made the bigger difference. An 8-0 Lakers run to end the game and decisive last minute shots from Bryant and Bynum helped as well.
With an eight-game road trip now under way for the Celtics, things may only get harder and more exhausting from here. And with the Sixers winning once more, keeping the Atlantic Division throne looks like a daunting task again for Boston. But at least the New York Knicks and 'Linsanity' are imploding in the meantime, so the Celtics are still the biggest threat to the Sixers by default.
Yet Boston isn't Los Angeles, which can look old and past its prime, have a fragile roster and still look like an NBA title contender. It also helps that the Lakers have Bryant and more championships than the Celtics in this era. A few old dynasties from recent years are starting to crumble while the Thunder,
Miami Heat and
Chicago Bulls take over the NBA - although it once again seems that the Celtics will be the one to crumble first.
Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident and 76ers fan.
Other stories from this contributor
76ers doom Knicks, 'Linsanity' further with latest win
Knicks approaching tail end of 'Linsanity'?
76ers start statement week over reeling Knicks
76ers continue to stabilize themselves by beating Jazz
76ers look to build on Celtics blowout
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