BOSTON – JUNE 05: Fans of the Los Angeles Lakers support their team outside the arena prior to Game One of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics on June 5, 2008 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Darren McCollester/NBAE/Getty Images)

It’s true.

The two most storied rivals, the two winningest franchises and most importantly the two best teams in the NBA will play starting tonight (Thursday, June 5) in the NBA Finals.

And no, Reagan isn’t in the White House, hair bands aren’t dominating the radio (reality shows instead), and shoulder pads aren’t back in women’s clothing.

Instead, the Lakers and Celtics will meet for the 11^th time in a Finals but for the first time in 21 years, also the last time the Celtics have made it this far.

A dream match-up for the NBA, for ABC TV, and a dream match-up for me as a fan of the NBA – and the Lakers as well.

Being in Boston for a little more than 24 hours now, you can see the Celtic pride all over the city: banners hanging off buildings, fans rocking T-shirts and vendors setting up shop selling souvenirs all over town. They even changed the time of the Boston Red Sox game tonight so the fans could attend the MLB game and then get home in time to watch the basketball game.

BOSTON – JUNE 05: Cars drive by a giant Celtics banner and a large replica of the Larry O’Brien championship trophy across from the TD Banknorth Garden prior to Game One of the 2008 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers on June 5, 2008 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE/Getty Images)

Getty Images has a full team to cover all the happenings inside the TD Banknorth Garden (the Boston Garden was such a better name) including two local photographers in staffer Elsa and stringer Jim Rogash. Plus, staffer Kevin Cox is in town from North Carolina.

Myself and Mary Ciecek flew out yesterday from Los Angeles and will handle all the editing and Anthony Jacobs from New York will be our on-site IT support. An entirely different team of shooters will be in Los Angeles for games 3, 4, and 5. Let’s call them our west coast team.

So stay tuned for more on a NBA Finals that many are saying will be a classic.

BOSTON – JUNE 05: Kevin Garnett #5 of the Boston Celtics walks across the court in Game One of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers on June 5, 2008 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Tags: Celtics, Getty Images, Lakers, NBA, photos

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