If you follow the NBA, you know about the conspiracy theories.
-The First NBA Lottery Draft with Patrick Ewing's Card having a bent corner so Stern would send the NEXT BIG STAR to New York.
-The Michael Jordan was banned for 2 years from the NBA due to gambling, baseball was a cover up, his dad was killed by Mafia.
-The 2002 Lakers/Kings Western Conference Finals series where the Refs gave the Lakers the Series over Sacramento.
Anyway, I digress. My latest Theory.
ESPN just released a documentary titled 30 for 30 Lakers/Celtics.
In this documentary, they stated that the rivalry was a 'race divided' rivalry with White Bird and Black Magic. It also propelled NBA popularity into a new level and SAVED the NBA.
With the Super Team Era beginning in 07 with Boston's big 3 - Heat Big 3 - Cavs Big 3 - Golden State Warriors etc... it's becoming boring and less ratings.
I believe the reason we are seeing Boston with so many #1 picks and Magic wheeling and dealing in LA, etc... We are about to see another Lakers/Celtics rivalry invented by Adam Silver to feed off of nostalgia.
Think about it, Hayward is WHITE, Lonzo is Black. There is a race divide right now in America again, People are sick of the Superteams and they can only ride LeBron's coattails for about 3 more seasons before his decline. Kyrie Irving wants to be traded, then LeBron will follow.
LeBron will go to LA to finish his career and try to be on ONE MORE SUPER TEAM for ONE MORE RING. LeBron leaves CLE after next season. Without Irving and LeBron, Boston WALKS to the FINALS.
Boston is building a young talented team in their trades and picks. Adam Silvers is trying to STACK the deck in favor of this rivalry to reignite. When Boston played LA for the title 2x during their big 3 era, it was the highest rated finals since Kobe/Shaq. The documentary coming out this year was no coincidence.
Starting in the 2019 season and beyond, it's going to be a long decade of Celtics/Lakers again.