Celtics-Hawks Is as Close as the Modern NBA Can Get to a Real Rivalry
Last night’s Celtics-Hawks game was billed by ESPN as a rivalry reborn, since this rematch was on Atlanta’s home floor. They even interviewed players about the rivalry, and what it meant to them tonight and for the rest of the season. ↵
↵But Mark Jackson decided to go all rogue (sorry for the outdated joke, it had to happen), and insisted that no, this wasn't a rivalry, since the Celtics are gods on earth, and the Hawks mere up-and-comers. That puts him in line with that sourpuss KG, who has himself gone out of his way to dismiss this description.↵
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↵Generally, I would agree. Rivalries are supposed to be about history, sky-high stakes, and a sense that two teams are battling over the same niche. That's not the case here. Certainly, Lakers-Celtics fits the bill much better. Still, the Hawks are a thorn in the Celtics side, the source of their greatest embarrassment. If anyone wants to point to them as mortal, or question whether they can pull off a historic 2008-09, last season's first-round series will be the first evidence offered. Boston has to beat Atlanta as often as possible, in convincing fashion. It's as much about pride as public perception.↵
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↵You could argue that series saved the Hawks franchise (or at least its coach), raised awareness of Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, riled up the hometown fans, cemented Al Horford as their emotional leader, and pretty much legitimized them in the eyes of the league. That would certainly explain this year's surprise performance. For the Hawks, that series is like a superhero origin story, or that part of the Bible where all the animals appear out of thin air. It's a source of inspiration, and reminds them who they are. So obviously their emotions are high when they're reminded of it. And in some ways, they probably welcome it.↵
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↵Maybe the two teams haven't battled for conference supremacy for years running, cores intact, in a way that defines an era. But really, do those kinds of rivalries really exist anymore? These Celtics didn't even exist until last summer. This is true in all sports, but is especially pronounced in the NBA, where there are fewer players, and they're less interchangeable and more visible. Lakers-Kings? Spurs-Suns?↵
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↵I'd say for now, if it feels like a rivalry, quacks like one, smells like one, and gets us amped like one. Mark Jackson needs to leave his outdated definition back in the closet, along with his Bernard Goetz mask and other relics of the past.↵
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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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