The Truth (yes, there's a pun here) is that the Celtics/Lakers is the greatest sports rivalry in modern history, bar none.
This is the equivalent of Brazil vs either the UK/Germany for the World Cup to the remainder of the planet, who doesn't follow b-ball. And yes, internationals have told me that the Celtics are the *Brazil* of basketball.
Sorry to Sox fans but the Sox/Yankees rivalry is mostly local cousins, duking it out over whose metro area has the biggest skyscrapers. We all have friends/families in both regions, hence, it's pure provincialism. So, with the above in mind and knowing that Odom was only fighting for a contract in '09, let's bring it on and may the real champs, arise to the throne.