It's common wisdom that they lay claim to the Minneapolis titles and there's nothing we can do about that. It's Celtics 17 and Lakers 16. And it makes me sick each time I think that it's this close. In the 70's when I was in high school and the C's were winning with Hondo, Cowens and JoJo, the lead seemed insurmountable -- 13 to 6. Even after the Bird/Magic era, it was a comfortable 16-11. But now it's all about whichever team can turn it around first. The odds are always stacked in the Lakers favor as they'll always have the FA advantage. It would be nice if the lottery gods would not shine upon them again this year.