Paul Pierce faced the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals twice as a member of the Boston Celtics, winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2008 before losing to LA in 2010. So he knows what it takes to not only get to the Finals, but to win it all.
So when the Lakers lifted a banner to the Crypto.com Arena rafters for their In-Season Tournament championship, Pierce took issue with it.
“They did that to spite the Celtics, bro,” Pierce told ex-Celtics teammate Kevin Garnett on SHOWTIME Basketball’s “Ticket and The Truth.” “I’m telling you because we got 17. So that counts toward the 17? 17.5?”
Pierce suggested the Lakers should have received a plaque rather than raise a banner.
“Just put it in the locker room,” Pierce said.
It’s been a tough road for the Lakers since their victory in the inaugural tournament. They sit ninth in the Western Conference and are 3-7 in their last 10 games.
The Lakers and the Celtics are tied for most NBA titles with 17. Boston has come close — reaching the NBA Finals in 2021 under first-year coach Ime Udoka — but has yet to win Banner 18. Going into Sunday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, the Celtics sit atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 25-6 record and built a roster in the offseason that will certainly keep them competitive as they hope to make a lengthy playoff run.
As for the Lakers? The In-Season Tournament banner might end up being their bright spot of 2023-24.
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