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Celtics have prime opportunity to ruin day for multiple hated rivals at once

The Celtics can spoil the statue unveiling for the head of the Heat and former Lakers coach
ByBen Handler|
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Dec 23, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat team president Pat Riley looks on during the game between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Dec 23, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat team president Pat Riley looks on during the game between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

For the Celtics, Sunday marks a day of great opportunity. It’s a chance for the team to win its third straight game and its eighth out of nine overall. It also marks a chance to improve their record to 37-19 and extend their lead for the two seed in the Eastern Conference with a win and some help.

But there’s a little extra motivation in the air on Sunday, as the opponent is the hated Los Angeles Lakers, the Celtics’ archrivals. Boston held serve at home earlier this season, giving them a chance to sweep LA for the first time in three seasons, and win for the eighth time in their last 11 meeting with the Lakers.

As if that wasn’t enough reason to go out and dominate, they can also spoil the day for a rival figure in Pat Riley. The man currently running the Miami Heat, and the former coach of the Showtime Lakers, Riles is getting a statue unveiled in front of Crypto Arena ahead of Sunday’s game with the Cs.

For the Celtics, the possibility of ruining a statue unveiling for such a detested foe and opponent is simply too much. And it’s hard to amass a legacy much more reviled by Boston fans than the one Riley built.

Riley has been a Celtics' rival since the 1970s

As a player, Riley spent six seasons with the Lakers and won a championship in 1972. Then, as a coach, he helmed the Lakers, Knicks, and Heat, leading LA to four titles in 1982, 1985, 1987, and 1988, and Miami to one in 2006. 

He has also been the president of the Heat since 1995 and led them to two championships as an executive in 2012 and 2013.

Thanks to all of the storied successes of Boston sports, the region has built up a long list of rival figures, but no matter how you rank them, Riley has to be near the top. He has been working against the Celtics in some manner for more than 50 years now, with no end in sight.

Now 80 years old, Riley is being honored by the team that he spent most of the 70s and 80s with. Though he technically works for the Heat now, he’ll always be a Laker. Sunday may be the last real chance to torment Riley as he represents the purple and gold. Knowing that they can spoil the occasion should be more than enough inspiration for the Celtics to come out flying.

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