The NBA's Jersey Selection For Tonight's Lakers/Celtics Showdown Is An Absolute Travesty

Jayne Kamin-Oncea. Getty Images.

When you think of some of the best sports rivalries, Celtics/Lakers is pretty damn high on that list. The two most iconic and successful franchises not only in the NBA but honestly in all of sports, it doesn't get much better. Sure, it's true that one side has to lie about how many titles they've won in order to make themselves feel like the two are neck and neck, but that's another topic for another day.

The beauty of this matchup is that no matter what the current situation may be for either side, whenever the two sides meet it means more to everyone involved. The teams, the fans, the media, everyone. Celts/Lakers will never just be a normal game, even if the Lakers stink and the game is taking place in early February. 

Part of what makes this game so iconic is it also comes with the greatest jersey matchup the league has. Classic Celtics/Lakers jerseys are about as good as it gets, and I can't really explain it but it somehow adds to the entire experience of watching these two teams play. I know that sounds a little crazy, but those that get it, get it. I'm all for the NBA trying new things and throwing out different combinations for games, but one thing has to be remembered.

You do not fuck with Celtics/Lakers. 

You don't get cute, you don't try new things, you give the people what they want, and what they want is the classic look on each side. On Christmas we got close, with the Lakers wearing their white alternates like they do every Sunday/Holiday and the Celts in their traditional road green. It looked fine.

Tonight for the rematch? Adam Silver and the NBA should be absolutely ashamed and embarrassed

What the hell is that? Again, I know it's a little silly to care about something like this, but seriously what the hell is the NBA doing? I wasn't sure who was the deciding factor with this stuff, and after some research, it looks like the league predetermines every jersey matchup for the year before the season even starts. At first, I thought this was maybe a Nike thing and they made the call, but based on what I read it's the league's choice.

If that's the case, is Adam Silver a moron? 

You have the two most iconic franchises in your league's history facing off on National TV, and you have the Lakers in their City Edition jerseys? I'm going to go as far as to say that is extremely disrespectful to both franchises and a slap in the face to fans everywhere. That shit is gross and frankly, there's no justification for it. I don't care about trying to get more jersey sales for an alternate look or any of that shit. I care about getting what God intended when he created the Celtics and Lakers, and that's the traditional jersey pairing.

I'm not really picky either. I'd be OK with Celts in their traditional green and Lakers in gold. Or the Celts in their home whites and the Lakers in their road purple. Pick either one, but everyone with a brain knows that when these two teams play, it has to be one of those two combinations if the game isn't happening on a Sunday or a holiday. 

In terms of tonight's game, the two teams could not be more different. The Lakers are hanging on by a thread, and are on the verge of missing the Play In. The Celts are the best team in basketball. As we know, that won't really matter when we see them play tonight, as the Celts can't just show up and assume it's going to be an easy win. Then again, Shams just dropped this bomb 

so you combine that and this jersey disaster and what a fumble for what should have been a primetime matchup.

Maybe all of this is bothering me because I've officially transitioned into being an "old", but I'm also right. It remains astonishing how the NBA could fumble something so easy. This was a layup, and they smoked the bunny. Gross.