LOOK AT ME! 🗣️ Mad Dog challenges Stephen A.'s Lakers-Celtics argument 🍿 | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo go head-to-head debating which NBA franchise between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics is historically the most revered.
✔️Subscribe to ESPN+ espnplus.com/youtube
✔️ Get the ESPN App: www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
✔️Subscribe to ESPN on KZbin: es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoKZbin
✔️ Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on KZbin: bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoNBAonESPN
✔️ Watch ESPN on KZbin TV: es.pn/KZbinTV

[@decovcs6711]

Stephen A just went against his OWN Jordan/Lebron debate point

[@onceuponatimeinchristiania]

Came to make the same point

[@Eightset]

So Lebron is the goat by your logic Stephen a

[@soleil3gs]

You’d have a point if that was the only argument for the goat debate

[@nikhiltrivedi8126]

Bron the goat

[@natesarfo]

I came here just to say that AGAIN!

[@blacksmith1826]

"lOOOOK AT ME.....I'm your captain now" - MAD DOG

[@kingbullyrock8739]

"I'm the Daddy now!"- MAD DOG

[@BladimirRivas-rh1ty]

Captain phillips?

[@Bwwe82090]

I laughed so hard when he said " Look at me!"

[@isaachowardjr-ck9lh]

Haha

[@tevindublin7620]

Mad Dogg just did his best Dark Knight Joker impression "LOOK AT ME!!!!!" LOL

[@chiefmiyagi9802]

😂😂

[@Ravenfanatic5]

"You see this is how crazy he's made Gotham."🤣

[@markrio95]

“All you care about is ratings. The viewers deserves a better class of commentator. And I'm gonna give it to them!” 🤡

[@raidernation2163]

I remember when Joaquin Phoenix's Joker first came out I seen an ad on KZbin about a guy acting evil and crazy around his friends and then laughing like the Joker but then Heath Ledger's Joker came out laughing and showed him how it's done. (You don't want to know the rest) I spent the last 5 years trying to find that ad again on the internet but to no luck 😒

[@elm4380]

@@markrio95🤣🤣🤣

[@carlatkins83]

😂😂😂😂😂 mad dog just took me out with that “LOOK AT MAE”

[@TRINIFLASHAJSOLDIE9231-lj7fb]

Mad dogg yelled at him like stephen was child reaching for the food at the thanksgiving dinner

[@kjjr3270]

Wait hold on a minute. Ain't Stephen A. the guy that always brings up Brons finals record in the goat debate against MJ? But as soon its anyone else finals appearance without winning is a good thing? I don't care if you have MJ or Lebron as your goat, but at least keep the same energy for everyone.

[@bobd2078]

Umm how many does Lebron have? FOUR? Can we Atleast wait until Lebron gets passes up Jordan in rings like the Celtics did the lakers before you try and draw this comparison

[@hristijandimitrovski8664]

Jordan has 2 more titles than Lebron

[@KeepSchemin13]

@@bobd2078 Bron has been to more NBA finals tho

[@bobd2078]

@@KeepSchemin13 Ok. Celtics been to less than lakers and won MORE. Jordan been to less finals than Lebron and won MORE

[@KeepSchemin13]

@@bobd2078 its a TEAM effort lebron put up the right numbers in all his finals losses except 2011..with yo logic Bill Russell the goat then

[@alex4863]

As much as Mad Dog is a Dino, the fact he just checked SAS “Lakers won 4 of their titles in Minneapolis.” 💀😂

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

How did he check SAS? Wether it’s in Minneapolis or Los Angeles, it’s still the same franchise. And they won 5 championships in Minneapolis, not 4

[@shaunwalker7238]

@@disintegrateallhumans3067 right that’s as dumb as saying because the Oakland Raiders won one superbowl in LA it doesn’t count …gtfoh

[@onellvanstory7648]

Doggie is a idiot..It's still the same franchise..Whether it's in Minneapolis or LA they still say Lakers..What a idiotic comment

[@henrygucci360]

Yeah but that’s a stupid argument. It’s like the Rams not counting their Super Bowl in 1999 because they were in St. Louis. Not a good enough argument.

[@shubhamlele5395]

thats like saying kd went to gsw from the supersonics​@@disintegrateallhumans3067

[@hermonymusofsparta]

Finals appearances and WCF wins never mattered in LA until the Celtics passed them two days ago.

[@mattbillings3224]

The cope from LA Laker fans is strong.

[@Me3ks89]

Lakers are #1

[@vasquezalfred]

And there going to add more titles with this team and head coach for a good stretch …3 more NBA TITLE BANNERS will be added to this first one is my prediction, before the lakers get there next title 🏆 🏆 🏆

[@benb8825]

@@Me3ks89#1 crybabies, thats about it though

[@westheking12]

Bro no one is saying that winning the titles don’t matter. Clearly winning them then appearing is better. We are talking about what franchise has been able to create the most consistent contenders for the NBA title. And if you look at it in the NBA, that team has been the LA Lakers PERIOD. But of course the most successful winning those titles are now the Celtics. But they are not the best consistent franchise in creating consistent contenders.

[@user-sr2zw4jg3i]

So then Bron better than Jordan ? This man contradicts himself all the time 😂

[@nikhiltrivedi8126]

Yes he is

[@monteellis4436]

Yes Lebron is better than Jordan

[@cwavygaming6615]

@@monteellis4436no he’s not

[@MikkiChavez]

LeBron is not even top 3. Jordan, Kareem, Kobe, Magic are all greater than LBJ. Y'all are nuts

[@privatenumber1156]

Omg thank you

[@angelmelendez2468]

5 championships in a place called Minneapolis , but now we are hanging your hats on final appearances and taking Ls ? You just made the Celtics point on why they are #1 franchise and the Lakers FIRMLY #2 . They are the Best runner ups !!

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

Winning 11 of their 18 championships in prehistoric times, plus winning the 2024 championship (as a result of the easiest path to the finals in NBA history, MAJOR asterisk *) hardly qualifies the Boston Celtics as the #1 franchise. In the MODERN NBA, the Lakers have won more championships than the Celtics, & it’s not even close.

[@BulletAgario]

@@disintegrateallhumans3067you’re a 🤡

[@yepperzify]

I came to comment this lol. Winning the bulk of your championships vs plumbers and firemen is not a flex.

[@onellvanstory7648]

Playing old geezers back in Prehistoric times don't count..Lakers had real players.. Kareem..Magic..Worthy..Mcadoo..Scott..Cooper..Kobe..Shaq

[@yepperzify]

@@onellvanstory7648 LeBron and AD also. Lakers have 5 of the top 10-15 players of all time, Celtics have 1 (Bird) lol

[@comradeyellow6781]

So the Lakers are the best franchise cause they took more Ls? What kind of reasoning is that lmao

[@craighvac1808]

Are you saying losing before the finals is better than losing in the finals?

[@siegmund87]

​@@craighvac1808I'd rather lose before.

[@brettt141]

Yes. What a waste of a season for dallas ​@@craighvac1808

[@sbvish2000]

Sometimes 17 is more than 18 😅

[@peterfalkson6730]

@@siegmund87 that's stupid

[@scruffd0g193]

Mad Dog absolutely cooked Stephen A here, as always.

[@gregorybeale]

I wouldnt say as always. I usually don't like Stephan A. Smith all the time but I don't like Russo about 90% of the time. He is right here for the first time ever. He actually said there were 5 centers better than Shaq...including Tim Duncan who everyone considers a power forward. They both suck and why are they yelling all the time! my 7 year old son was in the other room when I was watching First take and he says..Daddy....why is that man always yelling? Whats wrong with him?"

[@reallife0728]

LIKE A GOOD OLE FASHION DOWN SOUTH BBQ!!!!!💯💯💯

[@justinthompson5282]

It’s crazy that Stephen A sounds like us Bron fans make the argument against Jordan lol 😂.

[@alexiscando2068]

He just goes against his own narrative about MJ VS LeBron lmao

[@breeezysmoove8981]

No cause it’s not just about rings and finals appearances between bron and Jordan

[@goldenstatewarriors9418]

Isn’t this the opposite of his Jordan/LeBron argument.

[@alexspartichino4155]

id argue that the fact boston has 18 rings out of 23 finals appearences actually makes them better than the lakers they have a better ring goal percentage lmao

[@robertgatling5336]

Boom ! 💯Fact

[@lucillerose-davis7666]

FACTUALS

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

That may be true, but it’s also true that the bulk of the Celtics championships (11 of their 18) were won in the 60’s. In the modern NBA, the Celtics are the equivalent of the Houston Rockets (2 championships, minus the back to back).

[@robertgatling5336]

@@disintegrateallhumans3067 and they were beating the Lakers then too....... 😎 9 were against the Lakers! ROTFL 😂

[@BabylonGateLA]

Loser take 🤣🤣🤣

[@elroz1675]

1. 18 titles. 2. LA Lakers DONT have 17 titles or 32 appearances as Smith claims. Only if he PRETENDS that Minneapolis titles and appearances go to LA. Make-believe la la land! 3. Head to head the Celtics vs LA Lakers in the Finals is 9-3 for the Celtics. Total head to head finals games record is 43-31 for the Celtics. 4. Lakers moved from one city to another. Celtics franchise has always been in Boston. 5. The First LA Lakers title was coached by a Celtics great Bill Sharman, a Red Auerbach guy. Chew on that.

[@ronaldchump273]

Buddy smoked him with the Minneapolis statement

[@Nightcrawler90210]

Post civil rights act Lakers 12 Celtics 11 Post aba merger Lakers 11 Celtics 5 NBA MVPs post civil rights acts Lakers 8 Celtics 5

[@user-ym9ry6ip5k]

​@@Nightcrawler90210how does this factor the Minneapolis lakers

[@MiLLz830]

quickly lol

[@lloydbonafide3398]

Most people forget that Larry Bird was supposed to hand the keys to Len Bias and len bias was supposed to be paired with Reggie lewis. Both passed away. Then the celtics tanked for tim duncan then missed out on him so they had horrible luck during a period they were supposed to be dominant and possibly even challenge the bulls. KG getting hurt in 09 also helped the lakers. The celtics were even better in 09 and was going back to back that year. That kg injury changed them forever. Finally i wish espn backed up the celtics like they do the lakers. They will put out ideas like dame to the lakers or kyrie to the lakers just to help them out. I think they will try to do the same with giannis eventually if he doesn't win next season. The lakers are backed by the league and media. Commissioner stern said the perfect finals would be lakers vs lakers. It's no wonder why the kings were robbed back then. They won the IN season tournament for promotion and the mickey bubble ring. All that to still have less championships. The league will try hard to get the lakers back in relevancy after lebron.

[@rohangupte3545]

The Lakers were winning that ring in 2020 regardless. If it was so mickey how come your team didn't win it

[@davismichaud507]

@@rohangupte3545 Kobe ritual the league is Masonic

[@603_Livin]

Thats all I thought about as Steven was talking about the dead period of Celtics history through the late 80's to 2009.... They literally had their Star Players DIE......

[@MrKjm1]

If Bynum was healthy & playing in the first finals, Boston would’ve lost that finals

[@r.m.90]

Nobody cares about a what if scenario 🤡

[@sbmay1111]

Yet SAS, uses that same argument against Bron.

[@InfiniteCoreXD]

He ain’t there to argue he there for views

[@MikkiChavez]

Those are players. This is franchises. I'm not understanding how you even came to that conclusion

[@alexiscando2068]

​@@MikkiChavez technically, that is against his narrative though... SAS needs to be consistent with his narratives to make it work which he isn't

[@MikkiChavez]

@@alexiscando2068 no it's not. You fools just are ignorant can't determine the difference. Players & franchises are different. Idk how you don't understand rhat

[@gabrieljohnson7932]

@@MikkiChavez thats bc u couldn’t think yourself out of a wet paper bag

[@soleil3gs]

I always thought it was the lakers but Mad Dog made some excellent points. The Celtics have beaten the lakers more than it’s been the other way around. Add to that, that the Celtics now have 18 titles vs 17 and that they’ve always been a Boston team vs the lakers who came from Minneapolis….it has to be the Celtics. Recent success favors the lakers but if you take the totality it’s the Celtics

[@HayastAnFedayi]

This…Stephen A is cutting out half of the subject material starting in the Magic era, you can’t do that, should come down to total titles and then the head to head matchup, it’s not even a discussion, anything else is pure copium by Boston haters/Laker lovers☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@liberty4allplease]

All time winning Lakers .591 6,004 total games Celtics .594 6,114 Spurs .596 3,867 No other team is close

[@nassiglutt6587]

And all of these ain't close to the yankees

[@etheu9sby292]

​@@nassiglutt6587 well it's a completely different sport.

[@Shaolin91z]

Baseball plays twice as many games as well .... argument about baseball in a basketball thread😂😂😂

[@DonHo-wi7tw]

Who got the most championships is what counts

[@DonHo-wi7tw]

​@nassiglutt6587 who got the most rings

[@RudieObias]

"Look at me!" 🤣

[@Scambityfactsteam]

GET EM DOGGY 😂😂😂

[@terrencemchatten4804]

Stephen A pretty just said LeBron is better than Jordan because LeBron got more finals appearances than Jordan.

[@Gk54493]

He gonna change the argument to fit his narrative every time.

[@manuelestevez3982]

Nah the comparison of two historic franchises and their history is a different argument than the one between the career of two individual players

[@Gk54493]

@@manuelestevez3982 Not in this case because the argument he’s making is “one has been to more finals so they’ve won more and been more relevant and dominant for longer so they win.” Meanwhile, LeBron has been to 10 finals and 8 were consecutive. If we follow that logic, he’s the better player. The issue is since Stephen A prefers the Lakers, he twisted the argument to fit his narrative. Since he prefers jordan, his twisted the argument to fit his narrative in that debate. There’s no consistency which obviously means most likely there is bias present (and it obviously is).

[@Birdman61510]

Nice try😂 and I'm a Lakers fan. Jordan is the goat sorry.

[@SouthJerzVillains]

@@Gk54493na bro it’s simply different also Jordan has 2 more rings and finals mvps than lebron not 1 like the Celtics and lakers lol

[@joshuagorrie4536]

How about this point: which organization is better run? It's not even close, it's Boston. Historically & Present Day it's been Boston.

[@datsapaddlin]

The Celtics are the best pre merger franchise while the Lakers are the best post merger franchise.

[@danielhill2744]

Very well put as a Celtic fan I respect this comment

[@mikotagayuna8494]

All the post merger did was to integrate four new teams to the league. How can you point out this distinction as relevant to the point when both teams have to contend within the same conditions? Titles are titles.

[@datsapaddlin]

@@mikotagayuna8494 The facts are the Celtics had less success after the merger. It was only 8 teams when they won most of their championships. Thats obviously different from having 20 to 30 teams with no bye week in the playoffs but I gave them credit for winning in that pre merger format. Post Merger and as the league kept expanding with more teams and globally with a salary cap and draft lottery the Lakers had more success.

[@abezzzy121]

​​@@mikotagayuna8494 if we're going to delineate LA/Minneapolis then I don't think pre/post merger is a bridge too far. When people talk post merger they mean modern NBA, no different than NFL/AFL merger🤷🏾

[@nathanclements6635]

⁠@@mikotagayuna8494”All the merger did was add 4 new teams to the league.” Ummm no. That’s simply just patently false incorrect and comparing bill russels 12 Mickey Mouse rings to lakers is a false dichotomy. He played in an era without salary caps, when the Celtics were the only team with the funds to nab all the best players but wilt, and at a time when they only had 4 teams in each playoff division and each round was a best of 3 until the finals. You really know nothing about basketball or life do you?

[@juliothom2408]

LA was in the league at the same time Boston was in the 60s. They played each other, so using the old team argument makes zero sense.

[@Nightcrawler90210]

Because the lakers won most of their titles in the modern era where their was tougher competition

[@divinedeparture5560]

60s was an easiest era plumbers and firemen were playing and also had 8 teams unlike the modern 80s were celtics got smashed mostly by the lakers in a tough competition LOL

[@Instantur]

@@divinedeparture5560 easiest era yet the Lakers continuesly failed against the Celtics in the 60s

[@divinedeparture5560]

@@Instantur not really celtics never get consistent after the rules have changed and adding the distance of the 3pt line after that lakers were the one winning for the next years with tougher competition while the celtics got 2 chips in 38 years thou 🤣🤣

[@hellaiv]

Had Len Bias not died, the Celtics would have likely filled the 22 year void between the Chips in the 80s and 2008. It took the Celtics THAT long to recover.

[@Eats1987]

I think LA is a more popular city than Boston. But with the points Doggy made, I'm gonna side with Boston. I don't have a dog in this race, tho. (No pun intended)

[@DenzellMontray]

That’s A Wild Take Coming From Stephen A Seeing How He Takes Points Away From LeBron For Going More And Not Winning.

[@Godson0771]

Deep down he knows Lebron better he just one of MJ’s many paid off media lackey’s.

[@joshualapointe4239]

Stephen A, respecting Mad Dog’s opinion is irrelevant. Accepting fact is all that matters. Celtics ☘️

[@figo706]

The Lakers won 5 titles in Minneapolis. George Mikan first repeated (1949 & 1950) and then three-peated (1952, 1953 & 1954). The Lakers moved to LA in 1960.

[@alexspartichino4155]

im never not smiling and laughing when mad dog is on first take, dude is just so effortlessly funny lmao

[@TheCRKShow]

That thumbnail with Stephen A. face is give me the willies 😆😅

[@willrundle2]

18>17

[@dylansimmons885]

I find it funny that Molly said “ it’s time to get educated” to Stephan when mad dog said 4 championships came from Minnesota when actually 5 of them came from Minnesota so Molly, who needs to get educated again?

[@SpikeShooter92]

Los Angeles doesn't like to talk about Minneapolis, their arm was twisted to retire George Mikan's number. Newspaper clipping during the Showtime years as they were going to the Finals even make it sound like anything before the move doesn't count. Might as well give the T-Wolves their records and accomplishments from that time because I'm sure they'll acknowledge it better

[@elroz1675]

Except they'll claim Minneapolis titles as their own. 😅 Lala land!

[@silvershadow8405]

​@elroz1675 Are you guys slow? Its the same franchise. If you move to a different city, are you a different human?

[@elroz1675]

@@silvershadow8405 its the weird behavior of LA fans - they celebrate the 5 chips of Minneapolis. Or pretend to.

[@silvershadow8405]

@elroz1675 I mean, every Laker fan isn't an "LA" fan.

[@CharlesCinco5]

Wait a minute... now championships is lesser than finals appearance!? The INCONSISTENCY SAS

[@sebastianverde9976]

This was the perfect debate for Mad Dog agl 😂

[@r.m.90]

The only people who think the Celtics are better are Celtics fans and Lakers haters. When the Celtics are losing they get no tv games. When the Lakers lose they still get prime television spots.

[@melmoses894]

😂 I love when Stevey and Mad dog start hollering at each other lol HILARIOUS

[@mickser101]

Boston Celtics - 18 Los Angeles Lakers - 12 Minneapolis Lakers - 5

[@LuisMoreno-xw8yt]

Still same Franchise

[@meechie5797]

Boston won rings with 13 teams in the league 😭

[@PeteringYT]

@@LuisMoreno-xw8yt OKC need to start retiring jerseys then.

[@randyhaynes3974]

​@@meechie5797 none of thosw other teams were winning

[@alfredodistefanolaulhe2212]

Celtics titles in the 1950's: 0 Lakers titles in the 1950's: 5

[@jakerson69]

The Celtics win percentage is higher

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

And 11 of their 18 championships were won before the NBA was the NBA.

[@jakerson69]

@@disintegrateallhumans3067 and a lot of Lakers championships were in Milwaukee

[@brettt141]

​@disintegrateallhumans3067 3 of those titles for the lakers came during a period that was used to put a ref in jail for rigging lakers games

[@albertislas4374]

@@brettt141an NBA ref literally just got fired for rigging games for the Celtics last summer??? The hyprocisy of Celtic fans 😂

[@AATWT11]

11 of Bostons titles came when there were only 8 teams in the league. Let’s not forget that part.

[@alexiscando2068]

That 8 teams included the Lakers, let's not forget that part either... Which beg to question?? How come the Lakers can't win against the Celtics in the 60s then??

[@MythicMindScape21]

So Jim Kelly and the Bills who went 0-4 in the superbowl but made it to 4 in a row should be one of the best teams of all times, as who else has gone to 4 straight superbowls. It aint about going, it's about winning.

[@SrealG]

Why does SAS ALWAYS feel the need to put on knee pads whenever he's about to say sonething thats not favorable to the person in question. Thats a classic punk move. Max NEVER done that, J Rose DIDNT do that, Skip DIDNT do it, Perk DOESN'T do it, JJ Redick DOESN'T do it, Chennay DOESNT do it, Monika DOESNT do it...But none of them are Butlers either💯

[@RafaelSang-tq8ur]

The #17 banner for LA was won in the bubble, a short season. That should not count as a full championship.

[@corpyhogan4433]

How so? Also, the season wasn't shortened at all. They made up all those games. On top of that, the Lakers won 50 games so you can't say they wouldn't have won that season

[@kobeyoung5053]

Lakers were first by a large margin and everyone came back healthy. Everyteam was at full strength and had the same court to play on, the definition of equal and fair

[@lafmy4ss0ff]

Lakers were the number one team that season. I guess we’re putting asterisk on championships now 😂 Every team Celtics faced this season didn’t have a healthy star

[@marckusduverger9776]

It was barely a short season & that should absolutely count as a full championship, all these teams were in the bubble too. It’s not like teams got an unfair advantage, stop it

[@jimmyconway6080]

You’re right it shouldn’t count in Lakers fans eyes. They should only count the 16 since they don’t like or appreciate LeBron for being a Laker

[@sixtrumpetwarnings]

LOOK! HERE IS WHAT STEPHEN A DID NOT MENTION WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT EACH ERA...THE BOSTON CELTICS NEVER HAD A LOSING RECORD IN THE FINALS IN ANY ERA!!!!! CAN HE SAY THAT ABOUT THE LAKERS.........

[@figo706]

You have also some entries for the Lakers - George Mikan (5 titles in 6 seasons) - Jerry West & Elgin Baylor went to 7 NBA Finals together in the 60s - Jerry West & Wilt Chamberlain won in 1972 with 33 win streak in that regular season and together went to 4 NBA Finals - Magic & Kareem won 5 titels together and went to 8 NBA Finals in the 80s - After Kareem was retired Magic took the Lakers to the NBA Finals in 1991 against Jordan - Shaq & Kobe three-peated in the early 2000s and went to 4 NBA Finals together - Kobe & Gasol repeated and went to 3 NBA finals in a row together - LeBron & Davis won together in 2020

[@kingtyson4244]

Look at me 👀🤣🤣🤣

[@JoseGuzman-ne3pk]

Finally it’s over with the goat debate LBJ 🐐🐐10 finals.

[@SaySpawn]

Most people on earth believe Jordan is the goat, because Jordan didn't play with as many all stars as LeBron but he got more rings. Plus, LeBron played longer but has less MVPs, SCORING titles, all defense teams, steals, finals MVPs,and championships.

[@Gurenn83]

There was no goat debate to begin with. Only LeOnlyFans and LeMedia powered by Klutch Sports is making this false narrative. Jordan is respected all around the world and he never proclaimed himself as a GOAT. While the other one had to proclaim himself via media. Which very well explains why Lebron has probably the most number of haters. See the difference now?

[@MR.__G]

@@SaySpawnand most importantly jordan is the better player. More skilled, more fundamental and had better mental intangibles.

[@jayy.14]

That’s crazy that finals appearances means something to SA in this argument but not in the bron vs mj one

[@gtakun7094]

So much can be learned from these videos. Keep up the great work!

[@deefree35]

The lakers also didn't have 2 players die and not just any players Reggie Lewis who was ascending and 1 of the best prospects ever in Len Bias, that will derail any team, so of course they had a big gap in winning it all

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

Ok, but what was their excuse for the last 16 years 😂😂😂

[@deefree35]

@disintegrateallhumans3067 uhhh they had to rebuild after ray,paul and KG, they don't have the luxury of free agents beating down their door like the lakers do so rebuilds take longer

[@mitchellmartinsky2299]

@@deefree35 celtics don't get same type of media or hollywood attention like the lakers do

[@tsleeziii4435]

By SAS logic.. lebron should be his goat.. Levine has more finals appearances than MJ but has less wins.. Mj has more finals wins but less appearances… same exact things he’s stating for the lakers being better organization than the Celtics

[@boricuaguerrero]

People forget the Celtics drafted Len Bias. If he didn't pass away that drought most likely doesn't happen.

[@LordFleaBottom]

Celtics did it more homegrown. Guys they drafted won Finals MVPs. Lakers benefitted by getting Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, and LeBron. Magic, Kobe, and Worthy make up 6 Finals MVPs of the 12 championships won in LA. The other half came from Wilt (1), Kareem (1), Shaq (3), and LeBron (1). The Celtics have a much greater runway to win multiple championships for the next 5 years. Tatum is only 26. Brown is 27. The Lakers look ready to rebuild once LeBron is gone. That rebuild could take another 5 years back to relevancy.

[@memphismadekel]

Lakers 32 finals appearances and only won 17, Celtics 23 finals appearances and won 18. Give me the Cs

[@louiehernandez1477]

8 of those championships came when they were only 7 teams in the league.

[@memphismadekel]

@@louiehernandez1477 ok and that’s not they fault and like mad dog said 4 of them championships weren’t in LA

[@CelticsMikey]

​@louiehernandez1477 including the Lakers?

[@MikkiChavez]

​@@memphismadekeldojt matter they were still the LAKERS lol tf. Boston bought all the good players when the league first started & they're were 8 teams. Like be fr y'all be ignorant af.

[@memphismadekel]

@@MikkiChavez so it’s wrong of me to form the best possible team in order for me to win tf. Sounds smart to me.

[@GoatedAtNFS]

they’re talking about this instead of that bomb hockey game last night. the only reason SAS was in studio today and not in Cancun chilling was because of the passing of Willie Mays. both are equal franchises, the Celtics are in a much better place than the Lakers right now

[@Maxjuliann]

Nobody care about the selltics championships from the prehistoric times

[@Zenigundam]

Stephen A Smith proved that he knows very little about hockey when he argued that the Miami Heats' winning streak was more impressive than the Blackhawks' point streak back in circa 2013 because the Blackhawks' streak included "ties" (there haven't been ties in the NHL since before the '03-'04 lockout). The producers avoid covering hockey because they fear that Stephen A will embarrass himself. The only player he knows on either team is Connor McDavid.

[@mikotagayuna8494]

@@Maxjuliann History did not begin when you were born, kiddo. That's your entitlement speaking.

[@Maxjuliann]

@@mikotagayuna8494 nobody cares about rings hat come from the league when it only had 13 teams . That’s why nobody says bill Russell the goat even tho he has 11 rings respectfully

[@mikotagayuna8494]

@@Maxjuliann People do care. That's why they're debating about it in the first place. You don't care because it destroys your narrative. Modern events are not magically more important than the past just because you were there to witness it.

[@this1betterwork]

Its dope when you can hear the faint laugh in the background during a really funny moment.

[@IAMMOVIN4WARD]

These two BARKING at each other is a rivalry in and of itself lol!

[@The.Golden.Door.]

"Look At Me"..!!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@vynncenttryllian9959]

Los Angeles claiming titles won in Minneapolis is a historic level of cope.

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

And Boston using 11 prehistoric championships as a crutch is laughable 😂😂😂

[@vynncenttryllian9959]

@@disintegrateallhumans3067it was a long time ago but it was still the BOSTON Celtics, L.A. claiming a team from a different time zone is crazy

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

@@vynncenttryllian9959- The BOSTON Celtics won MOST of their 18 championships, BEFORE the NBA was the NBA. And you don’t wanna have the Minneapolis/ Los Angeles conversation. Championships won since 1980 (last 44 years in the MODERN NBA) BOSTON Celtics- 5 LOS ANGELES Lakers- 11

[@vynncenttryllian9959]

@@disintegrateallhumans3067 lmfao cope harder

[@Instantur]

@@disintegrateallhumans3067 Those minnesota championships were pre civil rights my man

[@MrDyorke]

I don't understand why people always discredit the Minneapolis Lakers titles....it's still the same team regardless of where they reside.

[@tunotonga]

“Look at me” alongside Stephen’s smile should be a meme by now 😂😂😂

[@yungblknrestless]

So now getting to the finals and not winning is a good thing? Make it make sense. Ring culture is dumb.

[@Gurenn83]

Agree. It’s like saying Lebron’s 4-6 is better than Jordan’s 6-0. That is like 40% versus 100%. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know which is better.

[@marckusduverger9776]

@Gurenn83: How is getting to the Finals & losing worse than not even making the Finals at all…make it make sense, Jordan didn’t win it every year

[@calvinbrice.t2140]

@@marckusduverger9776because the main point is winning lmao. That’s sports

[@borood1188]

No chance. Those 11 Russell titles were during an 8 team era. 8 teams is not a legitimate league.

[@hookseybaby]

for the record.... it was a 12 team league

[@borood1188]

@@hookseybaby No, it was eight until the mid 60s when the Baltimore Bullets (now Washington Wizards) joined. The original Bullets folded in the early 50s. About six other teams folded before that. The Bucks, Bulls and Suns were the next expansion teams in the late 60s. The early 70s were when about six other expansion teams came. Blazers, Sonics, Rockets, Braves (now Clippers), Cavaliers, Jazz. ABA teams Spurs, Nuggets, Nets, Pacers cam in ‘76. Mavericks in ‘80.

[@mikotagayuna8494]

How does having only 8 teams make it irrelevant? All the teams are subject to the same conditions. Competition is competition.

[@borood1188]

@@mikotagayuna8494 Huh? Did you flunk math? The chances of winning in 8 team league are close to 15%. The chances of winning in 30 team league are 3%.

[@h.khalili4490]

@@mikotagayuna8494 In 8 teams league the chance of winning is over 12% compared to just 3% when there are 30 teams. That's a huge difference

[@darrylanderson4764]

Willie mays was very powerful, with bat, glove, and shoes less, God bless America

[@VehicleVirals]

Would have been nice to have someone push back on Stephen A Smith's " number of appearances" argument and insert the MJ vs Lebron debate. What would he have said 😂

[@andyvelasquez9488]

Lakers actually have only 16 that last one was a fake Mickey mouse bubble championship 😂😂😂😂

[@lucillerose-davis7666]

Subtract 5 from that 15 because five of those titles belong to Minneapolis 🤭

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

How was the 2020 championship fake? If anything, the Lakers faced more adversity in that finals run, than the Celtics faced this year. The Lakers had to forfeit home court advantage throughout the playoffs, were without their best perimeter defender (Avery Bradley), had a rookie head coach (Frank Vogel), & their 3rd best player was an aging Rondo. Otherwise, they played under the exact same circumstances as every other team in the bubble. For their 2024 championship run, the Celtics had the benefit of maintaining home court advantage, & the added luxury of playing against teams who were missing their best players. If the 2020 championship is the ‘Mickey Mouse’ championship, then 2024 is the ‘Tinker Bell’ championship.

[@lucillerose-davis7666]

@@disintegrateallhumans3067 I ain’t reading all that; pandemic rings don’t count.

[@jasonbecke]

But winning 11 titles in a league of 8 teams is considered real and impressive right?

[@disintegrateallhumans3067]

@@lucillerose-davis7666- I understand. Reading can be hard for smooth brains. Maybe you can ask someone you know to read it to you..... Slowly....

[@thetruth-gy2lc]

Boston won most of their chips in the 60’s. Straight plumber era with barely any black players. In modern basketball (3pt line) & in colored TV they’re behind the Lakers, Bulls, Spurs & GSW. Let’s be real.

[@davidt6161]

I don't know if I have GSW over BOS but you're right with everything else for the most part.

[@alexiscando2068]

Yeah and isn't the Lakers in the 60s as well so how come they didn't won more then??

[@thetruth-gy2lc]

@@alexiscando2068 They’ve won more in the modern era. Since the 80’s on they’ve won 11 to Boston’s 5. Lakers have been the premier basketball franchise for the last 45 years it’s not even debatable.

[@kengy1991]

This was actually a good debate.

[@ShawnTanner-im1oi]

Celtics 11 of 18 Championships were against plumbers and 9 teams were only around. 😂 I'm sorry but the level of competition were harder for L.A.

[@luffyskywalker7549]

Bill Russell has 11 of 18 rings..61% of the celtics rings came in the 50s-60s this is why the Lakers have passed them. From when the sport really took off the Lakers have been the best team.

[@alexiscando2068]

Okay then by your logic, why did the Lakers NOT WIN more in the 50s and 60s then if it is so EASY... Oh right, because they had to go through against the BOSTON CELTICS...

[@luffyskywalker7549]

@@alexiscando2068 u thought u had a gotcha moment lol but nothing u said negates what I said.

[@Gurenn83]

The Lakers only have 16 legitimate titles, not 17. You all keep counting that bubble championship which is not relevant. The 2020 Covid19 Champions?

[@ethanhuntemcee1663]

😂🤣😂

[@JohnnyYeet123-sr8xk]

Any reason it’s illegitimate? I’ll wait.

[@alexiscando2068]

Stop with the BS... The Celtics was also in the bubble now is it??... Also, the Nuggets won the title as well last season further proof that the 2020 Bubble Nuggets are legit WHEN HEALTHY

[@glentonmh71]

I actually looked when Mad Dog said look at me 😂😂

[@dvdcrazy2006]

What post-production techniques were used to enhance this video?

[@samswag777]

We not counting Jim Crow rings.

[@GoatedAtNFS]

you should

[@antonioemile1659]

We’re not counting Minneapolis rings either if you wanna play that game

[@sportingarena6462]

@@antonioemile1659yes. Minus 4 from the lakers and minus 11 from Celtics. Sooooo yeah “we doing that”

[@Deadassdeadass]

We done with the 60s

[@lloydbonafide3398]

Yeah i bet you arent because it helpes out a Lalers argument. Lakers not only have rings in that era too but they count rings from Minneapolis too just to keep up with a city with less appeal and a 3rd of its population (boston). Lets mentions too the lakers were supported heavy by the league as a pushed product. They robbed the kings in the playoffs, they won in the bubble to make that get views and also won the in season tournament to get that views too. Even though the suns were robbed. It dont even matter cause head to head celtics own the lakers and they had legends on those teams back then too. Even pierce had a winning record wins vs losses to kobe in the finals (7-6) . 18>17 cry about it. What makes it sweeter is that the pats beat the rams and redsox beat the dodgers not long ago either so LA cant say anything.

[@kingcheddar5966]

Its boston. The Minneapolis years shouldn’t count

[@sapien2291]

In the last 20 years we have six. You guys only have two. You guys suck

[@johnnymason2460]

They do count because it's about the Lakers as a whole, not a specific city. The wins in Minneapolis actually matter. Just because the Celtics were always in only one city doesn't matter.

[@calibankzthomas9229]

It's the Lakers Organization as a whole. The Timberwolves are the current team in Minnesota they have no rings or banner. The championship belong to the franchise.

[@datsapaddlin]

The Rams Raiders and Lakers all have played for multiple cities and they take their titles with them regardless because the name stayed the same

[@johnnymason2460]

@@datsapaddlin Absolutely correct! That is true of any sports franchise.

[@Hanchobugatti5]

Head to head is what matters

[@kevincannon9564]

Mad Dog is one of the few analyst that really listens to what the other person is saying then he responds

[@DarkHype936]

A team with 3 rings and 4 finals appearances, is better than a team that has 2 rings and 40 finals appearances.

[@dparks2856]

No

[@kjjr3270]

Thats not the same thing and you know that yourself. Tryna sound smart and all

[@alfieb6711]

as a person from the UK, Lakers are known by everybody unlike Celtics

[@DTrix66]

Nobody cares.

[@CelticsMikey]

As a guy from the UK, that is 100% incorrect

[@luisneves2311]

He is right.Down here in Brasil Lakers is God CELTICS is The evil.They don't love Lakers They hate Celtics.

[@MAAF808]

As a guy from the UK, that's just total BS.

[@jacklike2526]

Well even if that's true imo you SHOULD know about LA and Hollywood and San Francisco WAY BEFORE Boston if you live in the UK

[@mr198221]

The funniest 'look at me" is Mick Jagger, at the end of 'State of shock!'

[@juice07x]

I love how Mad Dog left at 18-17 in rings after Stephen A said lets include them. Skip Bayless wouldn’t show that type of respect to Shannon or Stephen A.

[@otiscarlwhite8745]

"Look at me" love when Mad Dog does that.

[@jonsmith370]

8 championships with a guy who leader lost 8 (Jerry West) kinda disapointing to lakers fans back then honestly a tie 😕

[@FriesLight]

It’s understandable that the lakers titles in Minneapolis can be questioned by people, however nobody wants to acknowledge the fact that 11 of bostons 18 titles came from bill Russell in an era where there was no free agency and less teams. Since Russel’s last title, they have won 7 titles. The lakers have won 12. Not even mentioning the fact that the lakers have had far superior players play for them over the course of history.

[@mitchellmartinsky2299]

Lakers would have 11 without the minneapolis titles. The lakers played in the 60s too yet couldn't get it done. They're also backed by hollywood, the media, and they steal other teams great players. Celtics have built most of their teams through the draft.

[@FriesLight]

@@mitchellmartinsky2299 you can sit here and tell me that the all time players of Boston beat the all time lakers in a series. That aside the lakers have been relevant in every decade and don’t have the majority of their success from a time where most of the earth wasn’t born yet.

[@mitchellmartinsky2299]

@@FriesLight yes the all time celtics team would beat the all time lakers team

[@FriesLight]

@@mitchellmartinsky2299😂 Alr brother, literally every player on the lakers roster is better than the Celtics alternative. Magic is better than Cousy or rondo, Kobe is better than Havlicek, bron is better than bird, Kareem better than Russell and so is Shaq. Lakers also have a much better bench in this scenario as well.

[@mitchellmartinsky2299]

@@FriesLight The difference in talent isn't that far off. I'll give the edge to magic over cousy, kobe over havlicek, kareem, and shaq over russell but not lebron over bird. Bird is still the best small forward ever. Russell was better defensive player than kareem and shaq. Lakers don't exactly have a great power forward unless you put mikan there or another center or pau gasol. Celtics bench is better as well.

[@Leekgocrzy]

he just explained what we say about the jordan era when we talk about lebrons competition being better

[@BulletAgario]

Mad Dog STAYS speaking facts🗣️

[@87adiwakar]

Lakers have 11 titles post-merger, Celtics have 5. Not even close. Boston did all their winning in the 60s before the modern NBA existed

[@alexiscando2068]

Didn't the Lakers also existed in the 60s?? You kept downplaying the 60s and yet why didn't the Lakers won more in there then??

[@87adiwakar]

@@alexiscando2068 The point is competition and the evolution of the NBA. In the 60s there were 8 teams including the Lakers and the Celtics had a dynasty with a team that was head and shoulders better. But that's when they won 11 of 18 titles - when the majority of players were white lol. Once the merger of the league after 1976 which brought more teams into the NBA and created more parity, interesting how the Celtics never consistently won (only the 80s) while the Lakers had sustained periods of greatness in multiple decades (80s, late 90s/early 00s, late 00s)

[@will2358]

Exactly what he saying is between the lakers and Celtics the lakers have been championship contenders every single decade while the Celtics have not also what does he t matter if it’s wasn’t in LA it was still LAKERS that won them..are you gonna take away the Celtics 10 because they won when the league was less than 10 teams ?

[@ak102986]

The Lakers won five before moving to Los Angeles, so it is 18 to 12.

[@quasouthdallas3529]

Where is Shannon

[@eminjohnson3341]

What is that thumbnail bro lmfao why Stephen A look like that

[@user-fs8cs1sz7c]

If the amount of times playing in nba finals series = dominance and success, then why doesn't Stephen A. give much credit to the basketball career as players like Bill Russell (12 times playing in nba finals series, 11 chips), Jerry West (9x nba finals series, 1 finals mvp), Elgin Baylor (8x nba finals series, scored most points in a finals game in history), John Havlichek (won all 8x nba finals series), Bob Cousy, etc?

[@jayzee316]

a team is about business, relevancy, eyeballs, the best player is about performance, peak and awards...not the same.

[@mont5068]

TV talk. This why I mess w podcasts now

[@allonisaacs8765]

The Minneaplois Lakers won 5 of the Lakers championships, not 4!

[@a10104]

Overall, the east was much better throughout the years. That's the reason why the lakers had more finals appearance and didn't manage to win it.

[@chantel6056]

I can't see first take on my espn in houston, the Pat Mafee show is on!? I can only see it on You Tube!