THEN AND NOW...
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Titles since 1987
Lakers: 4
Celtics: 0
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NBA Finals appearances
Lakers: 8
Celtics: 1
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Records and win pct. since 1987
Lakers: 1,069-621 .633
Celtics: 844-846 .499
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Winning seasons
Lakers: 18
Celtics: 10
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Losing seasons
Lakers: 3
Celtics: 11
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Playoff appearances
Lakers: 19
Celtics: 12
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No. 1 Billboard single June 14
1987: “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Bon Jovi
2008: “Lollipop,” Lil Wayne
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Top-grossing movie
1987: “Three Men and a Baby”
2008 (to date): “Iron Man”
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No. 1 movie when NBA Finals began
1987: “Beverly Hills Cop II”
2008: “Sex and the City”
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Baseball
Red Sox titles 1919-1987: 0
Dodgers titles 1919-1987: 5
Red Sox titles 1987-now: 2
Dodgers titles 1987-now: 1
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NFL
Super Bowl champion 1987: N.Y. Giants
Super Bowl champion 2008: N.Y. Giants
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Home courts
Celtics’ arena in 1987: Boston Garden
Lakers’ arena in 1987: Great Western Forum
Celtics’ arena in 2008: TD Banknorth Garden
Lakers’ arena in 2008: Staples Center
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Average NBA salary
1987: $431,000
2008: $5.2 million
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Median household income
1987: $26,061
2008: $48,201
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U.S. population
1987: 242,288,918
2008: 304,249,871
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Barack Obama in 1987:
A year away from entering Harvard Law School
Barack Obama in 2008:
Clinches the Democratic nomination for president
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Coaches
Lakers: Pat Riley, Mike Dunleavy, Randy Pfund, Bill Bertka (interim), Magic Johnson (interim), Del Harris, Kurt Rambis (interim), Phil Jackson, Rudy Tomjanovich, Frank Hamblen (interim) and Phil Jackson
Celtics: K.C. Jones, Jimmy Rodgers, Chris Ford, M.L. Carr, Rick Pitino, Jim O’Brien, John Carroll (interim) and Doc Rivers
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Organization
Lakers still involved in the organization: Kurt Rambis (assistant coach), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (volunteer coach), Mitch Kupchak (general manager), Magic Johnson (part owner) and Mychal Thompson (broadcaster)
Celtics still involved: Danny Ainge (general manager) and Robert Parish (consultant)
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Not forgotten
Celtics no longer with us: Red Auerbach, Dennis Johnson, Johnny Most
Lakers: Chick Hearn
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Price of gallon of gas in 1987: $0.95
Price of gallon of gas in 2008: $3.98
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