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Remembering Tom Heinsohn: His Best Moments vs. the Lakers

By Austin Connolly

BUFFALO, NY - 1976: Head coach Tom Heinsohn of the Boston Celtics sits on a chair on the sideline before a National Basketball Association game against the Buffalo Braves as Celtics radio announcer Johnny Most (R) looks on at the Memorial Auditorium in 1976 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - 1976: Head coach Tom Heinsohn of the Boston Celtics sits on a chair on the sideline before a National Basketball Association game against the Buffalo Braves as Celtics radio announcer Johnny Most (R) looks on at the Memorial Auditorium in 1976 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The NBA family is deeply saddened by the loss of Tom Heinsohn this week.

Despite being part of the best dynasty in NBA history that absolutely wreaked havoc on our Los Angeles Lakers and the league as a whole, we owe Tom Heinsohn immense praise.

As Lakers fans, we’ve heard plenty of nightmare stories about the insurmountable force that was Bill Russell. However, we often forget that Tom Heinsohn actually snagged the Rookie of the Year award from his fellow Hall of Fame teammate. Heinsohn was an integral part of the Celtics’ reign of terror for eight of their eleven championships throughout the 1960s.

Aside from Russell, Heinsohn is arguably the ultimate Celtic. In addition to winning eight championships with the team as a player (good for third-most all-time behind his teammates Sam Jones and Bill Russell), he also coached them to two titles in the 1970s and served as their long-time color commentator

Unfortunately, the Lakers were often at the hands of those defeats. As Lakers fans, we have to give props to a man who gave us nightmares.

If you’ve read any of my articles before, you know I have a bit of a soft spot for NBA history.

In honor of a worthy adversary, this will be the first time I’ll delve into memorable moments of a rival.  Let’s take a painful (but well-deserved) look at Heinsohn’s best moments against our Lakers.

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