Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( -LSB- ˈsɛltɪks -RSB- ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston , Massachusetts . The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) as a member of the league 's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division . Founded in 1946 and one of eight NBA teams ( out of 23 total teams ) to survive the league 's first decade , the team is owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC . The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden , which they share with the National Hockey League ( NHL ) 's Boston Bruins . The franchise 's 17 championships are the most of any NBA team , and account for 24.3 percent of all NBA championships since the league 's founding in 1946 . As a percentage of championships won , the Celtics are the most successful franchise to date in the major four traditional North American professional sports leagues .   The Celtics have played the Lakers a record 12 times in the finals , including their most recent appearances in 2008 and 2010 , where the Celtics have won nine meetings ( but only two since 1980 ) . Four Celtics players ( Bob Cousy , Bill Russell , Dave Cowens and Larry Bird ) have won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for an NBA record total of 10 MVP awards . Their mascot ` Lucky the Leprechaun ' is a nod to the team 's Irish heritage and to Boston 's historically large Irish population .   The Celtics rose again after struggling through the 1990s to win a championship in 2008 with the help of Kevin Garnett , Paul Pierce , and Ray Allen in what was known as the new `` Big Three '' era , following the original `` Big Three '' era of the 1980s that featured Larry Bird , Kevin McHale , and Robert Parish .   After the end of the second `` Big Three '' era , general manager Danny Ainge began a rebuilding process with the help of new head coach Brad Stevens , who led the Celtics to a return to the playoffs in 2015 , 2016 , and 2017 . During the 2016 -- 17 season , the Celtics clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs .
North Station North Station is a major transportation hub located at Causeway and Nashua Streets in Boston , Massachusetts , United States . It is one of the city 's two inbound terminals for Amtrak and MBTA Commuter Rail trains , the other being South Station . The main concourse of North Station is located at the street level immediately below TD Garden , a major sports venue in Boston that is home to the Boston Bruins hockey team and the Boston Celtics basketball team . The arena is also used for rock concerts and other events , taking advantage of the extensive transportation connections at the site . 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament The 2015 NCAA Men 's Division I Ice Hockey Tournament was the national championship tournament for men 's college ice hockey in the United States in 2015 . The tournament involved 16 teams in single-elimination play to determine the national champion at the Division I level of the NCAA , the highest level of competition in college hockey . The tournament 's Frozen Four -- the semifinals and final -- were hosted by Hockey East at the TD Garden in Boston , Massachusetts .   Providence defeated Boston University 4 -- 3 to win the program 's first NCAA title . 1991 NBA Playoffs The 1991 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association 's 1990 -- 91 season . The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1 in the NBA Finals . Michael Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP .   After the Pistons had ended their season the last three years , the Bulls got revenge in the Eastern Conference Finals by sweeping the two-time defending NBA champions . It was the first time the Bulls won a playoff series over the Pistons since 1974 , when both teams were still part of the Western Conference . Game 4 ended with some of the Pistons walking off the court before time expired , refusing to shake the Bulls ' hands . In the 1989 NBA Finals , the Pistons themselves had swept the two-time defending champion Lakers . Detroit did not reach the conference finals again until 2003 .   The seventh seeded Golden State Warriors stunned the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs , defeating them 3 games to 1 . It would be Golden State 's last playoff series win until 2007 .   The 76ers and the Bucks met in the first round of the playoffs where the 76ers swept the series . It would be both teams last playoff appearance until 1999 .   Game 4 of the Blazers -- Jazz series was the last game ever played at the Salt Palace .   This was the first year that NBC aired the NBA Playoffs . 2009–10 Boston Celtics season The 2009 -- 10 Boston Celtics season was the 64th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . The Celtics finished with a record of 50 -- 32 , a 12 win drop off from the previous season . They finished 1st in the Atlantic Division and 4th in the Eastern Conference . The Celtics made it back to the NBA Finals after a one-year hiatus and played against the Los Angeles Lakers . Facing a rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals , in which the Celtics defeated the Lakers in six games to capture their seventeenth championship , the Celtics were defeated this time in seven games . Boston Braves (AHL) The Boston Braves were a professional ice hockey team in Boston , Massachusetts . They were a member of the American Hockey League from 1971 to 1974 .   The early 1970s saw an unprecedented boom in the popularity of hockey in the greater Boston area , fuelled by the success of the Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito-led Boston Bruins . The Bruins had sold out all of their home games at the Boston Garden for years , and the team owners thought that placing their minor-league affiliate in the same arena , made sense on several levels . Previously , the Bruins ' top affiliates were the Hershey Bears of the AHL and the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League .   The team was named after the eponymous National League baseball team that had played in Boston until 1953 -- which had been owned by Charles F. Adams , founder of the Bruins , during the 1930s . The first season of the AHL Braves , under coach Bep Guidolin , was wildly successful . Behind a powerful club led by future NHLstars Dan Bouchard and Rich Leduc , and with other veteran minor-leaguers and future NHL players such as Doug Roberts , Ross Brooks , Nick Beverley , Garry Peters and Don Tannahill , the club tied for first place in its division with the powerful Nova Scotia Voyageurs with a 41-21-14 mark , while proving popular enough in Boston to set league records for single-game and single-season attendance that survived for decades .   In its second season , however , competition from the WHA 's New England Whalers served to saturate the market . Furthermore , NHL expansion cost the team its best player , Bouchard , who had been picked by the Atlanta Flames , while WHA defections caused the recall of Brooks to the parent club and the departure of Roberts and Peters to the rival league . While scoring declined only slightly , the defense was notably poorer . The team still finished second in the division with a 34-29-13 mark , but attendance had nearly halved .   In the Braves ' third and final season , the defense collapsed to the point where the team finished out of the playoffs after a 23-40-13 record . With attendance dwindling further and the ebbing of the hockey boom itself in New England , Bruins ' management decided to suspend the team ; the next season saw the Bruins affiliating with the Rochester Americans .   The Bruins maintained the franchise 's existence for many years , paying a nominal fee to the league to keep it dormant , finally selling its rights to the Winnipeg Jets in 1987 so that the Jets could move it to the Maritimes to become the Moncton Hawks . 1968 NBA All-Star Game The 1968 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played at Madison Square Garden in New York City , January 23 , 1968 .   Coaches : East : Alex Hannum , West : Bill Sharman .  Officials : Mendy Rudolph and Don Murphy  MVP : Hal Greer  Attendance : 18,422 1954 NBA All-Star Game The 1954 NBA All Star Game was the fourth NBA All-Star Game . It was held on January 21 , 1954 , at Madison Square Garden in New York City . Bob Cousy of the Boston Celtics was the game MVP . Joe Lapchick of the New York Knicks coached the Eastern Conference and John Kundla of the Minneapolis Lakers coached the Western Conference . The attendance was 16,487 .   The Eastern Conference held an 84 -- 82 edge with only seconds remaining in the game . Then , George Mikan of the Lakers was fouled . Mikan proceeded to make both foul shots , which sent the game into overtime .   In the extra period , Cousy scored 10 points to secure a 98 -- 93 victory . The Western Conference 's Jim Pollard , the game 's high scorer with 23 points , had been named MVP in a vote taken before regulation time had run out . But another ballot was taken and Cousy became the MVP .   The 1954 All-Star Game was the last All-Star Game in which neither side reached 100 points . Sports in Boston Boston , the capital city of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and largest city in the New England region of the northeastern United States , is home to several major league sports teams , including the Red Sox ( baseball ) , the Celtics ( basketball ) and the Bruins ( ice hockey ) . The New England Patriots ( American football ) and the New England Revolution ( soccer ) play at Gillette Stadium in nearby Foxborough , Massachusetts . Several Boston-area colleges and universities are also active in college athletics .   Sports are a major part of the city 's culture ( as well as the culture of the Greater Boston area ) . Boston sports fans are known for their fanatical devotion to the Red Sox and knowledge of the team 's history . Fenway Park , home of the Red Sox , is the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) and holds a legendary status among baseball fans .   Boston is the only city in professional sports in which all facilities are privately owned and operated . The Patriots own Gillette Stadium , the Red Sox own Fenway Park , and TD Garden is owned by Delaware North , owner of the Bruins . The Celtics rent TD Garden from Delaware North .   In the 2000s , Boston 's professional teams had arguably the most successful decade in sports history , winning ten championships ( five by the Patriots , three by the Red Sox and one each by the Celtics and Bruins ) . When the Bruins won the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals , the city of Boston became the first city in the 21st century to have all four of its major professional league teams win a league championship , and it is the only city ever to have championships in all four major professional leagues within a ten-year span ( from the Patriots ' victory in February 2002 to the Bruins ' in June 2011 ) . In just ten years , between February 2002 and June 2011 , Boston 's teams completed what Sports Illustrated dubbed as the `` Grand Slam of North American sports . '' With the Patriots ' victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX , the four major Boston-area sports teams completed a grand-slam in six years ( the 2008 Celtics , the 2011 Bruins , the 2013 Red Sox and the 2014 Patriots ) . Beyond that , several of the teams were league finalists : the Revolution four times , the Patriots twice and the Bruins and Celtics once apiece .   With the Bruins reaching the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals , this allowed Boston to join Philadelphia as being the only cities to have had all of their teams play in each of the four major North American professional sports leagues ' title rounds since 2000 , following the Patriots in Super Bowls XXXVI in 2002 , XXXVIII in 2004 , XXXIX in 2005 , XLII in 2008 , XLVI in 2012 , XLIX in 2015 , and LI in 2017 and winning all of them , except Super Bowl XLII and XLVI , the Red Sox winning World Series titles in ( ending the Curse of the Bambino ) , , and , and the Celtics in the NBA Finals in and and winning in 2008 . In addition , Boston beat out Philadelphia for playing in all of the `` big '' league championship rounds in the shortest time in the new millennium , as it took 9 years for Philadelphia to achieve this feat ; Boston needed only three years and eight months . From 2004 to 2015 , all four Boston major league teams have each reached the championship rounds two times or more . Conte Forum The Silvio O. Conte Forum , commonly known as Conte Forum , Kelley Rink ( for ice hockey games ) , or simply Conte , is an 8,606-seat multi-purpose arena which opened in 1988 on the campus of Boston College in Chestnut Hill , Massachusetts that lies within the Brighton neighborhood of Boston . Conte Forum is home to the Boston College Eagles men 's and women 's basketball and ice hockey teams as well as the Boston College Marching Band . 1967–68 Boston Celtics season The 1967 -- 68 Boston Celtics season was their 22nd in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) . Agganis Arena Agganis Arena is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose arena in Boston , Massachusetts , United States , on the campus of Boston University , built on the location of the former Commonwealth Armory . It is home to the five-time national champion Boston University Terriers men 's ice hockey team . It is named after Harry Agganis , an outstanding football and baseball athlete for BU and the Boston Red Sox , who died at the age of 26 from a massive pulmonary embolism . A life-size bronze statue of Agganis sculpted by Armand LaMontagne stands outside the arena at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Harry Agganis Way . The hockey rink is named Jack Parker Rink , after the legendary BU hockey player and coach . The arena is part of Boston University 's John Hancock Student Village , which also includes dormitories and the university 's five-story Fitness and Recreation Center .   Agganis was dedicated in 2004 and hosted its first event in 2005 . It replaced Walter Brown Arena , located at the Case Athletic Center , as the home of BU Men 's Ice Hockey , though Walter Brown Arena is still in use as the home of BU Women 's Ice Hockey .   In the arena 's first decade , Boston University basketball played select home games at Agganis , with the remainder being played at Case Gym . The school made the decision before the 2015-2016 season to move all home games back to Case Gym due to poor attendance at Agganis . The last BU basketball game played at Agganis was a 77-70 loss to rival Holy Cross on Feb. 28 , 2015 .   It serves as a regional auditorium for large events , including concerts , ceremonies of other schools such as Berklee College of Music , musicals , awareness events , and appearances by speakers such as Barack Obama and Dave Chappelle .   Since 2008 , Agganis has hosted the annual CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championship .   It hosted the first rounds of the 2007 America East Men 's Basketball Tournament and the finals in 2011 . It also hosted the 2009 Women 's Frozen Four and has been selected to host the 2020 Women 's Frozen Four as well . The arena hosted TNA Wrestling 's anniversary show Slammiversary on June 2 , 2013 . 1989–90 New York Knicks season The 1989 -- 90 NBA season was the 44th season for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association . Before the season , owners Gulf + Western reorganized and became Paramount Communications , renaming themselves after the Paramount Pictures film studio .   During the offseason , the Knicks hired Stu Jackson as their new head coach . The team got off to a solid start , winning 20 of their first 27 games , while posting a nine-game winning streak . At midseason , the Knicks traded second-year guard Rod Strickland to the San Antonio Spurs for Maurice Cheeks . However , as they stood at a 39 -- 22 record , they struggled and lost 15 of their final 21 games . The Knicks had a 45 -- 37 record and finished third in the Atlantic Division . The Knicks ' fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference earned them a berth in the NBA Playoffs for the third straight year . Patrick Ewing was selected for the 1990 NBA All-Star Game .   In the first round of the playoffs , New York defeated the 4th-seeded Boston Celtics three games to two , after overcoming an 0 -- 2 deficit . The Knicks were then eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Detroit Pistons , who later on won their second consecutive NBA title , four games to one over the Portland Trail Blazers . Following the season , Johnny Newman signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Charlotte Hornets . 1948–49 Boston Celtics season The 1948 -- 49 Boston Celtics season was the third season of the Boston Celtics in the Basketball Association of America ( BAA/NBA ) . Atlantic Northeast The Atlantic Northeast is a region of North America , which includes the US states of Connecticut , Massachusetts , Rhode Island , New Hampshire , Vermont , and Maine , as well as the Canadian Maritimes .   The Atlantic Northeast region is noted for its cultural unity , stark climate , landscape of dense forests , and a shared economic history in the exploitation of logging and the regional fishery . Further uniting this area is the `` Gray Zone '' which is an area of land and sea which is claimed by both Canada and the United States . It is located off the coasts of New Brunswick and Maine . The only land within this area are two islands , Machias Seal Island and North Rock . The `` Gray Zone '' is one of four areas between the two countries whose sovereignty is still in dispute , but is the only one of the disputed areas containing land . In 1979 , both countries filed a joint application to the International Court of Justice to avoid having the dispute settled when oceanic boundaries in the area were set for mineral and fishing rights . Canadians have had a continuous presence in the area since 1832 when a lighthouse was built .   Since the Atlantic Northeast is such a large region , it is home to many different types of wildlife , sports teams , and geographical locations . The Atlantic Northeast is home to the Boston Celtics , Boston Bruins , New England Patriots , Halifax Hurricanes , Boston Red Sox and many more . It also includes many notable species including the Bald Eagle , Atlantic Salmon , and the Swamp Pink . Lastly , the Atlantic Northeast includes many geographical places of interest including the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument and Salem , Massachusetts , home of the Salem Witch Trials .   Though cross-border connections are widely acknowledged , the area has rarely been given a single name . `` Atlantic Northeast '' is a term that has been used most prominently in discussions of regional folk culture , another name that is used is Atlantica . ''   These names are often tied to various proposals for greater economic or political integration of the region List of all-time NBA win-loss records The following is a listing of all 30 current National Basketball Association ( NBA ) teams ranked by win-loss record percentage , accurate as of the end of the 2016 -- 17 NBA season . The records do not count wins and losses recorded by a team 's playing time in the American Basketball Association ( ABA ) , despite the 1976 NBA-ABA merger . The San Antonio Spurs have the highest win-loss record percentage , with . The Minnesota Timberwolves have the lowest win-loss record percentage , with . The Boston Celtics have recorded the most wins , with 3,274 , while the Sacramento Kings have recorded the most losses at 2,955 . The Boston Celtics lead the association with the most played games , with 5,560 . Conversely , the Pelicans have played the least overall games , with 1,132 . Phoenix Media/Communications Group Phoenix Media/Communications Group is an American , Boston , Massachusetts-based corporation with several publishing and broadcasting interests . which includes the Portland Phoenix of Maine . It had published The Boston Phoenix and Stuff magazine , both of which went out of business in 2013 , and the Providence Phoenix until its shutdown in 2014 . In addition the paper owned radio station WFNX based in Lynn , MA , from 1983 until 2012 when it was sold to Clear Channel and is now country music station WBWL ( the WFNX call letters are now on a station in Athol , MA ) .   The Boston Phoenix has its origins in an alternative newsweekly started in 1966 . In 1972 , its absorbed Cambridge Phoenix , a rival publication , and the company has used the `` Phoenix '' name ever since . In 1998 , the company acquiring the NewPaper in Rhode Island and re-christened that publication Providence Phoenix in 1993 . In September 1999 , the paper extended its reach into Maine and southern New Hampshire with the publication of the Portland Phoenix .   The sports and magazine division publishes the official yearbooks for the Boston Celtics , the Boston Bruins , and the Boston Marathon , in addition to program guides for the Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts , and the Bank of America Pavilion summer music series .   Through its Tele-publishing , Inc. , subsidiary , Phoenix Media owns People2People.com , the world 's largest provider of voice personals to the publishing industry and claims it is the web 's most advanced online personals site .   Phoenix Media owns MassWeb Printing , an offset printing facility which prints many of its own product plus many other regional newspapers . History of the New England Patriots The history of the New England Patriots began when Boston business executive William `` Billy '' Sullivan and Sullivan Brother Printers , owned by Joseph Sullivan , were awarded the eighth and final franchise of the developing American Football League ( AFL ) on November 16 , 1959 . The following winter , locals submitted thousands of ideas for the Boston football team 's official name . On February 20 , 1960 , Sullivan chose `` Boston Patriots '' , which was suggested by 74 fans , among them Larry Kepnes . Immediately thereafter , artist Phil Bissell developed the `` Pat Patriot '' logo .   The Patriots ' time in the AFL saw them without a regular home stadium . Nickerson Field , Harvard Stadium , Fenway Park , and Alumni Stadium , all in or near Boston , served as home fields during their time in the American Football League . Early Patriots stars included defensive tackles Jim Lee `` Earthquake '' Hunt and Houston Antwine ; quarterback Vito `` Babe '' Parilli ; and flanker-placekicker Gino `` The Duke '' Cappelletti . Hunt , Parilli and Cappelletti played every year of the existence of the AFL , with Hunt and Cappelletti spending all ten years with the Patriots . Cappelletti was the all-time leading scorer in the AFL . Later the Patriots were joined by such stars as defensive end Larry Eisenhauer , fullback Jim Nance , and middle linebacker and future Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti . Cappelletti and Nance were AFL Most Valuable Players , Cappelletti in 1964 and Nance in 1966 . Buoniconti and Antwine were later named to the American Football League All-Time Team .   The Boston Patriots defeated the Buffalo Bills in an AFL Eastern Division playoff game in 1963 , and played in the 1963 AFL championship game , losing to the San Diego Chargers 51 -- 10 . Although they would not appear again in an AFL or NFL post-season game for another 13 years , in the AFL , the Patriots often challenged the dominant Bills for the Eastern Division title .   When the NFL and AFL merged in 1970 , the Patriots were placed in the AFC East division , where they still play today . The following year , the Patriots moved to a new stadium in Foxborough , Massachusetts , a suburb of Boston , which would serve as their home for 30 years ; the team also changed their name to the New England Patriots to reflect the location change , as well as its following throughout the region as its only NFL team ( though both New York City teams have substantial followings in parts of Connecticut as well ) . During the 1970s , the Patriots had some success , earning a berth to the playoffs in 1976 -- as a wild card-berth -- and in 1978 -- as AFC East champions . They would lose both games . In 1985 , they returned to the playoffs , and made it all the way to Super Bowl XX , which they lost against the Chicago Bears 46 -- 10 . Following their Super Bowl loss , they returned to the playoffs in 1986 , but lost in the first round . The team would not make the playoffs again for eight more years . They changed ownership several times in that period , being purchased from the Sullivan family first by Victor Kiam in 1988 , who sold the team to James Orthwein in 1992 . Orthwein intended to move the team to his native St. Louis , Missouri , but sold the team two years later to current owner , local businessman Robert Kraft in 1994 .   Though Orthwein 's period as owner was short and controversial , he did oversee major changes to the team . Former New York Giants coach Bill Parcells was hired in 1993 , and the drastic changes were made the same year to the Patriots uniforms , changing their primary colors from their traditional red and white to blue and silver , and introducing a new logo . Parcells would bring the Patriots to two playoff appearances , including Super Bowl XXXI , which they lost to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 35 -- 21 . Pete Carroll , Parcells ' successor , would also take the team to the playoffs twice .   Bill Belichick , current head coach , was hired in 2000 , and a new home field , Gillette Stadium was opened in 2002 . Under Belichick , the team won three Super Bowls in four years , and finished the 2007 regular season with a perfect 16 -- 0 record , becoming only the fourth team in league history to go undefeated , and the only one since the league expanded its regular season schedule to 16 games ; however , they ended that season with an 18-1 record after their loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII . The Patriots have made the playoffs in 12 of the 15 seasons that Belichick has been coach , missing them only in 2000 ( his first season ) , 2002 , and 2008 . They later faced the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on February 1 , 2015 , and won by a score of 28-24 . The Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium . Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles . The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) , as a member of the league 's Western Conference Pacific Division . The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center , an arena shared with the NBA 's Los Angeles Clippers , the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women 's National Basketball Association , and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League . The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA , and have won 16 NBA championships , their last being in 2010 . As of 2015 , the Lakers are the second most valuable franchise in the NBA according to Forbes , having an estimated value of $ 2.7 billion .   The franchise began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team , the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League ( NBL ) . The new team began playing in Minneapolis , calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state 's nickname , `` Land of 10,000 Lakes '' . Initially a member of the NBL , the Lakers won the 1948 NBL championship before joining the rival Basketball Association of America and winning five of the next six BAA and NBA championships in Minneapolis after the NBA formed in 1949 . The team was propelled by center George Mikan , who is described by the NBA 's official website as the league 's `` first superstar '' . After struggling financially in the late 1950s following Mikan 's retirement , they relocated to Los Angeles before the 1960 -- 61 season .   Led by Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Jerry West , Los Angeles made the NBA Finals six times in the 1960s , but lost each series to the Boston Celtics , beginning their long and storied rivalry . In 1968 , the Lakers acquired four-time NBA Most Valuable Player ( MVP ) Wilt Chamberlain to play center , and after losing in the Finals in 1969 and 1970 , they won their sixth NBA title -- and first in Los Angeles -- in 1972 , led by new head coach Bill Sharman . After the retirement of West and Chamberlain , the team acquired another center , Kareem Abdul-Jabbar , who had won multiple MVP awards , but was unable to make the Finals in the late 1970s . The 1980s Lakers were nicknamed `` Showtime '' due to their Magic Johnson-led fast break-offense , and won five championships in a 9-year span , including their first ever Finals championship against the Celtics in 1985 . This team featured Hall of Famers in Johnson , Abdul-Jabbar , and James Worthy , and a Hall of Fame coach , Pat Riley . After Abdul-Jabbar and Johnson 's retirement , the team struggled in the early 1990s before acquiring Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in 1996 . Led by O'Neal , Bryant , and another Hall of Fame coach , Phil Jackson , Los Angeles won three consecutive titles between 2000 to 2002 , securing the franchise its second `` three-peat '' . After losing both the 2004 and 2008 NBA Finals , the Lakers won two more championships by defeating the Orlando Magic in 2009 and Boston in 2010 .   The Lakers hold the record for NBA 's longest winning streak , 33 straight games , set during the 1971 -- 72 season . 21 Hall of Famers have played for Los Angeles , while four have coached the team . Four Lakers -- Abdul-Jabbar , Johnson , O'Neal , and Bryant -- have won the NBA MVP Award for a total of eight awards . New England Blizzard The New England Blizzard was a women 's professional basketball franchise based in Hartford , Connecticut . The Blizzard was a charter member of the American Basketball League ( ABL ) . Playing from 1996 through 1998 , the team produced many memorable moments for New England basketball fans and followers of women 's sports in general .   The Blizzard played most of its home games in the Hartford Civic Center , but occasionally the team played at the smaller Springfield Civic Center . Though they never won a title , the Blizzard consistently drew the most fans of any ABL franchise . This was partly because of the strong winning tradition established at the University of Connecticut , which built a large , enthusiastic , and knowledgeable base of local fan support for the women 's game . Additionally , the Blizzard hired Boston Celtics legend K. C. Jones as Head coach in 1997 . Jones was easily the most widely recognized of the ABL coaches . Finally , the team featured several former Huskies . MSG, NY MSG , NY is a television newscast that airs on MSG Network . It airs nightly at about 10 or 10:30 p.m. Eastern time , with the exact time dependent on sports events schedules . Jason Horowitz , Deb Placey , and Tina Cervasio serve as hosts .   Originally , this program was called SportsDesk and was a sportscast similar to ESPN 's SportsCenter . In 2006 , the show was retooled and now primarily covers both sports and entertainment events that occur at Madison Square Garden .   Past anchors of SportsDesk include Al Trautwig , Greg Gumbel , Marv Albert , Jonathan Coachman , and Bill Daughtry .   SportsDesk was also seen on the North American Sports Network throughout Europe .