Celtics/Lakers: The Best of Enemies

Parts One and Two of the film not only trace the history, but also present a fabulous cast of characters who would change the NBA and open America's collective mind. At the center of it all in the 1980s was a pair of brilliant basketball talents - Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers circled each other for four years until they faced off in an epic NBA Finals in 1984. Part Three picks up the story right after the thrilling 1984 NBA Finals and then explores the saga from 1985 to 1987 as the teams' disdain for each other gradually turns to respect. The Celtics and Lakers - Bird and Magic in particular - transformed the fans' view of the game from simple black-and-white to full-blown Technicolor. By the end of their last battle of that era in 1987, while there was still animosity, they had also developed a hard-earned respect for each other. In the final analysis, it was a rivalry that forced America to no longer view the league in black and white.