Filed Under » Los Angeles Lakers

Love them or hate them, the Lakers and Celtics are the NBA's premier franchises and have a historic rivalry.

Here's a look at how that rivalry grew … through pictures.

Phil Jackson is one of the greatest basketball coaches of all-time, and his ability to play mind games has been a big part of his success.

Now board game manufacturers have taken notice and are re-releasing some of their most popular titles as Phil Jackson Editions with a mind game element.

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Despite a long and successful NBA career, millions of dollars, and fame, Ron Artest has never forgotten where he comes from.

"That is incredibly disappointing," says Mary Thompson, who lives in the Queensbridge Houses public housing where Artest grew up in Queens. "A lot of people here have it tough as it is without everyone thinking we're nutjobs because of Ron Artest."

Artest proudly told TNT sideline reporter Craig Sager to "say Queensbridge" after he hit the winning shot at the buzzer in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. His display of pride had an immediate impact at the Queensbridge buildings.

"I guess a lot of people were watching the game, because right after he said it, you could hear a big groan all around you," said Queensbridge public activities coordinator Mychal Logan. "And then what sounded like the sound of people slapping their forehead in disappointment."

Thompson, a single mother of three, says she has had numerous job interviews end when potential employers realize she is from the Queensbridge Houses and associate that with Artest.

"Usually they then have security escort me out," she said. "And do you have any idea how hard it is to keep up the self-esteem of your kids when they think one of the only ways out of here is to be like Ron Artest? Thank God they also have a good example like Nas."

Logan says he appreciates Artest's pride and the charity he has done for the community, but says if the Lakers forward really wanted to help, "he'd make a point in his next post-game interview to say he's from the Bronx. Or, I don't know, Iowa. Just, please, show the people of Queensbridge mercy."

The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling. It's times like this when a team needs good coaching the most. And Lakers coach Phil Jackson thinks he has devised just the plan to get his team back to its winning ways.

"It's the octagon offense," Jackson told reporters today. "It's very much like the triangle offense. It has a lot of the same principles. But there's a twist. I think it will be very hard for the opponent to match up against."

Likely because Jackson's octagon offense will put eight players on the court at once — or three extra than the other team has. Lakers point guard Derek Fisher says the octagon offense showed great promise in practice.

"We still have a long way to go until it's running right," he said. "But I did find it a little bit easier to penetrate when there was nobody guarding me. I'd say I got into the lane about half the time."

"I like some of it," said Lakers star Kobe Bryant. "A lot more guys are open. But often those guys are still Derek Fisher, Ron Artest and Jordan Farmar, who can't hit wide open shots either. So I think I'll usually just run the shot clock down and then try to create my own shot. Just like the triangle offense."

Then there is the issue of spacing with eight players on offense in the half-court set. At a recent practice, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest and Lamar Odom kept running into each other. In one sequence, Bynum somehow became caught inside Odom's jersey.

And there are those who feel that even if Jackson's octagon offense frees up the Lakers offense, it will only make them even lazier on defense — resulting in more Laker defeats, albeit in much higher scoring games.

Then there is the matter of the offense having too many players on the court by three.

"The Lakers will be called for a penalty the moment they try to put the ball in play with that offense," said an NBA front office source. "I think this is more evidence that Phil Jackson actually knows very little about basketball. He's just a guy who has been fortunate enough to be sitting there with great players on his teams."

Jackson discounts concerns that the octagon offense will get his team whistled for too many men on the court.

"If it does — and he can fine me if he wants for saying this — it would be just another example of David Stern being narrow-minded in his thinking," said Jackson. "I have come up with something revolutionary here, and it shouldn't just be squashed due to some outdated rules about five players."

Oklahoma City's Scott Brooks, recently named the NBA's Coach of the Year, says the Thunder have been preparing for the octagon offense in practice.

"It presents a challenge," he said. "We will really have to be alert and communicate about where the cutters are and who is open. But hopefully not too many people will be open because we plan on putting 10 guys on the court at a time."