Before I begin, I'd like to wish everybody (especially the troops) a happy Fourth of July! Cheers to all of you! Now that I've said that, I have a date today, so I will resume the My List special with team #4, the New York Knicks. I'm gonna let you know early that the starting lineup is heavily slanted towards the 1970s teams. But they did win titles, so that's to be expected (isn't it, Isiah?). Without further ado, here's the lineup:
Starters:
PG: Walt Frazier: Let me say, before I write his bio, that my grandmother (who I love dearly) thinks he is ugly! Now that that's out of the way, Frazier was the personification of cool in the early 70s. He also was the spark that made the Knicks go. From 1969-70 to 1974-75, Frazier averaged over 20 PPG, 6 APG and 6 RPG (not bad for a guard) as the Knicks won three conference and two NBA titles. In game 7 of the 1970 Finals, he scored 36 points and had 19 assists, helping the Knicks clinch their first title.
SG: Earl Monroe: I wringed my hands over this pick for awhile, but I decided that Monroe's career stats merited his selection. It is true that Monroe's best years were as a Baltimore Bullet, but he didn't win an NBA title, until being traded to New York during the 1971-72 season. His first year was a rough transition (he didn't even start when the Knicks made the Finals; Dean Meminger did!), but by year two, he bought into the Knicks' system, and was a factor in them regaining the title in 1973. He averaged over 20 PPG twice as a Knick, and made the 1975 and 1977 All-Star teams while he was there.
C: (tie) Willis Reed/Patrick Ewing: How can you choose between the two? Granted, Reed's stats don't overwhelm like Ewing's, but Ewing also didn't win a championship (thanks to John Starks). So, they both tie (and thus, you won't see a backup C on the "Reserves" list). Reed wasn't the most physically gifted player, but his desire and hustle made him play bigger than he was. After taking over the C spot when Walt Bellamy was traded in 1968, Reed enjoyed his finest season in 1969-70, becoming the first player to win all three MVPs (regular season, All-Star, and Finals) in the same year (he would be the last to accomplish this until Michael Jordan in 1996). His legendary game 7 (even though he only scored two baskets) is still among the greatest games in NBA history. Ewing came to New York in 1985, and turned the sorry Knicks into a playoff team by his third year, a division champ in his fourth, and a conference champ by year nine. He made nine All-Star teams, averaged 22 PPG and 10 RPG over his Knicks career, and was the Knicks' all-time leader in points, field goals made, free throws made, rebounds, blocks and steals when he was traded in 2000.
SF: Bill Bradley: The future U.S. Senator was a Rhodes scholar at Princeton before beginning his Knicks career in 1967. Initially used as a guard, Bradley switched to forward and became a steady scorer and defender on the Knicks' two title teams of the 70s. He averaged double figures in eight of his ten seasons, made the All-Star team in 1973 (when he averaged a career-high 16.1 PPG) and made the HOF in 1992.
PF: Dave DeBusschere: DeBusschere was already an established star on the Pistons when he was traded to the Knicks in 1968. He made the Knicks better by allowing Reed to switch to center, and by being a great rebounder and defender for the Knicks' golden era. DeBusschere averaged close to 15 PPG and over 10 RPG each year with the Knicks, making the All-Star team four times while he was there. He was also an All-NBA first team defensive selection in each season he played in New York.
Reserves:
PG: Mark Jackson: ESPN's current analyst (are you kidding me!?!?) was quick to make an impact in the NBA, winning ROY honors in 1988, averaging 13.6 PPG and 10.6 APG. Jackson helped fuel the Knicks to a division title in 1989 and a share of the division in 1992, then departed for the Clippers. He returned for a brief time in 2001, but left again after the Knicks lost in the 1st round to Toronto. His overall career (second all-time in assists) got him the backup spot.
SG: Allan Houston: Although most fans know Houston today as the posterchild for bad contracts, he was a dependable scorer for the Knicks in the early part of this decade. Houston averaged between 18 and 22 PPG for the Knicks in five of seven seasons from 1997-2003 (with a high of 22.5 in 2002-03) and was a key figure when the #8 seeded Knicks reached the 1999 NBA Finals. Knee troubles ultimately stopped his career in its tracks, and despite an attempt to come back, he has since moved into analyst work.
SF: Bernard King: Before I hear the cries for Larry Johnson, hear me out on King; he might have become one of the greatest scorers in league history had he not suffered a horrific knee injury in 1985. After playing on three teams in five years from 1977-82, King joined the Knicks, and led the team to the playoffs, averaging 21.9 PPG. He had an even better year in 1984 (26.3 PPG), including a memorable duel with Isiah Thomas in the deciding fifth game of the 1st round matchup in Detroit. Then, during the 1985 season, with the scoring title assured, King suffered his grizly injury in a game in Kansas City. He missed all but 6 games the next three years, and the Knicks released him. The Bullets then signed him, and he played very well for them over the next four years (the highlight of which was his appearence in the 1991 All-Star game) before leaving the NBA for good after the 1992-93 season.
PF: Charles Oakley: Oakley was the player who epitomized toughness with the Knicks during the early and mid-90s. Acquired in a trade from Chicago for Bill Cartwright in 1988, Oakley helped the Knicks improve from 38 to 52 wins his first year there. Oakley averaged a double-double four times as a Knick, made the 1994 All-Star team, and helped the Knicks reach the 1994 Finals.
Coaches:
Head Coach: Red Holzman: Holzman seemed an unlikely candidate as a coach to the HOF. Before coaching the Knicks, he had a spotty record as the Hawks' coach from 1954-57 (no winning seasons, an 83-120 record), but when he assumed the reins in 1967, the Knicks bought into his team concept, and they became champions. Between 1968-69 and 1973-74, the Knicks won at least 48 games each year, won three conference titles, and won two NBA titles. Holzman finished coaching after the 1981-82 season with 696 wins (the same number is reitred at MSG in his honor).
Assistants: Pat Riley, Jeff Van Gundy: Riles made his return to coaching with the Knicks (after a stint with NBC) in 1991, and changed the team's image from flashy to tough-minded, and the change worked to a point. The Knicks won at least 51 games in each of Riley's four seasons there, the highlight being the run to the 1994 Finals. Van Gundy, before talking about MMA, his teeth and other inane topics on ESPN, kept that image going after replacing Don Nelson late in the 1995-96 season. He had a winning record in each full season coached in New York, and took the Knicks to the 1999 Finals.
Honorable Mentions:
SF/PF: Larry Johnson: Great career, I know, and no doubt he'll replace Bradley and/or King on many lists. Just not mine.
PG: Micheal Ray Richardson: If only he could have stayed clean.
SF: Latrell Sprewell: Another important Knick of recent lore. How can I put a guy who can't live on $8 million on here?
PG: Richard McGuire: A little, O.K., a lot before my time.
PF: Harry Gallatin: See McGuire.
PG: Stephon Marbury: Where's Mark Jackson (you've gotta be kidding me!) when you need him? He's the symbol of the current Knicks' ineptitude.
SG: John Starks: Just look at game 7 of the 1994 Finals. Then you'll see why he's not here.
PF: Anthony Mason: Not quite enough done in New York.
There's the list. Tomorrow, because it's the weekend, I'll do the weakest teams; Toronto and Memphis!
Prior to the events of yesterday, I was all set to continue the My List special and reveal team #4. However, the recent developments in the now ex-Seattle Supersonics episode inspired me to stop the series for today, and instead give an opinion and show a post I did earlier this year. The title of the post was "Welcome to the Cleveland Browns of 2008!", and I wrote it on the eve of the Sonics' last game in Seattle (April 16th):
Don't be confused by the title. I'm referring to the Seattle Supersonics, who may very well be playing their last (official) game tonight. Many bloggers are well aware of the acrimonious relations between majority 'owner' (I use that loosely) Clay Bennett and bestest buddy David Stern against practically the entire state of Washington. So I won't go into details. However, this being the first time I've talked about this topic, I'll state my feelings about it.
This situation has been disgraceful from the start. From the moment the Sonics were sold to Bennett's company, the feeling must have been "When", not "If" they were/are going to move. The e-mails that came out recently only solidify that assesment. I'd have more respect if Bennett had said "I really want a team in my hometown, so I'm moving the team there.". At least then he would have a little more of his dignity. But Bennett's position pales in comparison to Stern's.
I commented a while ago on a blog about this topic that Stern needed to consider stepping down as commish because his grip on what's right or wrong was slipping. I comnpared him to Pete Rozelle, who was a broken shell of himself by the time he stepped down as NFL commish in 1989. Well, his actions this morning (on Mike & Mike in the Morning) only confirmed those fears; he actually said the owners had negotiated with the city in good faith! How do you call conspiring to move a "good faith effort"? Isn't that what Art Modell said when he moved the Browns to Baltimore?
And I think a Cleveland-type situation may soon develop here. With the exception of a few owners (most notably Mark Cuban), approval of the move should occur. If that happens, I say "Let the BLEEPing team start over, too!". You do to the O.K. City team what the NFL did to the Ravens; allow Seattle to keep all the history and records, and give the team a new team in the future! Stern was benevolent to Charlotte when the Hornets moved, and Charlotte didn't (and doesn't) have the tradition of the Sonics.
What's right about this picture; Key Arena actually has more capacity than the Ford Center (forgive me if I don't know the O.K. arena's name)! And the situation there is better than Seattle! How is having fewer butts in the seats a better plan? And here I thought Stern wasd a marketing genius! This is more concerning than a refereeing scandal (although that's serious, as well) or the dress code. It shows a lack of logic and respect for the fans, the very same fans you claim to be going after to supoort you.
I can just see this conversation at a dinner banquet:
Year: 2010 (after lease is up)
Clay Bennett sits at dinner with some allies.
Bennett: "Boy, I sure am glad to finally be in O.K. City, now that those damn pesky Seattle people are out of the way. How did your moves go?"
Art Modell: "Oh, it was nasty initially, but after the fans got another team, it was tolerable. Hell, my team won a Super Bowl after five years!"
Al Davis (rises from rocking chair): "Be careful, Clay. My friendship with Pete dissolved quickly after my move, and I ended up back in Oakland because the golden palace had too many (c)racks."
Bennett: "I'm not worried. I duped Seattle from the start!"
ghost of Bob Irsay: "Don't believe the hype. My team was cursed until I passed and Peyton Manning was drafted. I think it was those damn Mayflower vans!"
Bennett: "It wasn't that bad, was it?"
Irsay: "You better believe it. If only I had moved before drafting Elway."
Bennett: "Oh my God! Don't let that happen to Durant!!"
Bennett runs to stop his move with Mayflower vans. Scene fades to black.
Should Seattle at least have the right to keep their team name and colors, and get at least an expansion team? Or should the NBA abandon 41 years of great tradition and pack up for Oklahoma? You tell me!
Before I continue, let me say there is an error; the Ford Center does have a higher seating capacity than Key Arena, so I apoligize for the oversight. Now then, I don't toot my own horn, but I nailed it on the head. The city did end up keeping the name, colors, and history, just like Cleveland did when the original Browns moved in 1995. So, naturally, you'd assume that a new Sonics team should be forthcoming. But let's look at that for a moment.
Let's say that the NBA does grant an expansion team to Seattle. That makes the league 31 teams and unbalanced again. Logically, you'd add another team to keep it even. But where? Vegas? Fat chance, especially after Donaghy. And they have tapped every big city I can think of. So, what's left? It would create a sticky situation, to say the least.
But that can be debated another day. Let's look at the key culprits, starting with David Stern. Did you listen to the press conference by the mayor of Seattle? He said that the NBA said a renovated Key Arena could be a viable NBA arena! Wait, didn't the same NBA say prior to the relocation vote that even if Key Arena was renovated, it wouldn't save the Sonics? That's doublespeak! And Stern's rep has taken a major beating this year, and in the last decade, really, as his iron fist has caused more harm than good. I said it in the post Apirl 16th, and I'll say it again; Stern should consider stepping down to save what's left of his legacy.
As for Clay Bennett, he was a #### before this all went down, and now he gets to play with his toys in Oklahoma. For the record, I'm not mad at Oklahoma City; if they wanted a NBA team, they can get an NBA team. But Bennett's biggest mistake is not moving the team, nor really negotiating fairly with Seattle. As I said in the original post, he ####ed up by not being honest about wanting to move; he covered it up, and as has been said, the coverup is worse than the crime! Personally, I hope his team is a miserable failure to the point he sells it, and then they start winning!
Bottom line: the city of Seattle may have harbored this problem by not doing something sooner, but Stern and Bennett really exposed themselves as sleazebags by steadfastly refusing to look at anything but dollars and cents. And the NBA looks bad, which is something I thought Dictator, er, Commissioner Stern, didn't want. I hope for a new Seattle team in the near future, and I hope when it comes around, they kick Oklahoma City's new team (here are some potential nicknames: ####holes, Scum, Liars, Dumb####s and Green, as in the color of money!) #### when they play!
Let's continue the My List special and reveal team #3 of the 29-team countdown, the Philadelphia 76ers. Here are the players from the City of Brotherly Love:
Starters:
PG: Maurice Cheeks: The current head coach of the Sixers wasn't the flashiest player in the league, but he didn't have to be on that version of the club. Indeed, most of his best stats years came in the mid-to-late 80s, when the team was in decline, but he was steady during the early 80s, when Philly went to three NBA Finals and won the 1983 title. Between 1982 and 1989, he averaged about 12 PPG and 7 ASG. He also made 4 All-Star teams.
SG: Allen Iverson: Iverson may have a reputation of being abrasive, at best, but during the early part of this decade, he was unquestionably the driving force (for better or worse) of this team. Depsite frequent problems with Larry Brown, Iverson excelled, winning three scoring titles (1999, 2001-02) and All-Star Game and league MVP in 2001, when he led Philly to its most recent NBA Finals. He also has led the league in steals.
C: Wilt Chamberlain: Wilt may not have had his best scoring seasons as a Sixer, but in his second go-round with a Philly club (the Warriors began in Philly), he realized he needed to become a complete player. Chamberlain won his final two scoring titles as a Sixer in his first two years (1965-66), then in 1966-67, he led the league in rebounds and field goal %, and was third in scoring and assists, as the Sixers went 68-13 and ended Boston's eight year run as champs en route to winning the title over the Warriors. The next year, he became the first center (and the last) to lead the league in assists, but the Sixers lost to the Celts in the Eastern finals, and he was dealt to L.A. after the season.
SF: Julius Erving: Dr. J. may have established his star in the ABA, but after being acquired by Philly for cash from the Nets, he became the star of the NBA. In his first season, he won All-Star MVP honors and took the previously moribund Sixers to the NBA Finals. He would later win NBA league MVP in 1981 (becoming the only player to win both ABA and NBA MVPs), and he led Philly to four NBA Finals, the icing on the cake being the dominant 1983 title winning run. He was an All-Star in the ABA or NBA every one of his 17 seasons.
PF: Charles Barkley: The biggest fan of 'The Gambler', Barkley had the unfortunate timing to join the Sixers as they declined as a team. He still gave it his best effort, despite being undersized (to put it mildly) for the PF position. Barkley became a starter early in his rookie year, and in 1987, he became the shortest player to win the rebounding title (listed at 6 foot 6) with a 14.5 average. From 1987 to 1992, Barkley averaged at least 23 PPG in each season, along with better than 10 RPG. And, of course, he was (and still can be) one of the best interviews in sports.
Reserves:
PG: Hal Greer: I had to put him out of position, but Greer was a durable wonder for the Sixers. He began on the team when it was still in Syracuse in 1958, and 15 years later, he finally hung up his shoes. Greer averaged over 20 PPG in eight of nine seasons from 1962-1970 (the last of those at age 34), and was a key player on the 1967 title team, averaging 22.1 PPG. He made 10 All-Star teams and won game MVP honors in 1968.
SG: Andrew Toney: Toney's career is a case study in "what might have been". Drafted #8 overall in 1980, Toney spent a majority of his first two seasons as a backup, but he moved into the starting lineup in 1982-83, and averaged almost 20 PPG (19.7) as the Sixers stormed to the championship. Toney was one of four Sixers (Erving, Moses Malone and Cheeks were the others) selected to the 1983 Eastern All-Star team. He had another spectacular season in 1984 with another All-Star berth and a career high 20.4 PPG, but after another solid season in 1985, he was never healthy again, playing in only 87 games in his final three seasons (1986-88). What might have been; Barkley even admitted Toney impressed him the most as a rookie.
C: Moses Malone: Malone could have gotten here on the all-time quotes team for his famous "fo,fo,fo" line of 1983, but Malone was the key difference that sparked the 1983 team. After establishing himself as a dominant center in Houston (winning league MVPs in 1979 and 1982) Malone came in as a free agent (the Sixers gave up Caldwell Jones and a 1st round pick as compensation) for 1983. In his first Philly season, he repeated as MVP with averages of 24.5 PPG and 15.3 RPG (leading the league in boards) as Philly cam within one game of realizng his promise. Malone would continue to play solidly for three more years in Philly (he led the league in boards in 1984 and '85, as well, more than 22 PPG each year, and three more All-Star berths) before being traded to Washington.
SF: Billy Cunningham: The "Kangaroo Kid" was pretty much a Philly lifer once he arrived as a player in 1965. Cunningham was the sixth man of the team in his early years (including on the 1967 titlist) before becoming a starter in 1968-69. Over the next four years, he averaged better than 23 PPG each year, making the All-Star team all four year (1969-72) before bolting to the ABA, winning that league's MVP in 1973. He returned to Philly in 1974, but just two seasons later, in 1976, he suffered a career-ending knee injury. He later coached Philly from 1978-85, winning three conference titles and the 1983 NBA title.
PF: Dolph Schayes: Let's pay homage to the past here; before he was known as Danny's father, Dolph was a big-time forward for the Syracuse Nationals, the forerunner of the Sixers. Joining the NBA the same year as the Nats (1949-50) Schayes led the Nats to the NBA Finals his first year (they lost to the Lakers). Schayes was hair-yankingly consistent, averaging at least 17 PPG in ten of eleven seasons from 1951-61, along with at least 12 RPG every on of those seasons. He is best known for being the NBA's first Iron Man, playing in 764 straight games from 1952-61 (a record that stood until Randy Smith and later A.C. Green broke it).
Coaches:
Head Coach: Billy Cunningham: He's so nice, he made it twice! But Cunningham was just as intense a coach as he was a player. Taking over the team six games into the 1977-78 season (with the team fresh off an NBA Finals appearence), Cunningham took the then 2-4 team and went 53-23 and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. He made the Eastern Finals six times in his eight years on the job, made three NBA Finals, won the 1983 title, and had an outstanding win % of 69.8%.
Assistants: Alex Hannum, Larry Brown: Hannum may not have had an extensive resume as Sixers coach (just five years split into two stints), but he was very good as coach in his second stint, winning 68 and then 62 games from 1966-68, including the only title not won by the Celtics in the 1960s. Brown took the languishing Sixers from dorrmats in 1998 to the playoffs in year two, and evetnually to the NBA Finals in 2001, winning COY honors that year.
Honorable Mentions:
SF: Andre Iguodala: Let's wait until his team becomes a contender.
PF: Bobby Jones: Great sixth man, but Schayes had a greater career, I think, than Jones.
PG: Andre Miller: See Iguodala.
SG: Doug Collins: Too injured to make it.
SF: George McGinnis: Where's Mark Jackson; you've gotta be kidding me!
C: Darryl Dawkins: Is it a coincidence they won the title the year after he left? Didn't think so.
C: Shawn Bradley: O.K., that's enough of the honorable mentions!
Anybody I forget to mention? Say it in the comments. Until then, I've gotta see if my Shawn Bradley milk carton campaign is working!
The My List special continues today with the all-time team for the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics. Before I unveil the list, a thought about yesterday's Lakers list; I know many comments wondered about the positioning for the centers that I had at PF. I know that the positions weren't perfect, but the list simply reflected who I felt should be featured; Kareem and Wilt can be switched (and if I could do it again, probably they would be), but at that moment, I had them there.
Anyhow, let's get to the team for the franchise with 17 NBA titles. Here is the Celtics' lineup:
Starters:
PG: Bob Cousy: The Magic Johnson (except he was much smaller) of his day, Cousy wasn't originally drafted by Boston; he was chosen by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks) in 1950, was traded to Chicago, then was chosen by the Celtics in a dispersal draft after the Stags folded. He went on to become the trigger for the famed Celtics fastbreak that wowed th league in the 1950s and early 60s. He led the league in assists eight straight years from 1953-60 (a record until John Stockton did it nine straight from 1988-96) and was league MVP in 1957. He also played on six championship teams.
SG: Sam Jones: The master of the bank shot long before Tim Duncan used it, Jones was the consistent scorer during the Celtics' dynasty of the 1960s. Drafted by the team in 1957 out of tiny North Carolina Central, Jones moved into the starting lineup in 1960-61, and by the mid-60s had become a 20 PPG scorer on a team not known for high individual scorers. He averaged 20 PPG four times (and came within 2 PPG of that three others), but his most impressive stat was that he won 10 championships with the club.
C: Bill Russell: The great debate with Russell is about the legitimacy of his 11 titles. Those who argue the glass half empty view say he played in an era with only 8 teams and fewer playoffs, while the half full side argues that he still won 11 titles against HOF talent. In any case, Russell won everything before him; 2 NCAA titles, and Olympic gold medal, and those 11 titles in a 13 year career. He won league MVP five times, revolutionized the game with his defensive prowess, and became the first black head coach of a modern pro team when he succeded Red Auerbach in 1966. An impressive resume, even for a half empty guy.
SF: Larry Bird: Bird wasn't the most naturally gifted player in the NBA, but what set him apart from many of his contemporaries was his burning desire to win and a court vision few players ever possessed. He came to a team in shambles in 1979 (after being drafted #6 the prior year) and by the end of his rookie year, the team improved from 29 to 61 wins. He went on to win three staright MVPs from 1984-86 (only Russell and Wilt Chamberlain had won three straight, and none have done it since), and led Boston to three titles in the 80s. He was also named All-NBA first team nine times.
PF: Kevin McHale: Sure, McHale can't run an NBA team (just ask Minnesota), but as the PF for the 80s Celtics, McHale was their virtually unstoppable low-post scorer. After being primarily a defensive player after being drafted third in 1980, McHale eventually won back-to-back Sixth Man awards in 1984-85. During that 1985 season, he replaced an injured Cedric Maxwell as a starter, and over a four year period, he averaged about 20 PPG and over 8 RPG (his personal highs came in 1986-87 with 26.1 PPG and 9.9 RPG). He was also a key figure on the three Boston titlists of the decade.
Reserves:
PG: (tie) Jo Jo White/Dennis Johnson: I couldn't decide between the two, so I picked both! White was the catalyst for the Celtics offenses of the 70s, never averaging below 18.1 PPG in any season from 1970-71 to 1976-77. He was also named Finals MVP in 1976 and played in the legendary game 5 of that series that went three overtimes. Johnson came to Boston from Phoenix in 1983 (he also was a Finals MVP with Seattle in 1979). He became a key defensive player as the C's won titles in 1984 and 1986. He was also an All-Star for the team once in 1985.
SG: Bill Sharman: Sharman was the immediate predecessor for Sam Jones in Boston. After playing for the Washington Capitols before they disbanded in 1951, and then going to minor league baseball for the White Sox, Sharman was sold to Boston and joined the team in 1951. He went on to become a solid scorer for the team, averaging over 18 PPG every year from 1955-60. He then went on to coach the Lakers to the 1972 NBA title after a record 33 game win streak led them to 69 wins.
C: Robert Parish: The 'Chief' may not have been the most interesting conversation, but he was a steady producer at center for the 1980s Celtics. Originally drafted by the Warriors in 1976, Parish was traded (along with McHale, in one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history) to the Celts in 1980. His game truly took off from there. He averaged a double-double a staggering eight times in a season with the team (his last in 1990-91 at age 38), and was a nine time All-Star. His steadiness helped the team win three titles in the 80s.
SF: John Havlicek: 'Hondo' was always in constant motion throughout his legendary career with the Celtics, and he also bridges the gap in between the 1960s and 70s Celts. Drafted in 1962 (after spurning an offer from the NFL's Cleveland Browns), Havlicek was a solid sixth man and good defender (anyone remember "Havlicek stole the ball!" from 1965? Thought so.). In the late 60s and early 70s, Havlicek became the unquestioned best player and leader of the Celtics as they transitioned into the Cowens years from the Russell years. He averaged 20+ PPG every year from 1967-74, was a 13-time All-Star, and was the first Celtic to win Finals MVP (in 1974). All of this while being a sixth man much of his career.
PF: Dave Cowens: Another C-to-PF switch. Except that Cowens actually could easily have been a PF. Cowens was small by C standards, but he was tenacious and never backed down from a challenge. Drafted in 1970 (no small feat, considering that his college, Florida State, was banned from postseasons and from TV), Cowens shared ROY honors (with Portland's Geoff Petrie) with 17 PPG and 15 RPG, exactly. Cowens averaged a double-double in each of his first eight season, winning the 1973 league MVP along the way. Cowens also starred in two championship teams in the 70s.
Coaches:
Head Coach: Red Auerbach: The standard by which all coaches who came after him would be judged, Auerbach was a very successful coach in Washington and Tri-Cities before taking the Celtics job in 1950. Over the next 16 years as coach, he molded the team into a fastbreaking machine and, with Russell as the anchor, a tough defensive team. He coached the team to nine titles overall (including the record 8 straight) and then as GM/President, built up seven more champions.
Assistants: K.C. Jones, Tom Heinsohn: Jones wasn't considered a brilliant X's-and-O's coach, but as the Celts' pilot from 1983-88, he didn't have to be. Jones never won fewer than 57 games in any season as Celtics coach, and he owns the highest winning % in team history. Heinsohn succeded Russell as coach in 1969, and after a rough start, he guided the team to five division titles, two conference and NBA titles, and 427 wins overall.
There's the list. Tomorrow, I'll unveil #3, the 76ers. Take care for now!
As I sit at home more often than not, I am usually consumed by sports. As my recent blogs have stated (vividly), though, there's nothing going on right now that would qualify as exciting. So, I decided, for the month of July (but starting today), to run a My List special. Every list in this marathon will be devoted to choosing the best players in the history of each qualified NBA franchise.
This is not a new concept for me; I tried a similar concept in a group for this site, but I abandoned it because, well, having only one active member doesn't a group make. And when I tried to bring it to the main blog pages, I was met with questions like "I'm confused. Is it just the best players, or is it single-season teams?". Let me use this space to explain what this concept is:
I have taken 29 of the NBA teams (except Charlotte, who was too new to be ranked), and chosen the best players from each position. That means that players who were never teammates would be, hypothetically, through this.
I have chosen the teams according to what a potential starting lineup would be. That could (and probably will) mean that certain greats on one team are backups, and weaker players on others starters.
Achievements with the team are paramount, obviously, but in cases where the talent pool is weak, and a player with a good career made a cameo on the team, they are included.
I then ranked the teams 1-29 according to how strong (I felt) their lineup was. So, it's not ranked based on titles.
Now then, we begin the countdown with my #1 ranked team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Here is the lineup:
Starters:
PG: Magic Johnson: If I recently ranked him as the best NBA player ever (certainly open to debate, but still), he has to start here. To run a Cliff's Notes version of his career, he led the Lakers to five NBA titles and nine appearences in the Finals, won three regular season and Finals MVPs, was the all-time assists leader at the time of his first retirement, and helped reignite the NBA in the 1980s. This was the easiest position to pick here.
SG: Kobe Bryant: And now, for the hardest position to rank a starter. Both Bryant and the Logo, Jerry West, would have been great picks. In the end, Kobe wins narrowly (though I have a hunch he would allow West to start if problems arose). The reigning MVP has won multiple socring titles, helped the Lakers reach five NBA Finals, and has won three of them (we won't go into how or why, but he has three rings).
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Kareem was already on his way to a HOF career when he was acquired by the Lakers in a blockbuster trade in 1975. He added three regular season MVPs to the three he won in Milwaukee (for a record six overall), and helped L.A. to five titles during his 15 years there. He also set the all-time scoring mark as a Laker in 1984. He now currently works for the Lakers as a special assistant.
SF: Elgin Baylor: Baylor's biggest black mark as a player (let's not discuss his tenure with the Clippers) was that he never won an NBA title, but Baylor was a legendary player who was among the first to take it airborne. He won ROY with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 and took the upstarts to the Finals that year. He went on to be named first team All-NBA ten times and be an 11-time All-Star. He also set an NBA Finals record (still stands) with 61 points against Boston in game 5 of the 1962 Finals. He helped Minneapolis/L.A. to eight NBA Finals overall.
PF: Wilt Chamberlain: Before you say "He's not a PF!"; there were so many great C's and fewer great PF, that I've included the C's at the PF position. Anyhow, Chamberlain wasn;t the magnificent scoring machine of his prime, but the Lakers didn't need him to be. Chamberlain showed how far he came in 1971-72, when he led the league in rebound and FG% and helped the team win 33 straight games en route to a then-record 69 victories. Overall, he led L.A. to four Finals (winning the 1972 Finals MVP).
Reserves:
PG: Gail Goodrich: Goodrich was the key scorer for the Lakers of the early 1970s, and actually helped his team land Magic when he signed with the New Orleans Jazz in 1976 (the Jazz gave up the pick that L.A. would later use on Earvin). But Goodrich was a solid player in his era. After being a bit player for the Lakers from 1965-68 and then emerging in Phoenix, Goodrich returned to L.A. in 1970, and in the Lakers' brilliant 1972 season, he led the team in PPG (25.9). He went on to average over 20 PPG in four straight seasons.
SG: Jerry West: I kinda alluded to this earlier, but West wasn't called Mr. Clutch for nothing. West personified grace and fire on the court, and was consistently brilliant for the Lakers in the 60s and early 70s. West won the first ever Finals MVP in 1969, and in doing so, is the only player from the losing team to win the award. He also won the scoring title in 1970 (the first year it was awarded on PPG average and not total points). He averaged at least 20 PPG in every season after his rookie year, and led the Lakers to nine NBA Finals and the elusive brass ring in 1972.
C: George Mikan: People today tend to forget Mikan, but in his era, he was the player of the NBA. His star was so big, Madison Square Garden famously put up "Geo Mikan vs Knicks" before one game there. Mikan was the Bill Russell of his day; he won an NBL title with the Chicago Gears, then after joining the Lakers, led them to an NBL title, and after they moved to the BAA/NBA, they won five titles in six years. Mikan won three scoring titles, and was the first player for whom the rules were changed to counter him (they widened the foul lane). That personifies dominance.
SF: James Worthy: Worthy was the spark plug for the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s. His swoops to the rack fired up the Forum crowds and his team, and Worthy always saved his very best for when it mattered the most; the playoffs. Drafted #1 overall in 1982, fresh off an NCAA crown, Worthy missed all of the 1983 playoffs with an injury. The next year, he bursted on the scene, and his zentih occured in 1988, when he won Finals MVP (he also got his only career triple-double in game 7 of that series, with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists). For his career, he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.1 RPG.
PF: Shaquille O'Neal: For all he has done recently to look foolish, O'Neal did have a great run with Kobe and the Lakers early in this decade. After coming from Orlando as a free agent in 1996, Shaq won his first (and only) league MVP in 2000 after Phil Jackson took over. Shaq also won the scoring title that year (going with one won in Orlando). Shaq was the unstoppable force (unless he took free throws) of those Lakers as they won three straight titles from 2000-02.
Coaches:
Head Coach: Pat Riley: Riles may have sullied his rep a bit in Miami, but as the coach of the Showtime Lakers, Riley was dominant. He won no fewer than 54 games in every full season with the team, won four titles and made eight Finals during his run. He also won COY in his final season there in 1989-90.
Assistants: John Kundla, Phil Jackson: Jackson is pretty obvious; three titles with the Lakers, five Finals berths, and nine overall titles. But Kundla was a great coach with Minneapolis, winning five titles in six years. He also is in the HOF (though it took him nearly 40 years after retiring in 1959 to get there).
Honorable Mentions:
PG Slater Martin: He did win five titles with the Minneapolis team, but wasn't a key figure despite his HOF selection.
PF Vern Mikkelsen: Another HOFer, and a true PF, but which of the C's can you leave out here?
any Lakers from the 1990s except Shaq and Kobe: They didn't win consistently enough to get here.
There are the Lakers. Tomorrow, I'll unveil their archrivals, the Celtics.
I said in a recent blog that this period of the sports year is the most wretched time of the year. A time when golf, tennis, and soccer try (and fail) to get noticed. A time when we wish football was a year-round sport. A time to catch up on sleep. Well, as the month lurches to the end, it's still boring. So, I will write some random thoughts down in this post, just to shake off some rust (I haven't written since posting my humor contest entry) and to have something to wirte about. Here goes nothing:
The Euro Cup Final is on ABC. Thank goodness. I hope it ends in a penalty kick finish, so ESPN/ABC can see why this sports absolutely ####s!
Speaking of which, isn't there an ESPN 2099 this #### can go on?
Michelle Wie failed yet again at the LPGA's U.S. Open. The novelty was gone years ago; she either isn't that good, or needs a major overhaul (step one: lose the parents!).
The U.S. Open preempted my favorite ESPN shows yesterday. Then, on SportsCenter, they condense it to two minutes. Why not do that for the coverage? Just as effective, less time devoted.
Wimbledon has begun, and everybody but Roger is falling fast. In the U.S., it must be rating as high as a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie marathon.
Or a All-Night Poker marathon.
The NBA draft passed. O.J. Mayo went from purgatory (Minnesota) to, well, more purgatory (Memphis). Kevin Love now gets to play for his best buddy McHale. And Joe Dumars makes me scratch my head (seriously, he has more misses than hits in the draft, and don't give me Maxiell and Prince).
I can't wait for football season. I'm already on two FOX bloggers fantasy leagues, and I renewed Lions tickets (It looks stupid, but I want to be there when the "Fire Millen" chants are renewed about two minutes into the opener!). Prediction for the Lions: Pain (for their fans).
Speaking of which, here's some Lions critiques: How can you say you'll run more when your line stinks, and the RB is a work in progress?
Shaq vs Kobe is renewed. I've created some nicknames for Nique's contest, and here are a few more: The Big IHOP, the Big Ribeye, the Big Kwame Kilpatrick (Detroit's mayor; both have foot-in-mouth disease), The Big Titanic and The Big Real Burger King!
Whew! That was some work. As a side note, starting on Monday, in a continuing effort to avoid boredom, I'll begin a series of NBA-related lists. These lists will feature 29 of the 30 NBA teams (except Charlotte; too new) and will list their best players (according to me). Think of it as their Dream Teams (not a given year's team, but the best all-time). So, watch for that. Until then, may Shaq enjoy his lastest new name: The Big Dodo!
Everybody remembers when NBC had the cartoon known as ProStars, featuring Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Bo Jackson. With NBC’s ratings plummeting daily, they looked to catch that same lightning in a bottle again. And, voila! They created BoreStars, a new cartoon about athletes who bore us with their mere presences. These stars were commissioned to fight for justice and the American way! The names of the stars? Soccer great David Beckham, tennis champion Roger Federer, and NBA superstar Tim Duncan! Let’s take an exclusive sneak peek into the pilot of that new show!
Series pilot (cue old ProStars theme): Here come the BoreeeeeeeeStarsssssss!
(montage of Beckham scoring) Becks is hot, wait, no, his wife is! But he scores more than you know! BoreeeeeStarssssss!
(montage of Federer winning again at Wimbledon) Federer weaves; viewers leave! BoreeeeeStarsssss!
(montage of Duncan’s bank shot) Duncan knows how to win; too bad the NBA doesn’t want it! BoreeeeStarsssss!
BoreStars! We put the ‘bore’ into ‘Immeasurable Boredom’!
Scene one: We come across our victim of the day; the poor girl has lost her precious dog!
Federer: What’s wrong, little girl? You look more disturbed than the Atlanta Falcons’ players when Bobby Petrino quit.
Girl: I lost my dear puppy?
Beckham: Man, I can relate. Tom Cruise took my dog when Victoria and I last went to his house. Said something about religious purposes.
Duncan: Don’t worry! Getting your dog back will be as easy as it was for my team and Cleveland to make people not watch the 2007 Finals!
Girl: Thanks, BoreStars!
Scene two: The Stars begin to investigate the crime. Just then, NBA commish David Stern appears.
Duncan: What’s up, Stern? Still beaming about that Lakers/Celtics Finals, huh? (secretly wants to throw a flaming basketball at him)
Stern: Not much today. I just want to punch Donaghy right now!
Duncan: What do you want? It’s obvious you need us to do something.
Stern: Can you guys ‘take out’ Donaghy?
Federer: Are you serious? That’s like asking me to beat Nadal on clay! We can’t do that!
Beckham: Yeah. The only time I beat up anybody was when I got my half of MLS from L.A.!
Stern: O.K. Never mind. I’ll just get back to denying anything Donaghy says.
The BoreStars continue to look for the lost puppy.
Scene three: The Star return to their secret crime-fighting lair, a spot where no one will notice them; the Memphis Grizzlies’ arena!
Duncan: Do you think something was up with David? He seemed weird today, with that deer-in-the-headlights look he had when he made the Donaghy statements when it first broke.
Federer: No, he seemed O.K. I should know weird; remember that Gillette commercial I did with Tiger and that soccer guy?
(Duncan and Beckham cringe)
Beckham: How dare you talk about Thierre like that!
(Beckham tries to fight Federer, but when Federer swings, Beckham instinctively flops and looks for a red card)
Duncan: Enough already! You fight worse than I do with Joe Crawford! Let’s get back to the case.
What the Stars find shocks them (screen fades to black)
Scene four: The Stars find out that Stern was really behind the disappearing puppy! Stern recruited the Mafia members that had bribed Donaghy to kidnap the dog! The Stars confront Stern.
Duncan: Where’s the puppy, David? Don’t give me the “We’re investigating” line, either! (It’s a kids show; no expletives!)
Stern: You’ll get him back when you get past this!
(Stern reveals his true self; he morphs into a giant robot replete with rocket arms and a shield they can’t seem to penetrate. Beckham tries his freeze kicks, but like a true soccer player, he can’t score. Federer’s laser slices work about as effectively as Chad Johnson’s trade demands , too, and Duncan’s multi-powered basketballs look like Shaq’s free throws. Just then, the ghost of ProStar era Michael Jordan appears)
Duncan: What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re unretiring again!
Jordan’s ghost: I’m here to save you, just like Stern wants me to do for the NBA!
Beckham: What can you do for us? We need the kind of manpower that I don’t see unless there’s a soccer riot!
Federer: Yeah, what he said. I’m not used to fighting a fellow robot!
Jordan’s ghost: You’re aiming for the wrong thing.
Duncan: Where should we aim?
Jordan’s ghost: Right at his core, if you know what I mean.
Duncan: I get it now! That was so obvious, John Madden should have said it!
(Duncan huddles his team, and they do indeed aim for the core. They release Stern’s other referees, and they appear and threaten to gamble on more NBA games, stunning the commish, who seems powerless to stop them. The onslaught finally forces Stern to explode, and the Mafia willingly gives up the puppy to the Stars.
Scene five: The Stars reappear at the girls’ home.
Duncan: Here’s your puppy back, little girl. As safe and predictable as my team’s offense.
Girl: Thanks, BoreStars. I’m so happy.
Beckham: Just like I will when I return home to Victoria!
Duncan and Federer: Shut up, David!
Beckham: What can I say? I score more at home than away, you know!
(Duncan and Federer proceed to beat up Beckham. Beckham flees to Tom Cruise’s house, a place nobody dares to go into.)
Duncan: So, Roger, can you think of anybody to replace Becks?
Federer: I know! Let’s get Mike Tyson!
Duncan: He’s not that boring.
Federer: But he needs the money.
Duncan: Agreed. Let’s call him.
(Screen fades to black)
Voice over: Tune in next week for another exciting episode of BoreStars!
I love writing this sports blog. It gives me a chance to speak to others (however small a number they may be) who share my passion for sports. When I write about topics I like, it allows me to release my pent-up thoughts about it to people who actually know that the NBA is not a degree you earn! But, try as I might, I really couldn't find anything good to write about recently. Aside from my well-responded piece about the end of the NBA Finals, I haven't written for most of the week. Why is that?
Because the current period of time (post-basketball and pre-football) may be the most wretched period of the sports year. A period where nothing but pure bull#### reigns supreme! A period where pseudo-sports like soccer, golf and tennis try to (and fail, mostly) appeal to people. And, of course, a time to catch up on your sleep and wait for the NFL to start again.
So, to pass by the time, I will rant, er, speak of these niche sports and why they don't appeal to me. Just so I can write and rant, er, give an opinion. Let's start with
Soccer: Ah, yes, can you catch the fever that is Euro Cup 2008! I sure as hell can't! What puzzles me is that BSPN, er, ESPN, has devoted weeks (as a matter of fact, the entire month of June) to this 'stuff'. And when I see this 'stuff' on all of its networks, I can only think "Isn't there an ESPN 2098 to show this on!?!?". And now, the greatest indignity: It will be shown on ABC as well. Boy, isn't that just great 'stuff'! I know some soccer goof will come onto this page and say "Soccer is watched all over the world, including America". And I did read a report that said over 50% of European soccer fans would rather watch the soccer than make love. I say "How bankrupt are these guys lives that soccer matters more than whoopee!". Soccer is a game for those who don't want to have fun in their lives. And can someone explain the rules (wait, don't bother)? Did you see how Turkey won yesterday? They scored in that extra time 'stuff' they apparently agree on, and then won on penalty kicks! Look, I agree with Jim Rome here; I don't get it, soccer fan, and I don't want to get it!
Golf: Golf is boring. That's my feelings in a quickie. And now that Tiger has ended his season with more knee surgery, what is there to watch and get excited about. "Choke" Mickelson? Some Orientals who I've never heard of? I won't insult anymore people, but there's no personality in golf, and with no Tiger, there's no reason to watch. Period.
Gymnastics: Yep, even today, we'll get the start of many Olympic qualifiers. I really am not a fan of the Olympics, not because they're in Beijing, but because the spectacle isn't what it used to be, when the late, great Jim McKay waxed poetic on the athletes. It seems like half the track athletes are users, and the other half are suspected of cheating. I only watch for the basketball, and even that seems strained. The excitement doesn't add up to me, and no matter how hard they try to sell it, I can't buy it.
Tennis: Yes, Wimbledon starts Monday on ESPN2. I can remember the days it was on HBO, and greats like Sampras and Agassi were in them. Sadly, that's not the case today. Tennis, liek golf, suffers from "Lackofpersonality-itis". The best players rarely make hay as celebs, and few of us actually know about them. Not to sound prejudiced, but the fact that few Americans are contenders drains its value here, too. No offense to Federer and Nadal; they worked hard to attain greatness. But nobody here cares, and until they acquire some personality, tennis will be doomed to ESPN2 at best.
You may notice I left out baseball. Baseball loves this time of year; no comp from any real sports allows it to be king. But the king has a few cracks in the royal veneer. The pace of baseball hurts, and I find it funny that there was a recent incident that dealt with time of the game issues; they actually enforce that? And make up your minds about replay. You should have had it years ago, and don't give me that "it will further slow the game down" argument; that's bull!
Finally, before I end the venom, let me get to Arlen Specter. The annoying senator recently said he will continue to look into Spygate. Thank goodness he has the time to do that. It's not like there are more pressing issues (war, unemployment, the elections, home foreclosures, etc.) that need to be dealt with. Look, Arlen, you're not going to get your precious Eagles that Super Bowl title that the Patriots won a few years ago. SO get off the case, Clouseau! All you're doing is annoying more than half the country by keeping this 'stuff' in the news!
And, before I forget, the NBA draft is also coming up. I never understood the appeal of the NBA draft. This class doesn't overwhelm me, and the coverage seems like overkill. I guess because after about the 1,000 Beasley-Rose discussion, I just don't care. And NBA TV is now replaying past drafts. As though we don't remember who was picked! Give me classic games, not classic drafts!
There, I've vented. I just hope that I can survive this boring period, and football can start; I need to boo the Lions bad! See you later, with hopefully an actual topic!
After taking the weekend off from blogging to finish up some other tasks, I couldn't resist returning to comment about the end of the NBA Finals. What was promised to be the renewal of a classic rivalry instead became a one-sided affair as Boston wrapped up the title in six with a resounding 131-92 win. First off, 131 points!?! The Lakers' defense never really showed up, and tonight, they just looked like they didn't care. Then again, one could say many of the Lakers never showed up in this series, as Boston thoroughly dominated here. Kudos to Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Finals MVP Paul Pierce for getting the elusive brass ring.
But getting back to the Lakers, it is truly amazing how opinion can change in the blink of an eye. A little more than a week ago, many people (including myself) said the Lakers would win the championship. Now, many of those same people are angry and demanding stuff be done (including the outrageous 'proposal' that would send Tim Duncan to L.A.! Please!). There are many reasons people use to explain the loss. Here are my reasons:
1. Kobe wasn't an MVP because of great Celtics' D: Kobe was (in my opinion) never defended better than he was in this series. Aside from game 3 (36 points) he never broke out. They didn't allow him to set up in his usual spots, and he looked completely out of sync. This, however, should end the "Jordan" comparisions for awhile. Kobe's good, but he's no MJ.
2. No inside toughness: I have said in many comments that Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol "play softer than pillow feathers". So I won't bore you with that again. Gasol, however, isn't and probably never will be counted on for the tough points. He really isn't a center, and if Andrew Bynum returns healthy and continues his prior solid play, Gasol should be O.K. Odom really looked bad in this series, as he never could sustain stretches of good play. I do think he could be in line to be moved if the Lakers want to make a big trade.
3. Where's some bench help?: The Celtic bench thoroughly outplayed the Lakers' bench. James Posey was solid throughout, P.J. Brown made big contributions without the stats to show for it, Leon Powe had that huge game 2, and Eddie House and Sam Cassell had their moments. Meanwhile, aside from a big game from Sasha Vujacic in game 3, the Lakers got little from their assumed better reserves. Vujacic was out of control for most of the rest of the series, Jordan Farmar was here and there, Ronny Turiaf was barely used, and Luke Walton... well, forget I mentioned him. By game 5, Phil Jackson was using Chris Mihm (I didn't even realize he was still a Laker!) for a stretch. There was no consistency, which leads to...
4. There was Zen, but no master: Phil was not at the top of his game against Finals neophyte Doc Rivers, who I'll give credit to; he was prepared and took advantage of every Laker weakness. Phil never got a set rotation going (why else would Mihm be in the game?) and probably was hoping for that Bobby Hansen moment to appear. It didn't, and it's appropriate that it occured on the court with Red Auerbach's name on it. I guess Phil isn't quite #1 on the greatest coaches of all time list, huh?
5. Where was Robin, Batman?: Was there a consistent #2 scorer for the Lakers? I think not! We've already mentioned Gasol and Odom, and Vladimir Radmanovic seemed to get more fouls than points, and Derek Fisher was a non-factor at both ends.
6. No defense, no rings: The biggest culprit was that L.A. treated defense like it was optional. Take game 6; nobody in the current NBA should EVER give up 131 points in any game (unless your in Denver), let alone a Finals game. The 39 point loss was the most embarassing one ever in a closeout game (and only three points off of worst Finals loss ever, eclipsed by Chicago's 96-54 laugher against Utah in 1998). Allen also tied a Finals record (held by Kenny Smith and Scottie Pippen) with 7 threes in this game. In short, defense like that makes you a loser.
So, after all of that, what do the Lakers need to rebound next year? A healthy Bynum would be a good start, but only a start. I say add some front line toughness (and not the Ron Artest kind) by putting Odom on the trading block. They need to acquire some decent, consistent bench help, and maybe Phil should take a cue from Doc Rivers and hire a defensive specialty coach to teach these guys the way to play D. All told, there need be only a few changes in L.A., not drastic measures. As for Boston, they earned that trophy, and hopefully this team (like the Spurs and, to a lesser extent, the Pistons) are the example of how to build a championship team in the NBA.
Tonight was a weird night for me. I had to attend my aunt's graduation ceremony, then the fam and I had to go to dinner at Friday's. While I'm eating, the Lakers/Celtics game begins, and I struggle to watch from afar. Also struggling, out of the corner of my eye, were the Celts, who trailed by 21 after one period. I told my grandmother (who celebrated her 70th birthday today) that "L.A. was opening a can of whup### on the Celtics (her pick to win the series)".
After stuffing my face, I return home, and low and behold, the Celtics start to come back. I watch the rest of the third quarter, and they cut the Laker lead to 2. I thought "This isn't good for the Lakers!". It proved not to be, as Boston won the game 97-91 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. After such an impressive victory, the inevitable question is "Did Boston win it, or did L.A. lose it?". Let's examine that.
The Celtics really won this game. L.A. shot over 50% in the 1st half (don't have the exact figure) but ended up shooting just under 42% for the game. They scored a grand total of 33 points (15 in the 3rd and 18 in the 4th) the entire second half; they scored 35 in THE FIRST QUARTER! Kobe Bryanty didn't play like the MVP with a pitiful 6-19 'performance' for the game, and the bench did nothing, as Sasha Vujacic shot 1-9 and had only 3 points, and the bench as a whole had just 15 points. Many signs to point to for 'choke'.
On the other hand, the Lakers built an 18 point halftime lead (after leading by as many as 24) without Kobe hitting a FG, and with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol finally making an impact. The Lakers scored 58 1st half points, and as late as the middle of the 3rd, led by 20. I give the Celtics tons of credit for not quitting; it would have been easy to say "Forget tonight, let's focus on game 5". Instead, they fought hard, and their bench was solid, led by James Posey (18 points) and Eddie House (11). The Big 3 made shots when they had to, and unlike game 3, Doc Rivers adjusted and put shooters on the floor, and voila, they won. They also made Odom and Gasol revert to form in the second half, continuing to exploit what has become an obvious Laker weakness; no tough interior D (where have you gone, Andrew Bynum?).
So, was it a choke or a comeback? I'll say it's both; to have a great comeback, the other team must accomodate you. The Celtics deserve all the credit in the world; they won, and now stand just one win away from their 17th NBA title. But the Lakers also deserve blame for Kobe not showing up (he really has no-showed in all three Laker losses) and for the rest of the team being softer than pillow feathers. I now regret my pick of Lakers in 6 because I just didn't realize how soft physically and mentally these guys are. And now you expect them to beat Boston three straight (twice at the new Garden)? Hell no, that's not happening! So, Celtic fans, I'm sorry. And, even though it might not be Sunday, I'll say it now; congratulations on another NBA title! And may the Laker trade rumors begin in earnest after this series!
Game 3 of the NBA Finals has come and gone. Now it's time, once again, for my post-game analysis. I really like doing these blogs where I take a peek into my thoughts about the game. So, without further ado, here are my completely random thoughts, followed by my analysis:
1st Quarter:
12:00- I sincerely hope ABC quickly cancels both of their new game shows; Wipeout and that Japanese show. They already are blitzing both, and they both look bad! Enough, already!
10:18- The Lakers got the first FTs of the game. That should quiet Phil Jackson for awhile.
9:45- (Lamar) Odom looks passive again. Bad sign.
9:29: (Mark) Jackson just said the Laker fans wouldn't catch (Paul) Pierce as he fell into the crowd. Duh!?!
7:51- Just got a pen that writes. At long last!
7:41- Phil certainly won't be complaining about the foul calls tonight. Ah, nothing better than home cooking!
commercial break- There's that damn Wipeout (it's so bad, I'm not italicizing it) again! I hate Wipeout, and I won't watch!
5:16- Every time a call goes against L.A., the fans treat it as a crime. Calm down, already!
4:59- Thank goodness the referees want to have the spotlight shine brightly on them; I guess if you're the home team, you're made (not that that's bad; I picked L.A. to win, so go ahead, refs!).
3:07- Kobe's very aggressive. A great sign.
2:45- (Rajon) Rondo's aggressive, too. Probably not a good sign.
commercial break- Please no Wipeout or Japanese commercials! (shows Japanese commercial) Dammit!!!
1:40- How can Celtics compete when (Kevin) Garnett and Pierce are really stinking right now?
:24- How much you willing to bet that (Leon) Powe doens't have nearly the same impact as game 2?
End of 1st- Are they trying to promote more ABC shows (with a 20/20 score)?
2nd Quarter:
11:37- Odom simply (fill in expletive). Period.
11:23- It's "Sudden Sam" (Cassell). Look out below!
10:21- How many times is (Mike) Breen going to say "Great defense by (insert Laker name)."? We know that already, Mike!
8:50- Fight! Fight! Dammit, no fight! Where's McHale and Rambis when you need them?
8:26- Why is (Luke) Walton even thinking about shooting?
7:11- Then again, why is Garnett shooting so many jumpers?
5:13- Garnett + Shooting tons of jumpers = You will lose!
3:54- The Lakers and Celtics have switched roles from game 2.
3:25- Thank goodness this game will quash those calls for the refs' heads after a game. Where's Donaghy?
1:49- (Sasha) Vujacic is hot! Great for the Lakers' bench.
:54- Can Garnett play any worse?
End of 2nd- 43-37 Lakers. Good.. for Celtics fans.
3rd Quarter:
11:16- Rondo's hurt. Who would have thought earlier in the playoffs that this would be a bad thing?
8:54- Any wonder why Pierce is the Celtics' offensive X-factor? Since he stinks, the Celtics have struggled.
8:21- (Ray) Allen looks really good.
7:54- Do Odom and (Pau) Gasol have a pulse?
7:29- Who is the FT coach for these teams? Ben Wallace?
6:51- Do Garnett and Pierce have a pulse?
4:58- Maybe Garnett does. If he keeps going down low.
commercial break- Oh no! More (expletive) game show commercials! Forget later; cancel them now!
2:14- Odom's looking slightly warm.
Last commercial break before end of 3rd- Another Wipeout commercial! Fudge! And why is (Jeff) Van Gundy talking about Alyssa Milano?
End of 3rd- Celtics lead 62-60. This should be a great finish!
4th Quarter:
11:21- Allen's really got game! (yes, a cheap joke, but I like it)
9:25- Odom ####s, period.
9:11- Kobe's going to take over eventually.
8:56- Pierce ####s, too. It's a ####off!
commercial break- More Wipeout! Dammit, stop the bull####, already!
7:59- Who cares how much you pay for your haircut, Van Gundy!
7:15- Will Garnett please stop the jumpers and go to the basket.
6:21- Rondo shouldn't be in the game right now. Kobe has no respect for his shot, and they need shooters.
4:25- There are so many candidates for goat of the game for Boston; Garnett, Pierce, Rondo, (Doc) RIvers. I'll say "all of the above".
3:37- Book it; the Lakers will win this one. I don't like how Rivers is playing these last few minutes.
3:22- Speaking of which, can someone explain why Rivers is shying away from a hot Allen for an ice-cold Pierce?
2:00- O.K. Kobe. Finish this one off!
1:43- Good thing Vujacic stepped up for the lackluster Odom and Gasol.
1:33- I guess Doc wanted to lose tonight.
:38- That (Celtic) possession proved it.
End of 4th- And now it's official; Lakers win 87-81.
What can we take away from this game? Aside from the seemingly endless Wipeout and Japanese commercials, that Kobe (aside from some trouble at the line) had easily his best game of the series (36 points) and that his team was more aggressive and got more FTs (a sure point of contention for the road teams so far in this round, but I'm not a referee, and the Lakers were due). Vujacic gave the team life, as well, scoring 20 points.
Meanwhile, many of the Celtics came up small. Garnett and Pierce were the biggest culprits, as Garnett looked soft and frankly stupid, repeatedly shooting (and usually missing) jumpers, and Pierce looked awful all night. I don't want to hear about "maybe his knee swelled up"; he just didn't show up. The Lakers were also decent on the boards (only outrebounded by one, a huge key) and held the Celtics, a team that struggles to score easy baskets, to 34% shooting. Those factors won the game for L.A.
Now, what about game 4? Expect the Celtics to demand KG show more muscle down low and try to eschew those jumpers, and they need Pierce to show up. Also, Doc needs to have the light bulb go on when he knows he has a hot hand. But I think Gasol will show up Thursday, and now the Lakers have confidence. That should translate to a game 4 win and a tied series. Lakers by 6.
I often find it amazing hwo opinions can change on the drop of a hat. How, in a matter of days, someone's treasure turns into trash. It's not uncommon in sports; Mike Bibby remarked earlier in the playoffs that Boston's fans were, in essence, bandwagon jumpers. But tonight, after the Lakers lost 108-102 to trail the NBA Finals 2-0, the negative blogs that have appeared on this site, blaming everything from the referees to Kobe having a terrible support cast, amaze me. Isn't this the same team that everyone outside Boston said would win this series in a walk? Why the sudden change of heart?
Observing most of this game (I came in late in the first with the score knotted at 19), I can give some credence to the referee problem. When you're outshot at the line by a 3-1 margin, that's hard to overcome. And yes, your supporting players had problems. But until the fourth, everybody on the team had problems. Kobe was shooting at his game 1 clip (until a late hot streak). Odom spent much of the game in foul trouble (and he hasn't been a factor when he's been on the court). But Gasol (aside from not being a physical presence at times) had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Here are some reasons the Lakers lost tonight:
They dug too deep a defecit to overcome: The comeback was impressive, but logic dictates that you must spend so much energy to come back, you have nothing left for the finish. Although I will give you if the decision to go for three (down by 4) was curious.
Leon Powe going Kevin McHale on them: Like McHale in his prime, Powe couldn't be stopped underneath. He scored 21 points (after coming in averaging 4 per game) in only 15 minutes! When Powe, and not Garnett or Allen, is the Celtics' second leading scorer for the night, you're going to lose.
No defense, no rings: The Lakers actually shot respectable tonight (49%), but Boston shot 53%. The Celtics are not a high scoring team to begin with, and allowing them to shoot that percentage is begging for disaster.
Luke Walton is playing!: O.K., maybe I'm being too harsh on Luke; his benchmates weren't much better except for Jordan Farmar, who shot better than Derek Fisher and matched him in points in 12 fewer minutes. Why did Fisher get 30 minutes when he was struggling?
Overall, it was a bad night for L.A. Now they head home down 2-0, and the last time that occured (1989 against Detroit), they were swept. Even more disheartening for Laker fans, the Celtics have held a 2-0 lead on the Lakers three times (1959, 1963, 1965), and the series were won in four, six and five games, respectively. So, is L.A. done? Though I will never say never (and the finish tonight could be a morale booster), the Lakers need to do a better job crashing the boards, and need some life from their bench. Also, Kobe needs more consistency, and Odom needs to show up back home. Otherwise, Red Auerbach will toast title #17 with a heavenly victory cigar!
After witnessing a very solid first game of the NBA Finals, I decided to do a blog similar to what I did after game 3 of the Eastern Finals; I put some thoughts down on paper during the game, and now I'll share some of them with you and also analyze the game. Here goes:
Pre-Game Show: Magic Johnson said the Lakers will win tonight. What a surpise! I wonder how (Larry) Bird is picking?
National Anthem: Could James Taylor please speak up! Could he sing the anthem at a lower possible pitch? I can't hear him!
1st Quarter
10:57: Rondo may have missed that jumper, but he must keep shooting to keep L.A. honest.
9:14: (Lamar) Odom hit a jumper. He needs to play well.
7:52: (Mike) Breen said it's loud in Boston. Duh!?!
7:09: (Kevin) Garnett is very aggressive early. I like it! He needs to continue this play.
6:14: Kobe (Bryant) is not into this game right now. Maybe he's having SA flashbacks.
3:56: That was a backcourt violation? I know they (the referees) made a bad call, but why is Pau (Gasol) making that pass?
2:02: Sasha (Vujacic) just made a jumper. You can't say he lacks confidence.
1:02: Posey has two fouls like that? Oh, never mind, he's not that important!
2nd Quarter
10:09: (Sam) Cassell has started very hot. If he keeps it up, look out!
9:09: I guess Odom will continue to struggle.
8:46: Kobe's just returned to the game. Hopefully he can get going.
8:00: Where was this Cassell earlier in the playoffs?
7:25: Garnett's still aggressive. I still like it.
5:30: A lot of players have two fouls. What is this, the 1950s?
5:20: They're selling jerseys worn in this game. Wait until they're finsihed, O.K!
5:14: (Paul) Pierce has 3 fouls. Holy BLEEP!
4:17: Who would have thought the Lakers would be ahead with Kobe playing like you-know-what?
2:48: They just showed Magic and Kareem. Easily the most popular people for Celtic fans to see (lol).
1:36: Kobe's doing a good job not forcing shots and setting up Gasol.
:58: What happened to Garnett?
End of half: Good sign for Lakers to be up 51-46.
Halftime: Is anybody else tired of these damn promos for ABC's game shows? I know I am! And did it look creepy to see Magic and Bird in game jerseys doing those split-screen commercials?
3rd Quarter
12:00: The Celtics need to rediscover Garnett.
11:15: Pierce just hit a three and got the foul. Wait, wasn't that the same play he got called for an offensive foul on in game 6 in Detroit? What was different today, refs?
10:45: Pierce is hot to start the third!
9:03: Garnett's getting going, too.
7:13: Kobe looks like he's getting warm.
6:49: Pierce is really hurt. Oh BLEEP if you love the Celtics!
6:19: Now (Kendrick) Perkins is hurt. Is it 1987 for Boston again?
5:04: Pierce is back. Summon Bird and Willis Reed, someone!
4:59: Thank goodness (Jeff) Van Gundy is here to tell us Phil Jackson calls great timeouts!
1:54: Garnett's cooling off.
1:00: Back-to-back three's for Pierce. Summon Bird, again!
End of 3rd: This should be a helluva finish!
4th Quarter
10:51: The Celtics are more aggressive towards loose balls.
10:07: Cassell's last shot looked like vintage 'Sudden Sam'; bad-looking and missed.
8:52: The Lakers are very sloppy right now.
8:09: Kobe's on the bench? Is Phil crazy? Does he think he still has Bobby Hansen?
6:48: The reserves are making up some ground. Maybe he wasn't crazy.
5:44: Kobe needs to take over now.
4:15: Garnett's ice cold. He needs to go into the post.
3:43: Forget Garnett! The enitre Lakers team is ice-cold!
2:27: Kobe, are you going to take over?
1:32: What a slam by Garnett!
1:12: I guess Kobe doesn't want to take over.
:16: Decided not to foul, Lakers? You must want to lose.
End of game: I guess you did; Celtics win 98-88.
So, how did Boston win? They made Kobe work for his points. Bryant was only 9-26 from the field, as Pierce and James Posey played him very well. His 24 points were about as quiet a 24 as you can get. Pierce also inspired his team with his return from a knee injury to score 15 3rd quarter points (22 for the game), and I liked how Garnett was aggressive early and was good late. Cassell also gave them good minutes, as did P.J. Brown, while L.A. got virtually nothing aside from a couple shots from Vujacic. And I must ask; why is Luke Walotn still playing? Just a thought.
What do the Lakers need to do to recover in game 2? They need a more efficient game from Kobe, and they need to shoot better as a team. They also need to contain Garnett and Pierce and get some production from the bench. Hopefully, that will happen, and they can steal the game. Until then, may the next time they do a Magic/Bird commercial, do it with suits on!
