Today's edition of the My List special profiles two Eastern Conference teams, the New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Here are the players starting with the Nets.

Starters:

PG: Jason Kidd: Kidd seems to transform any team from alsoran to contender (except the Mavs, of course), but the job he did in Jersey was truly remarkable. Acquired in a trade from the Suns for Stephon Marbury in 2001, Kidd took a team that hadn't had a winning season since 1998 and had not won a playoff series since 1984 to their first NBA division title (at 52-30), their first #1 seed, and to their first NBA Finals (swept by the Lakers) with averages of 14.7 PPG, 9.9 APG (2nd in league), and about 7.5 RPG (for some reason, NBA.com doesn't have his stats, so I'm winging it here). Kidd made the All-Star team each year in Jersey, and helped the team win four division titles and make two trips to the NBA Finals.

SG: Vince Carter: Having "Vinsanity" here on this list may indicate lack of talent here, and it does. But Carter is high profile, so he makes it (half-hearted defense, I know). Acquired via trade from the Raptors for spare parts in 2005, Carter has maintained (for worse, I believe) his scorer's only mentality; he has averaged at least 21.3 PPG in each Jersey season, with about 6 RPG as well. Carter has made seven All-Star teams, and helped New Jersey claim a division title in 2006. What else can I say? This book just doesn't have many pages.

C: Darryl Dawkins: It speaks volumes about how weak the C spot has been for Jersey when "Chocolate Thunder" is a starter. No offense to Dawkins; he had some decent years after being added to the team in 1982. He averaged over 12 PPG four times as a Net, and had his best year in 1983-84 with 16.8 PPG and 6.7 RPG as the Nets upset his old 76ers team in the 1st round of the playoffs that year. After that season, Dawkins started getting hurt, and eventually the team released him in 1987. If I can say so, a waste of talent.

SF: Julius Erving: Before gaining worldwide recoginition as the NBA's (and the Sixers') ambassador, Erving had three great years with the Nets in the ABA. Acquired in a complex deal (one that involved two ABA and two NBA teams) from the Virginia Squires in 1973, Erving added plenty to his trophy case during his tenure; he was named ABA MVP all three years he played there (including a co-MVP with George McGinnis in 1975), and two scoring titles in 1974 and 1976 (to go with one with Viriginia), and Erving led the Nets to two of the last three ABA titles. Then, after the merger, the cash-strapped Nets (forced to pay $3.2 million to enter the league and $480,000 to the Knicks a year in indemity payments) sold Erving to the Sixers, and the rest is history.

PF: Derrick Coleman: Coleman may have wasted much of his NBA career, but during the early-to-mid 90s on the Nets, he had some very good seasons. Chosen #1 overall by the team in 1990, Coleman was named ROY after averaging 18.4 PPG and 10.3 RPG. He averaged a double-double in four of his five seasons in Jersey (highs of 20.7 PPG in 1992-93, and 11.3 RPG in 1993-94), and made the 1994 All-Star team. He also took the Nets to the playoffs three straight years (1992-94) before being traded to Philadelphia for Shawn Bradley in 1995.

Reserves:

PG: Kenny Anderson: Anderson was Coleman's partner in crime (so to speak) on the Nets of the mid-90s. Drafted #2 overall in 1991 (fresh off a highly productive career at Georgia Tech), Anderson replaced the traded Mookie Blaylock as a starter in 1992, and had three very productive seasons with the Nets, averaging at least 16.9 PPG and 8.2 APG (with highs of 18.8 and 9.6 in 1993-94, which included starting the All-Star game that year) and taking the Nets to the playoffs as a starter twice. But soon enough, the team and Anderson had a falling out, and he was traded to the Hornets for Kendall Gill in 1995.

SG: (tie) John Williamson/Kerry Kittles: Kittles has tenure on the team over Williamson (eight year to about five) but Wiiliamson was solid on both Nets ABA title teams, so they both make it. Kittles, drafted #8 overall in 1996, was a solid scorer in some solid Nets teams earlier this decade, averaging about 13 PPG each season (high of 17.2 in 1997-98) as the Nets won three division titles and two conference titles before leaving in 2004. Williamson, added in 1973, started as a rookie on the Nets' first ABA title team, and added a second ABA title in 1976, before jumping with the team to the NBA. The Nets traded him during the first NBA season, but reacquired him the following year from the same team they traded him to (the Pacers), and he averaged better than 23 PPG each of the next two seasons before they traded him again in 1980.

C: Mike Gminski: Gminski had some good years with the Nets of the early-to-mid 80s. Drafted #7 overall in 1980, Gminski was a solid reserve as the Nets became a decent mid-level playoff team in the mid-80s. Gminski eventually became a starter in 1984-85, and his best Nets years came in 1986-87; during that two year stretch, he averaged about 16.5 PPG and 8.8 RPG. But by the late 80s, the Nets were a team in steep decline, and they traded Gminski to Philadelphia in 1988.

SF: Richard Jefferson: Before he was traded to Milwaukee this offseason, Jefferson was a key contributor to the Nets' contenders (used loosely) of the early 2000s. Acquired in a draft day trade with the Rockets in 2001 (in a draft pick swap for the late Eddie Griffin), Jefferson was the sixth man on the first conference championship team in 2002, but he started for the second, and became a prominent player in the Nets' offense; he averaged better than 15.5 PPG each season, along with better than 5.7 RPG three times (highs of 22.6 PPG just last season, and 7.3 RPG in 2004-05) as the Nets made the playoffs every year until last year and won four division titles.

PF: Kenyon Martin: "K-Mart"'s best stats years came in Jersey before injuries derailed his career in Denver. Drafted #1 overall in 2000, Martin overcame a broken leg in college and emerged as a very solid big man when paired with Kidd; he averaged better than 12 PPG each year in Jersey, but his stats shot up with Kidd to 16.7 PPG and about 9 RPG (up from about 5) during Kidd's run with him. He also made the 2004 All-Star team before bolting for Denver that offseason.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Kevin Loughery: While Byron Scott would have been the easy choice (and he will be mentioned in the "Assistants" page and on the Hornets, where he did a better job), Loughery took the Nets to two ABA titles, and thus sneaks into the head job. Loughery was hired in 1973, and in his three years with the Nets in the ABA, they won at least 55 games each season and those two ABA titles. He jumped with the team to the NBA in 1976, but didn't have a winning season during that time (1976-80, though they did make the playoffs in 1979) before he was fired in 1981.

Assistants: Byron Scott, Chuck Daly: Scott coached the team from 2000-03, and after a rough 26-56 season in year one, the team turned around with 52 wins and a Finals berth. Scott repeated this accomplishment (with 49 regular season wins) before being fired during the 2003-04 season (reportedly because of a rift with Kidd, which makes that stomping the Hornets gave Kidd's Mavs much sweeter). Daly rattled off two winning season from 1992-94 (the first the team had since 1985) and two playoff berths before Daly retired in 1994 with a Nets record of 88-76.

Honorable Mentions:

PG: Micheal Ray Richardson: As I said with the Knicks, if only he could have stayed clean.

SG: Drazen Petrovic: Having forgotten to mention him, I'll replace Kittles and Williamson with Petrovic, who had two 20+ PPG seasons before his tragic auto accident in 1993.

SF: Kendall Gill: Good defender, but not quite as good a scorer as Erving or Jefferson.

SF/PF Keith Van Horn: Mainly just a scorer, and not that good of one.

C: Sam Bowie: Did recover some dignity after all those injuries, but was just average at best.

Now, for the Cavs:

Starters:

PG: Mark Price: Price belied his small 6 foot frame to become a very good scorer for the Cavs of the late 80s and early 90s. Drafted in the second round in 1986, Price became a starter in his second year, and in his third, he became an All-Star qith averages of 18.6 PPG and 8.4 APG. His best stats year occured in 1989-90 with 19.6 PPG and 9.1 APG. Price would make three additional All-Star teams and win the 3-point shootout in 1993 and 1994 before leaving for Washington in 1995.

SG: Ron Harper: Before Harper became known as a scrapper and champ with the Bulls and Lakers, Harper was a gifted athlete with the Cavs in the late 80s. Drafted as the team's second 1st round pick (#8 overall) in 1986, Harper made an immediate impact by averaging 22.9 PPG and 4.8 APG and RPG. Harper averaged over 15.4 PPG and 4.8 APG each year in Cleveland, and helped the Cavs win 57 games in 1988-89 (often as the finisher on the break) before he was traded to the Clippers in 1989.

C: Brad Daugherty: The man who today does NASCAR commentary on ESPN could have been one of the NBA's best centers had he not suffered a severe back injury in 1994. As it was, Daugherty had a solid career. Drafted #1 overall in 1986, Daugherty had a solid rookie year with 15.7 PPG and 8.1 RPG. Daugherty averaged a double-double in four of his eight seasons in Cleveland, with highs of 21.6 PPG and 10.9 RPG in 1990-91) and made five All-Star teams during that span. However, 50 games into the 1993-94 season, he suffered his back injury. He spent most of the next two years trying to recover, but he never returned to the court.

SF: LeBron James: Again, as with Carter, James' inclusion on an all-time list indicates weak talent, and when a team starts guys like Mike Sanders at the position, it sures does! In any case, LeBron is here. Drafted #1 overall in 2003, James has been the highest profile player in the NBA since his arrival (often negatively, but still), and though James hasn't developed into the all-around player he should be, he has played well; he has averaged better than 20.9 PPG since his rookie year (with a career best so far of 31.4 in 2005-06), and has averaged about 6 RPG and 6.6 APG. James has revived Cleveland basketball and led the team to its first NBA Finals in 2007 (swept by the Spurs).

PF: Larry Nance: Nance brought an all-around game to the Cavs in the late 80s, and his arrival made the Cavs a feared team during that period. Acquired in a trade from the Suns (for Kevin Johnson, Mark West and Tyrone Corbin) in 1988, Nance made the All-Star team in his first full season in 1988-89 with 17.2 PPG and 8 RPG. Nance maintained those averages throughout his six full years there (and made another All-Star team in 1992). Nance also helped Cleveland reach the 1992 Eastern Conference finals before retiring in 1994.

Reserves:

PG: (tie) Terrell Brandon/World B. Free: Both were key scorers in various Cleveland eras, so both make it. Free, Acquired in a trade with Golden State in 1983, Free had three solid scoring seasons from 1983-86, with at least 22.3 PPG each year (high of 23.4 in 1985-86) and helped Cleveland reach the playoffs in 1985. Brandon, drafted #11 overall in 1991, took the starting job from Price in 1994-95, and averaged 19.3 PPG in each of his two years as a starter, making the All-Star team both years, before being traded to Milwaukee in 1997.

SG: Austin Carr: Carr may have been an average player (not something you want a former #1 pick to be), but with limited talent, Carr makes it. Drafted #1 overall in 1971, Carr was explosive in his first three years, averaging better than 20.5 PPG each year, with a high of 21.9 in 1973-74. Carr would remain a solid player for the rest of the 70s for the Cavs, and he helped Cleveland reach the 1976 Eastern finals (The Miracle of Richfield) before being drafted by Dallas in the expansion draft in 1980.

C: Zydrunas Ilgauskas: "Big Z" has overcome major foot injuries to become an above-average center for the Cavs this decade. Drafted #20 overall in 1996, Ilgauskas missed the entire season of 1996-97 with foot problems, but he helped Cleveland reach the playoffs in 1998 with averages of 13.9 PPG and 8.8 RPG. Then, more foot injuries set in; he missed 45 of 50 games in 1998-99 and the entire 1999-2000 season, along with 58 games in 2000-01, with foot injuries. He recovered, and he has averaged at least 11.1 PPG each year since 2001-02 (high of 17.2 in 2002-03) and about 8 RPG (high of 9.3 just last year) and helped Cleveland reach the 2007 Finals.

SF: Mike Mitchell: Mitchell had some good seasons with Cleveland in the early 80s. Drafted #15 overall in 1978, Mitchell had two seasons in Cleveland with over 20+ PPG (high of 24.5 in 1980-81) and about 6 RPG (high of 7.2 in 1979-80). Mitchell also made his only All-Star team in 1981 with those 24.5 PPG. But the team was a total mess, and Mitchell was traded in 1982 to San Antonio, right before the team nearly collapsed into bankruptcy.

PF: Jim Chones: Before winning a championship with the 1980 Lakers, Chones made an impact in Cleveland in the mid 70s. Signing with the team from the ABA's Carolina Cougars in 1974, Chones had two seasons with a double-double average (best year was 1977-78 with 15 PPG and 10.3 RPG). Chones also was a key factor in the team making the 1976 Eastern finals (he got injured in the loss to the Celtics) before he left for Los Angeles in 1979.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Bill Fitch: The Cavs' first ever coach was also its longest tenured coach. Fitch struggled initially with an expansion team, then he caught fire in 1975-76, as the Cavaliers won their first Central division title and a berth in the Eastern finals. FItch also led the Cavs to two other playoff berths and was named COY in 1976 before he departed for Boston in 1979. He won 944 as a coach and was named one of the top ten coaches in NBA history in 1996.

Assistants: Lenny Wilkens, Mike Brown: Wilkens returned to coaching in 1986, and after losing 51 games his first year, Wilkens didn't have a losing season with the Cavs after that, as the Cavs won 50 or more games three times and reached the 1992 Eastern finals before resigning in 1993. Brown, despite not being noted as a great X's and O's coach, has won 50 games in two of his three seasons, made the playoffs each year, and took the Cavs to the 2007 Finals.

Honorable Mentions:

SG: Craig Ehlo: More known for his defensive lapse in 1989 than solid overall career.

PF: Shawn Kemp: Played better in Seattle than he did overweight in Cleveland.

C: Nate Thurmond: Much better known as a Warrior.

any other Cavs: If anybody else is worth mentioning, let me know.

That's it for today. Tomorrow, we'll feature the Magic and Hornets. Until then, let the criticism of LeBron begin (lol!)!

It's now the 4th of July weekend, and though people have partied hard, the My List special continues. However, since the weekend might not see the kind of viewship here that weekdays normally have, I'm going to post the lower seeds today and tomorrow to get them out of the way. Today, the focus will be on the two lowest seeds, the Toronto Raptors (#28) and the Memphis Grizzlies (the lowest seed at #29). Since these teams have been in existence for only a decade, their lineups are fairly recent. Therefore, I'll keep the rundown pretty brief. Let's start with Toronto:

Starters:

PG: Damon Stoudamire: Won the 1995-96 ROY for the first year club, and averaged close to 20 PPG and nearly 9 APG in his two full seasons there.

SG: Doug Christie: Revived his career after being left for dead in L.A. and New York, Christie averaged better than 14 PPG in three of his four full seasons, though his most noteworthy stuff happened in Sacramento.

C: Chris Bosh: Already among the elite bigs in the NBA, Bosh is a two-time (or three-time, but one of the two) All-Star and the face of the entire organization (I don't have current stats, so I can't go in depth here).

SF: Vince Carter: Multi-time All-Star who won the 2000 slam dunk contest and, for a time, revived that event, Carter helped Toronto win its only playoff series win (against New York in 2001) before being traded to New Jersey.

PF: Marcus Camby: As a young player in Toronto from 1996-98, Camby led the league in blocks per game in 1997-98 (3.65). He averaged 13 PPG and about 6 1/2 RPG, and later on won Defensove POY with the Nuggets in 2007.

Reserves:

PG: Alvin Williams: Williams was a steady PG for the Raptors early in the decade, and started for them when they reached the second round in 2001, before injuries ended his career early.

SG: Morris Peterson: Peterson was (and still is) a one-trick pony; he could stroke the three and become instant offense, and he did play there from 2000-07.

C: Hakeem Olajuwon: He's here because (A) the Raptors haven't had many centers worth noting, (B) his career was great (and I said when I started this thing, career accomplishments would be taken into account if the pool is weak), and (C) would you rather see Oliver Miller? I didn't think so.

SF: Tracy McGrady: Again, career over what happened in Toronto; aside from his solid 2000-01 season, McGrady did little in Toronto, but he did win two scoring titles in Orlando.

PF: Charles Oakley: I'm not going to keep repeating; career over Toronto. Period.

Coaches:

Head Coach: Sam Mitchell: Won the COY award last season (see how shallow these teams are?)

Assistants: Lenny Wilkens, Butch Carter: Wilkens took the team to its only postseason win, and Carter took the team to its first playoff and winning season.

Now for the Grizzlies (these teams are so shallow, there are no "Honorable Mentions").

Starters:

PG: Jason Williams: Played for the team from 2001-05. His flashy play wasn't consistent, and his highlight came after he was traded to Miami, where he won an NBA title.

SG: Bonzi Wells: Well-rounded guard/forward had a couple decent years in Memphis.

C: Pau Gasol: The NBA fans saw what he could (and couldn't) do with the Lakers, but before that, he made several All-Star teams as a Grizzly. That is quite an accomplishment.

SF: Mike Miller: Before his recent trade to Minnesota, Miller was a solid scorer (and not much else) for Memphis.

PF: Shareef Abdur-Rahim: It's a shame that his best stats years were wasted in Vancouver/Memphis, but while he was there, Abdur-Rahim was among the best forwards (stats wise) in the NBA.

Reserves:

PG: Mike Bibby: Played solid ball for the team from 1998-2001, then exploded when he was traded to Sacramento for Williams in 2001.

SG: Rudy (G)ay: If it gets ####'s, you know the name, and he is a rising young guard in the depths of Memphis.

C: Lorenzen Wright: Because I couldn't put Bryant Reeves on this list and not feel like #### for doing it.

SF: Shane Battier: Battier was the defensive stalwart when Memphis had a decent run a few years ago, and with Houston, he's among the elite defenders in the NBA.

PF: James Posey: Because of what he did later with the Heat and Celtics to help them win championships (and because I didn't want Reeves!).

Coaches:

Head Coach: Hubie Brown: Led club to record 50 wins in 2003-04 and to first playoff berth.

Assistants: Mike Fratello, Sidney Lowe: Fratello led Memphis to its other two playoff berths and winning records, and Lowe, well, he coached a little more than two seasons. What can I say?

Well, I'm glad that's over. Hopefully, things will get better tomorrow, when the Timberwolves come up (who would have thought that?). Take care, and have a safe weekend!

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!

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!

 

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!

I know I said a few days ago that I wouldn't succumb to the seemingly endless Lakers vs Celtics previews that would spring up. I guess I just couldn't resist! So, I decided to jump in on the fun and give my preview of the most anticipated Finals matchups in years; the renewal of the NBA's greatest rivalry, Lakers and Celtics. I'll give my positional breakdown, then give a prediction.

Point Guard: I love this matchup; something old (Derek Fisher) & something new (Jordan Farmar) vs something borrowed (Sam Cassell) and something blue (Rajon Rondo). Or is it green? After dealing with Tony Parker in the conference finals, Fisher will need to be on his guard with Rondo and his penetration. Expect Doc RIvers to go with whoever is hot as Rondo's backup, as Eddie House could return to the rotation after he was benched because he couldn't handle the Pistons' pressure D. Advantage: Even

Shooting Guard: Before I begin, I'll give Ray Allen credit for finishing solidly against Detroit, and that, in good matchups, he can thrive. Just not against Kobe Bryant. You know Kobe remembers 2004, and with his first post-Shaq title on the horizon, he'll play possessed. Good luck defending, Paul Pierce! Advantage: Lakers in a runaway

Small Forward: Likewise, Pierce has a huge advantage on Vladimir Radmanovic, who isn't a good defender (to say the least) and who is way too streaky to be relied on. Pierce has huge advantages over Vlad and Luke Walton, so expect Kobe to get the defensive work. Advantage: Celtics

Power Forward: Welcome, Kevin Garnett, to your first NBA Finals! How will Garnett match up with Pau Gasol (since the L.A. Times said Lamar Odom would guard Kendrick Perkins)? A leopard never changes its spots, so expect Garnett to work his game on Gasol, which could be a good thing for Gasol if he avoids foul trouble. Gasol will likely work on Perkins, which means both centers must avoid fouls to keep their team from being at a major disadvantage. Advantage: A razor thin edge to the Celtics

Center: Odom was a dud against the Spurs for most of the series, but now he gets Perkins to work on. The Celtic front line is much quicker than the Spurs' front line, though, so Odom must get his jumper working early and have the C's respect his shot before he slashes to the rack. Perkins needs only to be steady (he doesn't need to have a game 5 like performance, but he does need to assert himself on the boards) and the Celtics will live with that. Advantage: Lakers

Benches: The Laker bench was solid against the Spurs. Expect Sasha Vujacic (there, I finally spelled it!) to keep shooting, and I think Trevor Ariza could be a factor on defense if they employ him; he can't be much worse than Walton, can he? The Celtics will counter with James Posey (their defensive stopper and good 3-point shooter) and P.J. Brown (ditto except for threes), but they need some contributions from either Cassell or House to give them some balance. Advantage: Lakers

Coaching: Let's see: Phil Jackson, 11 Finals appearences, 9 titles as a coach, 2 as a player, one of the greatest (if not the best) coaches ever. Doc Rivers: first appearence in Finals as player or coach, no titles, road teams' coattails to Finals. Eh, Advantage: Lakers by a lot

Prediction: The Celtics had a much tougher road to the Finals than the Lakers; the C's have played just one game under the max to get here. They do have home court, though, but both teams will have been rested. I give game 1 to the Lakers, and as far as the series goes, I predict the Lakers win the title in six games. Yes, you heard it; for only the second time ever, an opposing team will celebrate a title victory in Boston. And who gets Finals MVP? Luke Walton! Just kidding! Kobe wins MVP if the Lakers win the title.

I've spent the last few days staying out of the fray of the inevitable Lakers/Celtics NBA Finals matchup. Maybe because I knew many people would have an opinion of this series, be it good or bad. Or because I felt that doing a preview would be tough not because I couldn't do it, but rather that everyone would do it. So, instead of another boring preview, I decided that I would instead revel in the past. To that end, I am going to look back on the 10 previous Finals matchups these two great teams have had. After that, I'll rank the matchups. For the record, I'm not including 1959 because that series ended in a sweep, and those series stink! Let's instead begin with...

1961-62: The Celtics were in the midst of their remarkable run of eight straight titles. Having won three straight at this point, the C's steamrolled to a then-league record 60-20 record. Bill Russell won his second straight MVP (and third for career). The Lakers, in their second year in L.A., won their first division title since 1954 with a 54-26 record, despite Elgin Baylor missing 32 games with injuries. Jerry West and Baylor were among the league leaders in scoring.

The Celtics beat the Warriors in a seven game series (the season where WIlt averaged more than 50 PPG!) with a dramatic Sam Jones jumper with two seconds to go in game 7. The Lakers beat the Pistons in six, and the Finals matchup was a struggle. Each team alternated wins going into game seven. With only a few seconds left, Laker G Frank Selvy had a chance to win the title at the Garden, but his shot rimmed out, and the Celts won in OT 110-107.

1962-63: One year later, little had changed. Boston still dominated the league, going 58-22 and winning the East by 10 games. Russell became the first player to win three straight regular season MVPs. This also marked Bob Cousy's final season and John Havlicek's first (basketball's answer to Mantle and DiMaggio). The Lakers finished 53-27 and won the West by 5 games, as Baylor finished second to Wilt in scoring with a 34.0 PPG.

Both teams faced challenges in their respective division finals; the Celts went seven with the Cincinnati Royals, and the Lakers went seven with the St. Louis Hawks. But both survived to have a Finals rematch. Although most of the games were close (only one was decided by more than 7 points), the C's took a 3-1 lead and won it in six games.

1964-65: After a year's break, the rivalry resumed. Boston set a new league record with a 62-18 record, finishing 14 games ahead of the Royals for first in the East as Russell won his fifth (and final) regular season MVP. He also led the league in rebounds for the last time (24.1 RPG). The Lakers went 49-31 to win the West by four games. West (31.0 PPG) and Baylor (27.1 PPG) were in the top five in scoring.

While the Lakers had a much easier time in the Western Division finals (beating Baltimore 4-2), the Celtics went seven with the Philadelphia 76ers, who had acquired Wilt Chamberlain during the All-Star break. The seventh game was legendary; the Sixers had a chance to win after Russell turned the ball over under the Sixer basket, but John Havlicek stole the inbounding pass (Havlicek stole the ball!!!) to preserve victory. The finals were anticlimatic; with Baylor out the entire series with injury, the Celtics won 4-1.

1965-66: The Celtics' run of nine straight division titles ended during this season; the Sixers beat out the C's by one game to win the division (the Sixers were 55-25, the Celts 54-26) which took away home court and made the Celtics play an opneing round series. So what; Boston beat Cincinnati 3-2, then beat the Sixers 4-1 to advance to their ninth straight Final. The Lakers went 45-35 to win the West by 7 games, as West was second in scoring (31.3 per) and fourth in assists (6.1 per) . They beat the Hawks in seven to advance to the Finals.

L.A. managed to take the opener in Boston in OT. That's when Red Auerbach (who had announced his coaching retirement) named Bill Russell his successor, making Russell the first black coach of the modern era. That inspired the C's to three straight wins and an eventual seven game series win. The win was the Celtics' eighth straight title and ninth in ten years.

1967-68: The Celtics were showing their age a little during the 1968 season. Having lost their title the year before, the Celts finished eight games behind the new champion Sixers with a 54-28 record. Still, they showed there was still something in the tank, as they beat Detroit 4-2 in the division semifinals, then came back from 3-1 down to beat Philly 4-3 and return to the finals. The Lakers finished second to the Hawks in the West with a 52-30 record, as Baylor had one of his last great years (second in scoring with a 26.0 average), beat the Bulls 4-1, then beat the Warriors in a 4-0 sweep to reach the Finals.

The Finals flipped back and forth, with each team alternating wins until the Celts took games 5 & 6 and won the title. The series was noteworthy because Russell played himself a total of 292 minutes in the six game series (a record for a six game Finals series).

1968-69: Many pundits assumed the Lakers were a sure bet to win the title in 1969. They added Wilt Chamberlain in a trade with Philadelphia, and with the dominant trio of him, West and Baylor, the Lakers won 55 games and the Western Division title. Chamberlain led the league in rebounds (21.1 per) and the Lakers beat the Warriors 4-2 and the Hawks 4-1 to advance to the Finals. The Celtics struggled to a 48-34 record, the worst of the Russell era, but managed to beat the Sixers 4-1 in the semis, then beat the Knicks 4-2 to make one more Finals run.

The Lakers took the first two at home by a total of eight points, before the Celtics lashed back with two home wins (one on a dramatic jump shot by Sam Jones, in his last Finals). The teams exchanged home wins to set up game 7, and before the game, the Celts found out that the Lakers, through owner Jack Kent Cooke, had set up dozens of balloons and a marching band to celebrate an apparent Lakers win. That inspired the Cetlics, as they took a big lead early, then through a lucky Don Nelson jumper, beat the Lakers 108-106 to claim their 11th title in 13 years. Despite this, Jerry West won the first Finals MVP (and remains the only losing player to win the award). Three months later, Russell retired, taking the dynasty with him.

1983-84: After a 15 year hiatus, the Celtics and Lakers renewed their hostilities in 1984. The Celtics, after a disappointing 1983 season, replaced Bill Fitch with K.C. Jones and added Dennis Johnson in a trade with Phoenix. With the more relaxed atmosphere, the Celtics went 62-20 and secured the NBA's best record. In the newly expanded playoff format, they beat the Bullets 3-1, survived a grueling seven game series with the Knicks, and beat Milwaukee 4-1 to make the Finals. Larry Bird won his first regular season MVP. The Lakers went 54-28 for the West's best record, swept the Kings 3-0, romped past Dallas 4-1, and beat pesky Phoenix 4-2 to secure the dream finals.

L.A. won the first game 115-109, and they seemed poised to win game 2 until Gerald Henderson stole a pass from James Worthy and scored a tying layup. The Celts won in OT 124-121. The Lakers rolled to an easy 137-104 win in game 3, as Magic Johnson set a Finals record with 21 assists, and Bird angirly said "We played like a bunch of sissies". The Celtics then rebounded with a physical 129-125 OT win, highlighted by Kevin McHale's clothesline of Kurt Rambis and Bird's verbal jousting with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Game 5 was played in sweltering heat (the courtside temp was 97 degrees), but Bird didn't mind; he scored 34 points as Boston won 121-103. The Lakers won game 6, only to see Cedric Maxwell have his last great game as a Celtic with 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Celtics won 111-102 and beat the Lakers for the eighth straight time in the Finals. Bird was Finals MVP.

1984-85: The Lakers entered the 1985 season determined to avenge their 1984 Finals faliure. They surged to a 62-20 record, second only to the Celtics, whipped Phoenix 3-0 in the first round