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 wake up late today after a long night yesterday, and when I awake, I find the totally expected had happened. No, not that Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells still don't see eye to eye, but rather that the Detroit Pistons had fired Flip Saunders as head coach. Saunders was dismissed after another failure in the Eastern Conference Finals Friday against Boston. Personally, the way game 6 ended, I was more surprised that Saunders wasn't fired then. The Pistons blew a 10 point, 4th quarter lead, and lost by 8. That was enough for me to say "He's finished!".

Is Flip to blame for the repeated failure of the Pistons? Partially. I never saw Saunders as a guy who had the respect of the core players. Remember, he had feuds with both Ben and Rasheed Wallace, and couldn't keep the ridiculous Richard Hamilton-Lindsey Hunter- Rasheed dispute from taking a life all its own before game 6. But the bottom line is that when they hired him to replace Larry Brown, they wanted rings, not near-misses. And for that, he didn't deliver. Enough said.

But the Pistons need not stop there in their attempt to transition the team. There are other things that need to be done if they are possible. They are:

Trade Rasheed: I feel that Sheed is the biggest reason this team has underachieved. Sheed doesn't take this game very seriously, and it shows in his hair-yanking willingness to defer and play passively. Take game 6; he goes 0-fer the three point line, scores just 4 points, and then shows his behind with that towel toss at the ESPN camera (a year after he hits an assistant coach with his thrown jersey in Cleveland). I'm tired of him playing like I do at the local gym! He needs to go.

Give Hunter a retirement check: I'll keep this short; Hunter stinks, period! He can't shoot, which makes him a very limited role player. All he did in the Boston series was play decent D and talk. He doesn't need to talk, and you can get defenders who can shoot. Retire, Lindsey!

Trade one of the backcourt starters: Sounds controversial, doesn't it? Remember when the Pistons made the first of six straight conference finals? That year saw them add Chauncey Billups as a FA and trade then-star SG Jerry Stackhouse to Washington for Hamilton. So why not do it again? Of the two, I would lean towards Billups because Rodney Stuckey seems more like a PG-type, but it wouldn't shock me if Hamilton and his Rasheed-like attitude went, either.

Get these guys to remember how they won the 2004 title: The biggest culprit to these Pistons is their stunning complacency (I've been saying this for three years). Even the ESPN guys said it, and Saunders admitted that the arrogance was their biggest strength and their biggest weakness. After using that thought against the Lakers in '04, they became the Lakers, and it cost them a shot at three more titles. I want to see the fire back in Detroit!

Do I know how to fix the Pistons? I'm not an expert. I just know that all eras, as Detroit News columnist Rob Parker said after game 6, usually end badly. This era of Piston basketball may not be totally over, but changes are needed to alter what has become a stale act around my parts. It may start with a new coach, but this group needs a swift kick in the pants, as well. If they don't change it, don't expect even a conference final in 2009.

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, and eliminated Portland and Denver 4-1 each to return to the Finals. The Celtics went 63-19 for the league's best record, with Bird winning his second straight MVP, but faced trouble in the playoffs, beating Cleveland 3-1 in a series where the Cavs matched their total point ouput, eliminated Detroit 4-1, and beat the Sixers 4-1 in the last matchup of the heated foes in the 80s.

Even with that, the Celtics smoked the Lakers in game one 148-114 in the Memorial Day Massacre, as Kareem looked old and the Lakers looked nervous. Both dispelled those notions in game 2, as Kareem scored 30 points and added 17 rebounds in a 109-102 win. After a 136-111 Laker rout in game 3, the Celtics stole game 4 as Dennis Johnson hit a buzzer-beating shot to securd the win. The Lakers won game 5, but as they returned to Boston for game 6, they knew no team had won a title against the Celtics at the Garden. So what?; the Lakers cruised to a 111-100 win and ended their jinx against the C's. Kareem won Finals MVP, and Magic Johnson removed the ghosts of his struggles of 1984.

1986-87: The last matchup (prior to this one, of course) was the series that would determine who would be remembered as the better team of the 1980s, sorta like the third Ali-Frazier fight. The Lakers went 65-17 for the league's best record, as Magic won his first regular season MVP by finishing 10th in scoring (a career-high 23.9 per) and leading the league in assists (12.2 per). The Lakers went 11-1 in the Western Conference playoffs, beating Denver (3-0), Golden State (4-1) and Seattle (4-0) to advance. The Celtics looked old and worn out, but still won 59 games, beating Chicago 3-0 for the second year in a row, then survived seven game series with the Bucks and Pistons (including Bird's legendary stolen inbound pass of Isiah Thomas') to reach their fourth straight Final.

The Lakers rolled to two wins at the Forum, then lost game 3 at Boston. Game 4 was the best of the series. Bird drilled a three late to give the Celtics a two point lead, then Kareem hits and missed a FT, then the C's knock the ball oput of bounds, leading to Magic's famous 'junior skyhook' that proves to be the game winner. After a game 5 loss, the Lakers wrap up the title with a 106-93 win at the Forum. Magic wins his third Finals MVP.

So, after that, here's how these Finals ranked (from 1-10):

1. 1984-85: Can't beat history, can you?

2. 1983-84: So dramatic, and a seven game series usually is very good.

3. 1968-69: I bet you Cooke never counted his chickens like that again, did he?!?

4. 1986-87: The 80s were great, weren't they?

5. 1965-66: History made on the court, and off it, too.

6. 1961-62: Does Frank Selvy still have nightmares about that shot?

7. 1967-68: Talk about running you top guys into the ground; Havlicek played only one fewer minute than Russell! They both averaged over 48 minutes a game!!!!

8. 1962-63: Because it went six games.

9. 1964-65: Because it went five games.

10. 1958-59: Because it was a sweep. None of these series mattered that much!

What do you think was the best Lakers/Celtics matchups? I just want Lakers and Celtics fans to be civil here (lol)! And Fox, this is under NBA, so don't banish me, please (I hope they have a sense of humor. Gulp!).