Let's resume the My List countdown with the most traveled team in NBA history, the Sacramento Kings, who were the Kansas City Kings, who were the Kansas City/Omaha Kings, who were the Cincinnati Royals, who were the Rochester Royals (whew!). So, as you can see, I had a lot of history to look at. Here are the nomad's best players.
Starters:
PG: Oscar Robertson: The "Big O" began his career with his hometown Royals in Cincinnati in 1960 (fresh off teaming with Jerry West for Olympic gold) as the top overall selection that year. Robertson had a brilliant debut, averaging 30.5 PPG, 10.1 RPG and 9.7 APG as the Royals improved by 14 wins over the previous year. The next year was perhaps the best all-around stats year in NBA history; Robertson averaged a triple-double (with 30.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 11.4 APG, leading the Royals to the playoffs for the first time since 1958. Robertson averaged over 30 PPG six times as a Royal (top single season average was 31.4 in 1963-64), had five years with over 10 APG, and was selected to the All-Star team ten times as a Royal, was All-NBA 1st team nine straight years (1961-69), and won one regular season MVP (1964), three All-Star game MVPs (1961, 1964, 1969), and is the Kings' all-time leading scorer and assists man.
SG: Mitch Richmond: Richmond was a solid scorer on some pretty poor Kings teams in the 1990s; if only he had played on a more prominent team in his prime. In any case, Richmond, acquired via trade for Billy Owens from the Warriors in 1991, did the best he could in the mess; he averaged better than 20 PPG each year in Sac town (a high of 25.9 in 1996-97), and made the All-Star team five times with them (1995 game MVP). Despite this, RIchmond made the playoffs with the Kings just once (1996), and though he did win a title with the 2002 Lakers, he was past his prime. Again, what could have been if the team was better.
C: Jerry Lucas: Ohio State fans, rejoice! Lucas may have won his only NBA title with the Knicks in 1973, but his greatest NBA stats years came with the Royals in the 60s. Drafted by the team as a territorial pick in 1962, Lucas joined the team a year later, and had a great debut season, with 17.7 PPG and 17.4 RPG, winning ROY honors (as Robertson did in 1961, btw). Lucas averaged a healthy double-double each full season in CIncy (his scoring high was 21.5 in 1965-66 and 1967-68, and his RPG high was 21.1 in 1965-66), as Lucas made the All-Star team six times as a Royal (1965 game MVP). For his career, he averaged 17 PPG and 15.8 RPG, and made the All-NBA 1st team three times (1965-66, 1968).
SF: Peja Stojakovic: Before moving on to the Pacers and now the Hornets, Stojakovic was (and still is) a sweet-shooting (most of the time) forward for the Kings earlier in this decade (and though I think my backup might have been better, I'll bow to pressure). Drafted by the team #14 overall in 1996, Stojakovic joined the team in 1998-99, and within three years, he became a starter. Peja averaged over 20 PPG four times as a King (career best 24.2 in 2003-04), and made three All-Star teams (2002-04) while there. He also was a key player on the team that reached the 2002 Western Conference finals, before being traded to the Pacers in 2005-06.
PF: Chris Webber: Say what you may about Webber's inability to win the big games, the Kings hadn't played in many big games before he came on the scene (in a trade with Washington for Richmond and Otis Thorpe in 1998). Webber led Sacramento to its first winning season since 1982-83 with a 27-23 mark in the lockout year of 1998-99. Within three years, the Kings were in their first Western final since 1981. Webber averaged better than 20 PPG in five of his six full seasons with the team (high of 27.1 in 2000-01), made four All-Star teams for his career, and had a double-double average five times (rebounding high of 13 per in 1998-99), before being traded to Philadelphia in 2005.
Reserves:
PG:(tie) Mike Bibby/Bob Davies: Davies was one of the great early PGs of the NBA in the 40s and early 50s, but Bibby had a big hand in the Kings success in the early part of this decade. So, they both make it. Davies joined the team while it was still in the NBL (a rival of the BAA/NBA before the two leagues merged in 1949) in 1945, and three years later, he joined the NBA when the Royals, Lakers and Pistons jumped to the BAA. Davies was a solid (for that era) assists man (career best 6 per game in 1951-52), and was a steady scorer (double figures each year, high of 16.2 in 1951-52). He made the first four All-Star teams (1951-54) and led Rochester to the only NBA title in team history in 1951 over the Knicks in 7 games (the first seven game final). Bibby, acquired in a trade with the Grizzlies for Jason Williams in 2001, helped the team reach the Western Conference finals in his first year there, and the team reached the playoffs in each of Bibby's first five years there. Bibby averaged a career best 21.1 PPG in 2005-06, and averaged better than 15,9 in each full season there, until being traded to Atlanta this past season.
SG: Ron Artest: I'll admit that I feel conflicted about this choice; when I did this list initially, I put Otis Birdsong in there. But despite Artest's list of dirty deeds, which have put the NBA into such a bad light I can't explain it, his all-around talent gets the nod here. Artest was acquired in a trade with the Pacers in 2006, after his much-publicized meltdown there, and Artest sparked the Kings to the playoffs that year, averaging 16.9 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.2 APG. Artest is considered one of the best individual defenders in the league (2004 Defensive POY, over 2 steals per game every full season since 2001) and has made one All-Star game (2004).
C: Vlade Divac: The original flop artist (before Manu Ginobili made it cool), Divac arrived as a FA from the Hornets in 1998, and helped Sacramento turn into a playoff team right away as Divac averaged a double-double for the third (and final) time in his career with 14.3 PPG and 10 RPG. Divac made one All-Star team while in Sac town, helped them reach the playoffs each year he was there, and started for the team that reached the 2002 Western finals.
SF: Jack Twyman: Twyman's prime years were actually better than Peja's prime years, but I knew I'd hear the wolves howl at me, so Twyman is only a backup. Twyman joined the team in Rochester in 1955 (as the team's first selection), and moved with them to Cincinnati two years later. Twyman's prime years came between 1958-59 and 1961-62, where he averaged better than 22.9 PPG each season, and better than 8 RPG as well, and made the All-Star team three times in that span (1959-60, 1962, with additional appearences in 1957, 1958 and 1963). Overall, his career averages were 19.2 PPG and 6.6 RPG.
PF: Maurice Stokes: There is no telling how great Stokes' career could have been had he not gotten severely sick in 1958. As it was, he had three outstanding years before illness struck. Drafted as the 11th player taken by the Royals in 1955, Stokes showed that the team had gotten a steal, as he averaged 16.8 PPG and 16.3 RPG, winning ROY honors. Stokes averaged 16.4 PPG and 17.3 RPG during his three years with the Royals (winning the rebounding title in 1958) before his illness took over. His career was over, and he eventually passed on in 1970. A truly tragic story.
Coaches:
Head Coach: Les Harrison: I put the first coach of the team here because he is the only one who can boast an NBA title with this team. Harrison, who also owned the team from their existence in the NBL until 1958, led Rochester to two division titles (1949 and 1952), six winning seasons (including a 51 win season in 1949-50), and the NBA title in 1951. During his tenure as owner and coach, the team won 394 games, and he was enshrined into the basketball HOF in 1979.
Assistants: Rick Adelman, Cotton Fitzsimmons: Adelman took over the team in 1998, and led the club to its first winning season in 16 years that year. Overall, Adelman had a winning record each year in Sacramento, won two division titles, and took the team to the 2002 Western finals before leaving the team in 2006. Fitzsimmons coached the team from 1978 to 1984, and had three winning seasons while there, and won a division title in 1978-79. His greatest achievement while there was taking the 40-42 Royals to the 1981 Western Conference finals before losing to the Rockets.
Honorable Mentions:
SG: Otis Birdsong: After being on the original list, I had to mention him as an HM. But he was more of a score-only guy, and that lack of vversitility hurt him.
SF: Scott Wedman: Despite making the All-Star team as a King (1976), he is better known as a Celtic.
SG: Doug Christie: Good defender, but Artest is better.
C; Sam Lacey: Very solid player (six times averaged a double-double), but team wasn't as good during his time as it was with Lucas and Divac.
SF: Eddie Johnson: Gained more acclaim with the Suns and Sonics.
PG: Phil Ford: Three good years, but that was about as far as Ford got in the NBA.
SG: Danny Ainge: Better years with the Celtics, Blazers and Suns. Why? Because they won!
PG: Nate Archibald: Wait, I'd like to amend my backup PG choice; put Bibby and Davies in the HM section, and put Archibald as the backup! Archibald, drafted in the second round in 1970, was the only player to lead the league in scoring and assist in 1972-73 (34 PPG, 11.4 APG). He would make six All-Star teams for his career (1981 game MVP), won an NBA title with the Celtics in 1981, and for his career made three All-NBA 1st teams (1973, 1975-76). There, see, even I make mistakes!
On that note, that's the Kings. Tomorrow comes team #16, the Wizards. Until then, don't forget Nate Archibald!
Time to continue the My List special, and, in honor of the blazing heat that grips my neighborhood, we'll unveil team #12, the Phoenix Suns. Here is the Suns' lineup.
Starters:
PG: Steve Nash: When Nash signed with Phoenix for his second tour of duty in 2004 (he also played for the team from 1996-98) after leaving Dallas, no one felt he would be the marquee signing of the year. But Nash sparked the team as the Suns improved from 29 wins the year before he arrived to 62after he came, as Nash won league MVP honors with averages of 15.5 PPG and 11.5 APG. Nash would repeat as MVP in 2005-06, raising his scoring to 18.8 PPG and still averaging 10.5 APG. Nash has led Phoenix to two Western Conference finals, and has made five All-Star teams.
SG: Paul Westphal: Before becoming Suns head coach, Westphal was a solid player for the team in the 1970s. Acquired in a trade from Boston for Charlie Scott in 1975, Westphal helped Phoenix reach the NBA Finals in his first season, and it was his knowledge of the rules (and ways to bend them) that allowed Gar Heard to hit his famous jumper in game 5 of that series to force triple overtime (the rule regarding timeouts called when none are available has since been changed). Westphal averaged better than 20 PPG in each of his five seasons in Phoenix, made five All-Star teams overall, and helped Phoenix to a conference finals berth in 1979 before being traded to Seattle for Dennis Johnson in 1980.
C: Amare Stoudemire: There just wasn't much to choose from here, so Stoudemire makes the cut. Drafted #9 overall in 2002, Stoudemire won ROY that season with averages of 13.5 PPG and 8.8 RPG, hepling Phoenix reach the playoffs. In year three, his averages went up to 26 PPG and 8.9 RPG, before he underwent microfracture surgery and missed most of the 2005-06 season. Some feared that he'd never recover, but Stoudemire proved them wrong, and had a 20.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG season. Just 26 years old, Stoudemire has at least 5-7 more great seasons ahead of him.
SF: Connie Hawkins: In his heyday, Hawkins was the Julius Erving of the day; he was graceful through the air and a class act to boot. However, Hawkins was denied entry into the NBA initially after his name was linked to a gambling scandal in college (for the record, Hawkins was exonorated). After flings in the short-lived ABL, the Globetrotters, and the ABA, Hawkins was allowed into the NBA with the Suns in 1969. Though he wasn't quite the same magnificent athlete, Hawkins made the All-Star team four times in his four full seasons in Phoenix, with his first year there being his best; he averaged 20.9 PPG, 9.1 RPG and 4.5 APG as he helped the Suns make the playoffs for the first time. Hawkins was eventually traded to the Lakers in 1974, and eighteen years later, he was inducted into the HOF.
PF: Charles Barkley: The "Round Mound of Rebound" was invigorated after being traded to Phoenix from the 76ers for three players (including Jeff Hornacek) in 1992. Barkley, freed from a no-win situation in Philly, had the best all-around season in his first year in the valley of the sun, averaging 25.6 PPG, 12.2 RPG and a career high 5.1 APG, as Phoenix finished with the best record in the NBA and made the Finals before losing to the Bulls. Barkley captured his only league MVP that season. Overall, he averaged a double-double each season in Phoenix (four years), made the All-Star team each year, was All-NBA first team in 1993, and led Phoenix to two division titles, before being traded to Houston in 1996.
Reserves:
PG: Kevin Johnson: "KJ" was the motor of the potent Suns teams of the late 80s and through the 90s. Acquired in a trade from Cleveland that sent Larry Nance to Richfield, Johnson exploded after being traded, averaging 20.4 PPG and 12.2 APG (the assists totals would remain his career high) in 1988-89 after averages of 9.2 and 5.5 his rookie year. It was the first of five straight double-double average years for Johnson, who would make three All-Star teams, would be named All-NBA second twice (1989-90), and start for the 1993 finalists.
SG: Walter Davis: The "Grayhound" was a player Michael Jordan looked up to (and why not, they're both former Tar Heels). And Davis had a spectacular career. As a rookie in 1977-78, Davis averaged 24.2 PPG and 6 RPG, winning ROY honors. Davis would average better than 20 PPG five times as a Sun (his rookie year average was his career high), and would make six All-Star teams. He'd also be named All-NBA second team twice (1978-79) and help Phoenix reach two Western finals (1979, 1984).
C: Alvan Adams: Again, not much to choose from, but Adams was a solid center for Phoenix. Adams would win ROY honors in 1975-76 with averages of 19 PPG and 9.1 RPG (ironically, both would be his career best averages) as Phoenix advanced to the Finals that year. Over his 13 year career, Adams made one All-Star team (1976), and would average 14.1 PPG and 7 RPG. And he would help Phoenix reach two more conference finals.
SF: Dan Majerle: Some may clamor for Shawn Marion, but how can you completely ignore "Thunder Dan"? Majerle, drafted #14 overall in 1988 (he wasn't the Suns' first choice; Tim Perry was), was a spark plug off the bench, and would play his best basketball in the mid-90s; he averaged at least 15.6 PPG each year from 1992-95, and would make three All-Star teams (1992-93, 1995). He also would tie a then-Finals record of six three pointers in game 3 of the 1993 Finals, as the Suns won in triple overtime. Majerle would finish his career with the Suns in 2004 and became a local basketball analyst.
PF: Tom Chambers: Chambers would have some of his best stats years after being traded to the Suns from Seattle in 1988. In his first year there, Chambers averaged 25.7 PPG and 8.4 RPG (the rebounds would be a career high) as Phoenix reahced the conference finals. The follwing year, he had a career high 27.2 PPG as the Suns once again reached the third round. Chambers made the All-Star team three times in Phoenix (1989-91), was All-NBA second team twice (1989-90) and was a reserve on the team that reached the 1993 Finals.
Coaches:
Head Coach: John MacLeod: MacLeod wasd an unknown coach when Phoenix tapped him to replace Jerry Colangelo in 1973, but within three years, MacLeod piloted the Suns to their first ever NBA Finals against the Celtics. MacLeod would help Phoenix reach the conference finals on two other occsions, and the team had seven winning seasons (and four with 50 or more) in his 13 full seasons there. For his career, he won 707 games.
Assistants: Cotton Fitzsimmons, Paul Westphal, Mike D'Antoni: Fitzsimmons coached the Suns on three seperate occasions (1970-72, 1988-92, and 1995-96), and in each full season he coached there, the team won at least 48 games. He also coached the team to two conference finals (1989-90). Westphal, the former star player, took over for Cotton in 1992, and in his first season, Westphal directed the team to the NBA Finals and won 62 games. Westphal won at least 56 games in each of his three full seasons, and won two Pacific division titles. D'Antoni, hired as an interim coach in 2003-04, was named COY in his first full season as the Suns went from 29 to 62 wins. The Suns won over 50 games each year he coached (over 60 twice) and made two Western Conference Finals.
Honorable Mentions:
SF: Shawn Marion: Great talent, but not a Suns lifer, and more of a product of the system (I know this will get complaints).
PF: Larry Nance: He had a great run in Phoenix (twice over 20 PPG) but he is much better known as a Cavalier.
C: James Edwards: Solid C, but is better known as a Piston.
SG: Dennis Johnson: Solid stats (18, 19 and 14 PPG in his three years) but too small a sample, and (continuing a theme) better known as a Sonic and Celtic.
SG: Jeff Hornacek: Made 1992 All-Star team in Phoenix, but (this is getting annoying) better in Utah.
PG: Jason Kidd: Great run in Phoenix, but Nash and Johnson were more responsible for better success in Phoenix than Kidd's teams were, and Kidd was better in Jersey (somebody stop me!).
C: Shaquille O'Neal: Just kidding; one half-season does not an all-time team make.
That's the Suns list. Next Monday, the countdown resumes with team #13 (unlucky!), the since-moved Supersonics. Until then, may Clay Bennett not own your team (lol!).
Despite the fact that I just went through the worst fantasy football draft software (with Fox, no less) I've ever seen today, and I'm mad about it, I'm still going ahead with the My List special with team #11 in the countdown, the Warriors. Here's the lineup.
Starters:
PG: Tim Hardaway: Yes, Baron Davis is still fresh in everyone's minds, and people tend to remember Hardaway for his hateful remarks not too long ago. But in Hardaway's prime, he was the spark plug for Don Nelson's famed "Run TMC" offense of the early 1990s. Drafted #14 overall in 1989 (behind such stars as Randy White, Tom Hammonds, Stacey King and Danny Ferry), Hardaway was a starter immediately, and had a solid rookie year with 14.7 PPG and 8.7 APG. Over the next four full seasons he played in GS (he missed the entire 1993-94 season with injuries), he averaged over 20 PPG and had two seasons of a double-double (points & assists) average. He also made the All-Star team three times (1991-93) while in the Bay Area.
SG: Paul Arizin: "Pitching Paul" may not be on the lips of everybody, but he was an early scoring sensation for the Warriors in the 1950s. Chosen as the first pick by the club in 1950 (after being named college POY at Villanova), Arizin led the NBA in scoring in his second season (25.4 PPG), as well as FG%, and also pulled down 11.3 RPG to go with All-Star game MVP honors. After serving in the military for two seasons, Arizin returned and led Philly to the title in his fourth NBA season in 1955-56. He would eventually win another scoring title in 1957 (25.6 PPG), had his best PPG season in 1958-59 (26.4), and would make nine All-Star games before retiring in 1962.
C: Wilt Chamberlain: It goes without saying that most of Chamberlain's greatest individual accomplishments came in a Warrior uniform. The club used a loophole to acquire Chamberlain as a territorial pick in 1959 (while Wilt was with the Harlem Globetrotters); even though Chamberlain went to college at Kansas (and territorial picks came from college location), the Warriors chose him because he went to high school in Philly. However they got him, it was worth it; Chamberlain became the first player to win ROY and league MVP his first year with averages of 37.6 PPG and 27 RPG; only Wes Unseld has won both awards in the same year since. Chamberlain won the scoring title each season with the Warriors (as well as four rebounding titles, and he pulled down an NBA record 55 boards against Boston in 1960), and had the greatest scoring season for an NBA player in 1961-62, as Wilt averaged a staggering 50.4 PPG (a record that will never be broken) and scored 100 points in a game against New York that same year; no one has come closer than 19 points to tying that mark. Chamberlain would lead the Warriors to one NBA Final (losing in 1964 to Boston) before being traded the following year.
SF: Rick Barry: Barry may have rubbed many people the wrong way (Robert Parish called him the most arrogant player I've ever seen), but there was little doubt Barry could play the game well. Chosen 2nd overall in 1965, Barry had the only double-double average of his entire career as a rookie (25.7 PPG, 10.6 RPG) and won the ROY award. The following year, he won the scoring title (35.6 per) and led the Warriors to the Finals (they lost to the 76ers). Barry then had a dispute after bolting to the ABA, and sat out the 1967-68 season, before joining the Oakland Oaks and winning the ABA title in his first season, with Barry winning the ABA scoring title (34 PPG); he's the only player to ever win the NBA, ABA, and NCAA scoring titles. Barry was named an NBA All-Star seven times (he returned to the league in 1972), was All-NBA 1st team five times, and led the Warriors to one of the biggest upsets in NBA history as they swept Washington to win the 1975 NBA title (Barry was Finals MVP).
PF: Jamaal Wilkes: Yes, he isn't a PF. Yes, he was much better known as a Laker. But Wilkes started his career in Golden State, and his body of work gets him the nod here. Drafted #11 overall in 1974, the then-Keith Wilkes won ROY as a Warrior, averaging 14.2 PPG and 8.2 RPG as he helped the team win the 1975 NBA title. Over his three years with the team, Wilkes averaged about 17 PPG and 8 RPG before leaving for L.A. in 1977.
Reserves:
PG: Baron Davis: Though Baron probably won't sing Christmas caroles with Don Nelson, he did help revive Warriors basketball after such a bad stretch earlier this decade. Acquired in a trade with New Orleans in 2005, Davis enjoyed three solid seasons in the Bay, averaging at least 18 PPG all three years, and better than 20 per the last two, and led the Warriors to winning records the last two years before departing for the Clippers. In 2007, he was the major factor in the Warriors springing a major upset with relative ease as they dispatched Dallas to become the first #8 seed to beat a #1 in a best-of-seven series.
SG: Mitch Richmond: To those who may say Richmond (or Latrell Sprewell) should be ahead of Arizin, I say he only played there three years, and is better known as a King. That said, Richmond bursted out of the gate as a rookie, winning ROY in 1989 with averages of 22 PPG and 5.9 RPG. Over his three years in GS, his averages stayed steady in the 22 PPG, 6 RPG range, as the Warriors made the playoffs twice in those three years. Then, they traded him to the Kings for Billy Owens. Oh well, it did let them draft Sprewell lol!
C: Nate Thurmond: Thurmond was a great C of his day, but his teams never could get over the hump. Drafted #3 overall in 1963, Thurmond was actually miscast at PF due to the presence of Wilt Chamberlain, but Thurmond was a good soldier as the Warriors made the Finals in his rookie year (he averaged 7 PPG and 10.4 RPG). When Chamberlain was traded in 1965, Thurmond blossomed after moving back to center, and had the first of 10 straight years of averaging a double-double with the Warriors (he had an 11th with Chicago after being traded there for Clifford Ray in 1974). His best stats year was 1967-68, with averages of 20.5 PPG and 22 RPG. For his career, Thurmond made five All-Star teams, averaged 15 PPG and 15 RPG exactly, and led the Warriors to the 1967 Finals.
SF: Chris Mullin: Mullin was sort of a poor man's version of Larry Bird; he was an exceptional scorer, and had limited athletic skills, but had a great basketball IQ. Drafted #7 overall in 1985, Mullin shook off an injury-shortened rookie season, and began the first of six straight years of scoring 20+ PPG (a high of 26.5 in 1988-89), and made four All-Star teams and was a member of the Dream Team in 1992. Mullin was named All-NBA first team in 1991-92, and after retiring as a Warrior in 2001, he now serves as team president.
PF: Antawn Jamison: Again, I know he isn't a true PF, but he played there frequently as a Warrior, so he makes it. Jamison, acquired in a draft-pick swap with the Raptors for Vince Carter in 1998, became a full-time starter in his second year (which was shortened by injury). He had two seasons of over 20 PPG (a career high 24.9 per in 2000-01), and also had close to 9 RPG twice as a Warrior. Of course, he made both his All-Star teams after joining the Wizards, but that's another story.
Coaches:
Head Coach: Al Attles: No offense to Nellie, but Attles did help the team win the NBA title in 1975, while Nellie hasn't sniffed the Finals, so Attles gets the nod. In Attles' tenure (1970-83, which doesn't include the time he missed in 1979-80 with an injury), Attles led the Warriors to the playoffs six times, and made three conference finals and the aforementioned 1975 titlists. He won 550 games as Warriors coach.
Assistants: Don Nelson, Eddie Gottlieb: Nelson has revived Warriors basketball twice in his career. The first time, he took a team that had missed the playoffs in ten of eleven years and took them to the postseason four times in six full seasons. The second time has seen the Warriors have winning records twice and return to the postseason for the first time in 12 years. But no titles really hurts. Gottlieb won the first ever NBA title (then know as the BAA title) in 1947, and he made the playoffs in six of his nine years as coach (and won 263 games) before becoming team owner in 1955.
Honorable Mentions:
SG: Latrell Sprewell: Probably better all-around than Arizin or Richmond. Now about that choking incident and the "I can't feed my family on $8 million" comment?
PG: Sleepy Floyd: Had a nice run in GS, but who do you take out at PG?
SG: Phil Smith: Made two All-Star teams, but didn't maintain his level of play for very long.
PG: Gus Williams: Better known as a Sonic.
PF: Chris Webber: Better known for his stormy exit that brought on the 12-year playoff drought.
SG: Joe Fulks: First league scoring champ (23.2 per in 1946-47), but did very little else.
C: Neil Johnston: Two time scoring champ, but did it before the shot clock and bigger centers like Russell.
C: Clifford Ray: Solid C, but solid doesn't beat Chamberlain and Thurmond.
That's the Warriors. Tomorrow, team #12 will be the Suns. Until then, may your fantasy drafts not fail you!
As I sit at home more often than not, I am usually consumed by sports. As my recent blogs have stated (vividly), though, there's nothing going on right now that would qualify as exciting. So, I decided, for the month of July (but starting today), to run a My List special. Every list in this marathon will be devoted to choosing the best players in the history of each qualified NBA franchise.
This is not a new concept for me; I tried a similar concept in a group for this site, but I abandoned it because, well, having only one active member doesn't a group make. And when I tried to bring it to the main blog pages, I was met with questions like "I'm confused. Is it just the best players, or is it single-season teams?". Let me use this space to explain what this concept is:
I have taken 29 of the NBA teams (except Charlotte, who was too new to be ranked), and chosen the best players from each position. That means that players who were never teammates would be, hypothetically, through this.
I have chosen the teams according to what a potential starting lineup would be. That could (and probably will) mean that certain greats on one team are backups, and weaker players on others starters.
Achievements with the team are paramount, obviously, but in cases where the talent pool is weak, and a player with a good career made a cameo on the team, they are included.
I then ranked the teams 1-29 according to how strong (I felt) their lineup was. So, it's not ranked based on titles.
Now then, we begin the countdown with my #1 ranked team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Here is the lineup:
Starters:
PG: Magic Johnson: If I recently ranked him as the best NBA player ever (certainly open to debate, but still), he has to start here. To run a Cliff's Notes version of his career, he led the Lakers to five NBA titles and nine appearences in the Finals, won three regular season and Finals MVPs, was the all-time assists leader at the time of his first retirement, and helped reignite the NBA in the 1980s. This was the easiest position to pick here.
SG: Kobe Bryant: And now, for the hardest position to rank a starter. Both Bryant and the Logo, Jerry West, would have been great picks. In the end, Kobe wins narrowly (though I have a hunch he would allow West to start if problems arose). The reigning MVP has won multiple socring titles, helped the Lakers reach five NBA Finals, and has won three of them (we won't go into how or why, but he has three rings).
C: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Kareem was already on his way to a HOF career when he was acquired by the Lakers in a blockbuster trade in 1975. He added three regular season MVPs to the three he won in Milwaukee (for a record six overall), and helped L.A. to five titles during his 15 years there. He also set the all-time scoring mark as a Laker in 1984. He now currently works for the Lakers as a special assistant.
SF: Elgin Baylor: Baylor's biggest black mark as a player (let's not discuss his tenure with the Clippers) was that he never won an NBA title, but Baylor was a legendary player who was among the first to take it airborne. He won ROY with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 and took the upstarts to the Finals that year. He went on to be named first team All-NBA ten times and be an 11-time All-Star. He also set an NBA Finals record (still stands) with 61 points against Boston in game 5 of the 1962 Finals. He helped Minneapolis/L.A. to eight NBA Finals overall.
PF: Wilt Chamberlain: Before you say "He's not a PF!"; there were so many great C's and fewer great PF, that I've included the C's at the PF position. Anyhow, Chamberlain wasn;t the magnificent scoring machine of his prime, but the Lakers didn't need him to be. Chamberlain showed how far he came in 1971-72, when he led the league in rebound and FG% and helped the team win 33 straight games en route to a then-record 69 victories. Overall, he led L.A. to four Finals (winning the 1972 Finals MVP).
Reserves:
PG: Gail Goodrich: Goodrich was the key scorer for the Lakers of the early 1970s, and actually helped his team land Magic when he signed with the New Orleans Jazz in 1976 (the Jazz gave up the pick that L.A. would later use on Earvin). But Goodrich was a solid player in his era. After being a bit player for the Lakers from 1965-68 and then emerging in Phoenix, Goodrich returned to L.A. in 1970, and in the Lakers' brilliant 1972 season, he led the team in PPG (25.9). He went on to average over 20 PPG in four straight seasons.
SG: Jerry West: I kinda alluded to this earlier, but West wasn't called Mr. Clutch for nothing. West personified grace and fire on the court, and was consistently brilliant for the Lakers in the 60s and early 70s. West won the first ever Finals MVP in 1969, and in doing so, is the only player from the losing team to win the award. He also won the scoring title in 1970 (the first year it was awarded on PPG average and not total points). He averaged at least 20 PPG in every season after his rookie year, and led the Lakers to nine NBA Finals and the elusive brass ring in 1972.
C: George Mikan: People today tend to forget Mikan, but in his era, he was the player of the NBA. His star was so big, Madison Square Garden famously put up "Geo Mikan vs Knicks" before one game there. Mikan was the Bill Russell of his day; he won an NBL title with the Chicago Gears, then after joining the Lakers, led them to an NBL title, and after they moved to the BAA/NBA, they won five titles in six years. Mikan won three scoring titles, and was the first player for whom the rules were changed to counter him (they widened the foul lane). That personifies dominance.
SF: James Worthy: Worthy was the spark plug for the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s. His swoops to the rack fired up the Forum crowds and his team, and Worthy always saved his very best for when it mattered the most; the playoffs. Drafted #1 overall in 1982, fresh off an NCAA crown, Worthy missed all of the 1983 playoffs with an injury. The next year, he bursted on the scene, and his zentih occured in 1988, when he won Finals MVP (he also got his only career triple-double in game 7 of that series, with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists). For his career, he averaged 17.6 PPG and 5.1 RPG.
PF: Shaquille O'Neal: For all he has done recently to look foolish, O'Neal did have a great run with Kobe and the Lakers early in this decade. After coming from Orlando as a free agent in 1996, Shaq won his first (and only) league MVP in 2000 after Phil Jackson took over. Shaq also won the scoring title that year (going with one won in Orlando). Shaq was the unstoppable force (unless he took free throws) of those Lakers as they won three straight titles from 2000-02.
Coaches:
Head Coach: Pat Riley: Riles may have sullied his rep a bit in Miami, but as the coach of the Showtime Lakers, Riley was dominant. He won no fewer than 54 games in every full season with the team, won four titles and made eight Finals during his run. He also won COY in his final season there in 1989-90.
Assistants: John Kundla, Phil Jackson: Jackson is pretty obvious; three titles with the Lakers, five Finals berths, and nine overall titles. But Kundla was a great coach with Minneapolis, winning five titles in six years. He also is in the HOF (though it took him nearly 40 years after retiring in 1959 to get there).
Honorable Mentions:
PG Slater Martin: He did win five titles with the Minneapolis team, but wasn't a key figure despite his HOF selection.
PF Vern Mikkelsen: Another HOFer, and a true PF, but which of the C's can you leave out here?
any Lakers from the 1990s except Shaq and Kobe: They didn't win consistently enough to get here.
There are the Lakers. Tomorrow, I'll unveil their archrivals, the Celtics.
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, 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!).
There is definately one celebration for me today, and if the Lakers can take care of business today, there could be two things to celebrate. As those of you who commented on my post-game Lakers/Spurs blog know, this is my birthday (I'm 24). So, before I begin my preview of tonight's game, I decided to see what sports events happened today (this is a one-time only thing for me, so whoever does those "This week in sports" blogs is safe):
On this day in:
1911: The first Indy 500 is held.
1922: Baseball is ruled a sport (not business) and isn't included in antitrust legislation.
1980: Larry Bird is named ROY in the NBA.
1984: The Red Sox retire Ted Williams' number.
1995: Indiana and Orlando play a memorable Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The lead changes hands four times late until Rik Smits hits the game winner at the buzzer for a 94-93 victory.
1997: John Stockton sinks a buzzer-beating 3 to send the Utah Jazz to their first NBA Finals as they beat Houston 103-100 in game 6 of the Western Conference Finals.
2004: Kevin Garnett wins his final playoff game as a Timberwolf when Minnesota beats the Lakers 98-96 in game 5 of the Western Finals.
And who could forget:
1993: Jose Canseco takes the mound for a relief pitcher appearence during a Rangers/Red Sox game. He pitches the 8th, gives up 3 runs and 2 hits, plus 3 walks. The Rangers lose 15-1, and to add injury to insult, he injures his arm and misses the rest of the season.
Ah, the memories.
Now then, let's look at the Lakers/Spurs matchup. Can the Spurs avoid elimination? Or can Kobe move one step closer to a career-defining ring? Here are my keys for each team:
Spurs keys:
1. Be the Man-u, Ginobili!: If the Spurs want to play again at home this year, Ginobili must come up big. It's great when Brent Barry has a huge game, but Manu inspires his team when he goes off. Plus, it takes pressure off of Duncan and Parker to carry the load.
2. Take the open shots: It sounds childishly simple, but the Spurs have passed on a lot of open looks (I commented Tuesday that Robert Horry had become "I Don't Want The Shot Bob!"). If you're open (Timmy), take the shot. You have nothing to lose, so don't worry if you miss.
3. Don't let Kobe beat you: Again, fairly obvious, but you know Kobe will come for the throat tonight. He's so close to the Finals, he can taste it! Make players like Odom and Fisher, plus Vlad Rad and Sasha V, shoot to win.
Lakers keys:
1. Forget about the finish to game 4: Yeah, the NBA admitted they made the wrong non-call at the end of game 4, but I'm talking about the stuff before that; the Barry three, the Parker goaltend-that-shouldn't-have-been, and two bad shots by Kobe. Throw that out, and come out swinging tonight!
2. Lamar Odom, please hit a shot or more!: Kobe is the undenyable top player here, but Odom is the X-factor; when he's playing well, they're virtually unbeatable. He didn't have his A-game on display in SA, but maybe the home crowd gets him going.
3. A steady diet of Kobe, please!: In the end, this game is where superstars leave their mark on the game. Kobe not only has a berth in the Finals on the line, he has his enitre legacy at stake as well. That's all I need to know to say Kobe will go off tonight and try to send the Spurs home as ex-champs!
So, who wins? The Spurs have to be demoralized that they got ripped off at home by incompetent referees, and they will bring fire tonight. I just don't see that as being enough to stop the Lakers now. The Lakers advance to the Finals with a seven point win.
