Sean Taylor, safety for the Washington Redskins, a man I never knew, died yesterday. When the horrific news got to me, shock gave way quickly
to an all too familiar emotion – despair. And one relentless thought.
Dammit, not
again.
You reach
for words, and profanities come to mind. Some days, nothing is as eloquent.
Another
player from “The U” (of Miami) dies young.
Again.
Another
senseless homicide of a young black man. A daughter left fatherless.
Again.
“I never ever ran from the Ku Klux
Klan I shouldn’t have to run from a black
man, ‘Cause that’s sel####estruction…”
- Kool Moe
Dee, “Self Destruction” (1988)
It is a
statistical fact that the leading cause of death for black men ages 15-24 is
homicide. It is also a fact that the killer is likely to be another black male.
I am a
black male. I know the numbers too well. As Jemele Hill points out, we are SIX
times more likely to be killed than a white male in the same age bracket.
Like a sick,
twisted, Indiana Jones movie, growing up as a young black man seems to involve avoiding death traps on a regular
basis, except that all too often, if it isn’t the big, huge boulder (gang-life)
running you down, or the poison-tipped darts (drugs), or a broken education
system (over 65% of all black college students are female), it is the guns.
There are even more reasons and factors, but that is a discussion for another
day.
Worst of
all, your friends – yes, your friends can drag you down.
“Friends”
who are jealous of your success, or demand that you keep it real by being
involved in their foolishness. The road to hell is an 8-lane highway paved with
best intentions of proving that you haven’t forgotten your homies.
After all
of that, institutional racism – in all it’s forms - doesn’t have to pick off
many men.
I can’t
pass judgment on what happened Sunday night in the Taylor home. And you know something? It’s really
immaterial.
Sean Taylor
was 24, and had by all accounts had truly turned his life around from a rocky
start, which makes this all even more painful. Sadly, he probably should have
moved out of Miami, as there is a fairly good case that can be made
that he knew his assailant.
Already, much
has been made about Taylor’s past somehow still catching up to
him, but it really doesn’t matter. Ask the late Broncos cornerback Darrant
Williams who had the misfortune of getting killed by a bullet meant for someone
else. Case still unsolved.
Ask the
Timberwolves’ Antoine Walker, or the Knicks Eddie Curry. Both men were the
victim of savage home invasions, like the one that killed Sean Taylor. Neither
man has been in any trouble whatsoever with the law.
Neither
story got more than a brief mention when it happened. Somehow, I have to
believe that if Brett Favre was the victim of a home invasion, if Deanna Favre
had a gun shoved in her face and terrorized, the story would have rated slightly
more press no?
Clearly,
judging by the overkill of the Michael Vick scandal, we know what would have
happened if, heaven forbid, that Curry and Walker were holding guns, rather
than facing one.
Our media
has a much easier time (and makes more money) envisioning black men as perps
rather than victims of violent crime.
We live in
a society that is increasingly violent. We also live in a society where even
wealth and success guarantees no real escape for some unless they are willing
to make real changes in associates and even geography. Perhaps if Taylor had made his full-time home in D.C.
instead of near his old haunts in Miami, life would have been different. It
is tragic that that would even have to be an option. But it is fact.
The deepest
feeling I have today is pain. I feel his loss the same way I felt the fall of Maurice Clarett.
The same way I may feel when I hear about the senseless loss of a young brother locally. We can't afford to lose any black men. It is hard enough already.
It is the
reason why I have contempt for writers and talking heads that wallow in barely concealed schadenfreude
when a Vick or Clarett blow their chances to escape their environments.
Yes, I know
it is good business, low hanging fruit, and easy copy, but there is a bigger story and far bigger issues.
It is far,
far too personal for me. Today, yet another young black man lies dead at 24.
A father, a
soon-to-be husband.
A friend
and a teammate.
Another luminous
life, a world of potential snuffed out too soon. Again.
It is chic, and sometimes justified, to rip on Isiah Thomas in his career as an NBA executive.
Now, I know Isiah earns a lot of his eminity. Some people can't reconcil the Two Zekes. Psychology isn't my field, but from where I sit, Isiah wears The Mask well - I'm talking DuBois, not Jim Carey. Outside, we get the baby-faced, doe-eyed face, soft voice with the Jell-O pudding smile. Inside, he's straight Michael Corelone. Grow up the way Thomas did, and you better have it.
That core, that life cred makes him able to relate to a Stephon Marbury. Kind of hard to pull nonsense of a man who's won two title on the court. Pity parties won't work on a brother who escaped a Chicago project (and on to a NCAA, two NBA titles, and the Hall Of Fame)that made Coney Island look like Disneyworld.
Celtic Nation still hold the "Larry Bird would be just another good player." line against him - and forget that it was Dennis Rodman who actually mouthed the phrase. Some Piston fans still feel that he shanked a great player and teammate in Adrian Dantley, and got him run out of Motown in favor of his lifelong pal Mark Aguirre.
And we won't even get into the whole CBA mess.
Since taking over as the Knicks GM in late 2003, Isiah has presided over 25 trades, five coaches (including himself), gone through moved more bodies than Tony Soprano (and Tony had a 4 year head start), and it has gotten the Knicks... what?
Well, after the Larry Brown "Reign Of Err", the Knicks actually looked like a playoff team at times, winning 33 games - 10 more than the year before under Brown - and holding down a playoff spot deep into March until injuries to Jamal Crawford, Stephon Marbury, and David Lee proved too much to overcome.
Along the way, the astute fan had to take note of something: For all of the Thomas trades and free agent signings that got rightly panned - my personal favorite was signing fat underachiever Jerome James to a 30 million dollar contract based on one good playoff series against a Kings team minus Chris Webber - Isiah's draft picks have been spot-on:
In 2004, he drafted Trevor Ariza late in the first round. Sought after by several teams after his rookie year, he became trade bait in the Francis trade.
2005: A pretty fair windfall. Channing Frye, who turned in a solid rookie season, and possessed enough promise that Portland welcomed him in the Zack Randolph deal. Isiah also plucked Florida's David Lee at number 30, already acknowledged as one of the league's best rebounders, and a big-time "energy" player off the bench. When he isn't being a knucklehead (or winning dunk championships), Nate Robinson has created a niche as a high energy 6th man, a fan favorite who packs a two-guard mentality into a 5-7 frame.
In 2006, well, do I have to remind anyone of Renaldo Balkman? From personal experience, I can tell you that the best part of attending the NBA Draft are are angry Knicks fans, and they absolutely...cut..LOOSE! The experts echoed the fans with universal disbelief and derision.
Then a funny thing happened - Balkman turned out to be a solid NBA player. He brought defense, passion, and reckless abandon to a team in dire need of all of it. The second Knicks pick, Mardy Collins, made it very easy for the Knicks to move Steve Francis (and his cap-strangling contract) on to Portland, which should tell you a lot. Note that other than Frye, the above mentioned players were drafted at number 20 or later. How many teams can claim even one decent NBA player acquired at similar spot in the draft?
And now that the dust has settled, Isiah can breathe a huge sigh of relief over the Eddy Curry deal. After foolishly not lottery-protecting either first round pick in the deal, it turns out that the Knicks got Curry for Joakim Noah and Ty Thomas. While both young Bulls are promising talents that will defend and run the court, Curry could very well outscore both men this year - combined. Meanwhile, the Bulls are still in dire need of a low-post presence. Curry had a breakout season last year as a low-post scorer - the scarest commodity in the league, almost making up for his criminal lack of rebounding.
Not such a bad deal after all, eh?
Looking back at the trades Thomas has made, Crawford is on the verge of developing into a prime-time scorer. Quinton Richardson will either start at small forward, or be a may be a valued trade chip. The Malik Rose for Nazr Mohammad deal was panned as a big win for the Spurs. Mohammad has since washed out with both the Spurs and Pistons, and Rose is a valued locker room presence, which was why he was acquired in the first place.
Francis came over for Ariza, and while that deal never worked for all of the obvious reasons, he did net the Knicks a 20-10 player in Randolph.
Above all else, give Zeke credit for trying. In a league where too many executives are scared to pull the trigger on a trade, Thomas is probably too aggressive. His trades have often been poor, and cap-hostile, but he makes them. And some of them do work, once we get past the Isiah-bashing.
And be honest - whose roster would you rather have right now? The Knicks with Curry, Randolph, Marbury, Lee, et al. or the Larry Bird's Pacers? Or the Celtics or T-Wolves?
How about the Knicks' roster versus the Lakers - sans Kobe Bryant?
Yeah, I thought so.
Now, if Isiah would just stay away from Ron Artest...
The Jeopardy Answer Of The Day is... "Whoopy Dee Damn Do." - Derrick Coleman
The Question?
What is "Hey, Paris Hilton was released yesterday!"? DING!
--------------------------
Every damn June, I tune into the NBA Draft and get reminded how I'm making money the hard way.
I mean, people get PAID to draft J. J. Reddick 11th overall....what is that [insert profane gerund here] GM thinking about? There are few certainities, but here is one: There is some genius who will pass on a Josh Howard to take a Brian Cook. (Yeah, I'm still ticked about that one.) You get the idea. NBA drafting isn't rocket science. (Yes, I know something about rocket science - this ain't it.) Yet, almost every year, at least 2 or 3 GMs fall on their face. You could spend the next hour reading technical reasons - and NBA sabermetrics are still dicey. But in a nutshell?
No one uses their common sense. If GMs did, the (L)eastern Conference wouldn't get their heads handed to them every year by the West. Then again, the draft wouldn't be half as much fun.
Anyhow, here are some Drafting For Dummies tips for all of you:
Upside is wonderful for dating a significant other. If she's 35, no kids, a tight body and can tie a cherry stem into a knot with her tongue - she has mad upside.
Alas, upside does NOT work very well with most NBA players. Look for at least five players to be drafted higher than they ought to be because of "upside". Expect one of them - if we're all lucky - to work out. (See DeSanger Diop, Rodney White, etc) If you hear "upside" attached to a player, odds are that he'll either be a 9th or 10th man 4 years from now, or he'll find some game with a different team.
The NBA Draft makes men sound, uh, less "manly" than they ought to be. You'll hear Jay Bilas or Hubie Brown talk about a prospect being "long" and having a "great body", the same way Peter Graves asked little Robbie if he had ever seen a grown man naked in "Airplane!" All that's missing is some oiled male torsi... Put away your copy of "Roadhouse" and "Top Gun" - it just so happens that there are only so many ways to talk about the potential athleticism of a NBA prospect without having a Brokeback Moment.
But seriously, does Bilas watch gladiator movies? Heh heh heh...
If you are a GM, and the opportunity presents itself to draft a center - if the center in question is not being compared to an All-Star - PASS. This especially applies to 1) Slow, white American-born college centers and, 2) centers with very difficult to pronounce names (such as Mouhamed Saer Sene). For a while, it seemed that any brother from The Motherland (that's African for the hip-imparied) over 6-10 was being drafted in case they turned into the next Dikembe or Hakeem.
We're still waiting. This year, it will be Spencer Hawes.
Avoid drafting a player who played poorly against lesser players with better athleticism, especially guards who lived to shoot against zones (see Reddick, J.J., Drew, Bryce). It doesn't get much easier in the NBA ya know. The average player may be poor in the basics, but I'll bet my Tony Parker bachelor party tickets that he's an good "at-uh-lete", as we say in the South.
By the way, a good GM should look for a guy who played well at the best conferences. (See Howard and Chris Paul.) Production does count you know.
Avoid players who set the cruise control in college despiteprodding. Tim Thomas is the poster boy here for living heart donors. He was a Poster Boy in college. Surprise! He's a pro Poster Boy too.
And to think, Tim had such upside. He was long...and a "live" body...I wish I could quit him.
This one is real important: If a very good player fills a big need - take him. Simple. The Atlanta hawks needed a point guard. They passed on Deron Williams and Chris Paul, to take Marvin Williams. Marvin was such a stud that Atlanta is now looking at Al Horford who plays... the SAME POSITION!
Funny thing is, Atlanta is looking like the Detroit Lions. Every year the Lions passed on other needs to take a wideout. Finally, they HAD to take a wide receiver this year, because Calvin Johnson was too damned good to pass on, no matter what their other needs were.. Same thing will probably happen this year with the Hawks. And it will be the right move...and Mike Conley will haunt the Hawks for the next decade.
OK...now that you are primed on what to look for, here is WHO to look for. No fancy ratings, simple. Best case and worst case. Don't ya love it when I keep it simple?
The G-Report Player Ratings:
Greg Oden - Ohio State Hope: That he is the next Bill Russell. Or at least Ben Wallace Squared - with some offense. Fear: That his wrist has the karma of Grant Hill's ankle.
Kevin Durant - Texas Hope: He's Kevin Garnett with handle. Fear: He steps into an open manhole.
Mike Conley Jr. - Ohio State Hope: He's Mo Cheeks and Mike Bibby, but much quicker. Fear: He's Jamal Tinsley, but much quicker.
Spencer Hawes - Washington Hope: He's Bill Laimbeer or Vlade Divac. Fear: He's Big Country Reeves
Al Horford - Florida Hope: He's Karl Malone. Fear: He's Tito Horford.
Yi Jianlian Hope: He is the next Bob McAdoo. Fear: He's the next Tim Thomas.
Jeff Green - Georgetown Hope: He's Scotty Pippen, with some low-post game. Fear: He never learns to shoot.
Joakim Noah - Florida Hope: Noah is a young Paul Silas. Fear: Noah is Mark Madsen with a ponytail.
Corey Brewer - Florida Hope: He's another Scotty Pippen. Fear: He's a poor man's Larry Hughes. You expect so much more.
Brandan Wright - North Carolina Hope: That three years from now, Wright looks like Shawn Marion. Fear: Three years from now, his nickname is "Brenda".
Acie Law - Texas A&M Hope: Law becomes another Chauncey Billups one day. Fear: Law is a not-so-Speedy Claxton.
Nick Young Hope: Nick shoots it like Peja Stojakovic. Fear: Remember John Salmons?
Julian Wright Hope: He's a bigger, better Boris Diaw. Fear: He forgets that taking over a game is not illegal.
Morris Almond - Rice U. Hope: He is the next Ricky Pierce (It's a Rice thing.), or better, Michael Redd. Fear: He's the next Steve Kerr.
Jared "From Subway" Dudley - Boston College Hope: He develops into a poor man's Shane Battier. Fear: The real Shane Battier isn't making anyone's All-Star team.
Nick Fazekas - Nevada Hope: He's been likened to Keith Van Horn with a better inside game. Fear: Anybody likened to Keith Van Horn isn't hitting on much.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis - LSU Hope: He's a taller Charles Barkley who keep his weight down and his game up. Fear: Either he'll 1) Eat a teammate. or 2) He'll single-handedly cause the NBA to add food to their substance abuse list.
Jarvis Crittenton - G-Tech Hope: He can play the point like Reggie Theus Fear: He plays the point like Earl Watson.
Walt Frazier once said you make your name in the regular season; you make your fame in the playoffs. Greatness sustained in the regular season will make a player money and fame. Don’t confuse that fame with “Fame” with the capital ‘F’. That only comes from playoff brilliance and championships. And nowhere can you do more than in a Game Seven. You ball in a Game Seven, and one day, they’ll read your name in reverent tones from a scroll on a mountain.
If Willis Reed hobbles back on to the floor for a February 1970 game against Seattle, it’s appreciated by his teammates only.
But when Willis Reed limps onto center court at Madison Square Garden in Game 7, and the name Willis Reed is synonymous with courage. Two hours and an epic victory later, and few remember that he scored a mere four points (the first two baskets of the game), and was barely able to play the first half. The legend was made for a lifetime.
Game Seven pressure isn’t for everyone. Doug Christie admitted being overwhelmed by the moment. He went 2 for 13. The Kings lose. (Chris Webber took all the heat for some reason, but I digress.) Dennis Johnson once went oh-for-14 in a Game 7. He came back the next year to be Finals MVP, proving that redemption is possible, but never assured.
Game Seven just has that attraction. The finality of the game. The ultimate “must win” for both teams. None of this “it’s a must win” #### when a team is down 2-1 in the series. You win and move on – or capture the prize, or you lose and go home. The setup and build up is important. The eyes of the world focused on this stage, and that desire we have for heroes to rise up, and frankly we also live to see who will sink under the pressure. One game. For survival.
In what has already been an incredible playoff season, in less than four hours we’ll start not one, but two Game Sevens. Steve Nash, Sam Cassell, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker... who will enhance their cred, who will create a legend tonight?
In that vein, let’s look at the great moments of Game Sevens Past. The surprise may be in the names you will NOT see here. Magic’s 42 point, 15 rebound, 7 assist gem in 1980 vs. Philly? Sorry, it was a Game 6. Kareem’s 29 points in Boston Garden that finally ended the Celtic mojo on the Lakers? Ditto. Don’t look for Michael Jordan either. The Bulls never went to a Game 7 in the Finals, and his other Game Sevens, while nice, they don’t make the cut here. Sam Jones and Oscar Robinson had some games that came close in the 1960s, but they were in decisive best-of-five series. My personal tough omission was Bernard King’s one-man demolition of the Pistons in 1984, but again, it was in a 5-game series.
Tim Duncan last year? He made a nice run in the third period of Game 7 last year, but once you get past the spin control of the announcers, you realize that he was 10-27. Sorry, but Magnificent Seven ballers need no validation from the media. Their performance is gives them their cred and we, the fan, acknowledge and recognize.
One day, if they ever come up with a Game Seven Most Valuable Baller award, name it after Bill Russell. Why? Let me preface my remarks thusly: I love Wilt. I think he was the greatest center ever, and possibly the greatest player to ever lace up Chuck Taylors, Nikes, or whatever anti-gravity boots ballers will wear in 2106.
But Bill was 10-0 in Game 7. Read that again. Ten Game Sevens, the man never lost. Four times against Wilt's teams, he won by a combined total of nine points. Some of those involved luck (especially 1965 and 69), but 10-0 is hard to beat - or impeach.
Read on:
1970 Clyde and Willis – Even fans who weren’t born in 1970 know about the 1970 Knicks. The Setup: Willis Reed went down with a thigh injury in Game 5, and the Knicks rallied for a miracle win. Game 6 featured Wilt Chamberlain (himself recently back from a major knee injury) putting up 45 and 27 ballboards in a blowout win.
The Inspiration: Just before game time, Willis got two injections that allowed him to walk on to the floor (wait a minute, isn’t that a performance enhancing drug?). Nothing written can do the ovation he received justice. Just watch the replay. And everyone was caught up in the moment, Knicks, their fans, and alas, the Lakers as well. Reed hits the first two shots of the game, and the rout was on. 63-39 Knicks at the half, they cruise to their first title 113-99. The Devastation: Many tend to forget those first two baskets were Reed’s only points of the game. As Walt Frazier put it, “Willis provided the inspiration, I provided the devastation.” 36 points and 19 assists. Think about that, 19 dimes in a game where you score 36. And at least four steals of his rival Jerry West. Willis got the MVP, but a second should have been made for Clyde.
1969 Finals: The Logo Falls Just Short – Six times, the Lakers played the Celtics in the 1960s for the title. Three times, it came to a Game Seven.
The Setup: The previous five times, Boston came out ahead. In every series, Boston had home court. But this time, the Lakers at 55-27 had home court over the 48-34 Celtics. Moreover, after having no real threat to Bill Russell in the middle, the Lakers had picked up Wilt Chamberlain from the Sixers. The Lakers were favored, and went up 2-0 in the series. Only a Sam Jones miracle basket at the buzzer to save the series for Boston. Meanwhile, Jerry West was a beast. The Logo goes off for 53 points and 10 assists in a Game 1 win, and had cracked 30 points in four of the first six games. For the first time in this rivalry, the Lakers would host Game Seven. Laker owner Jack Kent Cooke was so sure of victory, he ordered 10,000 balloons to be put into the rafters at the Forum, to be released when the Lakers finally won.
The Game:West did his part, playing 46 minutes with a badly damaged hamstring and jammed finger. Mr. Clutch dropped 42, with 13 boards and 12 assists, his fourth game of at least 39 points in the series. However, this game is better remembered for:
· - Jack Kent Cooke’s balloons in the Forum rafters. The Celtics got wind of the plans, no doubt helped by a glance upward into the rafters where the balloons sat. Russell said, “It’s going to be fun watching them take those balloons down one at a time.” Suitably inspired, Boston jumped out to a 24-12 lead and maintained control throughout until a massive fourth quarter rally by the Lakers.
· - Butch Van Breda Koff benching of Wilt for the final five minutes of the game. The Lakers had cut a 17 point deficit to 9 when Wilt (who outscored Russell 18-6, and outrebounded him 27-21 in five fewer minutes) limped off the floor with a leg injury. After a minute, he attempted to go back in, but was told to sit. The Lakers got within one, but no closer because of:
·…Don Nelson’s shot clock buzzer-beater that hit the back iron went straight up and fell through to give the Celtics the breathing room they needed to win their 11th title 94-92.
Footnote: Insult to Injury? As Finals MVP (the only one awarded to a player on the losing team), West won a car. It was green. To this day, West is still the only player on the losing team to win the MVP. The balloons? They were donated to a children’s hospital. Of special note to the bricklayers remaining in the playoffs: The Lakers shot 28 for 47 from the chairty stripe.
Hakeem Olaujuwon: 1994 Finals – 1994 marked the first time neither team broke 100 in any game. But there was a Game 7 of note. Hakeem cemented his status as the league’s premier player in the absence of Air Jordan.
The Game: Hakeem scored 25 points 10 boards, 7 assists and 4 blocks against his rival Patrick Ewing. As he did in Game 6, Hakeem came up with a big block and a rebound late in the game. Hakeem pulled down the MVP honors making him the first player in NBA history to win regular season and Finals MVP and Defensive Player Of The year in the same season.
Footnote: Shooting Blanks - No Knick fan can remember this series without remembering All-Star John Starks’ 2-18 stat line in Game 7. Nor should Pat Riley be forgotten for not going to a hotter – or less cold – shooter when it was obvious that the streak-shooting Starks was having an off game. I thank Knick fans for that whenever I see them.
1957: And The Rookies Shall Lead – I consider this one of the true hidden gems of the NBA. The 1957 Finals was one of the greatest playoff series ever. Really. Short-shorts, running hook shots, and set shots aside, Game 7 is arguably the best single NBA basketball game ever played. This game had it all: Seven Hall of Famers on the court (the Celtics started four, and brought Frank Ramsey off the bench), double overtime, last second baskets, and a Hail Mary that nearly pushed this classic to a third OT. The league should do everyone a favor and find the full tape of this game.
The Setup: The St. Louis Hawks made the Finals thanks to a trade with Boston. The Celtics sent All-Star Ed Macauley and future All-Star Cliff Hagan to St. Louis for the draft rights to an offensively challenged stringbean named Bill Russell. The trade got St. Louis to the Finals four times in five years. The trade would get Boston a dynasty. Did I mention that Red Auerbach used to work for Hawks owner Ben Kerner? And that Red punched him in the mouth before Game 3? And you thought Mark Cuban was interesting.
The Game: Double digit lead changes? Try 38 lead changes. 28 ties. Last second shots? A last second shot by the Hawks Jack Coleman forced overtime. Then late free throws forced a second OT. Russell came up with 19 points, 32 boards and (unofficially) 12 blocks. Tom Heinsohn, who actually won Rookie of the Year that year, poured in 37 points and 23 ballboards before fouling out.
With the C’s up 125-123 and 2 seconds remaining, Hawks player-coach Alex Hannum checks himself into the game for the first time with a special play: Hannum inbounds the ball from under his defensive basket. He hasHall of Famer forward Bob Pettit to station himself at the foul line while Hannum launches a pass from the opposite baseline. “I’ll throw it off the backboard and rim, you crash the glass and tip it in” said Hannum. Pettit said years later, “We’re all wondering, Alex has a hard time hitting the rim from 15 feet; how in the heck is he going to do it from 94 feet?”
And guess what? Not only did Hannum flawlessly manage to get the ball off the backboard and the rim, Pettit got the rebound. And as Pettit tells it, “I should have made the shot, really. Alex’s pass was perfect, I just rushed it.” The last shot circled the rim and fell off, and the Celtics begin the Russell Era with an amazing 125-123 win.
Footnote - History goes to the Winners: The C’s needed every point from Russell and Heinsohn. The Celtics starting backcourt of Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman combined to go – brace yourself – 5 for 40 from the floor. Two Hall Of Fame and Top 50 players shoot 12.5% in a Game 7. With that type of bricklaying, we have an idea of where some of those rebounds came from. It also shows that when you win, all is forgiven.
Lakers and Celtics 1962: Oh So Close – The 1969 loss may have been the most painful one for Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Co. to take. But the Lakers never came closer to ending the Celtics streak of eight straight championships than on April 18, 1962.
The Setup: The Celtics had designs on a mere four-pete in 1962, having won three straight already. The Lakers had come into their own with Jerry West (30.8) and Elgin Baylor (38.3) being the league’s most lethal 1-2 combo (Jordan and Pippen eat your heart out). The Lakers had the firepower, with Baylor’s 61 point explosion winning Game 5 at the Garden. But the Celtics had balance, and they had Russell. That proved to be the difference.
The Game:A tense affair from wire to wire, the Celtics led by 6 at the half despite a 1 for 10 start for Sam Jones. The Lakers rallied to tie the game at 100 on consecutive baskets by Frank Selvy. After a Boston miss, the Lakers had a shot to win the title in regulation. West and Baylor were covered. The pass went to a wide-open Selvy who put up a 10 foot jumper from near the baseline, a shot he made 8 times out of 10. The shot skidded just off the rim, and into the loving arms of Russell. Overtime. Once there, the Celtics held off the Lakers 110-107. Sam Jones came back to score 27, but it was Russell who won it for the Celtics. The career 15.1 per game scorer went for 30 points with 40 -yes you read that right -forty rebounds!
Footnote - Byron Russell meet Elgin Baylor: For years, Baylor maintained he got shoved out of bounds just before he could tap in Selvy’s last shot. Several years after the game, he got a copy of the game film, and it showed Sam Jones shoving him right out perfect rebounding position, “Right into the referee. There was no foul call there either.” Jones later admitted his “crime”. If you get away with it, it’s legal, right?
1982: The Boston Strangler gets The Leprechaun. It was a familiar nightmare for Sixer fans. The Setup: In 1968 the Sixers blew a 3-1 lead to Boston, losing Game 7 in the Garden by 2 points. In 1981, the Celtics rallied from a 3-1 deficit to take down the Sixers, winning game 7 at “Da Gahden” 91-90. In 1982, the Sixers again led 3-1. Again they lost the next two. Again they had to play a Game 7 in…you guessed it. Celtic fans, who could match Philly fans in sheer obnoxiousness, were primed. The Boston Garden was know to #### teams, players, and even referees whole in pressure situations. Being merely strong wasn’t enough to survive. The garden could only be conquered by the fearless. Enter Andrew Toney. Always a consistent and fearless scorer, Toney turned his game up several levels against the hated Green. Toney already had three games of 26 or more points in the series against the Celtics, many of them with his signature unorthodox but lethal jumper. Game Seven would immortalize Toney with his politically incorrect, but perfectly accurate moniker.
The Game: The Sixers led, the Celtics kept the pressure on. You kept waiting for the Celtics to break the Sixers. Boston Garden crazies, Bird, Parrish, Tiny…the C’s would make a run, but Dr. J (28 points), or Bobby Jones would have a big basket. Most of all, it was Andrew Toney, with no fear, with a game high 34 points (series average of 26.5) with repeated daggers to the heart of the Celtics and the Garden faithful. The breakage never came. The Sixers cut down the Celtics 120-106 in Game Seven, only the second time ever that the Celtics had ever lost a Game Seven in their house. And Andrew Toney forever became “The Boston Strangler”.
Footnote - Shockingly Classy Sendoff: In the closing moments, when it became obvious that the Curse of The Leprechaun was broken, the Boston crowd rose to their feet and paid tribute to the Sixers with a spontaneous “Beat LA!” chant.
1988: The Gunfight at The Garden – The Eastern Conference Semifinals featured the Boston Celtics at the end of their great run and the Atlanta Hawks, a powerful team in their own right. Alas, they had the misfortune of playing the same era – and conference - as the Celtics, Bulls, and Pistons. But in Game 7, the Hawks and their leader, Dominique Wilkins had their finest hour.
The Game: The game was close, but nothing special – well, by the criteria of this article. However, when the game was tied at 86 with about 10 minutes to go, something happened. A basket by Bird, an answering basket by Wilkins. After that, Nique and Larry Bird decided to strap ‘em on. As Kevin McHale said, "It was like two gunfighters waiting to blink. There was one stretch that was as pure a form of basketball as you're ever going to see." And it was. For the remainder of that game, you didn’t leave the TV, you turned down phone calls, although I made at least two screaming into the phone “You got to turn on the $%*&@ TV to the game! Nique’s goin’ OFF!”
But so was Bird, with 9 points in two minutes. But Wilkins answered again and again. In one sequence, Bird hit a jaw dropping jumper in traffic. Celtics up by 3. Wilkins promptly comes down and nails a deep three from the left wing. Game tied. Bird got the go-ahead basket with a little over 3 minutes, but the Celtics couldn’t shake the hawks. It was like match point between Andre and Sampras. Back and forth, and back and forth again. The game didn’t end until an intentional free throw miss by Nique was tipped away by Parish at the final horn. Celtics 118 Hawks 116. The Celtics didn't win - the Hawks simply ran out of time. Bird had 20 points in the fourth quarter on 9-10 shooting, and 34 total on 15-20 shooting. Wilkins was even better: 19-24 for 47 points. I’m no fan of the “noble in victory”, and as a Laker/Rockets fan, has always had a healthy dislike of the Celtics. Yet, no one I know who saw the game wanted it to end. Basketball in heaven would have duels like this every day.
1988: The Pistons are Not Worthy – Do you want to earn a nickname? Drop a Triple Double in a Game 7. There haven’t been many of them in the past. James Worthy, who lived in the shadow of his teammates for most of his career, had developed an interesting habit. Only once in his career did he not average more points and rebounds in the postseason than he did in the regular season. 1988 was a war between the Lakers and the rising dynasty that was the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons served notice with a 105-93 Game 1 victory.
A Game Five win put the Pistons up 3-2, but back in the Forum, the Lakers won Game 6 with 26 from Worthy, which was just enough to withstand Isiah Thomas’ epic 25 point third quarter despite a badly sprained ankle. All of this set up Game 7.
The Game: Big Game James fueled a third period rally (hitting their first 10 shots of the second half) to go up by as many as 15 in the fourth period. The Pistons got to within one, but could not close the deal. And even with the brilliance of Magic Johnson, it was Big Game James Worthy stage. 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists. A monster triple double, and it made the 88 Lakers the first repeat champs since the 1969 Celtics.
Footnote – The Lakers became the only team to win three seven game series in one playoffs, having beaten Dallas and Utah in the previous series before the Pistons.
Honorable Mentions:
1981 Western Semifinals - Calvin Murphy, the Rockets’ star 6th man, was placed back into the starting lineup for Game 7 of the Western Semifinals. He went for 42 points as the Rockets upset the San Antonio Spurs on their way to the Finals that year.
1984 NBA Finals -Cedric Maxwell told his teammates before the game, "Get on back boys, and I'll carry you home." He did just that with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 steals. Larry Bird might have been the Finals MVP, but there was no doubt that Maxwell was the Game 7 MVP. If I could add one more to my list, it would have been this performance.
1987 Eastern Conference Finals – The evil demons of the Boston Garden strike again. Vinnie Johnson and Adrian Dantley bumped heads in a loose ball collision in the fourth period. Neither man was 100% the rest of the way, and the Celtics exploited this to pull out a narrow win. It was Boston’s last conference championship.
2002 Western Conference Finals – Kings have a chance to win at the buzzer, but Peja Stojakovic air balls a long jumper. Kobe and Shaq hold off Kings in OT, as the badly outplayed Lakers somehow win the series.
1971 Eastern Conference Finals – Baltimore outguts the Knicks 93-91 in a classic seven game war, capped by a great Game Seven. Earl 'The Pearl' Monroe outscored Walt Frazier 26-13, and current commentator Fred “The Man With The Point” Carter hit what proved to be the winning basket.
Welcome back to the latest installment of the G-Report. A great Game 5 by an incredibly resilient Suns team, and the unexpected elimination of the Nets are causing more fluctuations than expected. The Mavs have the Spurs on the brink of elimination, and Mark Cuban is ready to breakdance. Remember my grading scale, 50 represents an average flow for the owner of the score. Latest score is the first one…
Miami
PatRiley (75, up from 65, Hold) – This will be the most volatile stock on the G-Index. I mean Riles is still The Man Who Shanked Stan. In the first round the Heat looked slow and unable to defend in the backcourt. After a Game 1 beatdown by the Nets, the supporting cast of Miami stepped up. If Walker and Payton can deliver in the post-season, maybe Riley looks good with his moves. Maybe.
Shaq (80/80, Buy alternating games, Sell the rest of the time) Capable of the 30 and 20 in clincher of Bulls series. Also too slow to stay out of foul trouble on a regular basis. Quick elimination of Nets gives The Big Baby Huey major rest.
Antoine Walker (50/40/Buy) – Twon played two strong games in a row. Now can he match up against Rasheed and Tashawn over a seven game series? I doubt it. Yet make no mistake - if he can shot 45% and average 17-20 a game, the Heat may actually get to the Finals.
Gary Payton (35/25, Sell) – GP is 37. Jason Kidd isn’t as quick as he once was, so I’m not sure if that was a fair test for The Isotoner. Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups? Now we’re talking…
Alonzo Mourning (85/75, Buy!) – Despite getting posterized by Vince Carter, Zo is the defensive intimidator that Miami will need to win. Imagine. A guy with one kidney and on a 25 minute per night limit is a better post defender than Shaq. Shame on you Shaq.
Dallas Mavs
Avery Johnson (100/90/BUY!) – My vote for Coach O’Da Year went to Mike D’Antoni. But I understand why Avery got the award. Moving Devin Harris into the lineup was genius. Mavs have too many offensive threats for Spurs to lock down, and they are closing games STRONG.
Devin Harris (60/35/BUY) – People forget that this guy was a lottery pick, an outstanding player who was supposed to ultimately replace Steve Nash in Dallas. He’s finally stepped up on a national stage. You thought Tony Parker was the only hyper-quick guard in this series? Recognize…
Jerry Stackhouse (80/70/HOLD) – Even if he doesn’t score 20, he makes Coach Pop sweat who to assign to Bruce Bowen. Manu Ginobili can’t guard Stack if Stack decides to get to the hole consistently.
Eric Dampier (65/45/Buy) – He gets boards and puts a body on people. Eric D. may not be Shaq, but he’s no Shawn Bradley. Give the man props for playing tough defense at the end of Game 4 and forcing the miss from Duncan to get the game to OT.
Dirk Diggler Nowikski (100/90/Buy) – Playing on a bad ankle, balling tough at crunch time, and going to the paint when needed. One more win, and those smart-alecks who are quick to hang the "soft” label can get gone and stay gone.
San Antonio
Tony Parker (90/85/Buy) – T.P. is playing great offensive ball, but was he ready for Devin Harris? Uh, no. No shame dude. We weren't either.
Manu Ginobili (70/80/Hold) – Manu, you can’t be on the bench at crunch time. Here’s an idea: If you are in deep foul trouble, concede the layup! Bounced back nicely in Game 5.
Tim Duncan (110/100/Do you have to ask?) Spurs have wasted some great games in this series from Tim. Not handling officiating calls at the game very well. Can we blame him? Game 5 Update: Hit his first 12 shots. Responded like a champ.
Coach Pop (90/100/Buy) - The Spurs have been outgutted in consecutive games. They have not found an answer for Devin Harris. No one in their right mind will bury this team. I have to see a stake in the heart, in broad daylight, and a decapitation before I concede the demise of the champs. Yet in the Popavich Era, the Spurs have gone 1-7 in elimination games.
NBA Refs (20/25/Sell) - I don't think they have it in for The Defending Champions. But the calls late have been a shade past awful.
New Jersey Nets
Jason Kidd (85/85/Buy) – Still a fine point guard. But how he was selected to the first team all-NBA Defensive Team is beyond me.
Microfracture Surgery (-10/0/SELL! GIVE IT AWAY!) Look at the evidence: Jason Kidd can't slow down D-Wade. Anthony Johnson hung 40 on him in Game 6 of the previous series. Amare misses most of the year for the Suns. Chris Webber can't defend ME anymore - and I'm 5'9" and can't go left. If I'm a pro athlete, if it comes down to microfracture surgery or amputation, I'm flipping a coin.
Nenad Kristic (65/80/Hold) – Great first series, was not consistent against the Heat. Four turnovers, two boards in Game 5. I thought he was ready to break out against The Heat. My bad.
Vince Carter (90/85/Buy!) – All too often forgot to take it to the hole against Miami. After wrecking the Heat in the regular season, got taken out of the game far too much in the postseason. has the physical gifts to be a lockdown defender, but isn't a good one. Work on it VC…
Richard Jefferson (80/85/Hold) - RJ was not a factor when not in the open floor. Rich, by definition, you aren't complete as a player until you do.
Lawrence Frank (70/80/Sell) – Sorry, but Lawrence, explain to me why Vince or Richard Jefferson wasn’t guarding D-Wade? Instead it's a gimpy Jason Kidd? What in the heck was Frank thinking about? Not enough pick and roll on Shaq either. The old master, Pat Riley schooled the kid.
Raja gets the ‘bow, and now he gets a game off to recover. He deserved the suspension.
Kobe deserved the clothesline.
Sorry Lakers fans (and I count myself as one of them), I’m being objective. Kobe can now officially add Raja Bell to his Rogues Gallery. In fact,The Ocho’s nickname among his peers is probably “He Hate Me”. Raja Bell, Shaq, Ray Allen… Why else did Kobe get up with a sheepish grin on his face, besides the fact that he knew that Bell’s road rage would likely cost his team his services in a must-win Game 6? Because Kobe knew that he had gotten away with some marginal shots of his own.
I saw the two elbows. The first elbow looked incidental, Bell’s flop notwithstanding. The second one was clearly a cheap shot that reminded me of a Bill Laimbeer “Ooops - was that your head I hit with this elbow?” classic.
Even better was David Stern's comment when delivering the suspension, "It was a unmanly act." Did I miss the cross-dressing somewhere? I can tell that His Majesty has played a lot of ball...
The trouble of course is that too many refs are unable to use odd numbers. Refs almost never catch the 1st or 3rd punches, they catch the 2nd and 4th . Bell has been in the league long enough to know better. Do not shed too many tears for Raja, the man clearly "Jerry!" contestant-level stupidity. His Artest-ian moment of thoughtlessness has his already undermanned team in a deeper hole.
Idea: What the NBA could do in playoffs is allow a replay ref to look at those shots that escape the first view, and assess a technical at the half or dead balls for any flagrant fouls. That way, the sneaky guys get their just desserts. The refs clearly allowed too much to go on for too long, while calling cheap fouls on Kwame Brown.
Having said all that, I had the Suns in 6, clearly that will not happen. (I'm going to go out on a long thin limb and take the Suns in 7.) And Kobe is the reason. In the last regular season game with Phoenix, "Kobi" (note the “I”) was determined to show up Raja at every turn, and while he hung 43 on him, the Suns won rather handily. Clearly KobE got the message. A considerably more team-oriented Bryant gives the Lakers the opportunity to use their superior size advantage. Brown and Lamar Odom are looking like Karl Malone and Wes Unseld against the midgets that comprise what passes for the front line of the Suns.
Heck, even the shy Luke Walton and soft Brian Grant have been spotted taking the ball to the rack for the first time since college. Kobe deserves credit for finally “getting it”.
But he doesn’t deserve the MVP.
My vote was for LeBron James based on his all-around brilliance in raising the level of his game - and his team’s - despite the loss of Larry Hughes for 60% of the season, and the Z-Man for the last month. 31 points, 6 boards and 6 assists – only The Big O and Jerry West have played in this rare air. He’#### big shots when needed all season. He got my vote over my runner up Steve Nash. Yes, Kobe got 3rd on my ballot. As incredible as his season and scoring has been, Nash played without an effective traditional big man (although Shawn Marion has been a stud, with career numbers). Amare out all year, Kurt Thomas sideline for 30+ games, and Brian Grant basically done. Yet the Suns got a Number Two seed. It impressed me more than the Lakers performance overall.
Speaking of LeBron and the Cavs, shame on the NBA for not showing more of the Wizards and Cavs nationally. This is a great series, even better than I had thought and I had the Wiz taking this in 7. No back down here from me. Look for the Other Guys to decide this series. Antwan Jamison and Caron Butler will provide a bit more than Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden. This series features two evenly matched teams on the rise. No tired cynical veterans, just energy and the Next Generation led by James and the Wizards' Gilbert Arenas. I'm enjoying every moment.
In my other bad call, I had the Bulls going down in 6 to the Heat. While the Heat is in position to close this out, it’s pretty clear to me that the only reason why the Bulls trail is…well, they believe that the Heat are better. They aren’t. I’m not another team in the East is as fast in the backcourt as Chicago with Kurt Hinrich and Ben Gordon, but it is clear that the Heat have been exposed as an old, slow bunch. In the words of analyst Mark Jackson, Gary Payton has gone from The Glove to The Isotoner. Pretty, but not very functional. Being 37 will do that. Jason Williams and Antoine Walker have never been known for defense, and Shaq is only a spot defender, as 340 lbs and an indifference to conditioning have taken its toll. Yet as long as Alonzo Mourning is reasonably healthy, you have a true back line of defense for the quicker Bulls to deal with. Miami needs to close this team out before the Bulls realize that they are the harder working and more deserving team. And is this the coming out jam for Andres Nocioni or what?
Final Notes: I had the Spurs in 6 against the Kings, but I think this goes 7, which should excite their West rivals. Anything that wears down Tim Duncan and Crew is a good thing. Ron-Ron Artest has delivered and Bonzi Wells has been incredible. Remember that the Kings had no problems playing the Spurs WITHOUT Artest in Game 2.
Congrats to the Pistons and Mavs for taking care of business. Rip Hamilton dropped 40 in the clincher. I'm totally feeling it. As for the Nets and Pacers, the Nets should have dumped this team in five games. It should give us pause. However, we may be witnessing the coming out party of a young force in Nenad Kristic. This team needs an enforcer at the 4, but can you handle a three-headed monster of Kidd, Vinsanity, and Jefferson with a low post option? Good luck. I think the Heat won’t get past this crew.
Random Thought: I was really hoping to see the Nets and Wizards play against each other in their throwback gear. Sue me. It looks good.
The 2005-06 NBA season started with a marquee coach taking over a young team in transition (I know, it's rebuilding, rebuilding is such a dirty word you know?), featuring a star player with whom our marquee coach had previously clashed. Smart money had a blowup occurring by January, but with the coach getting the team to the postseason.
That Phil Jackson, something else isn't he…oh, you thought I was talking about Larry Brown? Yeah, so did I.
Peeps, I have to get this off my chest before we move on to teams actually doing something this season:
Larry Brown is overrated.
Yes, I said it.
Overrated. Repeat after me, New York Yankee-style:
O-verrr-Rated!
Clap clap clap clap!
I know the conventional wisdom had Larry (also known as Coach Right Way) as one of the all-time greats, especially after the Pistons spanked the Lakers in the 2004 finals. I was one of them. With the benefit of hindsight, we know a few things - that the Pistons were much better than we all thought, and that the Shaq-Kobe feud had torched team chemistry beyond all repair, with Karl Malone’s injury being the final straw.
But after two straight trips to the Finals, LB was known as the guy who wanted his team to play The Right Way. What we all should have asked was why didn’t anyone ask is Greg Popovich, Rick Adelman, or Phil Jackson if they coached The Right Way – especially after Pop outcoached Larry last year in the Finals? Is it possible that the “Right Way” talk went to his head?
Well, the results are in. It’s ugly, and I mean Chris Kaman ugly. The Knicks were a 33 win team last year, and they’d have to run the table to get to 27 this year (I'm thinking 23 wins tops).
Worse, they have no freakin’ excuse.
Isiah Thomas may have his weaknesses – ok – a LOT of weaknesses as a GM, but he’s brought in solid young talent with Channing Frye, Eddie Curry, and James Robinson to go with Trevor Ariza and David Lee. Stephon Marbury has more issues than the New York Times, but only The Big O has averaged 20+ pp and 8 assists as Stephon has done. Throw in Quinton Richardson and Jamal Crawford and .500 should have been a lock.
Instead we get the unholy mess that is the Knicks, and now Brown recently whined that the players are “tuning him out”. Brother Larry, human beings have an annoying tendency to do that when they constantly get barraged with noise. Note to Coach RightWay, when you constantly run down your players in the press, it becomes noise. Isn’t it telling that Brown has gotten little public support from anyone? Even given Marbury’s obvious problems playing team ball?
Does Kevin Garnett really want to come into this zoo?
Out here on the Left Coast, Phil Jackson gets mixed reviews, but you don’t hear him and Kobe killing each other. Granted, the Lakers have fewer youngsters than the Knicks, but Smush Parker (who wasn't even in the league last year) and Kwame Brown have made solid strides this season – especially Kwame in the last month since Chris Mihm was injured.
Kwame Brown? The same Kwame who was sent home by the Wizards last year – even when they lost his replacement to injury in the playoffs? Lamar Odom is finally playing three good games in a row. The Lakers look like they’ll win 44-45 games – in a tougher conference - and will almost certainly make the playoffs.
Kobe is getting along publicly with Phil, AFTER Phil hammers him in a book. (I grant you that if Coach allows you to put up 35 shots a game, you shouldn't have a problem getting along with anyone.) Yet even the most ardent Kobe-basher has to concede that Kobe has made more of a committment to team ball, even while scoring a pace unseen since Jordan in 1987.
Meanwhile, Coach RightWay and Starbury have gone to the mattresses. No surprise, Larry Brown hasn't met a point guard he ever got along with. No surprise, since Larry was trashing Marbury at the Olympics. This is the same guy who couldn't appreciate Mark Jackson (only Number Two on the all-time assist list) until he traded him away, and then had to trade back to get him. Which coach would you rather have?
Given LB’s history, the Knicks will almost certainly rebound. Somehow, Thomas will move Marbury or Francis (although if a superstar doesn’t come back in the deal, they shouldn’t do it), and Brown will feel safer. The young players will mature, and Larry will be the hero.
But not to this writer.
Honestly, I’m hoping Step and Right Way stay together. Life has been boring since Kobe and Shaq have made up (kindasorta). A good blood feud is necessary in sports. And the potential of Stephon going Sprewell on Little Larry is just too good to pass up.
Meanwhile, a maturing Laker team is peaking going into the post-season.
