More Impressive? Lakers or Cavaliers?

No disrespect to the Celtics (17-2), but this comparison is brought up due to the success these two teams have been having behind their strong MVP candidates. The Cavaliers (14-3) are 9-1 in their last ten games by completely demolishing any team that comes in their way. They’ve only respectively lost to Boston, New Orleans (9-6), and Detroit (11-6). Twelve of their victories were by more than 10 points. LeBron James is averaging less numbers than his previous season but is working beautifully with Mo Williams to produce a healthy winning campaign. He’s still having his nights though, such as his back to back 41 point games against Indiana and Chicago. Williams is also sacrificing his numbers to adapt to the Cleveland offense that has been steaming this season. The Cavs have also received notable strong play from Ilgauskas and the backcourt combo of Delonte West and Daniel Gibson. So far the Cavaliers have exceeded their expectations with the addition of Williams. 

The Lakers are the unstoppable club from the West that have brought forth effective bench play, defense and leadership from Kobe Bryant. They have lost one game every two weeks this season and boldly seem unstoppable with their healthy starting line-up. Besides having the best player in the league, the Lakers starters include Derek Fisher, Vladimir Radmanovic, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Bryant, who’s also averaging his lowest numbers since the 03-04 season is perfectly settled with 24 points a game while racking up wins. The Lakers gameplan seems pretty obvious, continually giving their starters plenty of rest, most importantly Bryant, who’s yet to play more than 40 minutes in a game this season. Their two losses come from Detroit and lndiana.

Now the question arises, which team has impressed everyone the most this season? The argument in the Cavaliers favor screams LeBron doesn’t have the same supporting cast Mr. Bryant does, therefore LBJ is doing everything in Cleveland, which remains impressive. The Lakers were suspected to carry on a stronger season with the addition of the once-injured Andrew Bynum. The strong wins supplied by Bryant and Co. are simply a treasure to watch nightly, the Lakers undeniably seem untouchable this season. The verdict leans toward the Lakers, due to their stronger wins against opponents such as Houston, Phoenix, Dallas and New Orleans (who beat the Cavs). None of those final scores are close either, especially their victory over the heavily hailed Rockets, where the Lakers won 111-82.

Still, it’s extremely too early to really see who the more impressive team has been. And yeah, it is a disrespect to the Celtics in a way, but the only doubts surrounding Boston was whether they’ve lost their hunger which is brutally dumb. The Cavaliers and Lakers still have ways to go this season but both have had the best start they could imagine.

Sunday Morning Dimes

• LeBron James has helped the Cavs win 9 of their last 10 games, propelling their record to 10-3. The Cavaliers hold the second best record in the East, behind Boston’s 12-2 record. ‘Bron leads the league in scoring with 29.5 points a game.
• OKC Thunder have lost 11 in a row and their recent firing of coach Carlesimo only expresses the unavoidable frustration in this rebuilding stage. On the bright side, Durant continues doing his thing (21 ppg.) and Russell Westbrook is having a great rookie season, averaging 12 points and 3 assists per game while playing just under 25 minutes a night.
• Shaquille O’Neal lead an impressive night for the Suns tonight in their win. 19 points and 17 boards is great production coming from the big man. But is it really necessary watching this dude Try and dive into the fans for a loose ball with a 11 point lead and less than three mins left in the game? How in God’s name is 325 pounds of force viciously slamming into a bunch sitting, clueless set of people any more dangerous than Artest fleeing into the stands to snuff one particular Detroit fan? That’s kind of an extreme comparison, but wait ’til Shaq KO’s that two thousand dollar suit-wearing season ticket holder, or some flimsy girl, an 8 year old, a celebrity. I’m going too far, but it’d be fitting for the Suns to have a sturdy, bulky, ring of temperate glass surrounding the court to help prevent any lawsuits or numerous replays on ESPN every two months of a +300 pound, seven-footer failing to realize, “Yo, I’m not fit for this one.” I think GM, Steve Kerr, Terry Porter and the rest of the Suns already get the point that he’s hustling or that he can at least still hustle for the most part. And that whole talk about never ruling out Shaq reuniting with the Lakers is absurd. As much as I love that ‘99-’03 Lakers era, Shaq has 16 years under his belt, bro. Lakers have overcome the bullshit after O’Neal’s departure and are right where they want to be. Two wins away from a Championship last season, Kobe in his prime, Bynum evolving as the team’s center. No more distractions are needed or expected coming from the Lakers in the near future.
• Despite the cringing lack of consistency, the Pistons are officially one of the sexiest teams in the NBA.
• Hornets aren’t flossing as high as I expected them to this season, running with a 7-5 record. CP3 and West are having stellar seasons regardless. In their recent dismantling of the OKC Thunder, West had a game high with 33 points while Paul stuck 29 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds.
• There was no excuse for missing Vince Carter’s latest homecoming game against the Raptors.
• QRich was just two three-pointers shy of the franchise record tonight. Nevertheless, Richardson nailed 7 three’s in his 34 point night. The Knicks recent garbage dump of Crawford and Randolph has set off all the nerves of speculation for 2010. While both Crawford and Randolph are talented players, they were never fit for the Knicks success, their absence won’t be felt, nah. 
• Speaking of absence felt, the Wiz dropped to 1-10 recently. Come on Gil, I know it hurts, but Christ Almighty. 
• The Lakers are 10-1, the Clippers are 2-11.
• Dallas is starting to get back on track, their four-game-winning streak has them at 6-7. 
• The Spurs sit at a steady 6-6, but humbly expect their star, Manu Ginobili to return sometime next week. 

 

Dated November 23rd, 2008

No Surprises

The first strokes of the ‘09 NBA season have taken place and the true colors of each team is beginning to unveil. The disappointments and surprises have been soaked by the sports press. The injuries have surfaced throughout the league to leave holes in numerous rosters. The stars have shined harder than ever and the praised rookies are living up to the standards. This young season can easily be cut down into sections to help defy what this season has brought forth. Here’s the first set of what was expected this season.

The Lakers (7-0) and Celtics (8-1) both hold the finest records in the league.

It’s no surprise to see last season’s NBA finalists back to where they left off. The Lakers have all collectively played their part to help put together an undefeated record to this day. Players like Ariza and Farmar are the pride of the Lakers bench. Bryant is quietly averaging around 25 points and 5 boards a game and no one is complaining because the team is clearly unstoppable. The Lakers have taken down Houston, Dallas and most importantly, New Orleans tonight. Boston hasn’t seen the roughest schedule yet, and their 16 point loss to Indiana wasn’t pretty. Paul Pierce, who’s been playing with a sprained hand the past week, sunk the game winner against a 6-0 Atlanta team tonight to silence any doubters. 

New Jersey, OKC and Washington share a combined record of 4-17.

What can be said here, these team’s lack another trade or two before they see any differences for the year. The Wizards avoided an 0-6 record behind Butler’s 27 points tonight, but their need of Arenas is tremendous. It’s good to see the NJ Nets give out free tickets to their unemployed set of fans, maybe it will encourage a couple of individuals to give the NBA a shot after watching their team get smacked around the league nightly. The only ring of lighting coming from Oklahoma City is the numbers both Jeff Green and Kevin Durant.

 

LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are league leaders.

After somewhat of a slow start, James has emerged as the league’s leading scorer, averaging 29.8 points a night. He’s also bringing down 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game for the Cavs. Chris Paul’s unlimited trail of double-doubles will never see an end. Chris can score the ball and dishing out an assist is seems effortless when watching him orchestrate. Paul is averaging a career-high, 21.3 points, 11.7 assists, 3.3 steals and 5.2 rebounds per game. Dwight recorded a triple double tonight for the Magic, 30 points, 19 rebounds and 10 blocks, yeah, ten. Howard is averaging 23 points a night, along with 14.4 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game. 

Anticipated rookies living up to hype.

Number one pick, Derrick Rose leads his team in assists with 5.3, while putting up 18.8 points a night. Rose exploded for 26 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists in his last game against Atlanta. Beasley’s the team’s second leading scorer with 16.7 ppg., respectively behind DWade. Michael appears to be comfortable as Wade’s sidekick and reliability for when it comes to scoring the ball. He’s also averaging 6.3 boards per game. My personal favorite rookie, Rudy Fernandez is a 23-year-old menace for the Blazers on both sides of the ball. The Spaniard is logging healthy playing time coming off the bench and has held the best composure out of all the rookies. Tonight, Rudy scored 25 points along with 2 steals, 2 assists, 3 boards and a block. All under 29 minutes. O.J. Mayo can’t stop scoring the ball, he’s now averaging 21 points per game. His teammate and rookie, Marc Gasol is also another machine for Memphis, averaging 10.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. 

Wednesday Dimes

Bullets for Wednesday, Oct. 30th, 2008

• Kevin Love’s NBA debut: 18 min., 12 points (5/8), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. Efficiency? check.
• Dalembert lead the league in boards tonight with 17. Chris Bosh scored 27 points behind 4 assists and 11 rebounds, while helping his Raptors win 95-84. Philly’s leading scorer tonight? Lou Williams with 16. So much for Brand’s debut.
• Udonis Haslem, Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and rookie, Mario Chalmers all had respectful performances for Miami tonight. Second round pick, Michael Beasley struggled, shooting 4/14 for 9 points. 
• The Knicks swung their uppercut tonight against Miami though, the reckless jacker, Jamal Crawford was on tonight and we all know when he’s on, he’s on. Jamal had 29 points, shooting 9/19. Players such as David Lee, Wilson Chandler, NateRob and Zach Randolph put forth an amazing effort to make D’Antoni a winner in his New York debut.
• Danny Granger is blossoming. 33 points, 5 rebounds. The team isn’t quite there yet, Indy lost 94-100 to Detroit.
• As expected, Phoenix and San Antonio shared a close game tonight. Duncan looked flawless. Parker started off slow, scoring his first points in the second quarter, but both players had 32 points tonight. 
• Shaquille O’Neal went 5-8 from the free-throw line tonight, that hack-a-shaq strategy will never fade. 15 points, 13 boards and 2 blocks for the Big Cactus though. Nashy also proved he hasn’t slipped a step, 13 points and assists.
• Hornets slipped past the Warriors tonight. Without Monta Ellis, both Maggette and Jackson shared most of the scoring, while Biedrins put up 12 points and 14 rebounds.
• CP3’s line- 21 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals. Oh, and a block. 
• Main concern for Mayo? Shot selection. O.J. shot 5/20 tonight, ouch. Marc Gasol put work tonight though, 12 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks.
• Lakers out-rebounded the Clippers 51 to 32. Baron Davis was electric in the first quarter in front of his Grandmama, but the Lakers easily slowed all the Clipper hype down immediately after the first quarter, 117-79.

Division Previews: Pacific

Pacific Division

The Overview

Heading into the post season, both the Lakers and Suns made blockbuster trades to have the upper hand in the playoffs. The Lakers turned out to have the more sensible trade with Pau Gasol filling in their front court for that strong run into the Finals. The Suns on the other hand, went all in by nabbing Shaquille O’Neal for their post season run. The Suns miserably failed with a first round exit against the Spurs. Remaining teams, Golden State, Sacramento and the L.A. Clippers didn’t make the playoffs, but underwent serious reconstruction over the summer. It should be an excellent season for the the Atlantic division. The Lakers will have a chance to come out in full force with Bynum back in their line-up, after missing the young center with a late injury in the season. The Suns are looking to push for a successful season behind Shaquille O’Neal, who ended the regular season with a 18-11 record as a Sun.

The Ranks

1. Phoenix Suns
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Los Angeles Clippers
4. Golden State Warriors
5. Sacramento Kings

 

The Previews

1. Phoenix Suns (55-27)

The Suns brought their high-octane offense once again last season but shifted it all into a different gear when they traded away Shawn Marion for Shaquille O’Neal. The Diesel’s impact to the team became immediate, from hustle plays to powerful finishes. It was said the motive of bringing O’Neal to Phoenix was to help slow down Tim Duncan if there to meet up in the post season. As expected, the Suns met the Spurs but Shaq’s presence made no difference, Duncan tallied 40 points in Game 1. The Suns lost the series 1-4. This season, behind team captains Grant Hill, Steve Nash and Shaq, the Suns are aiming to strain a stronger defense behind new coach, Terry Porter. The Suns also happily welcome young talents, Goran Dragic, Sean Singletary and Robin Lopez to the team, all are young players that carry intense potential behind them. The 34-year-old, Nash returns for his fifth season in Phoenix to try and ignite this team’s ranging possibilities. It should be a big year for Phoenix, players like O’Neal and Nash carry endless experience behind themselves and want to end their careers in the near future with a championship in Phoenix.

Finals Odds: 87%

Player Spotlight: Boris Diaw

Everyone remembers Diaw from the his 2006 season with the Suns. With Stoudemire gone for 59 games that season, Diaw stepped in to be the team’s low post menace. At 6′8”, the small forward played power forward and center that season, averaging 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game on his way to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award. His nickname “3D” couldn’t of fit him any better, as he did end up supplying drives, dishes and defense. In the playoffs that season, Diaw turned in 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game. He’s made it clear to Phoenix that he can easily step in to provide plenty of numbers for the team. With Shaq and Amare set to go this season, Diaw should expect to be the leader of the team’s offensive surge off the bench.  

Why they will be NBA Champions.

One of the leagues best offenses. The Suns are combining a unique mix of all kinds with the lengthy, athletic players they have. Phoenix has a variety of weapons all across the roster, players that could easily player bigger roles on other teams are sitting pretty on the bench for this team. Everyone raves about Chris Paul and Deron Williams, but Nash remains as one of the most complete point guards in the league today. 

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

The Mike D’Antoni era is over, all that run and gun offense isn’t over, but it could slow down at times. If Porter’s gameplan backfires and the winning flow gets disrupted, the Suns could find themselves seeing early playoff elimination like last year. 

 

2. Los Angeles Lakers (57-25)

League MVP, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are set to destroy whoever steps in front of them. A bulkier, stronger Bynum is back into the roster and the team is now complete and ready for a definite championship push. Last year brought fourth many positives for the Lakers. Kobe’s now staying put in Los Angeles without any questions asked, mainly because their chance at helping him win another ring is there. The Lakers put up a really strong season, achieving 15 more wins than what they had the previous year. The addition of Gasol for their final 27 games of the regular season gave the Lakers a huge advantage over the other teams in their conference. Gasol averaged 18.8 points along with 7.8 rebounds per game while playing for the Lakers last season. Bryant had his best all-around season since 2003. The 29-year-old Kobe averaged 5.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds per game. With B.ynum gone, Lamar Odom averaged a career high in rebounding with 10.6 boards a night. All together, the Lakers balled themselves into the Finals behind Kobe. It was unfortunate to not have Bynum in the post season where the Lakers could’ve put up a closer series against the Celtics.

Finals Odds: 88%

Player Spotlight: Jordan Farmar

Farmar blossomed as one of the best 2nd-year players this season. After a solid rookie campaign for the Lakers, Farmar went on to fulfill his role as an energetic substitute for the veteran, Derek Fisher. The former UCLA Bruin, averaged 9.1 points and 2.7 assists while coming off the bench in his second year with the Lakers. Farmer brings a smart leadership and a shooter’s touch when coming off the bench, making sure the Lakers don’t give up a surging run while the starters are taking a breath. Once Fisher is gone, you best bet Jordan Farmar’s future with the Lakers is radiant.

Why they will be NBA Champions.

The Lakers made their way into the Finals behind Kobe, Odom and Gasol. This year they possess a jacked Bynum to help out their front court even more. Their starting line-up is scary. They possess the best player in the league in Kobe, while owning one of the most clutch players in Fisher. It’s going to be nearly impossible for teams to contain both Gasol and Bynum down low while Bryant continues to kill the perimeter.

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

Injuries can slow this team down, just how it can slow any other team. But losing a player through injury can hurt the Lakers the most, especially since their time is now. Bryant and Gasol are in their prime and the players are all there for this team to earn a ring. 

 

3. Los Angeles Clippers (23-59)

A team with a .280 winning percentage isn’t pretty, neither is a team led by Corey Maggette and rookie, Al Thornton. The Clippers underwent a frustrating season without their true centerpiece, Elton Brand. With Brand out for 74 games last season, the Clippers could do nothing but watch Al Thornton blossom and Maggette raise his free agent stock. This summer a change was expected, but not as drastic as Elton Brand being gone. Baron Davis is the new head honcho now and the Clippers have brought in Camby, Ricky Davis, Eric Gordon, Brian Skinner and DeAndre Jordon to completely swipe the face of the franchise. The new mix only draws numerous predictions and wonders for this season.

Finals Odds: 63%

Player Spotlight: Al Thornton

Al Thornton flourished immediately after college. Coming out of Florida State University as one of the team’s best players, Thornton made himself comfortable in a Clippers jersey early. The 6′8” forward scored a total of 1,005 points in his pro rookie season in the NBA, something rare among rookies unless they’re destined to be noticeably great. The absence of a player of a caliber as Elton Brand has led to open spots for player such as Al Thornton to step up, and that he did last season. While starting 31 games last season, Thornton went on to average 12.7 points along with 4.5 rebounds per game, leaving him to become one of the best rookies the Clippers have drafted since Livingston. With all the player arrangements, Thornton remains at a dependable spot in the line-up due to his flexibility to play different postions. 

Why they will be NBA Champions.

Behind Baron Davis, the Clippers could erupt into a more fast paced team with a stronger and more athletic front court. Baron Davis, Marcus Camby and Al Thornton should be players to watch, but with great role players in Skinner, Tim Thomas and Ricky Davis, the Clips could try testing their luck into a fast-paced offense. 

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

Overshadowed by the other team in Los Angeles, the Clippers just needed one more big time player to help Baron Davis and the Clippers make some noise in the NBA. It will take more than a season for this team to get it together and figure out a winning formula, therefore this season won’t be the easiest.

 

4. Golden State Warriors (48-34)

Surprisingly, the Warriors had a much better season then they did the year before last season when they made it into the Semifinals. Last season the Warriors capped a 48-win season while not banking a playoff berth, it definitely hurt the locker room and organization. Baron Davis played and started a full 82 games for the Warriors, alongside Monta Ellis. Ellis grew into a 20 points per game threat for the team, while only being 22 years old. His play earned him  a beefy contract extension this summer. Monta averaged 20.2 points, 1.5 steals, 3.9 assists and 5 rebounds a game for the Warriors. Still, the Warriors were just two losses short from seeing the playoffs last season and the end result was changes to the core of the team. With Baron Davis gone, the Warriors have set the stage for young, Monta Ellis to help lead this scoring-hungry team into a playoff berth. That is, after his 30-game suspension.

Finals Odds: 64%

Player Spotlight: Corey Maggette

Newly acquired, Corey Maggette is set to make a difference into this Golden State team. Most may not remember, but Corey began is pro career in Orlando, averaging 8.4 points per game. After being traded, Maggette went on to play eight seasons with the Clippers, his physical play earned him many opportunities into the free throw line. Maggette grew into a reliable 20 point-per-game scorer for the Cippers and averaged 22.1 points per game last season with Brand gone. He can also rebound the ball too, averaging nearly six boards per game last season. Corey’s only 28 years old and 9 years deep into the league, his presence into the Warriors line-up will be tremendous.

Why they will be NBA Champions.

The Warriors slid their way into recognition two seasons ago through their unstoppable, relentless and loose offense. Their offense basically looked like what you would see at a outdoor pick-up game, expect these players could drain their shots respectively. Belinelli, Ellis, Jackson, Biedrins and Maggette can all do it for the Warriors if they can find that same rhythm from two seasons ago. Give them a couple of teams that take their playoff seeds for granted and there could be pending upsets this season.

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

While exciting the Warriors gameplan does have its downside in sloppy play. Nelson isn’t your best defensive coach in the league and if teams can lock down the Warriors’ offense, this team isn’t going to see any success.

 

5. Sacramento Kings (38-44)

Reggie Theus’ first outing as a professional basketball coach wasn’t such a bad one, the losses came of course, but the future seems brighter for this team. A team led by the young Kevin Martin, who averaged 23.7 points per game last season was everything this organization needed. Martin is just simply a scorer for this team and plans to be for the next few years. Ron Artest and Mike Bibby are gone, but Donte Green and Jason Thompson could spark intense progression for this team. Now if only they could find Brad Miller’s true successor and a point guard. The Kings aren’t in anybody’s radar really when it comes to championship talk. Everyone knows it, fans can only hope for the best. Unless they build a new stadium in Sacramento, the Kings are one of the few franchises that could relocate. The Las Vegas Kings sounds fitting, but that doesn’t relate to anything that’s current. The Kings can only hope this rebuilding stage goes smoothly.

Finals Odds: 33%

Player Spotlight: Beno Udrih

The lefty, Beno Udrih came from Slovenia to succeed his game into the NBA. Udrih began his NBA career with the untouchable Spurs of 2005, who went on to win the Finals in his rookie season. Udrih already has two championship rings on his hand and carries a unique talent at the guard spot. At a young 26-years of age, Udrih took full advantage of his oppurtunity to step up for Sacramento last season in the absence of Mike Bibby. His 12.8 points and 4.3 assists per game aren’t gasping, but it was sufficient enough for a 5-year contract extension. Beno brings a great basketball IQ and shooting touch to his game. Udrih is the young point guard of Sac-Town’s near future, alongside the scoring machine, Kevin Martin, Udrih’s low assists per game should improve significantly this season.

Why they will be NBA Champions.

Realistically, it’s just not there yet. There is some talent in this team, especially in Martin, Moore, Garcia and their new rookie, Donte Greene. The Kings would have heavily rely on three things. One, Bobby Jackson and Brad Miller’s playoff experience. Two, Moore’s flexibility to move the ball around at a quick pace in their half court offense to create open looks. Three, their great perimeter shooting.

Why they won’t be NBA Champions.

Like many other unfortunate squads, not enough talent to match up with the rest. Like it was said before, the league is all about match ups and from what it looks like, the King’s roster doesn’t match up against the skill level other teams will bring to the court.

Certified

 

“It all started in Rome,” is what most Celtic players will tell say, when asked where this jubilant journey began. But really, it all started once Garnett finally got the call to become a player for one of the most historically successful organizations in the world of sports. From that moment on, the city of Boston had a new face when it came to basketball. Danny Ainge finally decided to pick up the gun to aim fire at the NBA glory that this city once captivated. After the acquisition of Ray Allen, it was eminent that he wasn’t shooting for tomorrow, but for today. Giving away a young, promising future for the Celtics, with a prolific, 22 year-old Al Jefferson down low, along with a premature deadly Delonte West, to accompany a fifth overall pick exposed Ainge’s obvious impatient gameplan. The Toronto Raptors then got their first lick of the new Celtics in their first preseason game. The result was a promising sign of the beginning for what was to be memorable season for the Boston Celtics. Garnett netted 19 points along with 16 boards to completely shred Andrea Bargnani’s homecoming game in Italy. Once the regular season kicked off, the Celtics bloomed victoriously, going 8-0 before losing by two points to the Orlando Magic. The rare amounts of losses only spawned winning streaks throughout the season for the Celtics. Garnett, Pierce and Allen surpassed all the expectations put in front of them by the time the season came into a close. The Celtics closed the season by taking the division title with a conquering 66-16 record, while being the number one ranked defensive team in the league. Kevin Garnett then was finally awarded the Defensive Player of the Year Award after making the All-Defensive team for seven years straight.

Once the 2008 Playoffs rolled in, the substantial amount of pressure kicked in for Boston. While being the number one seed, the Celtics faced their first test against an explosive Atlanta Hawks squad with adrenaline oozing off of their underdog status. The fact that the Celtics were put up against the wall in a series that went to seven, most counted the Celtics out of the Finals. In the Semifinals, it didn’t get any easier. LeBron James and Co. also pushed the Celtics to seven games. The series boiled down to Pierce’s late game heroics to overcome LBJ’s late surge that had Boston fans nearly biting off their fingers. The C’s gained respected recognition in the post season once they beat the Detroit Pistons 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals to send them to the big stage.

While all this was taking place, the Los Angeles Lakers were squashing western heavyweights one-by-one behind the combination of the 2008 MVP, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. After sweeping the Nuggets, sliding past Deron’s Jazz and busting the previous Champs Spurs 4-1, the Lakers appeared to be physically and mentally untouchable by any team in the League. That is, until Boston walked into the same court.

The sight of the NBA Finals seemed too picture perfect, as though some may fall into theories that this league rigged to snag more attention. Anyhow, it all worked out for David Stern. The rivalry was renewed. The TV ratings soared, surpassing last years disgusting playoffs match-up between LeBron and the Spurs. Kind of disappointing that San Antonio and Detroit receive the lowest, due to the failure to have sexy, one or two man teams that rely on isolated destruction. Back to what relates though, Impossible is nothing is Garnett’s headline, and tonight it shined.

 

 

 

In a Finals fueled by emotional and unexplainable comebacks, the Boston Celtics slapped all the critics in the face and took home the glory they promised each other to have since day 1. Many rooted for Bryant’s dispatch from Shaquille O’Neal’s victorious shadow, but Bryant ran into a suffocating defense that left people like me baffled. This is a guy that has staggered teams with 50-point nights, a player that appeared to have full control of any game. This wasn’t on Bryant’s shoulders though, Lamar Odom helped put the lid on the Lakers missing offense in Game 6 before getting eliminated. Odom’s tendencies of recklessly taking the ball down and popping cross overs before getting cleanly robbed twice by Rondo did nothing but pour salt on the open wound. The Lakers defense once again didn’t show up and the Celtics expansion of their offense help break the Celtics lead to 30 during the third quarter. Rondo was slicing through defenders for layups, Allen was raining treys, Garnett was Garnett and Pierce played better than any other player in the series.

Going back to how this all began, KB24 began Game 6 with three 3-pointers to temporarily settle down the crowd before the rampage commenced. Then, just like most games in the series, Bryant disappeared. The C’s continued to run their constant and effective offense, quickly opening the lead before their fans. Once the lead broke pass twenty, it became too late. The crowd felt the championship confetti already flourishing against their heads. The chants for “MVP!” came roaring through the TD Banknorth Garden every time the original star, Paul Pierce grasped on to the ball. It’s hard to deny the satisfaction towards Pierce and Garnett after countless seasons of banging the ball into the bank of the rim nightly for their weak team.

Garnett’s kissing of the Celtics logo on the hardwood is the perfect picture for the Boston Celtics conclusion of their 2007-2008 season. Allen’s barrage of three-pointers while having a pink eye expressed their desire to play hard until the final buzzer. Lastly, Paul Pierce’s raising of the NBA Finals MVP Trophy capped off his well-earned respect after staying loyal to Boston. The Celtics completed one of the most successful and perfect seasons of the NBA.

Dragging Conclusion

The amount of high screens set by Garnett to Pierce on Sunday night added another page to chapter of absence by certain Celtics. Significantly Ray Allen, who shot 4/13 for 16 points before fouling out of Game 5. Ray Allen’s performance hasn’t been horrendous, like it was in the Detroit series but considering Danny Ainge shipped out a young guard with potential (Delonte West), a disappointing shooter (Szczerbiak) and the fifth overall pick in a deep draft, Boston wouldn’t mind a little sharper shooting from Allen for at least one more night to take home the hardware.

Even though the win wasn’t too encouraging, the Lakers did what they had to do by napping a win at home. There future tasks are tougher than anyone can imagine, trying to defeat a team that has is currently 48-7 at home this season isn’t short of being impossible. Kobe Bryant’s legacy carries heavily on the next game(s) he plays. It won’t put a horrific stain in his purple and most importantly Gold career, but it will remain a feat he could never capture. One day when we look back KB24’s illustrious career in retrospect, the storyline of the Lakers and himself overcoming the odds against Boston would be one that would standout as one of the finest moments of his NBA career. It’s not all on Kobe Bryant for the rest of this series, as for veterans such as Fisher, Gasol and Odom need to punch in their desire stamps also.

The final moments of Game 5 were gripping of course, but both teams grew desperate to finish on a good note. The fact that Boston’s offense was narrowed down to high screens when taking the ball down court became nauseating. Not due it’s case of overwhelming repetitiveness, but the fact that the Lakers defense couldn’t bare to stop it, nor slow it down. But of course, the game came into its pivotal climax when Kobe Bryant stuck his hand out for his fifth steal, off Paul Pierce, as he tried to come off his 22nd high screen of the night. That key defensive play by Bryant sealed the win needed by a desperate Los Angeles. Though many believe Bryant needs to pass the 30-point milestone for him to be considered to of taken part in the victory, filling the stat sheet with 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists is all Los Angeles needs to bring home wins on the offensive side. The defensive side of the Lakers is what is keeping California hopefuls to believe the comeback is there. Boston’s simple onslaught of the Lakers defense can be seen in many different scenarios when watching this series. Whether, it’s Garnett’s 20-foot jumper, Pierce’s penetrationg, Posey’s unexpected treys, or Ray Allen’s distant jumpers, the Lakers can’t do nothing but hide their face when watching film.

Many would believe the Lakers would’ve learned their lesson after losing the 24-point lead against Boston, but it feels like that game never surfaced into Phil Jackson’s defensive gameplan. Though, we must believe it has, the Lakers were nearly slapped again with a comeback victory to give the spoiled area of Boston another parade. We must not never forget, these are two heavyweight organizations that carry individuals on each side that have seen it all when it comes to the game of basketball. Los Angeles’ method of taking it one game at a time isn’t anything new to their players. Boston’s position in the drivers seat couldn’t be any more frustrating for the organization. The series has boiled down to two hungrier players from Boston, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

The “Boston Three Party” is only a past nickname that has completely vanished. Pierce’s 38-point night helped magnify Paul’s desire to just get this thing over with. Garnett’s control over the boards for Boston have helped them tremendously, Kevin hasn’t had less than 11 rebounds this series. One of the main reasons this series is still alive is because of Garnett’s foul trouble in Game 5, which limited him to only 11 shots on Sunday, after averaging 19 shots a game this series. Unfortunately for Kobe Bryant, solid performances from both Garnett and Pierce is enough to end this season tonight. This is the script Bryant needs, the lights are on, the legacy relies on his shoulders. On the other side of the ball, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have the biggest opportunity of their career in front of them, this game can be the final conclusion to the aspirational season Boston has given its fans

“It Ain’t Over.”

Promising and powerful words that KB24 flushed to the press Saturday afternoon, and there’s no doubt in my head that these NBA Finals are anywhere close to being over. Blowing a 24-point lead and letting the Boston Celtics take a commanding 3-1 series lead against the Lakers isn’t nothing to crack jokes about while being a Laker fan, but with the League’s best player on your side, feel free to smash on Kobe’s comical “A lot of wine, beer and ‘couple of shots” response to his solution to bouncing back from the Game 4 loss. The loss is definitely a punch in the gut for Laker lovers across the world, but the degree of pressure on Los Angeles’ side isn’t frightening yet. I found myself slowing losing interest in Game 4 after slowing watching the Lakers league expand throughout the game. Even then, when Boston quietly began to cut the lead down to 10 points in the fourth quarter, the amount of excitement wasn’t there. This isn’t because I’m not a fan of either of the teams, but it’s because when you watch the Los Angeles Lakers play, Bryant seems to have an everlasting grip on the game. This whole bias paragraph may seem too ridiculous to swallow in one gulp, but a “couple of shots” aren’t any easier

I had no hesitation in allowing this blog to have a train wreck beginning with these assumptions. Only because we’re dealing with a future Hall of Famer that draws abundant comparisons to MJ every time he dominates in a series of games. In Game 4, Kobe drew even with his scorers with just 17 points. He decided to spread the stat sheet by adding 4 rebounds, 10 assits and 4 steals. His will to score wasn’t expressed until it was too late, which has been the scenario for the Lakers in this series (without counting Game 3, where he scored 36 for a W). The Lakers seem to be on cruise control throughout the first three quarters of each game, while the Celtics penetrate their star-studded offense to an unexplainable lead. In the fourth quarter, it basically the same story line, until it’s under 4 minutes and the gun is put to K24’s neck to take over. So far, when being in those situations, Bryant has failed to squeeze them out zero times out of the three.

This opportunity for Los Angeles has become something they’re losing control over, Boston has seized their chance at gold in these Finals. In an extensively dramatic playoff journey for Boston, orchestrated by story lines from Ray Allen’s slumps, Pierce’s toughness, to Garnett’s leadership. Boston has become the cover art for a book about devotion, desire and heart. These qualities are absent to many teams around in the League, so when it comes to which team is more deserving, Boston leads the line. This storybook ending could only be spoiled by Kobe Bryant, but thankfully for Boston, it hasn’t been anywhere close. All of those raging potentials carried by the Lakers have been tamed with organized defense and showing up for when it counts in the fourth quarter.

With Boston’s confidence flaring, expect Game 5 tonight to be something to savor. Of course, I’ll be at work, absent to the greatest case for must-watch basketball in years. Thankfully, I’ll be able to catch the game during the 3rd quarter, unless I die in a freak accident on the way. Expect this game to be everything you expected, but with more extras than you could ever imagine. Emotions will become more apparent, dunks, shot selections, passes will become more enthused, and K24 will not disappoint.