The cloudy gloomy days of the Eastern Division of the NBA has been resurrected. It was not long ago when every sportscaster was writing off the East. It was the West with all the accolades of the Spurs and Duncan, or Bryant and Gassol, or Nash and Stoudemire.
Paul Pierce who for 10 long years finally had his coming out party last night with the NBA Championship. Danny Ainge the mastermind behind what would become one of the best assembling of a team in the history of the NBA. Ainge was nick named the nat for his fierce relentless in your face defense when he was playing for the Bostonians in the 80's. It is this same style of negotiating and assembling that landed the Celtics the Championship.
Even before the series started most NBA experts were declaring the Lakers the heavy favorites. The Celtics did not look particularly good against the Pistons. The Lakers on the other hand, looked great against the Spurs and shut down Parker and Duncan. It was the series everyone wanted, the blue-collar defensive team of the Celtics versus the glitzy Lakers of the Silver City.
Everyone was saying the Phil Jackson factor would win the series. The inexperience of Doc Rivers who made the Atlanta Hawks good during the 80's would not be able to match up against the legendary Sacred Hoops coach. Doc Rivers out coached Jackson. Rivers who never won an NBA Championship finally got his. Dominique Wilkins, who must have been watching, probably wept in jubilation for Rivers.
For 38 year old Sam Cassell, KG, and Ray Allen it was so sweet for those great players who finally got one championship. But everyone discovered how great MVP Pierce is, he was the go to player for Rivers, Doc recognized the mismatch. It did not matter who guarded him he scored on them all, inside or out. But Pierce probably is as nimble an interviewer as an NBA MVP. In the post game interview he gave all his teammates the credit and tap-danced around the selfish me answer. What a great move… The sun may set in the West, next year… The engine is there; the Lakers just did not have the tires and the axle. This series is just starting; watch out for Kobe he'll be back! The Lakers have some moves here and there up their sleeves.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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3 comments:
Do you think they would have won without the three amigos? I doubt it... Money can buy championships...
Lakers need a shaq type. If shaq was young maybe. Need a big man inside..... Make a move or else same oh same oh... Shaq dancing on the roof tonight. Oh but his knees are giving and he is a little winded. Kobe....don't need me...blah blah blah..... need to rub the magic lamp....
Da Bulls .... Da Bulls will be baaaack.....
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