It feels like the old days now that the NBA Finals are upon us. Boston vs. Los Angeles. Magic vs. Bird, Russell vs. West and now it's Kobe vs. Pierce.Eleven times these storied franchises have hooked up in the best-of-seven title bout. While the Celtics have gotten the upper hand most of the time, not this year! Purple Reigns! Purple Plasma Prevails, Baby!
The 12th Chapter in this Finals Series now stands alone as the most meetings ever between two teams in a final series among the four major sports leagues. No. 2 on the list was the great Yankees-Dodgers World Series tussels, which number 11.
After a season that saw over 1,300 games (you have to be kidding me...1,300!!! WOW!), the only two teams left are those that helped shape this league.
Thursday night, the Finals get under way at Staples Center. The last three times these teams have met on this stage, the Series has ended in six games. Boston prevailed in 2008, the Lakers in 1987 and 1985. The reason I bring this up, keep reading my friend. I'll give my reasoning at the end.
A quick look back at the 11 previous series:
2008 - Boston 4, Lakers 2
1987 - Lakers 4, Boston 2
1985 - Lakers 4, Boston 2
1984 - Boston 4, Lakers 3
1969 - Boston 4, Lakers 3
1968 - Boston 4, Lakers 2
1966 - Boston 4, Lakers 3
1965 - Boston 4, Lakers 1
1963 - Boston 4, Lakers 2
1962 - Boston 4, Lakers 3
1959 - Boston 4, Minneapolis Lakers 0
In a way, it's amazing these teams are still playing. Think about it, the Celtics were 27-27 after Christmas. LA wasn't much better, the eighth best team in the West after the All-Star Break. Then came the playoffs, and all they're doing is winning.
Why do I think the Lakers win their 16th championship? Two words! Kobe Bryant. Well, maybe four words. Add the best coach in the modern era, Phil Jackson.
Kobe has been on fi-uh! this postseason. The 2009 Finals MVP has put this team on his back as they try to become the first team to repeat since the Lakers three-peated from 2000-02.
In order to rest his sore right knee, Bryant sat out four of LA's final five regular-season games. Against Oklahoma City, he struggled mightily the first four games. Then he got his knee drained and Superman was back! He scored 30 points in six straight games - all wins. Then came a 21-point, 13-assist Game 2 performance against Phoenix in which his assists were a playoff career high and a near triple-double (36 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds) one game later.
Before he had his knee drained, he was averaging 24 points per game on just 38 percent shooting; post-knee drain: 31 PPG, 53 percent shooting. And my man Patterson says he's losing a step? Hardly! Oh, ask Suns' coach Alvin Gentry who the best player in the NBA is.
"I've always thought he was the best player in basketball," Gentry said after his Suns were eliminated by the Lakers in the Western Finals. "I don't think it's even close."
Bryant has scored over 4,800 all-time playoff points. Only Shaquille O'Neal, former Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan have tallied more points in the playoffs. Not bad company!
Ron Artest will be remembered for his heroic buzzer-beating layup in Game 5 against Phoenix. But look in the box score and who had 30 points? Yea, No. 24 himself!
When (notice I said when, not if) the Lakers win, coach Jackson will have a ring for each finger including his thumbs.
"The challenge is to win a championship," Bryant said. "The Celtics are in the way."
The Finals go to a 2-3-2 format so that means Games 1-2-6-7 will be in LA. I say the Lakers take the first two on the West Coast, get one in Boston and finish them out with a Game 6 win in LA. And oh yea, Kobe wins another (ho-hum) Finals MVP Award.
Of course, think about it. The Lakers' colors are purple. Remember who my favorite collegiate team is? Just makes sense to like the Lakers
No comments:
Post a Comment