Billy Dat
12-24-2008, 09:42 AM
For those of you in hoops withdrawal and not inclined to watch the professional product, I encourage you to dip your toe in the NBA waters tomorrow to watch the Celtics play the Lakers.
I know that a common complaint about the NBA is a lack of passion and meaning behind every game - this one should be different.
The Celtics are defending their title with a vengeance! They are 27-2!!!! They remind me a lot of the 1991-92 Devils in that they take everyone's best shot and play with a huge chip on their shoulder. Paul Pierce, who earned a spotty rep for his perceived slefish play with the 2000 World Championship team and his involvement in a nightclub incident where he was stabbed (let's remember that he was the victim), is really an amazing player and the heart and soul of the team. Garnett and Ray Allen have been playing lights out and Rajon Rondo has been a revelation at the point. I never would have pegged him to be this good out of Kentucky. The rest of the supporting cast (Kendrick Perkins, Eddie House, Leon Powe etc.) is championship experienced and tough! The play a gritty, defense-based game that wears opponents down.
The Lakers, on the other hand, are a nearly as impressive 23-5 but reflect their Hollywood setting - star power, glitz, and drama. Kobe and Phil Jackson are the headliners with a finesse-based attack that is offensively potent - Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Derek Fischer, etc. With Andrew Bynum back in the middle (he missed the playoffs last year), they are that much better on the frontline. But, a recent two game losing streak has them squabbling amongst themselves about PT, effort, you name it. Some teams, though, play ok with that kind of drama.
Anyway, if you watched last year's finals, you know these teams well and know that the favored Lakers really bent to the will of the mentally and physicially tougher Celtics. This is their first match-up since the deciding Game 6.
I think the NBA, as a product, is really great right now, a far cry from the bogged down isolation featured game that turned so many off in the post-Jordan era. Check out this game - and any of the other 4 games that will be televised tomorrow. It's a much better set-up then the Lions on Thanksgiving.
I know that a common complaint about the NBA is a lack of passion and meaning behind every game - this one should be different.
The Celtics are defending their title with a vengeance! They are 27-2!!!! They remind me a lot of the 1991-92 Devils in that they take everyone's best shot and play with a huge chip on their shoulder. Paul Pierce, who earned a spotty rep for his perceived slefish play with the 2000 World Championship team and his involvement in a nightclub incident where he was stabbed (let's remember that he was the victim), is really an amazing player and the heart and soul of the team. Garnett and Ray Allen have been playing lights out and Rajon Rondo has been a revelation at the point. I never would have pegged him to be this good out of Kentucky. The rest of the supporting cast (Kendrick Perkins, Eddie House, Leon Powe etc.) is championship experienced and tough! The play a gritty, defense-based game that wears opponents down.
The Lakers, on the other hand, are a nearly as impressive 23-5 but reflect their Hollywood setting - star power, glitz, and drama. Kobe and Phil Jackson are the headliners with a finesse-based attack that is offensively potent - Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Derek Fischer, etc. With Andrew Bynum back in the middle (he missed the playoffs last year), they are that much better on the frontline. But, a recent two game losing streak has them squabbling amongst themselves about PT, effort, you name it. Some teams, though, play ok with that kind of drama.
Anyway, if you watched last year's finals, you know these teams well and know that the favored Lakers really bent to the will of the mentally and physicially tougher Celtics. This is their first match-up since the deciding Game 6.
I think the NBA, as a product, is really great right now, a far cry from the bogged down isolation featured game that turned so many off in the post-Jordan era. Check out this game - and any of the other 4 games that will be televised tomorrow. It's a much better set-up then the Lions on Thanksgiving.