NBA Discussion - The Stretch Run

[Capt. Vulcan]

Good god that hurt. Oh well, we got beat by the better team. I only wish the Lakers had put up a better fight. Congrats to the Celtics, got the top record in the regular season and backed it up in the post season when it counted most.

Time to look towards next season and hoping Bynum integrates well, or that Kobe doesn't have another tantrum in the off-season.

 

[Neroon]

Two questions:

1.) Has there ever been a turnaround in one season, the way the Celtics had this year? To be so pathetic last year and so successful this year?

2.) Where in the world did Rajon Rondo come from? I'd never heard of him before this season!

 

[Daedalus12]

Two questions:

1.) Has there ever been a turnaround in one season, the way the Celtics had this year? To be so pathetic last year and so successful this year?

2.) Where in the world did Rajon Rondo come from? I'd never heard of him before this season!

1. No I don't think so. Not in the NBA anyways.

2. There is a good reason. He is a 2nd year man out of Kentucky. Boston got him in 2006 in the draft.

 

[Neroon]

It'd be interesting to compare this Celtics year with the greatest single season turnarounds from all sports: football (college and pro), soccer, hockey, baseball, etc.

RE: Rondo.... heck, I don't recall him at all from his time at UK. Any Wildcat fans out here have some insight into his college career there?

 

[Scout101]

Two questions:

1.) Has there ever been a turnaround in one season, the way the Celtics had this year? To be so pathetic last year and so successful this year?

No, this was the biggest season turnaround in NBA history. Strictly from a W-L record last year to this year. 66-16 this year, 24-58 last year, a 42-game upswing. Also, only 3 times, counting this year, has a team won the finals when they didn't make the playoffs the previous year.

2.) Where in the world did Rajon Rondo come from? I'd never heard of him before this season!

The talent wasn't a shock, but him putting it together this quickly certainly was. He was projected by some at the beginning of last year to be a Rookie of the Year candidate, but he couldn't put it together, and with the lack of other talent on the team and injury problems, it was just a learning year by the end. This year, he GOT it, and with some obvious upgrades on the roster to work with, his speed and ability to pass and make good decisions resulted in points a lot more often. He had a HELL of a game last night, plenty of points, and more importantly, was a completely pain in the ass to the Lakers defensively. Every time they got something going, he'd dart in and steal the ball again, helping put up the 15-2 run that killed the Lakers in the 2nd quarter...

 

[GeorgeKirk]

It was great to see KG finally get a ring, after so many years of front-office ineptitude in Minnesota. Ditto for Paul Pierce.

It was interesting how the Sternbot was booed when he presented the MVP to Pierce.

 

[Scout101]

yep, definitely. Especially for Pierce, watching him struggle for so long on so many bad teams, and then almost trading him away over the winter. Similar story for KG, although since he's new here, not as emotionally attached.

I don't have the list, but there were a whole bunch of veterans on this team that hadn't won themselves a ring yet, so a good night for everyone...

 

[Xevious]

You know, this really makes me think that the Atlanta/Cleveland series were no flukes--the opponents really were that good.

The Eastern Conference may be tougher than people want to admit.

No... it isn't.

Ray Allen was going through a huge shooting slump during those series, and the Celtics as a whole weren't playing that great. They didn't start playing well until the Detroit series.

Congrats to Boston, they were clearly the best team in the league. LA should be embarrassed. Especially about the loses in game 4 and game 6. Did they even try in game 6? It just looked like they wanted it to be over.

 

[RevDMV]

Wow, egg on face time.

The Celtics were clearly the best team in the floor in the finals.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

The Lakers looked terrible this whole series, so it's no surprise. I'm at least glad Kevin Garnett got a ring (Ray Allen too, I guess).

 

[gblews]

You know, this really makes me think that the Atlanta/Cleveland series were no flukes--the opponents really were that good.

The Eastern Conference may be tougher than people want to admit.

No... it isn't.

It most certainly isn't. But the east is pretty good at the top, the very top. Namely Boston, Detroit, and to a much lesser extent, Cleavland. The rest of the east is junk. Golden State would kill to be in the east, and would kill IN the east. They couldn't even crack the playoffs in the west.

If we had caught the Celtics when the Hawks caught them, we probably would be hanging a flag at Staples this season. But things don't work like that and unfortunately for us, the Cs had figured it out by the time the Finals started.

 

[pork3]

It most certainly isn't. But the east is pretty good at the top, the very top. Namely Boston, Detroit, and to a much lesser extent, Cleavland. The rest of the east is junk. Golden State would kill to be in the east, and would kill IN the east. They couldn't even crack the playoffs in the west.

If we had caught the Celtics when the Hawks caught them, we probably would be hanging a flag at Staples this season. But things don't work like that and unfortunately for us, the Cs had figured it out by the time the Finals started.

In regards to the Atlanta series, let's not forget that Boston pretty much blew Atlanta out of the waters whenever they played at home. It was a no contest. The Atlanta crowd (some LA fans might want to learn from them), some poor refereeing and some atrocious defense/offense contributed to their losses on the road.

Gm. 1: BOS 104, ATL 81 | Video | Photos | Buy | Presser
Gm. 2: BOS 96, ATL 77 | Video | Photos | Buy | Presser

Gm. 5: BOS 110, ATL 85 | Video | Photos | Buy | Presser
Gm. 7: BOS 99, ATL 65 | Video | Photos | Buy | Presser

I would agree that they got in the groove nearing the end of the Cleveland series.

 

[Daedalus12]

It most certainly isn't. But the east is pretty good at the top, the very top. Namely Boston, Detroit, and to a much lesser extent, Cleavland.

Why do you say that? Cleveland beat Detroit in last year's ECF. I think they would've done the same thing this year if Boston wasn't in the way.

 

[DanCPA]

My belated congrats to the C's. I saw game 6 and started cheering for the C's when they ran up the score... The Lakers didn't even try...

 

[Calhoun24]

It most certainly isn't. But the east is pretty good at the top, the very top. Namely Boston, Detroit, and to a much lesser extent, Cleavland.

Why do you say that? Cleveland beat Detroit in last year's ECF. I think they would've done the same thing this year if Boston wasn't in the way.

I second that! Cleveland is a move or two away of catching Boston. Detroit is on the way down, and Boston will be back. Right now, it's a two team Eastern Conference.

 

[DanCPA]

It's a "given" in the NBA that the Pistons are rebuilding and won't contend for squat for a year or two at the least...

The Cavs just need to get some decent to good players around James.

 

[gblews]

It most certainly isn't. But the east is pretty good at the top, the very top. Namely Boston, Detroit, and to a much lesser extent, Cleavland.

Why do you say that?

Because Cleavland is such a fundamentally flawed team. They are good defensively but their offense is a one dimensional mess. They need LeBron to do everything for them offensively (similar to New Orleans) in order for them to be able to score. And then many times they still can't score.

The fact that Detroit lost to them last season was a major shock and is owing more to lackadaisical play by the Pistons than any sign that the Cavs had moved to elite level as we saw in the subsequent Finals (that year) and this past season. I think the Pistons would have eliminated the Cavs this season, but thats just my opinion.

 

[DanCPA]

The NBA is coming to Oklahoma! I have already placed my name on the "season ticket holder waiting list"

I would love to buy some cheap lower level seats to see the NBA in OKC!

 

[erastus25]

The NBA is coming to Oklahoma! I have already placed my name on the "season ticket holder waiting list"

I would love to buy some cheap lower level seats to see the NBA in OKC!

Too bad it cost a dedicated fanbase with a rich history their team.

No ill will intended for the OKC fans, I'm sure you guys will do a great job suppporting the team, but it's still a crappy situation.

 

[DanCPA]

Too bad it cost a dedicated fanbase with a rich history their team.

While it is sad, this fanbase elected to build new stadiums for the NFL and MLB... And when it came time for the Sonics, they passed. Key Arena needed to either be completely remodeled or replaced and they were unwilling to do it. And now, watch as they will now authorize the renovations to Key Arena to get their "new sonics" from the NBA

No ill will intended for the OKC fans, I'm sure you guys will do a great job suppporting the team, but it's still a crappy situation.

It is a crappy situation, but Howard (the former owner) knew what he was doing when he sold the team to Clay (current owner), and if the owner didn't care about the franchise, it's time for it to move on