Will History Repeat Itself?

Just before the start of the playoffs this year, Sports Illustrated wrote a small column about a potentially historic finals matchup: Lakers vs. Celtics. The 1980s were dominated by the Lakers and the Celtics. In that decade, the Lakers & Celtics combined for 8 of the 10 championships (Lakers-5 Celtics-3)! In 1984, '85, & '87 the Lakers & Celtics squared off in the Finals. The Celtics won in '84 in a classic 7-game series and the Lakers took the next two (4-2 in both). Those were the days when the NBA poured in the ratings. Everyone wanted to be apart of Magic vs. Bird, and see what Kareem, McHale, Parish, & Worthy would do. The 80s were the NBA at its finest. And at its pinnacle, it was all about Boston and Los Angeles.

When the 90s came around, both teams lost their glory. One man stepped into the spotlight. That man, was Michael Jordan. After leading the Bulls' dynasty to 6 NBA titles, Jordan stepped down and the Lakers re-emerged as an NBA powerhouse once again. Kobe and Shaq led L.A. to 3 NBA titles in as many years, leaving the Lakers mark of dominance on the league once again. But after Kobe and Shaq split up the Lakers dynasty became no more.

As for the Celtics, the 90s seemed to be a time of tragedy and disappointment. The franchise's only glimmer came in 2002, when Paul Pierce was able to lead them to the Conference Finals, which they wound up losing 4-2 to the Nets. This proved to be the closest moment to glory the Celtics would feel in 19 years. They hit rock bottom in 2006-07, losing a franchise record 18 games in a row and finishing the season with the NBA's second worst record, at 24-58.

After missing the #1 Lottery Pick, Celtics fans thought it couldn't get any worse. It turned out, they were right. Enter the Big 3. The Celtics acquired Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to go along with the talented Paul Pierce, and immediately became a favorite for success in the East. The 3 blended together right from the start and carried it through all season. The Celtics entered the playoffs with the NBA's best record at 66-16 (a 42 win turnaround from last season), and were the favorites to win it all.

On the other side of the spectrum, in the Western Conference, the Lakers made a similar turnaround. Before the season, Kobe Bryant was demanding to be traded and the Lakers found themselves headed for a troubled year. When the Lakers kept Kobe, the team played surprisingly well. After the tough loss of Andrew Bynum to injury, Los Angeles knew they needed to make a move in order to have a chance to contend in the highly competitive Western Conference. Enter Pau Gasol. The trade for Gasol launched the Lakers immediately to the top of the Western Conference. Since the trade, Kobe and the Lakers are 35-11, and anxiously awaiting their Western Conference Finals matchup versus the Spurs.

So here we are. Two series to go. The Lakers and the Celtics both have one more obstacle to overcome. For the Lakers, its the two-time, defending champion Spurs. For the Celtics, a Detroit Pistons team that has been to 6 straight Eastern Conference Finals. Both opponents have been the powerhouses of their respective conferences in recent years. But can history repeat itself and welcome the powerhouses of the 80s to re-emerge as the dominant teams of the present? Only two teams stand in the way. Lakers-Celtics would be an NBA lover's dream, as Sports Illustrated so eloquently put it a few weeks ago. Well, that dream is 8-14 games away from becoming a reality. A Lakers-Celtics rematch could turn around the sluggish NBA ratings of recent years. Most believe it could do a lot for the NBA. So it is all in the hands of Kobe Bryant and the Big 3. The Lakers seem poised for a trip to the Finals, however, the Celtics have yet to win a game on the road. Fortunately for them, as the #1 seed, they don't have to. Although, in order to take down Detroit, it might be necessary for them to do so.

At this point, as a fan, I want Lakers-Celtics. The Spurs and the Pistons are probably the two most boring teams in the NBA. They've held the crowns of their respective Conferences for the last few years and it is time for a change. If history were to repeat itself, I think it would make for an exciting series. It would be interesting to see how the NBA's #1 team from the East faired up against the #1 seed in the much more competitive West. Bryant, Odom, & Gasol vs. Pierce, Allen, & Garnett could be this generations' Magic, Worthy, & Kareem vs. Bird, McHale, & Parish. One of the NBA's greatest rivalries back in action. Wouldn't that be something else? While I didn't get the exciting Hornets-Cavs series I wanted, a modern, historic clash between the NBA's two greatest franchises is a good compromise in my eyes. Well just have to watch and see if it happens.

Image taken from Google Images

Déjà Vu???

With an 88-77 victory over the Celtics last night, Lebron and the Cavs evened their series at 2-2. Where have we seen this before? The answer: Not too long ago. Last year, down 0-2 to the Pistons, the Cavs came all the way back to win the series (4-2). This year, caught in the same situation, Lebron and the Cavs may be geared for a repeat performance. The similarities between the two series are uncanny. Last year, James uncharacteristically scored 10 & 19 points in the opening two games of the series. This year, the first team All-NBA player was held to a comparable 12 points in Game 1 & 21 points in Game 2. He was also held to a playoff record-low (in the shot clock era) 19% shooting from the field. But even down 0-2, Cleveland wasn't worried. And why should they be? They have clearly been in this situation before. Just as they had responded last year to Detroit, this year the Cavs returned home to the Quicken Loans Arena and took two games from the Celtics.

While James' shooting troubles have continued, he has managed the games well and spread the ball around to his teammates. In Game 3 James dropped 21 points and added 8 assists in a 108-84 rout. In Game 4, James scored 21 again and tied a career playoff-high with 13 assists in a more low scoring 88-77 win. James also came through in the clutch with a big 3 late in the 4th and a monster slam on the NBA's defensive player of the year, Kevin Garnett. The dunk proved to be the nail in the coffin and set the arena off. It was all part of Cleveland's 12-4 run to end the game. The Cavs played with more intensity in the 4th and seemed to want it more. The Celtics showed signs of panic and couldn't seem to get it going late in the game. They shot just 5-16 (31.3%) in the 4th.

With the series tied at 2-2 it has become a best of 3 series. A series that will feature two games in Boston, where the Celtics are 6-0 in the playoffs, and one game in Cleveland. In the regular season, the Celtics held the NBA's best record on the road (31-10). However, in the playoffs, the Celtics have yet to win a game on the road (0-5). They just cannot seem to play with any intensity away from Boston. With each loss on the road, there is more and more pressure for Boston to finally win one. But doing so in an arena as electric as Cleveland's may be an unlikely task in Game 6. This means that the team with the NBA's best record may be faced with their second Game 7 in as many series. Who would've guessed that? Few I'm sure.

The quesion becomes: Will Boston ever win a game on the road this postseason or will they rely on home court advantage to lead them to an NBA title? The fewest road games an NBA champion has ever won is 3. No team has never gone through a playoffs without a win on the road. It seems like a near impossible task. It would require Boston to go 16-0 at home and win four Game 7's. Imagine that! It doesn't seem likely for a team with a core of players that have always lacked the ability to go deep into the playoffs. But we will see. The other question in all of this is: Will history repeat itself for Lebron and the Cavs? They shocked the world with their unbelievable turnaround last year against the Pistons. Can they pull off an even more shocking turnaround this year? Well, they're halfway there. The Celtics showed they could bounce back against the Hawks in round 1, but the Cavs are much more tested and a much better team. Once they get rolling, they're hard to slow down. And we haven't even seen the best of Lebron. It could get very interesting if the King returns.

My Prediction: I've changed my mind. Lebron is just too good.
Cavs 4-3

Image taken from Yahoo! Sports

Has Anybody Seen Lebron???

29.8 ppg 9.5 rpg & 7.7 apg. These were Lebron James' statistics in his opening-round series versus the Wizards. 16.5 ppg 7.0 rpg & 7.5 apg. These are Lebron's current statistics in his second round series versus the Celtics. If anything, these stats are favorable for Lebron. His trips to the free-throw line have somewhat salvaged them. James shot 2-18 (0-6 3PT) from the field in a 76-72 loss to the Celtics in Game 1. In Game 2, James' response was a 6-24 (0-4 3PT) shooting output in a 89-73 loss. At 8-42 from the field for the series, Lebron's 19% shooting is the fourth worst in the first two games of a series (min. 30 attempts) ever! What happened to the guy thats been in the top 5 in MVP voting the last three years? The guy that can get to the rim and finish at will whenever he wants. The truth is, Lebron would probably like to know himself. Perhaps its just that Lebron has met his match, in the NBA's best defense. Maybe Lebron is physically tired from the beating he constantly took from the Washington defenders. Or could it be the fact that Lebron feels as if he is a one-man army out on the court? The truth is, we may never know. But if there's one thing Lebron knows for sure, his season isn't over yet.

Just one year ago, James found himself in a similar situation. In the Conference Finals versus the Pistons, James was held to a career playoff-low 10 points in Game 1. In Game 2, Lebron managed a satisfactory 19 points. He was unable to lead the Cavaliers to victory in both games. However, behind 2-0, Lebron responded. In Games 3 through 6, Lebron dropped 32, 25, 48, & 20. With the series tied at 2-2, Lebron put on a performance for the ages, giving Cleveland the series lead. He scored Cleveland's last 25 points en route to his 48 point outing. He also accounted for all 18 of Cleveland's overtime points, including the game-winning layup with 2.2 seconds remaining. In Game 6, James helped close out the series with a triple-double. After two abysmal performances, James was able to elevate his game to a new level and lead his team to a 4-2 series victory. Lebron knows he is capable of pulling himself out of the current situation.

But even with this as the case, the question becomes: Can Lebron do it again? In my opinion, I just do not think he can. Last year Lebron was able to carry the team on his shoulders. But that was a different team. With the new faces Lebron has this year, I do not believe their team is what it used to be. They're asking Lebron to do too much. The Cavs cannot rely on James to carry them. The Celtics defense is too good for that. Lebron will turn his series around. Just as he adjusted to the Pistons defensive scheme last year, he should do the same for the Celtics. He's just too good to keep this slump progressing. As for the Cavs as a team, they are fortunate to play the next two games at home. Cleveland seems to perform much better at the Quicken Loans Arena. They also have the luxury of knowing that the Celtics are 0-3 on the road thus far in the playoffs. How Boston is able to play in Cleveland should have a big factor in the series. While I do think Lebron and the Cavs will make a push for the series, I think the Celtics' dominate defense and play from the Big 3, should be enough for them to prevail and move on to the Conference Finals.

My Prediction:
Celtics 4-2

Image taken from Yahoo! Sports

Bad Moves...

With competition at an all-time high this year in the Western Conference, every team was looking for a way to help their team rise above the rest late in the season. The big moves came from the Lakers, Suns, and Mavericks. The Lakers made the first move to acquire Pau Gasol, and what a move it turned out to be. The Lakers started off 10-1 with Gasol, soaring to the top of the Western Conference standings immediately. Now the Lakers are 31-9 overall with Gasol, hold the #1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and have advanced to the second round after a 4-0 sweep of the Nuggets.

While the Lakers are riding high, the Mavericks and Suns are on their way home, questioning if their acquisitions were the right choice. The Suns acquired Shaquille O'Neal from Miami in exchange for 4-time all-star Shawn Marion, shortly after the Lakers picked up Gasol. The addition of Shaq was due in part to the Suns inabiltity to play defense. Since 2004, the Suns have been one of the NBA's premiere teams, known for their Run n' Gun style of offense. Although the Suns were considered the NBA's most exciting team over the past few years, they could never win the big playoff series.

In the last three years, the Suns have reached the Conference Finals twice, both times being ousted (Spurs 4-1, Mavericks 4-2). Last year, they lost a controversial series to the Spurs (4-2) on account of the unfortunate suspensions of star players, Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw, for barely leaving the bench when teammate Steve Nash was flagrantly fouled by the Spurs Robert Horry. Stoudemire had been a huge factor in the series and the NBA's 2006 most improved player, Diaw, was a huge loss as well, seeing as he was Stoudemire's backup.

Scoring points has never been a problem for the Suns in recent years, it has been the points their defense has allowed in the playoffs that has cost them. And while making the playoffs and being considered the NBA's most exciting team was an accomplishment for the Suns, to them and their fans, it wasn't enough. They want what every team wants, an NBA title. The question for the Suns this year was: What can we do to improve this team and get past the defending champion Spurs? Their answer: trade some offense for defense by letting go of Marion and picking up Shaq. The result: failure. The Suns were eliminated Wednesday night at the expense of the Spurs once again (4-1). The Spurs are the one wall the Suns just cannot seem to break through. The Spurs have eliminated the Suns from the playoffs in three of the last four seasons and four of the last five playoff appearances for the Suns. Talk about a hump the Suns just cannot seem to get over.

The Mavericks talked about picking up Jason Kidd for most of the season. They were finally able to do so late in the year. The Mavericks philosophy was that they needed to win now. They had been a disappointing franchise over the last few years, always underachieving in the playoffs and demonstrating that they were incapable of closing a series. This year, the Mavericks had some young talent to go along with the experience of Nowitzki and Stackhouse, but owner Mark Cuban and the Mavs felt they didn't have the components to win a title in the stacked Western Conference. Their answer: Jason Kidd. The result: Like the Suns, failure. After the trade the Mavericks dropped to 7th in the Western Conference standings, barely making the playoffs. In the playoffs, Chris Paul and New Orleans were too much for the Mavs, sending them packing in five games (4-1).

So what can be said about these moves? Well, the numbers seem to speak for themselves. With Shaq, the Suns finished off their season 18-11 (19-15 including the playoffs), and were eliminated in the playoffs, just as they had been in previous years, by the Spurs. As for the Mavericks, with Kidd they finished off their season 16-13 (17-17 including the playoffs), and were also easily eliminated in the first round by the Hornets. The Mavericks started off 0-10 against teams with winning records after the acquisition as well. It sounds to me like Kidd wasn't doing what they wanted him to do. Both these trades leave the Mavericks and Suns at home watching the remainder of the playoffs on their big screens. Was it really worth giving up the young and talented Devin Harris for the Mavs or the 4-time all-star Shawn Marion for the Suns? You be the judge of that. As for me, I know where I stand. Maybe next year boys. As for the Lakers...well played. Let's see if Kobe and Gasol can bring another title back to LA.

Image taken from Yahoo! Sports