A sports blog by and for Midwest Sports Fans
In one of the most bizarre cases in sports history, the NBA decided to overrule a trade involving the Lakers, Rockets, and Hornets last night for “basketball reasons.”
At about 6:30 ET, Marc Stein announced the trade:
Less than an hour later, the NBA stepped in…and stepped in it.
According to numerous sources (and updating this report just recently posted by Jerod), the Lakers have been in serious conversations with ex-Cavs head coach Mike Brown. But this morning I’m getting word that the Lakers now plan to hire Brown as their new head coach.
Kobe Bryant’s legacy collected a few more accolades and grandeur with his fifth career title following a Game Seven win over the Celtics last week. Bryant was exuberant after the victory, running toward the throngs of Laker fans and celebrating as if he had never conquered the NBA before.
It was reminiscent of the tears shown in Michael Jordan’s eyes when Jordan held a championship trophy in his arms for the first time. The comparisons do not end there when it comes to Bryant and Jordan, but the greatest player to play the game remains safe for now.
Bryant is one title away from Jordan’s total, but for now, there is another part in history better suited to his name.
Last night, the Los Angeles Lakers avenged their 2008 Finals loss by beating the Boston Celtics in a knock down, drag out slugfest of a Game 7.
What the game lacked in beauty and style, however, it more than made up for in heart, grit, and absolute effort.
The Lakers’ Game 7 victory also means that Kobe Bryant and his always clutch teammate Derek Fisher both have now won five NBA championships. To put that prodigious total into perspective, it is the same number of titles that legends Magic and Kareem won while wearing the gold and purple.
Hmm…could that perhaps be why Kareem is the turd in the Lakers’ celebratory punchbowl in this picture?
NBA Finals 2010 (Game 5): Lakers – 89/Celtics: 96
The pendulum is now in full swing for the Celtics’ side, as they took over in Game 5.
What is the reason the Celtics won the 2008 NBA Finals? Because of defense, defens,e and more defense.
To be honest, when Ray Allen was stroking it from three, and Garnett was faking you in the paint, and when Pierce was stepping back and wetting it, that is all a plus; but the Celtics are where they are because of defense, and it sure showed as the C’s held the Lakers to under 40% shooting in both FG% and three-point %.
Dazzling enough for you?
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The magic is in the air my friends.
The NBA Finals have arrived, and in its greatest historical glory:
That’s right:
Yellow and Green…Elite vs Elite…Stars vs Stars…
Arguably the greatest rivalry in all of sports.
Lakers and Celtics goes way, way back…from the Russel days, to the Bird and Magic days, and now to Kobe and Pierce.
This rivalry has had it all. Physical play, some of the game’s greatest, buzzer-beaters, and pure hate. What more could you ask for in a rivalry?
Well with that said, and the Lakers and C’s about to go for another brawl, I decided to break down the 10 greatest moments in Lakers/Celtics history. Enjoy NBA fans!
Kobe Bryant’s clutch performance and Ron Artest’s 25 points shut down Phoenix and lifted Los Angeles to the NBA Finals.
The Lakers were tested for the second time in this post-season, but with a calm approach, they moved on.
Boston, you’re next. Get over it.
Just like the Lakers did with Oklahoma City, Utah, and Phoenix, they will squeeze the life out of Boston, because Bryant and the Lakers are simply the better team.
Los Angeles will bring home its fifth trophy in 11 years, while Boston’s title run will come to an abrupt end.
If you watch sports like I do you have undoubtedly been inundated with commercials, like this one, promoting Gatorade’s new G Series. One of the buzzwords that they have tried to associated with the G Series is “evolve”.
I don’t know why, but for some reason this morning I decided to do a Google Image Search for Phil Jackson, formerly of my (then) beloved Chicago Bulls and now the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Not surprisingly, the one word that popped into my head while browsing through pictures of the Zen Master was evolve.
[Editor's note: This is the first article from MSF's newest writer, Chase Yutzy. Chase will be covering the NBA as well as the Browns come NFL season. We're really happy to have him on board and I think you'll enjoy his perspective.]
Someone stop the Lebron James free agency whirlwind. Right now. Another storyline needs attention, one that may be historic; and the James’ free agency saga is overshadowing it.
The L.A. Lakers are reigning champions of the NBA and are rolling in the Western Conference Finals. In game one of their series with the Suns, the Lakers dominated. It looked as though they could not be stopped.
Kobe Bryant poured in 40 points and the Lakers won by 21, 128-107.
It is a scoreline that you’d think would favor the Suns, with both teams in double figures, but the Suns were never really in the game, thanks to Bryant, who is doing what Lebron’s critics want LeBron to do.
Maybe those critics should take some time off from analyzing Lebron and watch Kobe instead. They may realize that Bryant is narrowing the gap that separates Kobe from the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan.
If last season you were sitting in front of your TV and you were drowning in all of the Kobe & LeBron collision hype, you weren’t alone. As a matter of fact, we were all in that same pool my friend!
If you didn’t throw up last season, prepare to completely hurl your breakfast, lunch, and dinner this year, because if this season’s Cavs and Lakers aren’t as stacked as heck, then I don’t know what is.
While there is much belief this Finals dream will become reality, there is always the alternate side of the story. Maybe a Denver-Cleveland Finals? Dallas-Orlando? (God no!) Los Angeles-Boston?
You never know, but here’s a couple reasons why a Cavs-Lakers Finals just might be interrupted by a couple other great teams.
So everyone, I know that some of you may be geniuses in today’s realm of ball, but some of you may not know as much about the NBA’s history.
For instance, you all know that Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and and two Three-Peats, but did you remember or realize that the Houston Rockets were the team that owned the two seasons in between? And that Hakeem the Dream is a two-time Finals MVP?
Check out the all-time list of NBA champions, Finals participants, and NBA Finals MVPs below. It’ll teach you some things you need to know.
There was much excitement in the air, and Playoff–like intensity at Quicken Loans Arena as the Cleveland Cavaliers took on the reigning NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers last night.
Fans of both teams eagerly awaited the rematch of current MVP Lebron James and former MVP Kobe Bryan, who last meet for a Cavs win on Christmas Day.
In what was arguably the most anticipated game of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers held the reigning NBA Champion LA Lakers to under 90 points in a Christmas Day win at the Staples Center.
The nationally televised Marquee game, hyped the return of Shaquille O’Neal to a city in which he won three of his four NBA titles, and showcased the extraordinary basketball talents of Back-to-Back MVP winners Lebron James (2008-2009 winner) and Kobe Bryant (2007-2008 winner), as well as their latest Nike Puppet commercials.
Regardless of your specific religious affiliation, you can’t help but feel great about this time of year. I mean heck, school’s out, work is on break for many adults, and well…just the good ‘ol joy of giving and receiving.
The NBA is doing their part most definitely, with a slate of joyous and scrumptious games. You know, guys like Kobe, Dwight, D-Wade, etc., will be showcasing their basketball brilliance as you sit in front of the TV next to a tree, or under the mistletoe, or with a cradle in your hand.
Yes, ’tis the season to be jolly!
Now, sit back, relax, and let me show you what David Stern has to offer for this year’s Christmas Day NBA TV schedule on another wonderful December 25th.
