Green with envy
From this day forward, every bad team in the NBA will talk about the Boston Celtics rebuilding in a matter of months and enjoying a historic turnaround. Heck, it was mentioned several times in the Knicks’ locker room this season long before a championship trophy was raised.
So, did you enjoy the show?
I know league officials giggled with excitement when the overnight ratings came in well higher than in past seasons. Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett even managed to outdraw Tiger Woods!
By the way, I meant Celtics in six.
It appears both teams are poised to make a repeat visit to the NBA Finals next season. The question is, who’s going to win more rings in the next five seasons, Bryant or Garnett?
June 18th, 2008 at 9:49 am
unfortunately, bryant will.
I think the celtics will be one and done.
they aren’t going back to the finals with this team.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:10 am
First of all congratulations to the Celtics. They were the ultimate team. The Lakers collapsed into bickering and the Celtics became more unified. This was the most even matchup talent-wise in a final in years. So, the better coached and smarter team took it home. At the end there was no Shaq and no Duncan. There was no unstoppable force. There was no dynasty to be ended or continued. There was an opportunity for a number of teams to get the trophy. That’s why the Lakers should be disapointed. They were not beaten by a better team but by a team that played better.
There is alot of parody at the top of the NBA. With the emergence of the the Hornets and the Jazz to go along with the traditional powers out west it’s a real mine field to walk getting back to the finals. Even in the east things are a little more balanced with some good teams at the top. I think the Bulls are going to be alot better next year, if they get Beasley especially (IMHO).
It’s an open field really. I don’t see it as a new dawning of the Bird, Magic era. The Celtics took advantage of the opportunity to bring in Garnett and played their best ball when it counted the most. Now they have their piece of history. Who knows, maybe Chris Paul hoists the trophy next year. Maybe Lebron gets his first one.
Back in the day everyone knew that Jordan would end up on top. The lesson of this season is that if you play the right way you can be the big dog.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Here’s a topic for us Knicks fans. When was the last time a team got way under the salary cap, signed a key free agent, and made a big turnaround in the standings? Has it ever been done? Sign and trade deals do not count.
June 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Phoenix Suns, when they signed Nash.
LA Lakers, when they signed Shaq.
June 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Biz,
Yes on Phoenix and Nash. His aquisition coincided with them getting healthier but his impact cannot be denied.
Shaq was a trade.
Can anyone think of any other FA’s with this level of impact?
June 18th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Allan Houston
June 19th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Actually Shaq to the Lakers was a strait FA signing, sorry. What confused me about that one was all the wheeling and dealing that the lakers had to do to get the $ freed up. It might as well have been a sign and trade because the Lakers gave up Vlade Divacs, etc to Charlotte.
I guess I’m just trying to put the idea across that trades and FA’s are linked.
What I never have seen is a team start to shed payroll two years in advance of a class of free agents. I’m trying to poke wholes in the notion that we’re going to spend a couple of years fielding a team of bad players with expiring deals.