I did not watch a second of Game 6 of the NBA Finals, but recorded it. After seeing that the Boston Celtics crushed the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92, I figured I just saved myself two-plus hours.
The Celtics won the series, 4-2, and the 39-point margin is the largest ever in a series-clinching NBA Finals game. It also gave the Celtics their 17th NBA title, but first since 1986. Hats off to Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, three stars who had long careers missing a title until they came together this year; they deserve all their success.
Boston was the best team in the regular season and left no doubt they were the best in the playoffs. It’s ironic that the mediocre Atlanta Hawks gave the Celtics a better series (losing in seven) than did the Lakers, who embarrassed themselves in Game 4 by blowing a 24-point lead and in Game 6 by basically rolling over. Can’t say I’m the least-bit upset, despite living in L.A. I can’t stand Kobe Bryant’s petulant on-court behavior, especially when he publicly bitches at his teammates and he is very hard to root for. He didn’t exactly shine in these Finals, shooting better than 50% in only one game. He still has not won a title without Shaq (though Shaq did get one without Kobe).
The good news is that Celtics fans have yet to ascend to the ranks of the insufferable as have those that follow the Red Sox and Patriots. Boston fans are the most arrogant in pro sports, but the Celtics were down for so long that the followers of the green have been sedate the past two decades.
But the 2004 Red Sox and 2001 Pats were also feel-good stories when they first won and look how that has turned out; the Sox are the Yankees a little farther north and east, and the Pats have become the NFL’s Evil Empire. It was nice for Garnett, Allen, Pierce and Doc Rivers to get a title, but I hope it’s a one-shot deal. –Jim Buzinski
on Jun 18th, 2008 at 2:29 PM
So the Celtics completely tanked last year to try and get the top draft pick (and ended up failing at that). Then Kevin McHale helps them by engineering a lopsided trade for Kevin Garnett, McHale apparently not caring that he actually works for Minnesota now. And this is a feel-good story?
on Jun 18th, 2008 at 4:51 PM
And scene, dude…and scene.
on Jun 19th, 2008 at 10:03 PM
What makes Sox fans arrogant? Details please.
on Jun 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 AM
How can you lump all the fans together like that? Some are arrogant, some aren’t.
Joe: The T-Wolves got Al Jefferson in that deal. (21 ppg/11 rpg last year) What did the Lakers give up for Gasol?