Celtics vs Lakers Game 7 Preview

It's the two most magical words in sport - Game 7. And, when it involves the Celtics and the Lakers, it makes it that much more special. You can bet that Bird and Magic will be watching tonight. Tonight is the night that a champion will be crowned after a classic back and forth series. It seems like so long since we had a decisive Game 7 in the NBA Finals that was actually compelling (and no, I'm not counting the '05 Pistons v Spurs thrillorama). In fact, this is only the 3rd Game 7 in the NBA Finals in the last 2 decades. While anything can happen in Game 7, the Lakers have a clear advantage heading into the decisive game, and here's why.

*The Black Mamba

-Having the best player on the court in Game 7 is always a big advantage. And, in Kobe Bryant, the Lakers certainly have the likely series MVP - win or lose. Kobe shared the ball effectively in Game 6, only taking 19 shots and getting 11 rebounds. I wouldn't expect to see bizarro refuse to shoot Kobe that we saw in a Game 7 in Phoenix years ago, or one as passive as Game 6 (even though the team benefitted) - I'd expect the Black Mamba.

*Momentum

-Let's be real - LA mutilated Boston in Game 6. The C's shot 33% in Game 6 after shooting 56% in Game 5. The Lakers played faster than Boston, passed better, and played with more intensity. That's usually a winning combination. Plus, Artest, Gasol, and Odom combined for 40 points and 29 rebounds. With a key injury for the Celtics (more on that in a bit), the Lakers have clear momentum.

*No Perks

-The injury to Kendrick Perkins is key. He's one of the few guys on the Celtics that can provide defense and toughness on the inside. Losing him may improve the team offensively... until you see that Wallace, Davis, and the corpse of Shelden Williams combined for 0, yes 0 POINTS IN GAME 6!! Ouch.

*Home Court

-Finally, the Lakers have homecourt advantage. The crowd in Game 6 was unlike any LA crowd that I've ever heard, and they will come strong again tonight. This won't be your typical LA wanting to be seen by the cameras crowd - this crowd will actually cheer and boo for the entire 48 minutes. In the NBA, homecourt means a lot more than any other sport, that's why it will help the Lakers immensely.

Now, the Celtics do have a few things going for them, but I don't think that those factors match up to the ones above... but I have to cover my bases, don't I?

1) They Got Their Shots In Game 6 - The C's had a series high 84 shots, but they only made 28. They haven't shot below 43% in any other game this series, so maybe their terrible shooting in Game 6 was more of an aberration than a prelude to Game 7.

2) Veteran Leadership - Boston won't panic in this situation. It was one bad game, and yes they lose a big part of their defense... but, Rasheed can give a different dynamic to the starting lineup and will be the only player on the floor that has played in a Finals Game 7. Umm... maybe that's not such of a big advantage.

3) Sense of Urgency/Backs Against The Wall/Underdog Mentality... - This could be the last chance for an aging Big 3. With the blowout loss in Game 6, maybe we'll see some relaxation on the part of LA and a rallying of the troops for Boston. It seems like the predictions change every game, but the pundits are clearly swinging the pendulum back towards LA. While it seems like Paul Pierce has called every game a must-win game so far in these playoffs, this one actually really is! Unless David Stern sees the ratings success and declares the series a best of 17.

4) History -

The Celtics are 4-0 all-time in Game 7 vs the Lakers. It would be something if we saw a replay of 1969 - where Don Nelson's miraculous jumper gave the Celtics and Bill Russell a Game 7 victory in Los Angeles... but, I don't think Bill Russell, Bird, Parrish, and McHale, or even Don Nelson are walking through that door folks.

With all that being said, I'm going with the Lakers and Kobe Bryant winning tonight to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats with his 5th title and the 11th for Phil Jackson. Yuck. I feel slimy writing that. Let's hope the RSS jinx is in full effect and the Celtics get the upset.

The Ball Is Now In Kobe's Court

The 2010 NBA Finals is gradually becoming a classic. While there hasn't been any buzzer beaters or singular games that stick out, these Finals have been so compelling because of the different stories in each game. Whether it's been Boston's eclectic bench, which Ray Allen shows up, the Big 3 fighting Father Time, the Lakers role players, Phil Jackson going for history, or Andrew Bynum's health... these Finals have been one of the most compelling in years. But now, they all evolve around one man.

Kobe Bryant.

This is perhaps the series and the stretch of games that will define Kobe's legacy. Can he approach the Jordan level and carry his team to a 5th title (1 short of MJ), or will he lose his 2nd Finals series and hear the question marks yet again? (Why can't he beat the Celtics? Is he being outplayed by Paul Pierce? How does he feel about those "No Means No" chants?)

After the Celtics win in Game 5, it was painstakingly clear that Kobe was angry at his teammates for letting him down in the crucial swing game. In the 4th quarter, Bryant was seen demonstratively instructing his teammates, being upset at calls, and showing emotion that we usually don't see from such an icy competitor. There was a sense of desperation that I haven't seen before from Bryant.

The pivotal stretch of this series, and perhaps the crystalizing moment in Bryant's career came in the 3rd quarter last night. With the Lakers trailing by 8 entering the 2nd half - Bryant scored the Lakers' first 19 points of the quarter in a 10 minute time period. The stuff of legends, right? During that time though, the Boston lead went from 8 to 13. Even with Kobe going postal, the Lakers weren't succeeding. In scoring 23 straight points for LA from the 2nd quarter through that stretch in the third, the C's increased their lead from 1 to 13. +12 against teeth-clinching Kobe. Kobe was amazing, but his team fell further behind as the Big 3 got it done.

In truth, that's symbolic of the Kobe Bryant Era. He has always wanted to go it alone. To be the man. To be the next Jordan. To win the MVPs, titles, and accolades. LA wasn't big enough for him and Shaq - so now it's Kobe's town, Kobe's team, and Kobe's legacy on the line. In Game 5 he went at it alone - his teammates had only 3 FG attempts during his 3rd quarter run. Kobe has now taken twice as many shots in the series (120 - 24 per game) as his next highest teammate Gasol (60 - 12 per game).

In fairness, last year he had 135 FGA in the 5 game win against Orlando (Gasol again was next highest with 60 again). But, this has a different feel to it. Yes, Kobe got that title on its own - but it was against Orlando! Not the Boston Big 3, not the King, but Stan Van and the Magic! No, this is the series that will define Kobe Bryant. This is the rubber match between Boston and LA to tell us who is the team of the latter half of the decade.

Games 6 & 7 will tell us whether Kobe deserves a place in the basketball pantheon or not. Can he carry his team to a championship against a championship caliber team with his back up against the wall? With Rondo & the Big 3 only needing 1 win in LA to take their 2nd NBA Finals in 3 years, the pressure is on Kobe to deliver in Games 6 & 7. Kobe, the ball is in your court.

5 Reasons the Celtics Might Be in Trouble

Last night's Game 1 of the NBA Finals is in the books, and already, the 2010 version of Lakers/Celtics is shaping up to be quite different than in 2008. L.A. dominated from the 2nd quarter on to coast to a 102-89 victory. So, in this hyperactive 24/7 sports media, does this mean the Celtics are doomed, or is it just a blip on the radar? Sadly for fans of Green 18, it might be the former, instead of the latter...here's why:

(1) Kevin Garnett just isn't Kevin Garnett any more.

-As much as fans of the Celtics and KG bought into his performance against Cleveland in the 2nd round (19 PPG, 7 RPG), the Big Ticket has looked a shell of his '08 self (11 PPG, 7RPG his last 7 games). As much as KG's desire and toughness bolstered the Celtics championship season, everyone seems to forget the guy was a pretty good player. His advantage over Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol was the big difference in the '08 Finals. Now, KG is getting outjumped, outrebounded, and most disturbingly, outoughed by the Lakers front line. If KG doesn't start holding his own, the C's don't have a chance.

(2) Maybe Rajon Rondo isn't the Greatest PG Alive.

-Many NBA experts were salivating over Rajon Rondo throughout the first 2.5 rounds of the playoffs. And why wouldn't they, his all-around dominance of the game, his hustle, his command of a team with 3 Hall of Famers, we were watching Rondo grow into a superstar before our very eyes. But, a funny thing happened on Rondo joining the Big 3 in Springfield (that's where the Basketball HoF is, FYI)...now, he's banged up. After all the hard fouls and falls he's taken, the toll of playing 41 minutes a game is catching up with the young PG. He, like Garnett, needs a big boost of something to get the Celtics back to their dominant ways.

(3) The Lakers Length Exploits the Celtics Greatest Faults

-As the great crew of Mike Breen, Jeff Van Gundy, and Mark Jackson pointed out last night, the Celtics have had two weaknesses throughout the season, turnovers and rebounding. And after about 5 minutes, these problems were already rearing their ugly head because of the Lakers length. Rondo's ability to finish at the rim is taken away. When Bynum/Gasol/Odom are on the court, the Celtics can't compete with their size. And, as they found out last night, the Lakers aren't backing down this year, either. On the perimeter, Allen, Pierce, and Rondo are struggling against the defense of Artest, Kobe, and Shannon Brown. The Celtics are going to have to play much tougher and smarter at both ends than they did in Game 1 to compete.

(4) The Celtics Bench Isn't What it Was.

-Besides the Celtics toughness in the frontcourt, the biggest advantage Boston had back in '08 was their bench play...minus Sam Cassell, of course. They had James Posey, a long, tough defender who could also stretch the D from 3 point range. Now, they have Tony Allen, who isn't as good a defender or shooter and is an offensive liability if he isn't taking the ball to the rim, which he can't do against the Lakers front line.

In '08, they had a steady veteran presence in P.J. Brown who could rebound and compete with the Lakers on the inside along with Leon Powe. Now, they have Big Baby Davis, who I think could be blocked by Jeff Van Gundy, and the mercurial 'Sheed, who, might have more technical fouls this postseason than field goals. Add this to the loss of gunner Eddie House, the addition of fossil Michael Finley, who looked like he was playing in cement trying to stay in front of Shannon Brown.

And anybody expecting Nate Robinson to pull off another kryptonite performance in this series might be waiting for a while. In other words, the Celtics bench isn't good, and it doesn't have potential to get better.

(5) The Lakers Are Simply Better than in 2008, while the Celtics Aren't.

-While I'm not ready to pronounce Pau Gasol the 2nd best player in the league, there's no doubting the Spanish big man is not only better, but tougher than in '08. That Kobe Bryant fella is still as good as ever, and the addition of Ron Artest certainly won't help Paul Pierce's chances of repeating as Finals MVP. Nobody in the league does a better job of playing Pierce with a combination of length and strength. Meanwhile, the improvement of Rondo can't offset the aging of the Big 3 or the lack of bench play in the 2010 Celtics.

While the Celtics are definitely capable of bouncing back, it's going to be a tough ask. But, as someone once said, "Never underestimate the heart of a champion". And for a starting 5 who's never lost a playoff series, writing them off after just one game would be foolish. Still, beating this Laker team might be their greatest escape yet.

Can The Magic Really Beat The Celtics?

Yesterday, we asked whether or not the Suns could really beat the Lakers. Now, we ask the same question to the Eastern Conference Finals where the Magic looked out of tricks and quit on the season by getting blown out in Game 3 and looking likely to get swept. Now, the Magic have won Game 4 in OT and Game 5 at home to draw the series to 3-2 going back to Boston. The Magic have all the momentum, but can they really beat the Celtics?

Yes.

In fact, the Magic are much more likely to beat the Celtics than the Suns are the Lakers - even though the Magic must win 2 of 2 and Phoenix must win 2 of 3. This is largely because the Magic have the experience of winning in Boston before. Not only in Game 4, where they were arguably lucky to escape with victory, but last year as well. The Magic have won 3 games in Boston in the last two years in the playoffs including a Game 7 last season in the East semifinals. With this history of winning in Boston, the Magic will have all the confidence in the world that they can be the first ever NBA team to come back from 3-0 down to win a series.

Orlando is only the 10th team out of 93 down 3-0 to force a Game 6. But, their sudden ability to turn it on has to have C's fans worried they can be the first to win the series. Now, I'm not going to sit here and praise Orlando for suddenly trying like a lot of others have had on ESPN and elsewhere. Their performance in the first 3 games was embarrassing... but now the real Magic have woken up, they have every chance to complete a historic comeback.

But why?

Besides their history of winning in Boston, Dwight Howard has become enough of a threat offensively to open up 3 point shooting chances. And, Orlando is taking advantage of those opportunities. They've shot 23/55 (42%) in 2 wins and 20/70 (28%) in 3 losses from downtown. Superman is averaging 26.5 pts and 13 reb in wins compared to 16.7 pts and 9 reb in losses. And, although I hate to give this guy credit, JJ Reddick has scored 13 ppg in the last 2 and has a combined +/- of +32 in Magic wins. With Reddick and Jameer Nelson stepping up in the backcourt (and Vince Carter seeing less important action), the Magic become a more complete and dangerous team.

Combine that with a Boston team that has seen Rajon Rondo ineffective, Kevin Garnett slumping, Kendrick Perkins getting tossed, and Big Baby getting knocked out... and there are much larger problems for the Celtics than the Lakers. Unlike the Lakers/Suns series out west, the Celtics know that this Magic team can beat them, and their combustible behavior in Game 5 is evidence of that. Of course, they could find their rhythm in Game 6, be boosted by the home crowd, and sense the urgency of the moment to close out the series... but I wouldn't bet any savings on that happening.

You can read between the lines and see Boston's worry. Paul Pierce said before last night's game that the C's were treating it as a Game 7. Luckily for him and Boston, they have 2 more Game 7's to go... but that might suit Orlando just fine.

NBA Playoff Pulse: NBA Playoffs So Far

After a week-long blogging sabbatical, I'm back to take a look at the NBA Playoffs so far with our Playoff Pulse. The Playoff Pulse is a regular look at the NBA and NHL Playoffs where we'll analyze the best performances, biggest winners and losers, and as always unique opinions about the big stories in Playoff Time. With one round in the books and the 2nd Round just getting underway, let's look at the Playoff Pulse of the Association.

1) Biggest Winner - Boston Celtics

-Through 7 games played... who would have thought that the aging, dilapidated, broken down Celtics would melt the Heat AND steal homecourt advantage from the Cavaliers. The Celtics resurgence has been nothing short of staggering. Suddenly, they look like the team that won the title 2 years ago instead of the coasting bunch of over the hill players we saw throughout the season. It's not so much that they "turned the switch on" but that they are finally healthy for the first time in more than a year. It's also that the team is relying more on the playmaking abilities of Rajon Rondo instead of hanging on to the Big 3. The Celtics now have a great chance of upsetting the Cavs (more on them in a minute) and going even farther.

2) Biggest Loser - The East... Again

-Another year... another year of great games and great drama out West, and an unremarkable first round in the East. I mean, come on, did Charlotte or Chicago even need to show up for the first round? Yes, Milwaukee put up a valiant fight, but that was awful basketball to watch at times against the Hawks... and we've seen that Atlanta's goal in R2 should be to just finish within 40 points of the Magic each game... and the Heat crumbled in spite of Dwyane Wade. Orlando awaits the winner of the Cavs and Celtics again while the rest of the Eastern seaboard waits for another team to just be competitive and interesting. This year there were 8 West teams that reached 50 wins and only 4 East teams. We keep hearing these things are cyclical and the East will rise again... but I'm wondering if that day will ever come.

3) Best Performance - Dwyane Wade Game 4 vs Boston

-Yes, the Heat were eliminated in the next game, but Wade's remarkable Game 4 performance has been the only transcendent performance in this year's playoffs so far. Wade scored a remarkable 46 points in 43 minutes, many against double and triple teams in the 2nd half and 4th quarter. The pictures of Wade talking to his flame-throwing hand was awesome. Miami fans have to wonder if it was his last great performance in a Heat jersey.

4) Best Game - Game 6: Lakers 95 Thunder 94

-This game is what playoff basketball is all about. The young challengers to the throne throwing everything they have at the team at the top. An insane home crowd that made the incredible atmosphere leap through the TV screen. Drama throughout the game. A spirited comeback. And then, a buzzer beating tip-in by Pau Gasol and an escape from the champs. This series (and Lebron's elbow) have defined the playoffs thus far and shows what's so great about playoff basketball. It also showed that the Lakers won't be giving up their title easily.

5) Biggest Surprise - The Cavs Find A New Way To Disappoint Cleveland

-Ok, maybe this shouldn't be a surprise.

In Ohio, the sky is falling. The Cavs have lost homecourt advantage to the C's. Lebron's elbow is the most talked about injury since Dwight Freeney's ankle. Mo Williams is choking in the clutch again. Shaq sucks. Role players are disappearing. And, Mike Brown still hasn't figured out how to coach his team properly. But, this year it is a surprise because we expected Lebron to have righted the ship, gotten his team focused for an entire playoff run, and that the Cavs wouldn't let this happen again with Lebron on the open market this summer. Wake up Cleveland, it is happening again. The role players need to step up... but so does Lebron James. If he really wants to be the best in the world and win a title, he needs to man up, forget this elbow thing, forget free agency, and forget fancy MVP ceremonies and go win a title.

6) Highlight Play - Russell Westbrook Posterizes Lamar Kardashian

-This isn't only a cool play and an awesome posterization, but it said something about the arrival of Russell Westbrook and the Thunder. Even with Kevin Durant struggling, the Thunder challenged the Lakers through 6 games and showed they belonged amongst the elites of the NBA. Westbrook also showed that he could step up and help Kevin Durant lead the Thunder to even greater heights...

7) Biggest Story - Home Court >>> Home Ice

-The biggest story throughout these playoffs on the hardwood and the ice has been the distinct advantage that homecourt offers in the NBA as opposed to the NHL. In the NBA, only two higher seeds were upset in the first round, and neither were surprises. Dallas lost to San Antonio like they usually do, and Denver without George Karl was beaten by Utah. Road teams were 11/45 in Round 1 in the NBA. That's a 24% winning percentage and keep in mind that includes a sweep by the Magic and wins in 5 and 6 games by multiple teams. Lower seeded teams only won 3 games on opponent's home floors.

Compare that to the NHL where road teams won an amazing 26/47 games in R1! That's 55% meaning you have a better chance of winning on the road than at home. Lower seeded teams won a remarkable 14 games on the road including Game 7 wins by Detroit over Phoenix and incredibly the 8th seeded Canadians winning in Washington, who had the best regular season record in the NHL. Could you have imagined the Bulls doing that in Cleveland? Of course not.

So, what does this boil down to? A few factors I believe...

1) Crowds have a much larger effect in the NBA on teams... and referees. Watch the 2nd quarter of Game 2 of the Cavs/Celtics and see how much help the refs were trying to give the Cavs or how much a great home crowd lifts teams. Whether it's a vast conspiracy or not, home teams in the NBA have a big advantage.

2) The NHL Playoffs are more dependent on current form, a la a hot goalie (like Montreal's Jarolslav Halak stonewalling the Caps and making 41 saves in Game 7 while Montreal managed 16 shots the entire game). Rarely can a player on an inferior team carry his group to victory in a 7 game series in the NBA when you're going against the Kobes and Lebrons of the world. In the NHL, the Ovechkins and Crosbys are on the ice for 1/3 of the game and have much less of the puck than Lebron or Kobe.

3) The elite NBA teams are just better. Parity in the NHL is much more prevalent than in the NBA where we have known since before the season started that the Lakers, Cavs, Celtics, Magic, and Spurs would be in the mix at the end.

So, it does make for an exciting and unpredictable Stanley Cup Playoffs... but also a more intense NBA Playoffs where each home game is so critical to keep or take homecourt advantage.

That does it for our Playoff Pulse. We'll be back tomorrow to check in on tonight's action! Bye for now...

Just What the Doctor Ordered

With the regular season coming to a close, you might think it would be a bad time for rumors to be swirling about our coach's future. If you're the Chicago Bulls, this means your coach and team VP throwing down. If you're the Boston Celtics, it means potentially blowing up a sinking ship. And it starts with the ship's captain, Doc Rivers.

As someone who has followed the Celtics since the days of Rick Pitino, I'll admit, Doc Rivers at times has been a very competent coach, in fact, a championship coach. Maybe his finest coaching job with the Celtics was during the 2008 NBA Finals where he went toe-to-toe with the greatest coach of this generation, Phil Jackson. But, it's all of those other nights, especially this season, which bear out that a change might be necessary. Let's count the ways why Doc Rivers leaving the Celtics might be best for all parties.

1. Danny Ainge

-Pre Big 3, Danny Ainge was in the team picture for worst GMs in all of sports, let alone the NBA. Let's remember some of the guys Ainge brought to Boston before Ray Allen and KG: Marcus Banks, Ricky Davis, Gerald Green, Michael Olowakandi, Jiri Welch, and Raef LaFrentz, just to name a few. However, he struck gold with KG and Ray Allen, and also had the right veteran coach in place in Doc Rivers. Now, the Celtics are clearly about to enter a transition phase into hopefully a younger, more athletic squad. Ainge can now set out to find a coach who can better match the young talent in place..more on that later...while finding the pieces to supplement whatever the Big 3 has left in the tank.

2. The Big 3

-Ok, I think we can all agree that Father Time has pretty much slammed the door shut on the championship window of the Boston Three Party. While Garnett, Allen, and Pierce got the title they all so thoroughly deserved, injuries and age have taken their toll. Granted, Ray Allen is probably in the best shape of his career, but he doesn't have the chops to carry a team through 82 games and the playoffs. Garnett is still not fully recovered from knee surgery and may never be the same dominant force ever again. Finally, all the years of carrying the Celtics franchise on his back seems like its caught up with Paul Pierce, who looks as if he's lost a step in his game. Perhaps a new voice could galvanize one last title run with whatever's left of these 3 next year. After watching this year, its clear the Celtics have tuned out Doc for the most part, as evidenced by several 4th quarter collapses and stunning losses at home to the likes of Memphis and New Jersey.

3. Doc Rivers

-Doc has served his purpose, he's won an NBA Championship with the vaunted Big 3 of Allen, Pierce, and KG. But, Doc isn't exactly a Hall of Fame caliber coach who can build the next wave of talent in Boston into a contender. Just look at his track record in Orlando. Does anybody remember the fact that Doc never won a playoff series before he got to Boston? And outside of that championship run, Doc has won a total of one, count em, one playoff series. It's a classic example of Doc the man/broadcaster elevating Doc the coach. Add to that that Rivers admittedly wants to spend more time with his family and kids, who could blame him? But, let's not pretend this is Red Auerbach stepping down or anything. The Celtics might be best fit moving on in a new direction with a younger coach, mostly to benefit...

4. Rajon Rondo

-Doc Rivers and Rondo have always butted heads, Rivers as the former point guard and mentor, and Rondo as the young buck looking to establish himself on a veteran team with a veteran coach. But, in the long run, Rondo needs a coach who will let Rondo grow to his full potential. Sure, Rondo has grown exponentially since he first entered the league, but there's always been a sense that Doc has kept Rondo under wraps in his system, and in an attempt to appease the Big 3. But, in a very short time, Rondo will be the best player the Celtics have, if not already. So, why not put a coach in place who will support Rondo fully with an up-tempo style that would accentuate his strengths?

5. Everyone Else

-The biggest criticism of Doc is his rotation...or complete lack thereof. When the Celtics won their title, Rivers had the fortune of a team full of veterans who already knew their role. Basically, Doc only needed to come up with the unity theme of Ubuntu, keep the egos in check, make a few crucial decisions in the playoffs, and keep things on AutoPilot. As we've seen this season, adversity and youth aren't Doc's friend. Players like Glen Davis, Marquis Daniels, Nate Robinson, Michael Finley, Tony Allen, ball boys, team doctors, anybody associated with the Celtics literally has no clue what their role will be on a game-to-game basis. Just sit back and watch in the playoffs, I wouldn't lie to you. At some point in the 1st round, Doc will look around and call out Eddie House's name, except he was traded this season. Of course, when you have guys like 'Sheed contributing like this...it would make life difficult on any coach.

So, in the end, it's best for all parties for Doc Rivers and the Celtics to part ways. Doc did bring banner number 17 to the Garden, that can't be denied. Doc also isn't going to be on the Mt. Rushmore of NBA coaches any time soon, unless it becomes a participation award. If the Celtics, specifically Danny Ainge, are serious about the long-term health of the Celtics, Doc Rivers and at least one of the Big 3 will be gone. What's left will be a more energetic, athletic squad built around Rondo, another younger scorer, and whatever experience is left with a new emphasis on an up-tempo game which will play to the remaining players' strength. No hard feelings though Doc, you did good enough. And maybe you'll win another title in the future, if three Hall of Famers get dumped in your lap. Although, I guess something like that has worked pretty well for that Jackson guy...

NBA Heat Check - Jan. 14

Now that football season is winding down, it's time to turn the majority of our attention to the hardwood and the beautiful game of basketball. Our regular NBA feature, NBA Heat Check, will bring back memories of a day gone by and everyone's favorite video game, NBA Jam. We'll take you on a tour of the Association and tell you who's on fire, who's ice cold, and which unfortunate souls lie somewhere between. So what are you waiting for, c'mon, follow me!

ICE COLD

-Gilbert Arenas-G-Washington Wizards

Well, unless you've been hiding under Jay Leno's chin the last month, you know Gilbert Arenas was suspended indefinitely for his alleged gun possession in the Wiz locker room last month. Today, the news got much worse for Agent Zero as he learned he will face felony gun charges. Whether Arenas cops a plea or not, this seems like the first step in voiding his hefty $111 million contract. If so, it might be a long time before the enigmatic Arenas returns to an NBA team. Hopefully, today's news will be a wake-up call to Arenas and Javaris Crittenton (also implicated but yet to face charges) that they need to get their acts together.

-Detroit Pistons (12-25)

The good news for the Pistons finally came with a win over the "Martial Law" Wizards on Tuesday night. The bad news, they had lost 13 straight games before that victory. Granted, injuries have been an issue all season, but the addition of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva have robbed Detroit of their defensive identity (team points allowed per game up 3 from last year) while failing to help the Pistons offensively (team points scored per game down 3 from last year). The mismatch of parts in Detroit suggests Joe Dumars may be more inclined to rebuild at the trade deadline than reload.

Getting Colder

-Boston Celtics (27-10)

Sure, the Celtics are still in good shape to contend in the long run, but injury and age has to be a concern in Beantown. Since their big Christmas Day win at Orlando, the Celtics are 4-5 and have had to endure injuries to Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels and Rajon Rondo (not to mention currently looking pathetic against the Bulls). When the Celtics won their championship two years ago, they needed every ounce of home-court advantage they had, winning their first two series in 7 games each. If the Celtics want to compete with the Cavs for the #1 seed, Danny Ainge needs to bring in some reinforcements at the trade deadline, and no, Mikki Moore will not get the job done this year, Danny.

-Blake Griffin-F-LA Clippers

The #1 pick in last summer's draft will have his rookie season end without even playing a minute, requiring more surgery to repair his broken kneecap. While Griffin didn't enter the NBA with the same level of injury concern as Greg Oden, one more serious injury will place Griffin firmly in the Walton/Bowie/Oden category. Physically and psychologically, Griffin has to take the time to fully recover and come back strong for the Clippers only when he's ready, and not a moment sooner. Or else, he risks not only his own future, but the Clip Ship's as well.

Room Temperature

-Vinny Del Negro-Chicago Bulls Head Coach

-My Coach Vinny somehow has managed to escape the firing squad...so far. But still at 4 games below .500, it's going to take at least take another near victory in the playoffs for the Bulls to even consider keeping Vinny as coach after the season. However, with his team getting healthy and players like Luol Deng and Derrick Rose rounding into shape, don't completely count out Vinny yet

-NBA Slam Dunk Contest

If you tuned in to PTI today, you saw the NBA was toying with the idea of expanding to both Friday and Saturday night of All-Star Weekend. Of course, the only downside is the fact that even fewer people pay attention to All-Star Friday night than they do to Saturday. Give credit to the NBA for trying to breathe life back into the proceedings. But, if LeBron James doesn't follow through on his promise from last year, it may be the final nail in the Dunk Contest's coffin.

Getting Warmer

-Memphis Grizzlies (19-18)

Somehow, the Memphis Grizzlies have won 9 of their last 12 games and sit one game above .500. If you are reading this and saw it coming, maybe you should go buy some lotto tickets right about now. In all honesty, since they got rid of Allen Iverson, the chemistry between young players like Conley, Gay, Mayo, and long-noted headcase Zach Randolph has been a pleasant surprise in the league. In the East, they'd be a Cinderella story in serious playoff contention...in the West, they're still last in their division. The NBA...where imbalance happens!

-Tyreke Evans-G-Sacramento Kings

-Although he doesn't have the singular performance of Brandon Jennings's 55 points in November, Evans has slowly but surely edged out in front of the Rookie of the Year standings. He's the top rookie scorer in the league at 20.6 PPG and without leading scorer Kevin Martin, has kept the Kings at a respectable 15-22. If he keeps this up, he'll be the latest Memphis PG to be a near-unanimous ROY.

On Fire

-Cleveland Cavs

The national media was quick to pounce on the Cavs for losing their first two games of the season, but has anyone noticed they have the best record in the East and are only 1/2 game behind the Lakers for best in the league? Of course not, because, well, you may not have heard, LeBron James is a free agent next summer. But if Mike Brown can stay out of the coma he's been in the last 3 years and continue to use his flexible bench to his advantage, the Cavs are going to be a hard time to beat. Heck, when Jawad Williams is coming off the bench to score double digits, you're doing something right. The bad news for the ravenous media is, LeBron may have no choice BUT to stay in Cleveland if the Cavs keep playing this well (only 5 losses since Dec. 1).

-Dejuan Blair-F-SA Spurs/Aaron Brooks-G-Houston Rockets

-Finally, we come to two players that are causing 90% GMs around the league to wake up in the middle of the night with a bad case of indigestion. The diminutive Brooks (18.9 PPG) is the driving force behind the Rockets (22-17) staying afloat without Yao Ming, most noticeably scoring 43 Wed. night in 3OTs against the TWolves. Meanwhile Blair is showing you don't need healthy ACLs to be a productive low-post presence as he matures and grows behind Tim Duncan in San Antonio. When a 2nd round rookie puts up 28 points and 21 rebounds, even one as successful in college as Blair, people begin to take notice.

That does it for this week's look at the temperature around the NBA. Stay with us tomorrow for our NFL Divisional Round Preveiw! Until next time, it's bye for now!

Top 10 Stories of the Decade - #5 The Changing Face of the NBA

Our #5 Story of the Countdown is perhaps the most overlooked one of the decade. In the past 10 years, the NBA has come a long way. From the Malice in the Palace to the Redeem Team, it's been a roller-coaster ride for the Association. But with a wave of new, young stars and the reinvention of others, the NBA is finally moving in the right direction.

For several reasons, the NBA was akin to a ship lost at sea for much of the decade. At the beginning of the 2000's, the Lakers and Spurs began sowing the seeds of their dominance. Behind the dynamic duo of Shaq and Kobe, the Lakers won the first 3 titles of the decade. However, their success was fleeting. Neither could live with the other in complete harmony. Despite coach Phil Jackson's best efforts, Kobe and Shaq were destined to separate.

Meanwhile, San Antonio, led by the most unappreciated athlete/coach combo of the decade, Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich, became the quiet dynasty, winning 3 titles later in the decade. However, the Spurs could never capture the national conscience like Jordan's Bulls or the Shaq/Kobe Lakers. Their Finals appearances in 2003 and 2007 would be responsible for the two lowest-rated NBA Finals in history. The NBA also had an even bigger challenge than a championship team nobody wanted to watch.

The unequivocal face of the league, Michael Jordan, had ended his second retirement and joined the Washington Wizards in 2001. But, even though His Airness was back, the league was hurting to find its next great superstar. Vince Carter wowed with his Dunk Contest performance in 2000, but he could never take his game to the next level. Allen Iverson established himself as one of the league's toughest competitors, but his close association with the hip-hop generation of players and his checkered past didn't endear him to the NBA's marketing machine (not to mention one of our favorite soundbytes in 2002). Grant Hill was to be one of the stars of the decade, but his injured ankle caused him to play 47 games in 4 years after signing with Orlando (2000-2004). As Jordan's career finally wound down in 2003, the league was absent a reliable star.

The vacuum created by Jordan's retirement wouldn't be fulfilled by a new wave of stars immediately. Instead, the NBA would be thrust into two of the most dramatic controversies seen in sports. First, in July 2003, Kobe Bryant, three-time NBA Champion and the heir apparent to the Jordan throne, was arrested in Colorado and charged with sexual assault. Although Bryant's criminal charges were dismissed, Kobe had to succumb to a civil settlement and the loss of endorsements. Added to the personal embarrassment of a public apology and losing to the underdog Pistons in the next year's Finals, Kobe Bryant's image was at an all-time low. His "engineering" of Shaq's trade to Miami the next year in the summer of 2004 cemented Bryant as one of the league's villains, not as the face of the post-Jordan era.

As if things couldn't get any worse, the NBA reached an all-time low point on Nov. 19, 2004. At first, it seemed to be just a normal regular season game between bitter rivals, the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers. However, late in the game Ron Artest and Ben Wallace started a scuffle between the two teams. Just as it looked like cooler heads were going to prevail, the madness began to unfold that would forever be known as Malice in the Palace.

Bill Walton certainly summed it up best, the lowest point in the NBA in 30 years. Children crying at your sporting events isn't exactly the best way to invite and grow fans. Suddenly, the NBA was at a crossroads. They had already been through the JailBlazers and the widening gap between the common fan and the new breed of NBA players, but never had an American professional league had to deal with such a debacle. Credit David Stern for ruling with an iron fist in the wake of the brawl. In total, 9 players were suspended 146 games, including Artest's suspension for the remainder of the season. Stern implemented further reforms after the brawl, including implementing a new dress code, which was seen as a racially-tinged backlash against the growing hip-hop influence on its players. Although not directly related, in 2005 Stern also put into place an age limit preventing high schoolers from making a direct jump to the pros. Although the age limit still isn't perfect, both of these reforms helped rehabilitate the image of the league.

However, the NBA still needed someone to lift the Association from the depths of despair. The NFL and college football had exploded in popularity, while the NBA seemed to lag behind. The worldwide appeal and prestige of the NBA game had even taken a hit with their first international loss in the 2002 World Championships and a shocking 6th place finish. This was followed by a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics, a first for a "Dream Team". But in the aftermath of all of these negatives, finally, a new crop of exciting, and marketable young stars began to take control of the league.

The 2003 NBA Draft will forever be remembered for giving the NBA a trio of fresh new faces which have carried the NBA back into mainstream acceptance. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Carmelo Anthony all started strong as rookies, and have grown into legit superstars and reliable ambassadors for the game of basketball. James especially has become the marketing face of the NBA and the hope of an entire city, Cleveland. Wade has won a championship himself and Anthony has become one of the game's top scorers. These three have been joined by other likeable young stars like Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy and others in raising the profile of the league. David Stern also wisely embraced an influx of international talent to grow the NBA globally better than any other American sports league, thanks in large part to players like Yao, Dirk, and Steve Nash (I know, I know, but technically Canada is an international market).

The culmination of the good will established by a new generation of post-Jordan stars was the 2008 Olympics. Instead of shunning the Olympic stage, these young athletes embraced the challenge of regaining Olympic glory and reestablishing the NBA game on the international stage. The "Redeem Team" did just that, capturing Olympic gold in Beijing.

In addition to success abroad, franchises like the Celtics and Lakers also have seen a revival, winning back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009 respectively. The 17th banner for the Celtics gave a first championship to the popular trio of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce. Even the Lakers latest championship has seemed to unofficially welcome Kobe Bryant back in to the circle of accepted NBA icons. In every way possible, the league has recovered from their poor image, international failures, and on-court controversy. Even the recent Tim Donaghy scandal has done little long-term damage to the sport, although the referee debate will continue into the next decade. Thanks to a bevy of likeable, marketable, talented young stars, led by King James, the NBA is finally on the way back. As we close the decade, the NBA is in the best place it's been in the post-Jordan era. And for once, its future looks even brighter than its present.

We'll be back with our Top 4 Stories of the Decade after the Christmas holiday as well as Part II of our Bowl Pick 'Em Extravaganza! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours from RSS!

Top 10 Games of the Decade-NBA: Game 4 2008 NBA Finals

Ironically, the next installment of our Top 10 Games of the Decade took place on the same day of the first round of the 2008 U.S. Open. While Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate were about to embark on the most dramatic golfing battle of the decade, the Celtics and Lakers were renewing the most storied rivalry in the NBA. What was to unfold that night would make Finals history, and cement the legacy of a new chapter in the Celtics/Lakers rivalry.

Who: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers

What: Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

When: June 12, 2008

How It All Unfolded: The 2008 NBA Finals was the culmination of a revival of one the NBA's two most storied franchises. At the beginning of the decade, the Lakers had won three titles behind the championship trio of Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. However, the two couldn't coexist and eventually Shaq was traded to Miami in 2004. After some bumps in the road with Kobe Bryant the unquestioned star of L.A., the Lakers were finally making the right moves in 2007. They'd drafted a promising young center in Andrew Bynum, acquired key cogs Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom, and fleeced the Memphis Grizzlies for All-Star Pau Gasol. They ran away with the Western Conference and cruised to the Finals for a record 29th time.

Another more dramatic revival was happening on the other side of the country in Boston. The Celtics had languished since the days of Bird, McHale, and Parish. Even worse, former Celtic Danny Ainge seemed to be making all the wrong moves as the team's GM. Temperamental star Paul Pierce seemed to be on his way out to a contender. But then, a wave of events took the Celtics from cellar-dwellar to contender. Trades for future Hall of Famers Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett gave Boston the most formidable Big 3 in the league. Even under the most intense pressure of their careers, the new look Celtics fought through two 7 game series (including an epic duel between Pierce and LeBron James in Game 7 of the 2nd round) and the Detroit Pistons to make the Finals for the first time since 1987.

Fans, media, everyone associated with the NBA was salivating at the revival of the league's greatest rivalry renewed. Magic and Bird saved the NBA in the 80's and the 2008 meeting between the two would be the first meeting of the two teams in the Finals since the glory years. Overall, it would be the 11th time the Celtics and Lakers would be meeting to crown a champion.

The drama started early in Game 1. The Lakers got off to an early lead, but behind Garnett and captain Paul Pierce, the Celtics hung close. Then, the unthinkable, Pierce went down with what looked to be a serious knee injury. Cue the heroic music!

That comeback by Pierce is either one of the inspiring moments in NBA history, or one of the most poorly-acted hoaxes, depending on where you live and who you were rooting for at the time. Nevertheless, on the heels of Pierce's outstanding all-around play, the Celtics took the first two games at home. Kobe Bryant responded in Game 3 back in L.A. to dominate down the stretch and bring the Lakers back to down 2-1. Game 4 would certainly be the game to shape the rest of the series. At home, the Lakers came out like gangbusters, opening a 21 point 1st quarter lead. The deficit for the Celtics would balloon to 24 points by the 3rd quarter. As play-by-play man Mike Breen said at the time, the Staples Center crowd was getting tired from all the standing ovations the crowd was giving the Lakers!

But, the Celtics would begin to chip away in the 3rd quarter. Sparked by their trademark tough defense, especially the stifling play of Paul Pierce on Kobe Bryant, the Celtics began to rally. After an emphatic dunk by P.J. Brown at the end of the 3rd, the Celtics were miraculously back to within 2 points. What followed was the most dramatic 4th quarter of the decade in the NBA. The Lakers did their best to keep the Celtics at bay, but the determination of Garnett and Pierce and clutch shots by Eddie House and James Posey gave the Celtics the lead. Ray Allen's acrobatic lay-in sealed the victory for the Celtics, and a 3-1 series lead. Boston would go on to win their 17th championship in six games over the Lakers. I'll let the highlights of this amazing game speak for itself (except for the insufferable Rick Kamla who unfortunately hosts this video).

Why We'll Remember It:

There are many reasons we'll remember this as the greatest NBA game of the 2000's. First, there isn't really a lot of competition. One contender might be Game 4 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Kings and the Lakers. But, that entire series has since been shrouded in controversy by disgraced former ref Tim Donaghy. The other contender, Game 1 of the 2001 NBA Finals featured a great individual performance by Allen Iverson, but lacks the same importance in a larger sense as the Lakers easily won the next 4 games.

More importantly, Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals had history on its side. The two most important franchises in NBA history were meeting to decide the championship. The Celtics and the Lakers, a rivalry responsible for the growth of the NBA in the 50's and 60's and the saving of the NBA in the 80's, would cement the complete revival of the NBA's post-Jordan era. With the emergence of stars like Bryant, Pierce, KG, James, Wade, Duncan, and teams like the Celtics and Lakers, the future of the NBA finally seemed stable.

Above all else though, Game 4 provided the biggest comeback in Finals history. No team had ever been down 21 points after the 1st quarter of a Finals game and won. Without the comeback, the Celtics may have gone on to lose the series and any chance at reclaiming Celtic Pride (no, not the ridiculous movie with Dan Akroyd and the guy from Home Alone). The raising of banner 17 officially brought back back arguably the league's most important franchise to the top of the NBA for the first time over 20 years.

Further, the legacies of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and especially Finals MVP Paul Pierce were firmly established with the all-time Celtics greats and the all-time greats of the game. Of course, things didn't turn out all bad for the Lakers, who would win the title in 2009. Still, no one looking back years from now will remember the Lakers losing Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals, they'll remember the Celtics winning it. This game, more than any other of the decade, exemplified what can make amazing happen in the NBA.

Others Considered -

2001 Finals Game 1: Philly 107 Lakers 101

2002 West Finals Game 4: Lakers 100 Kings 99

2007 East Finals Game 5: Cavs 109 Pistons 107 2 OTw

2009 NBA Preview-Who Will Win It All?/21 Random Predictions

Finally, the 2009 NBA Season starts tonight. But, the question remains...who's going to win it all? Which of the 5 major contenders made the right moves to get to the promised land? Also, as always with our previews, 21 random predictions for the upcoming season that you'll only find at RSS!

NBA Championship Predictions

Y2: For me, there are only 4 true contenders. The Magic, while making a good impression last year, took a step back by getting rid of Hedo Turkoglu for Vince Carter. Despite Dwight Howard's emerging superstardom, Orlando's out as a contender. So that leaves us with two teams in each conference. In the West, you've got to go with the Lakers over the Spurs. While Ron Artest is a powderkeg waiting to explode, they still have the most talented, deepest team in the league. They will be able to withstand the annual Andrew Bynum injury and outlast the Spurs to reach the NBA Finals. In the East, both the Cavs and Celtics will be desperate to make it back to the NBA Finals. The Celtics know their championship window is closing, while the Cavs know they have to make it to appease King James and finally deliver a title to Cleveland. It will be an epic battle, but the Celtics will be able to better adjust to their offseason improvements and will be led by KG back to the Finals. So in the Finals, it will be a near repeat of two years ago...the C's defense will smother Kobe and will outtough the Lakers to win the title in 6 games. PICK-Celtics over Lakers in 6

Y1: I couldn't agree with Yoder2 more, there are 4 contenders: Cleveland, Boston, LA, and San Antonio. Despite their great preseason, I don't see Orlando being able to duplicate last year's success with a dose of vinsanity. However... I'm going in a different direction. In the West, yes, Ron Artest is a powderkeg... and Richard Jefferson is plainly a better addition for San Antonio. Duncan and Ginobili have to have one good run left in them. If those two stay healthy, a roster of Duncan, Manu, Parker, R-Jeff, Finley, Mason is good enough to battle LA. The difference for SAS though will be Pitt rookie DaJuan Blair. He'll eat Gasol and Bynum for lunch just like he did Hasheem Thabeet at UConn. Out East, it will be an epic battle, but the Cavs will lean on their past experience and last year's disappointment to get past the C's. Mo Williams will up his game in June and Shaq will be the inside presence necessary to get through the playoffs. In the Finals, LBJ gets his revenge on the Spurs as he sweeps the MVP, Finals MVP, and the championship. PICK-Cavs over Spurs in 7

21 Random Predictions for the Upcoming Season

(1) The injury sustained by Blake Griffin is not the start of some Clipper Curse, but it will be enough to derail the Clips' faint playoff hopes.

(2) Griffin's injuries will be enough to lose his sure Rookie of the Year Award to a dark horse candidate, like Tyreke Evans in Sacremento.

(3) As much as I love Charles Barkley, he will once again say or do something stupid to get himself removed from TNT for a brief period of time.

(4) A full out battle will ensue between Mark Cuban and Russian Mark Cuban for the title of Most Ridiculous Ways an Owner can Spend Their Money, as long as Russian Mark Cuban doesn't start hosting his own talk radio show.

(5) For one week in January, NBA starting 5's will have one spot taken by a WNBA player, as decreed by President Obama, under scrutiny for his own, "all-male" pickup games.

(6) The Coach of the Year will NOT be Mike Brown of the Cavs, it will be his assistant, LeBron James.

(7) Due to the recent success of Shaq Vs., Shaquille O'Neal will start at QB for the Browns regular season finale...and still complete more passes than Derek Anderson.

(8) The persistent campaign to get Bill Simmons elected as GM of an NBA team will lead to a shocking announcement, the GM of the new WNBA Tulsa Shock...the Sports Guy!

(9) Pau Gasol, seeking to impress new tough-guy teammate Ron Artest, will set the record for awkward chest-thumping and unintimidating screeching during the regular season.

(10) Greg Oden will play more games this season than Blake Griffin, and still not get as many rebounds.

(11) After a slow start, Scott Skiles will be the first head coach fired during the season, and be thankful for Milwaukee putting him out of his misery.

(12) Kobe Bryant, motivated by being placed below LeBron James in our Athletes of the Decade list, will beat out James and Brandon Roy for NBA MVP.

(13) Joe Dumars reign as the smartest GM in the league will end after his team

fails to even make the playoffs.

(14) By the end of the All-Star Break, fans, players, and coaches alike will be begging for the replacement referees to come back. This will be especially true after veteran official Dick Bavetta falls asleep during a late December Grizzlies-T'Wolves game.

(15) Expect an epic trade deadline as the elite teams bolster their ammo and the bad teams, especially in big markets, get ready for 2010.

(16) Expect to hear "2010" more often this season than "2009." Especially about that one guy, what's his name again?

(17) The highlight of the Knicks' regular season will be a Catholic priest storming the court to intervene when Mike D'Anoni is ejected from a game. So, a priest, a rabbi, and Spike Lee walk into a bar...

(18) Much like the NFL, the gap between the elite and the awful teams will never seem larger.

(19) Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy will continue to be the best A team for announcing in any sport...of course, Joe Buck is half of two of their contenders, so maybe it's not that big an achievement.

(20) At least one of the Top 5 teams (Celtics, Cavs, Magic, Lakers, Spurs), will not make the Conference Finals...tough prediction, right?c v

(21) This will be the most thrilling regular season since the days of Bird, Magic, and Jordan...put it in the book, just don't expect Bird's Pacers or Jordan's Bobcats to contribute much.

That does it for our 3 part NBA Preview of the 2009 season. Make sure you keep coming back to RSS throughout the season for our unique view of the Association. Also, tune in tomorrow as we return with a World Series Preview, and the return of the Decade Series right around the corner. Until then, it's bye for now!