LOS ANGELES – Still crazy after all these years…. There was a time when the Lakers were just a good NBA team, like their romantic underdogs in the ‘60s with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, and the Showtime teams that threw off the Celtics’ dominance in the ‘80s. Then came Shaq, Kobe and, a few years later, Phil, and nothing was the same for years…. Besides the feud that broke up their dynasty with three titles when Shaq was shipped to Miami as
Last week’s edition of The Bernucca List had been posted for less than an hour before reader Randy – who isn’t necessarily a randy reader – provided the correct answer. Randy’s response was “Players who wear 0 and whose teams made the playoffs this year.” Nice job. This week, we have a list of coaches rather than players. However, our postseason theme continues. If you think you know the common threads among these men, send me a Tweet or post
Everyone wanted another glorious chapter in the Knicks-Heat rivalry. Everyone wanted the surging Knicks to catch the overconfident Heat by surprise. Everyone wanted a motivated Carmelo Anthony to outplay a befuddled LeBron James. Everyone wanted Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler to overwhelm Miami’s questionable frontcourt. Everyone wanted an ultimate game, the way these teams settled matters every year from 1997 to 2000. You know what? That was almost a generation ago. It doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is the Heat have James, and Wade,
KNICKS/HEAT There will be no more professional basketball in New York City, at least until next season as the Knicks fall to the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round series on Wednesday night in Miami, 106-94. LeBr0n James had 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade both scored 19 points. Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points for the Knicks. Anthony has played 54 postseason games, being part of wins only 17 times. Amare Stoudemire scored 14 points, Landry Fields and J.R. Smith both added 12,Mike
Even after a five-game first-round playoff series win over New York, questions remain as to whether this Heat team is title material.
Mark Titus and I have three things in common. One, we both write about basketball much better than we play it. Two, we both rely on sarcasm as the basis for our attempts at humor. Three, we both are fascinatingly enthralled by “trillions.” Titus is the author of Don’t Put Me in, Coach, a wonderful inside look at big-time college basketball through the cockeyed view of a benchwarmer. On the inside flap is a review from former Boston Globe columnist Leigh Montville that begins, “If
What looked to be a fast ending to the first round of the playoffs took a turn for the competitive good on Tuesday night when three of the four teams that faced elimination – the Hawks, Bulls and Nuggets – all survived to play a Game 6. The New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies are in the same boat – down 3-1 in their respective series – and they will try to avoid elimination on Wednesday night rather than go fishing,
