Tonight at midnight, like I do every year at this time, I will face East, toward Springfield, Mass., and give a prayer of Thanksgiving. Thank heavens that’s over! I mean to tell you, it was a long season out here in the place I named Lakerdom – or actually stole from Lester Hayes, the great cornerback and quote machine who made up Raiderdom. Of course, Lakerdom now vies for its very existence with Clipper Nation, which used to put in rare appearances, like
So, we now know that the Miami Heat will get the chance to experience springtime in Milwaukee. Except for the fact that springtime in Milwaukee typically lasts about two days. Then winter returns. Then summer magically appears out of the blue. And there’s no telling from year to year whether those two days will be in April, May or June. True story: While covering the Eastern Conference finals in 2001, it was May 31 and the Bucks had just finished practice and
Remember when the Lakers were supposed to be The No. 8 Seed From Hell? Would you believe The No. 9 Seed From Hell? Unfortunately for the Lakers, the Jazz – who initially reeled out of the way as soon as they heard footsteps – couldn’t lose them all. Utah took advantage of a schedule opportunity to go on a 7-1 run. [Read more…]
The rankings were posted a few hours later than usual this Sunday. With four guys on this list in action in a pair of compelling afternoon games, it behooved all of us to wait and see those outcomes. (Especially in the case of Carmelo Anthony, who gets a big bump this week. But it also was quite the thing to see the Clips sweep the season series from the Lakers and win the Pacific Division for the first time). Of course, it’s
I know, I know. Something seems wrong if the Heat-Spurs rivalry turns into a contest to see which team can show the most disdain for the other by sitting the most stars. Or course, it was ever thus for visionaries ahead of their time. Not that theirs is a vision the NBA is happy to see get out, but there’s a method to the madness of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Heat president Pat Riley. If this is a shock to those forking
Ice, ice, baby. Yes, it was a particularly fitting halftime act the Milwaukee Bucks booked Saturday night as they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder to drop even further behind the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Boylan’s boys dropped two games below .500 and three games behind Gang Green. Our hopes are fading, but the Bucks – losers of eight of their last 11 games – still have an outside chance to make up that ground and catch the
So, the Heat have a winning streak going? I know, it’s been all over the press, which hardly signaled it was a big deal to me. Personally, after a lifetime in it, noting its tendency to, uh, get excited, if the press says something is up, I suspect it’s down. With the streak at 19 and the press hyperventilating about the 1971-72 Lakers’ record of 33 — another mere 14-game streak away – I presented my take in two words: “Heat this.”
And now, as we slip behind the moon … Even with the Heat at 23 in a row in their pursuit of the 1971-72 Lakers’ record of 33, this is the point of the NBA season where the league goes into eclipse, behind the NCAA Tournament. In case you can’t find the Heat scores, you can put them down for 27 now with the next four against Cleveland, Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando. Or not? Try “not.” [Read more…]