Bruised and bloodied, the Chicago Bulls have no chance of overcoming a 3-1 deficit against LeBron James and the Miami Heat, right? Right? Well, don’t be so sure. Some pretty good players have been on the wrong end of 3-1 comebacks in the playoffs. Guys like Kobe Bryant. Patrick Ewing. Julius Erving. Charles Barkley. George Gervin. Jerry West. And Wilt Chamberlain. And Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and New York’s Carmelo Anthony don’t have enough help to overcome a 3-1 deficit and win their
The Los Angeles Lakers, although they finished the season on a very strong note, have greatly underachieved this season. We all know this. For that, most want to blame Mike D’Antoni for his inability to make better use of the talent he has. Any time you have four Hall of Fame-level players on the same team (which doesn’t happen very often), you have the responsibility of doing big things. If you don’t, the blame goes on you. It’s as simple as
The Miami Heat’s pursuit of the Los Angeles Lakers’ record of 33 consecutive victories caused many of us to reflect on records that seem insurmountable. I saw lists that included Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak, Cal Ripken’s consecutive games streak, Oklahoma’s college football winning streak, the college basketball winning streaks by UCLA’s men and Connecticut’s women, and many more. All I could think about was Wilt Chamberlain, who made the phrase “record that will never be broken” a cliche. [Read more…]
Even though the Bulls unexpectedly upended Miami on Wednesday, the Heat still possess the second-longest winning streak in NBA history. The 33 consecutive games won by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers still stands atop the record book. Even so, and given the difference in the game from then to now, comparing these two remarkable teams is an irresistible exercise in fantasy. So here goes. [Read more…]
Erik Spoelstra may be hunting for the greatest winning streak of all-time, but there is probably no one having more fun with his job than Denver Nuggets coach George Karl these days. Sure, a 14-game winning streak is no 24-game winning streak, but the reigning champions were supposed to be this good at some point this season. Not a whole lot around the league expected Denver to play this big of a role in the Western Conference. After the improbable 101-100
I will be rooting for the Boston Celtics against the Miami Heat tonight. Having been a Philadelphia 76ers fan for nearly four decades, that’s a pretty big deal. Usually there are only three circumstances that can get me to throw my allegiance behind a team I have despised for as long as I’ve watched the NBA. 1. By winning, the Celtics would beat a team whose loss would help the 76ers. 2. By winning, the Celtics would get a tougher playoff opponent. 3. By winning, the
The Los Angeles Lakers may be in big trouble again, as they were earlier in the season. During Tuesday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, forward Pau Gasol went down after feeling a “pop” in his troublesome foot. The big man was concerned about the situation when it happened, and Wednesday’s MRI confirmed he had reason to worry, from Ken Berger of CBSSports: The Lakers’ forward is expected to miss at least six weeks with a partial tear of his plantar fascia and may
I know you’re out there, so fess up. You’re a basketball fan who falls into one of three categories: You either love the Boston Celtics and hate the Los Angeles Lakers, or embrace the Lakers and despise the Celtics, or throw poison darts at both of them. Well, I hate to break this to you, Jim Mora breath, but you may be very disappointed this spring. Playoffs?! You mean the Celtics and the Lakers won’t be in the playoffs?! Both of them? With Rajon Rondo