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June 04, 2008
All-time teams
There’s a history about a Celtics-Lakers NBA Final that wouldn’t exist between two other teams. Those two have played roughly half of the series that decided NBA titles.
So we thought we’d explore that history and ask you to do the same.
Deputy sports editor Harry Pickett assembled what he believes to be the five greatest Lakers in franchise history. Another editor asked me to do the same on the Celtics. Columnist Tom Sorensen picked his all-time combined Lakers-Celtics team.
This is what we came up with (and keep in mind, the idea was a body of work with each franchise; it’s difficult, for instance, to say Kevin Garnett is an all-time great with Boston, having only played one season there.)
You like these picks or have some alternatives? Feel free to discuss in the comments section below:
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, CENTER (1975-89): The big fella’s skyhook was graceful and unstoppable.
ELGIN BAYLOR, FORWARD (1958-72): Before there was MJ and Dr. J, Baylor was the skywalker of the ’60s
KOBE BRYANT, GUARD (1996-PRESENT): Not since Michael Jordan has there been such a cutthroat competitor.
MAGIC JOHNSON, GUARD (1979-91, 1996): With a ready smile, he was the consummate showman, winner.
JERRY WEST, GUARD (1960-74): If only the 3-point shot existed when Mr. Clutch played.
BILL RUSSELL, CENTER (1956-69): Simply the greatest defensive center in the history of the game.
LARRY BIRD, FORWARD (1979-92): He’d tell an opponent just how he would score, do it, then laugh all the way to the other baseline.
KEVIN MCHALE, FORWARD (1980-93): A great low-post scorer and underrated defender.
JOHN HAVLICEK, FORWARD (1962-78): Established the importance of the sixth man in modern basketball with game-changing bursts.
BOB COUSY, GUARD (1950-63): Was a generation ahead of his time in showing how a ballhandler could control a game.
MAGIC, WEST, RUSSELL, BRYANT, BIRD
Posted by Observer Sports on June 4, 2008 at 11:08 PM | Permalink
Comments
Heh, Bonnell, did the Observer threaten to fire you unless you started actually fulfilling your duties as NBA beat writer? Is that why you are writing so many blogs now? You can tell us. Heck, tell us in another non-Bobcats related blog, that will up the total and maybe get the deputy editors off your ass.
Posted by: Will | Jun 5, 2008 12:03:29 AM
Hey the Bobcats have a history too. Greatest Bobcats: Keith Bogans, Kareem Rush, Alan Anderson, Jumain Jones, Melvin Ely.
Posted by: apauldds | Jun 5, 2008 8:35:44 AM
I just say your breakdown of the lakers vs. celtics. How in the world could you say that the matchup between Paul Pierce and Radmonivic was even. Paul Pierce is an All star. Radmonivic probably hasn't even been to an allstar game. The Celtics have the advantage at the small forward position. I think you are just a Lakers fan and wanted to show your loyalty by making the matchup look even in you column. The Lakers may have the star among stars in Kobe Bryant but the Celtics have more stars. Gasol and Kobe are the only Allstars on the Lakers and the Celtics have the big three. If the Celtics take Gasol out the game they have a chance of beating the Lakers. Kobe can't do it alone no matter how good he is. Ask MJ.
Posted by: Boywonder | Jun 5, 2008 11:12:52 AM
Odom is the X factor. The closest matchup Boston has for him is Garnett which leaves no one for Gasol. It's simply a matter of Lamar's approach (feel free to jump on that). That said, he's been no more inconsistent than Jesus Shuttlesworth (Boston's 3rd "star") these playoffs.
Posted by: jperry | Jun 5, 2008 11:42:54 AM
bobcats trade idea again:
knicks will look to change their roster a little after mike d'antoni joined them. he like up-tempo shooters and bigs that can score. d'antoni passed on david lee in the draft a few years ago and balkman was a defensive type isiah brought in, along with fred jones to ehlp with bench scoring
bobcats need rebounds and defense from 4/5 position and help in the backcourt(backup 1). they want to add a center who can play the mobile 5 that okafor cant. they also want to move some contracts so brown can get his "type" of guys on the roster(hustle, role players, boards and system players)
bobcats get: C/PF david lee 6'10 240 PF/SF ranaldo balkman, SG/PG fred jones
knicks get: PF may, SG morrison, C hollins, 2nd rd pick (pg ty lawson?)
this will free up morrison to score in NY under the d'antoni "fun and gun" system.
brown will probably prefer carrol to morrison because of acceptance of bench role and grit to morrison
bobcats start C lee PF okafror, SF wallace, SF richardson, PG felton
bench includes mohammad, carrol, dudley, davidson,hollins, balkman, and jones
*this bench is full of rebounders(mohammad, balkman) hustlers and defenders(dudley, balkman) and role playing scores(jones, carrol, davidson), so browns system will blend with pre-existing core.
Posted by: brendan | Jun 6, 2008 11:53:04 AM
opps, scratch hollins from our bench after that trade.
Posted by: brendan | Jun 6, 2008 11:56:07 AM
and replace him with number 9 pick (anthony randolph)
Posted by: brendan | Jun 6, 2008 12:43:48 PM
Jones isn't even under contract with the Knicks anymore. He's an unrestricted free agent, and the Knicks are going to let him walk. Similarly, I think Hollins is a restricted free agent.
Beyond that, you have the Knicks -- who are damn near $40 million over the cap -- trading away two players (Lee and Balkman) who make a combined $2.3 million, then taking back two guys (May and Morrison) who make a combined $5.7 million.
Plus, there is no way on God's green earth that anybody would give away David Lee for two busts who are coming off major injuries.
So yeah, that's a great trade, other than the fact that it involves two guys who aren't members of the teams involved in it, the numbers don't work at all and the swap is hopelessly lopsided.
Oh, also, David Lee isn't a center.
Posted by: willis reed | Jun 8, 2008 1:32:54 AM
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