Finals Realizations

Earlier today, the Boston Celtics bludgeoned the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Massachusetts to close out their Finals best-of-seven series at four games to two. Meaning Danny Ainge's moves during the last offseason paid off as Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett got their first-ever NBA championship ring. Not to say that it was Boston's Big Three alone that did the job. The Celtics campaign were replete with heroes the entire season and post. For the entire playoffs, Doc Rivers, the much-maligned Boston head coach kept reminding his boys to avoid attempting the "hero plays"--- incidents when an individual plays errr individually to "save his team." Good one, Doc because apparently that one worked as the entire Boston team played impressive team basketball on both ends of the floor especially on the defensive end. Well, that made them a very successful team during the regular season and it was only apt that this was the aspect that made them even more successful in the championship run.

A few notes before going to the NBA off-season (One of my favorite parts of the year, especially if my team sucked during the season);

• James Posey is the next Robert Horry (prime). This isn't new at all, as some forums have already discussed the parallel. James still can't still hold a candle to Big Shot Bobby, but he is turning into Big Shot James in his own right and as seen during his stint with the Miami Heat (2006 champions) and now the Celtics. Like Horry, he can defend multiple positions from the high scoring SG's and SF's (wingmen like Kobe or Lebron) to the taller and heavier power forwards (Posey was the primary defender against the taller Dirk Nowitzki during the Heat run). The question is can Posey match Horry's seven (7) championship rings? i doubt it. But two out of the last three years is a nice start. Too bad Posey had to play with lowly teams like the Denver, Houston and Memphis early in his career.
  
• Kobe is not Michael Jordan. Ok, this isn't new at all as well. Every year basketball fans from the MJ nuthuggers to the Kobe fanboys have this same and redundant argument. i hope this one is settled in 2008 and will not ever, personal or otherwise, go into an in-depth discussion of this again.
  
• Kevin Garnett is closer to Karl Malone than Tim Duncan. Meaning, i still think that TD is way better that KG but Malone is lower in my rankings. All three great 4's have shown one thing; they play with passion and heart. Duncan, the most reserved and Garnett, the most expressive with Malone a balance right in the middle. But there's one thing that you got to be impressed with Garnett when putting him against a Malone; KG motivates his teammates (From a Tony Allen to a Ray Allen to a Leon Powe to Paul Pierce) like nobody else. It seems it's not only that energy that rubs off to his teammates, it's his passion and heart as well. And at any level? That is a big thing. Just glad that KG got his ring and Malone still has zero.
  
• Sam Cassell should not have been signed by the Boston Celtics. That was the bad news, the good news is that the season is over and they can let him go... After the parade in Boston.
• Eddie House should be the Finals MVP. Not really of course, but i am waiting for the time when a single scrub (or they are called a very good role player since they reached the championship round) wins the NBA Finals MVP because he exploded for 20 points, 10 rebounds or 10 assists during a dominating 4-0 run by his team.