Yeah, it's a post about the NBA

We know that this is supposed to be a hockey blog--and more specifically, an Islanders blog--but it's the summer and the Isles have been golfing for weeks now. The Stanley Cup is in full swing and has been reignited with the Penguins win on Wednesday night and we are watching that intently--along with the new WHA set that has been released (go to sportsonvideo.com for more) but with the Celtics facing the Lakers in the NBA finals, we thought it may be a good time to check in with resident expert on all things basketball, Vic Favara, to explain why the heck I should give two shits about the Celtics again...even if it feels a little bandwagony.

NYIFORLIFE.com: As a one-time basketball fan who quit on caring about the Celtics after Len Bias and Reggie Lewis died, why should I care about this series between these old time short shorts-wearing rivals?

VF: This is the revival of the NBA’s version of Yanks vs. Sox A throwback to the glory days where the family sat around the TV and watched the NBA on CBS. I can still rattle off the starting lineups for those teams without any trouble: DJ, Ainge, Larry, Kevin and Parrish vs Magic, Byron, Rambis or Cooper, Worthy and Jabbar.

These two teams have some of that star power with Kobe, Gasol (who people will now get to know) KG, Pierce and Allen. Now don’t expect any 148-114 games because these teams will never shoot as well as the vintage Lakers and Celtics but there is some compelling drama here. Also these teams look like throwback players except for the shorts. No tatted up gang members here. No Jailblazers. Just a bunch of hardworking talented players. David Stern is dancing a jig behind closed doors right now.

The big 3 from the Celts are looking for their first ring and Kobe is looking to move out of Shaq’s rather large shadow and prove he can do it without him. This season Kobe has learned what Jordan did with the Bulls. Scoring 50 a night gets you sneaker deals but not championships.

I haven’t watched the NBA in at least 5 years and the potential of this matchup has drawn me back in because of the history and because of the drama. Can’t wait for the first “Beat LA!” chant of game 1. If you listen real close you can hear Johnny Most’s “Oh my this place is going crazy!!!”


NYIFORLIFE.com: I miss the old game. I keep hearing about the New Celtics "Big Three". Are Garnett; Pierce; and Allen THAT good? Being compared the the Chief; McHale; and Larry is a tall order.

VF: In today’s NBA absolutely. First 3 stars never play on the same team anymore because of how it limits their touches of the ball and also because of the salary cap. All 3 took big hits in their points per game to play together. They are all great athletes and all put a lot of energy into their tight man to man defense.

Garnett is a 7 footer who can hit 20 ft jumpers, post up around the basket and play great defense. He brings energy to every game and is the biggest cheerleader for the subs when on the bench. Pierce can take the team on his back and drop 40 points while guarding the other team’s best player. Watch the tough shots that he will make while driving the lane. I was a sight to see when Peirce scored 41 to beat the Cavs in game 7 while guarding Lebron. It reminds me of Reggie Lewis when he would score 35 while guarding Jordan. Now we come to Allen. I have always thought Ray was in basketball terms a ‘softee’. That’s the worst thing you can say to a talented player. He is an excellent player but he doesn’t assert himself. He will pass up shots in critical situations to pass to lesser players. He doesn’t take the ball to the hoop enough. The Celtics need to get him his shots in transition and in rhythm. He is a deadly outside shooter in those instances. He’s got something to prove here or it will be the big 2 who bring home the ring.


NYIFORLIFE.com: I always wondered if Allen was just hyped so much around here because he went to UCONN but I guess the real question that begs to be asked is that if Garnett is so good, then why did he never win with Minnesota?

VF: Garnett and Minnesota went to the Conference Finals when he had Sprewell and Cassell and lost to the Lakers. Other than that year his supporting cast has been weak. He couldn’t do what Lebron does with the Cavs. And generally thats because he doesn’t bring the ball up. Lebron can run the offense when he’s doing the 1 on 5 thing.


NYIFORLIFE.com: OK, so he is finally surrounded by better talent. Got it.

We haven't spoken about the Lakers. Last I checked, Kobe was buying golf-ball-sized rings for his wife but now I hear he is going to be the MVP. What changed?

VF: It’s a transformation that in one year is very tough to believe. He tried to force the Lakers to trade him. Told reporters about where he wanted to be traded “I’ll go play on Pluto”. He threw the Laker management under the bus. He has always had his battles with Phil. A year later he and the Lakers have won the Western Conference. His MVP press conference was entertaining. The players, mainly Walton, and coaches were joking with him while on the podium. They were ribbing him pretty good and he was laughing and seemed to enjoy it. They weren’t afraid of him and what he would do to them. They actually looked like a team. It was very entertaining to watch. Maybe he has had his CTJ moment.

He won the MVP even though his scoring numbers are actually down a good amount. He made his team better this year instead of worse. Led them instead of dividing them. He’s played half the season with an injured finger on his shooting hand. I am skeptical but maybe the old Kobe is gone. I would like to see him go through some adversity to see if old Kobe shows up again before I am sold on the change.


NYIFORLIFE.com: Well, knowing all of that, I may check in on the series after all. I know that I have been critical of the NBA on this page before but my venom has been focused on how ESPN wants us to believe that the NBA is more popular than it really is because they have a lot of money invested in the league. I'll peek in from time to time but I doubt that I will invest much time or emotion at all, which is my right. So, even with my implicit retirement goal of being an intolerable old man who bitches about how stuff was in the old days, I am hoping the Lakers go down and that the Celtics regain some of their former glory. It's kind of like running into an old friend you haven't seen in a long time. You hope they are well and that they're in a good place but you don't want to spend much energy or time worrying about it.

We here at NYIFORLIFE.com would like to thank esteemed NBA expert Victor Favara for his analysis. We'll check in with Vic during the series if we feel a need to do so. Now do the right thing and watch game four tonight on NBC!