Last Sunday in the NBA
January 6th 2009 16:31
There were six games last Sunday. Four upsets, one near-upset, and one clear win by the Los Angeles Lakers who were the big winners in that day.
January 4th will perhaps be one of the most important dates in this current NBA season because of its turning point factor that affected the shift of leadership and the revelation of possibilities within the current elite teams of the league.
The defending champion Boston Celtics rattled off 19 straight wins before being halted by the Lakers on Christmas Day at the Staples Center. Knowing how good the Celtics are, their loss to the Golden State Warriors in their next game was never expected. Boston had just suffered their first back-to-back losses of the season.
Naturally a strong rebound by the Celtics was bound to happen and they responded by crushing the Sacramento Kings with a 45-point win. All of a sudden another loss came Boston's way against the Portland Trail Blazers who were without Brandon Roy.
Soon enough, the Celtics were definitely on the ropes. The New York Knicks defeated them at Madison Square Garden after almost 4 years. This is Boston's 4th loss in 5 road games and 6th overall. This only proved that even the defending champions can also end up in such a slump.
The Central Division leading Cleveland Cavaliers are also considered as one of the elite teams this season winning mostly by blowouts and proving to be unbeatable at home this season. Seeing the way that they can dominate any opposition and with LeBron James not really being burdened as much as any other season he had with the Cavs, Cleveland was listed as perhaps the only team in the Eastern Conference that can match-up well with the Celtics and has the legitimate chance to tightly contest Boston for the top spot in the East.
Unfortunately, with Boston's recent downturn, the Cavs weren't also spared from being surprisingly defeated by an unlikely team that is yet rivalling them in such a way, the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards are the worst team in the East at 7-25 yet they had the resolve to beat the Cavs with an 80-77 verdict. Antawn Jamison nailed a baseline jumper with 10.5 seconds left to break a 77-all tie. LeBron James was called for travelling in the ensuing play before Caron Butler made a free throw for the final count. James missed a desperation 3 at the buzzer thus making the upset official.
A word for LeBron: You may be a superstar in the league but you can never be the law on the basketball court! Crab Dribble!? What in the hell is that? If the refs called it as a violation then stop doing it. Great players respect the rules of the game and the ones implementing it. Don't even try to invent something that is a violation into something that basketball will nod at. In the end of the day you are still one of them players. You should be the one adjusting to the rules not the other way around. For a player dreaming of cementing his greatness, not respecting officiating is not the way to go Mr. James. (end of rant)
Since Boston and Cleveland slipped, the Los Angeles Lakers seized the opportunity to make their move and return to the top of the standings. After beating the Blazers to the tune of 100-86, Lakers fans chanted taunts to the Celtics in their own cruel way. Well, that's what a rivalry is for. It's all about making everything almost personal so the tension builds up.
Going back to the Lakers, they have already experienced their own downs though it came in a lot earlier for them and they have already recovered. Those same struggles are happening to the Celtics right now. Let's see how fast can they recover.
As for the Cavaliers, they should never be caught up with losing with the Celtics at the same time. If Boston continues in their drought, the Cavs had better overtake them.
Photo by AP
January 4th will perhaps be one of the most important dates in this current NBA season because of its turning point factor that affected the shift of leadership and the revelation of possibilities within the current elite teams of the league.
The defending champion Boston Celtics rattled off 19 straight wins before being halted by the Lakers on Christmas Day at the Staples Center. Knowing how good the Celtics are, their loss to the Golden State Warriors in their next game was never expected. Boston had just suffered their first back-to-back losses of the season.
Naturally a strong rebound by the Celtics was bound to happen and they responded by crushing the Sacramento Kings with a 45-point win. All of a sudden another loss came Boston's way against the Portland Trail Blazers who were without Brandon Roy.
Soon enough, the Celtics were definitely on the ropes. The New York Knicks defeated them at Madison Square Garden after almost 4 years. This is Boston's 4th loss in 5 road games and 6th overall. This only proved that even the defending champions can also end up in such a slump.
The Central Division leading Cleveland Cavaliers are also considered as one of the elite teams this season winning mostly by blowouts and proving to be unbeatable at home this season. Seeing the way that they can dominate any opposition and with LeBron James not really being burdened as much as any other season he had with the Cavs, Cleveland was listed as perhaps the only team in the Eastern Conference that can match-up well with the Celtics and has the legitimate chance to tightly contest Boston for the top spot in the East.
Unfortunately, with Boston's recent downturn, the Cavs weren't also spared from being surprisingly defeated by an unlikely team that is yet rivalling them in such a way, the Washington Wizards.
The Wizards are the worst team in the East at 7-25 yet they had the resolve to beat the Cavs with an 80-77 verdict. Antawn Jamison nailed a baseline jumper with 10.5 seconds left to break a 77-all tie. LeBron James was called for travelling in the ensuing play before Caron Butler made a free throw for the final count. James missed a desperation 3 at the buzzer thus making the upset official.
A word for LeBron: You may be a superstar in the league but you can never be the law on the basketball court! Crab Dribble!? What in the hell is that? If the refs called it as a violation then stop doing it. Great players respect the rules of the game and the ones implementing it. Don't even try to invent something that is a violation into something that basketball will nod at. In the end of the day you are still one of them players. You should be the one adjusting to the rules not the other way around. For a player dreaming of cementing his greatness, not respecting officiating is not the way to go Mr. James. (end of rant)
Since Boston and Cleveland slipped, the Los Angeles Lakers seized the opportunity to make their move and return to the top of the standings. After beating the Blazers to the tune of 100-86, Lakers fans chanted taunts to the Celtics in their own cruel way. Well, that's what a rivalry is for. It's all about making everything almost personal so the tension builds up.
Going back to the Lakers, they have already experienced their own downs though it came in a lot earlier for them and they have already recovered. Those same struggles are happening to the Celtics right now. Let's see how fast can they recover.
As for the Cavaliers, they should never be caught up with losing with the Celtics at the same time. If Boston continues in their drought, the Cavs had better overtake them.
Photo by AP
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