Ubuntu indeed

Some people might have wanted a closer game. I am not one of those people. The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers by 39 points to win their 17th NBA Championship. Let's be honest, the game was over with about five minutes to go in the second quarter, but this thing was fun to watch.



There are so many different aspects to the team, so many different stories. Everything came together at the right time. When I started this blog a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't sure if the Celtics could take that last step and beat a team that looked extremely formidable since aquiring Pau Gasol. I wasn't sure that Doc Rivers would be able to coach this team in such a way that they could overcome their weaknesses (and a boatload of injuries it turns out) and flaws in a best of seven series against LA. Frankly, I was livid after his Game five performance and am still a little bitter that Leon got treated the way he did. Again, I know Leon isn't an All-Star (yet) but I felt he could contribute enough with about ten minutes per game to help the team win.



I suppose all is forgiven for the time being. Powe got into the game last night and aside from an ill advised 12 foot jumper, had another quality performance. He had some huge boards and once again stifled Lamar Odom. In fact, the entire bench (Big Baby sighting!) played very well and never let up. Boston kept their intensity for 48 minutes and proved that they were the hungrier and better team. The Big Three came together with Allen more than redeeming himself for the first two playoff series, Garnett FINALLY playing offense like the monster that he is, and Pierce dominating both sides of the ball and proving he is one of the best players in the league. Let's not forget about Rondo too. He dropped a 21-8-7-6 spot in the deciding game of an NBA Finals?!?! Lastly, Kendrick Perkins showed how tough he was by gutting out 13 minutes with a bum shoulder.



Danny Ainge rolled the dice by bringing in Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. It wasn't clear that they, along with Pierce would be enough to win it all, or even co-exist. But then he signed Eddie House and James Posey. As a Heat fan, I knew first hand that if Posey was motivated and in shape, he would have a tremendous impact and that House was a deadly spot up shooter. Combine those five with the youth that was remaining after all the trades with Rondo, Perk, Leon, Tony Allen and drafting Glen Davis, the pieces were there. What really brought everything together was Tom Thibodeau's defensive knowledge and Garnett contagious defensive instensity. People will inevitably start talking about repeats and such, but for right now, it's time to add one more to the collection up there:

Random notes:

-It's too bad that Red didn't get to see this one, but owner Wyc Grosbeck was classy in paying tribute to him in his acceptance of the trophy.

-Good to see my boy Dwayne Wade doin' work on the pregame show. Word is, he'll be ready for the Olympics this summer. As much as he'd help that team, a part of me wants him to continute rehabbing his shoulder and knee and get ready to start practing with Derrick Rose...So yes, an NBA championship is more important than a gold medal to me. These colors run apparently.

-The refs weren't really a factor last night because it ended up being such a blowout, but the NBA is going to need a Hulk-sized beach towel to start wiping all the egg of its face. They tried to let the Donaghy thing just fade away, but since the officiating was just horrible through most of the playoffs and with new investigations being launched into past games, David Stern needs to stop being so stubborn and really take a look at the referees as a whole. I certainly don't have all the answers, but something needs to be done.

-Besides Kobe, Gasol and Lamar, the Lakers kinda suck. There I said it. Sure, they might have won if Bynum never got hurt, but everyone else on that team is just not very good. Fisher's decent at the point and Vujacic can get hot being the three point line now and again but Luke Walton? Ronny Turiaf? C'mon. Mitchell Freedman?

-Will Jeff Van Gundy ever coach again? It seems like he's having way too much fun in the booth. Personally, I'd rather having him going off on weird tangents once in a while but providing great basketball knowledge than grabbing players legs during games.

And finally, for the last time this year, he is Leon Powe's line for Game Six:

9 minutes

8 points

4 rebounds

3-5 FG

2-2 FT

0 turnovers

How much playing time will he get next year? Will he even be on the team next year? Who knows. But people do know who is now. Game Two will be his calling card until the next big game from THE SHOW.

Congrats to Leon, the rest of the team, and the organization. Just start looking over your shoulders for number 3 in a red and black uni.

P.S. I'll keep posting about this and that. Of course, we got the draft coming up next week so be sure to keep checking back.