It happens anywhere NBA fans congregate. My team is better than your team. Eventually, the discourse evolves into the past successes of the teams involved. However, when the discussion involves to the greatest franchise the NBA has seen, there are only two teams that can be considered: The Los Angeles Lakers and The Boston Celtics.
So how do we define the greatest franchise in NBA history? Titles? Playoff appearances? Rivalries? Overall win/loss records? There are no standards for this sort of thing. No guidelines that indicate what should and should not be considered in the discussion of the greatest of all time. I think it would be best if all were considered. Disclaimer: I am an avid Lakers fan.
Most NBA fans are aware that the Celtics hold 17 NBA titles while the Lakers organization sits at 14 titles. At first glance, the edge here would go to the Celtics with three more championship rings. However, if you take a closer look, the bulk of their championships came in one fantastic time period with 8 in row in the sixties. There is one crucial point that is often overlooked. Winning the initial NBA Finals championship -- which was also their third straight title counting the two previous years in the NBL and BAA -- began a run in which the Lakers would win five of the first six NBA championships. The Lakers franchise dynasty actually began before the Celtics dynasty emerged, contrary to popular (and reported) belief.
Including this season, the Lakers and Celtics have been staples in the postseason. The Celtics have made the playoffs 46 times in 63 seasons, an amazing 73% postseason appearance rate. They have been division champions 26 times, won 20 of the 31 Conference Finals they’ve appeared in, and currently rock a 17 – 3 finals record.
In comparison, the Lakers have made the playoffs in 56 of their 60 seasons, a 93% clip! The Lakers history (including the Minneapolis years) includes 28 division championships, 29 of 37 Conference Finals won, and a underwhelming 14-15 Finals record.
So with all these numbers crunched, it looks like we may still be knee deep in indecision. I think the final leverage comes in the definition of the word dynasty. As defined by dictionary.com: dynasty – a family or group that maintains power for several generations. The Celts have maintained power at several different stages in their NBA history. The Lakers have maintained power at all stages in their NBA history. Every twenty years or so, the Celtics seem to have a re-emergence – the 60’s, 80’s, and possibly the 2000’s. However, the Los Angeles Lakers were winning titles in the 40’s, 50’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 2000’s. Granted the Celts did win titles in ’74 and ’76 but they were hardly considered the dominant team of the decade. In fact, the only decade for which they can claim dominance is the 60’s. On the other hand, the Lakers can claim the 50’s, 80’s, and arguably the 2000’s as ‘their decade’.
With two teams so close in every way, it is definitely an argument that can go either way. In this author’s eyes, the Lakers are the greatest franchise in NBA history.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
School Warns Parents Dead Daughter Can't Go to Prom
School Warns Parents Dead Daughter Can't Go to Prom
How disturbing it would be to receive a letter from your deceased daughter's school saying her lack of attendance is going to prevent her from going to prom!
How disturbing it would be to receive a letter from your deceased daughter's school saying her lack of attendance is going to prevent her from going to prom!
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Friday, March 13, 2009
Robbery
"UNC, we the referees of the ACC have decided that in lieu of playing games, we will hand you the ACC Tournament title. With our favorite player, Tyler "Will be shit in the NBA" Hansborough, on the floor any and every call will be given to the baby blue."
Absolutely disgusting. There is no reason UNC should have won that game. VT outplayed, despite Raycom broadcasting's horrible (and noticeably biased) commentary, UNC from beginning to end. It's hard to beat the number 1 seed and the refs. How can one team have only had three fouls called against them with less than a minute left in the second half -- a team that has been playing from behind which usually results in a team being a bit aggressive? How can a VT lose by only three with ten less free throw attempts? Because VT outplayed UNC. Imagine what may have been had the game been called evenly? Tyler Hansborough shot one less free throw than the entire Hokies team.
As of 2:30 pm March 13, 2009, the officials for this game have been deleted from the box scores on Foxsports.com, sportsline.com, and espn.com. I wanted to look up some stats on their officiating tendencies but their names are simply not available. Odd.
After 15 minutes of searching, I found the trio responsible for this travesty of officiating:
Interestingly enough, all three officials have worked more UNC games than VT games. Referee info provided by statsheet.com
Absolutely disgusting. There is no reason UNC should have won that game. VT outplayed, despite Raycom broadcasting's horrible (and noticeably biased) commentary, UNC from beginning to end. It's hard to beat the number 1 seed and the refs. How can one team have only had three fouls called against them with less than a minute left in the second half -- a team that has been playing from behind which usually results in a team being a bit aggressive? How can a VT lose by only three with ten less free throw attempts? Because VT outplayed UNC. Imagine what may have been had the game been called evenly? Tyler Hansborough shot one less free throw than the entire Hokies team.
As of 2:30 pm March 13, 2009, the officials for this game have been deleted from the box scores on Foxsports.com, sportsline.com, and espn.com. I wanted to look up some stats on their officiating tendencies but their names are simply not available. Odd.
After 15 minutes of searching, I found the trio responsible for this travesty of officiating:
- Karl Hess, who has officiated 10 UNC games this year (the most for any team he's officiated this season)
- Ray Natili, who has a more even keeled officiating resume across ACC teams.
- Brian Dorsey, who also has an even keeled officiating resume across the ACC.
Interestingly enough, all three officials have worked more UNC games than VT games. Referee info provided by statsheet.com
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sign of the Times
Dr Sister Xpinionated In law works at a hospital in Newark, New Joisey. Talking of guns at lunch, she mentioned that the hospital has seen an influx of pistol whippings because no one can afford bullets. That is heeeeelarious.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Great Quotes from Daytime TV
Daughters: We never go on vacation
Mom: Uh, 6 months off.
Daughters: Rehab doesn't count, mom!
Mom: Uh, 6 months off.
Daughters: Rehab doesn't count, mom!
Friday, March 06, 2009
Shaq vs Stan Van Gundy
All-timer from an old-timer - CBSSports.com
Ok. I've tried and tried again. I've held on to the grudge for nearly five years. Shaquille O'Neal left my beloved Lakers in a horrible fashion. His jerseys were thrown into a corner in my closet awaiting my first bonfire. No one in my household was allowed to call him Shaq for nicknames are reserved for friends and family and he was no longer either. His commercials caused an abrupt channel change on my remote. Nothing Shaquille O'Neal related was tolerated in the Xpinionated household.
Alas, Shaq has worn me down. No worries, I'm still a Lakers fan and will still call him all sorts of vulgarities should he attack the purple and gold family. But as it stands, his last tirade against Stan Van Gundy, of all people, has won me over for now.
I think it started with his formal apology to Kobe indirectly. This occurred a while back when he finally acknowledged publicly that Kobe had nothing to do with the O'Neal trade admitting it was an executive decision. Oddly enough, the media whose sources regarding Kobe's involvement in the O'Neal trade were never verified or substantiated have finally stopped including Kobe as a sidenote to O'Neals trade.
Next was Shaq's slowing down of the Suns offense. I was pleased to see them slow down though they have since picked it back up. Add to that the dismantling of a their title contending team and you can see how the grudge could start losing momentum.
Then the all-star game. The Jabberwockies. Shaq and Kobe's playful one on one. The maturity level showed by both.
Lastly, I read about the war of words between O'Neal and Van Gundy. This is just funny stuff. Van Gundy sends a three sentence appetizer to Shaq. Retorting Shaq gobbles the coach, his brother, his star player, Patrick Ewing, and generally anything loosely associated with Stan Van Gundy in a 537 word (minus the expletives) monologue that rivals anything the WWE/WWF has ever produced.
For all my grudges, loyalties, and misgivings I have to admit the guy is classic. In his words: "It's what I do. I've been doing this since 1992. If you don't believe it, Google me."
Ok. I've tried and tried again. I've held on to the grudge for nearly five years. Shaquille O'Neal left my beloved Lakers in a horrible fashion. His jerseys were thrown into a corner in my closet awaiting my first bonfire. No one in my household was allowed to call him Shaq for nicknames are reserved for friends and family and he was no longer either. His commercials caused an abrupt channel change on my remote. Nothing Shaquille O'Neal related was tolerated in the Xpinionated household.
Alas, Shaq has worn me down. No worries, I'm still a Lakers fan and will still call him all sorts of vulgarities should he attack the purple and gold family. But as it stands, his last tirade against Stan Van Gundy, of all people, has won me over for now.
I think it started with his formal apology to Kobe indirectly. This occurred a while back when he finally acknowledged publicly that Kobe had nothing to do with the O'Neal trade admitting it was an executive decision. Oddly enough, the media whose sources regarding Kobe's involvement in the O'Neal trade were never verified or substantiated have finally stopped including Kobe as a sidenote to O'Neals trade.
Next was Shaq's slowing down of the Suns offense. I was pleased to see them slow down though they have since picked it back up. Add to that the dismantling of a their title contending team and you can see how the grudge could start losing momentum.
Then the all-star game. The Jabberwockies. Shaq and Kobe's playful one on one. The maturity level showed by both.
Lastly, I read about the war of words between O'Neal and Van Gundy. This is just funny stuff. Van Gundy sends a three sentence appetizer to Shaq. Retorting Shaq gobbles the coach, his brother, his star player, Patrick Ewing, and generally anything loosely associated with Stan Van Gundy in a 537 word (minus the expletives) monologue that rivals anything the WWE/WWF has ever produced.
For all my grudges, loyalties, and misgivings I have to admit the guy is classic. In his words: "It's what I do. I've been doing this since 1992. If you don't believe it, Google me."
Blogged with the Flock Browser
Monday, March 02, 2009
The Bachelor - The He's Just Not That Into You Finale
Finally, The Bachelor gets good! After years of pseudo happy endings, we finally get the Jerry Springer finale we all longed for deep down.
The Bachelor: Hey, you know when I said forever and love....?
The Winner: Yes, twas the greatest day of my life
The Bachelor: Yeah, uh, my bad. I meant to say that to your home girl not you.
The Winner: I thought everything was perfect. You bastard.
The Bachelor: I can't stop thinking about shorty.
The Winner: Don't call me, don't text me.
And then Jason cries. Again. For the umpteenth time. There's no man crying on national TV. Yeah yeah...trying to get that sympathy pitch from the female demographic but you gotta know they hate you now. You took Melissa (how hot it was that she kept referring to herself in third person) and dragged her heart through the mud...on national TV. So no sympathy for you crying wooliewag!
Jason has to be the cryingest man ever to grace the airwaves. Every highlight ends with this guy crying. He cries more than the women he's playing.
Molly says she wants to know when Jason made the decision to choose Melissa. What she really wants to know is if that last night when she was giving it up to Jason, did he already know?
Molly's initial reaction? WTF! Then after a couple of minutes, wait....does that mean I win? Did he just ask me out for coffee or drinks?
The Bachelor: I made a mistake...I wanna be your lover!
The Runner-up: So what about Melissa?
The Bachelor: Uh I screwed her over....again, my bad
The Runner-up:
The Bachelor: Let's start over . . .
The Runner-up: Motherf***** please
That last bit was my interpretation but I'll wait and get her answer.......BOOOO.....she's giving him another chance. She basically rented him out to another chick for three months and now she's getting Molly's hand me downs (or tag backs or something). Oddly enough, Jason still hasn't answered the question of why he chose Molly over Melissa.
Wouldn't say we're floored? Entertained, perhaps. But floored? No. Chris Brown putting a beat down on Rihanna -- floored. Bachelor flip-flopping -- not so much floored. Historic? This host is full of 'em. There's nothing historic about a guy dating 30 women for three months and be looked at as a moral compass.......The annals of history are going to ignore this........
The Bachelor: Hey, you know when I said forever and love....?
The Winner: Yes, twas the greatest day of my life
The Bachelor: Yeah, uh, my bad. I meant to say that to your home girl not you.
The Winner: I thought everything was perfect. You bastard.
The Bachelor: I can't stop thinking about shorty.
The Winner: Don't call me, don't text me.
And then Jason cries. Again. For the umpteenth time. There's no man crying on national TV. Yeah yeah...trying to get that sympathy pitch from the female demographic but you gotta know they hate you now. You took Melissa (how hot it was that she kept referring to herself in third person) and dragged her heart through the mud...on national TV. So no sympathy for you crying wooliewag!
Jason has to be the cryingest man ever to grace the airwaves. Every highlight ends with this guy crying. He cries more than the women he's playing.
Molly says she wants to know when Jason made the decision to choose Melissa. What she really wants to know is if that last night when she was giving it up to Jason, did he already know?
Molly's initial reaction? WTF! Then after a couple of minutes, wait....does that mean I win? Did he just ask me out for coffee or drinks?
The Bachelor: I made a mistake...I wanna be your lover!
The Runner-up: So what about Melissa?
The Bachelor: Uh I screwed her over....again, my bad
The Runner-up:
The Bachelor: Let's start over . . .
The Runner-up: Motherf***** please
That last bit was my interpretation but I'll wait and get her answer.......BOOOO.....she's giving him another chance. She basically rented him out to another chick for three months and now she's getting Molly's hand me downs (or tag backs or something). Oddly enough, Jason still hasn't answered the question of why he chose Molly over Melissa.
Wouldn't say we're floored? Entertained, perhaps. But floored? No. Chris Brown putting a beat down on Rihanna -- floored. Bachelor flip-flopping -- not so much floored. Historic? This host is full of 'em. There's nothing historic about a guy dating 30 women for three months and be looked at as a moral compass.......The annals of history are going to ignore this........
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