Around the League: June 1st, 2008

by Evan Dunlap on Jun 1, 2008 3:23 PM EDT in Around the League

Briefly:

The Lakers and Celtics are set to meet in the NBA Finals again and I couldn't care less. As someone who ~~wasn't even alive~~ was barely a year old the last time these two teams played for the title, the history means nothing to me. As far as I'm concerned, these teams' history concerns two games from the 2007-2008 season. That's it. The only thing these Lakers and Celtics teams have in common with their historical counterparts is the wordmarks on the uniforms.
That said, Lakers in 6.
... with no disrespect intended to Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who coached the Magic for the first part of this decade.
The Bulls' all-but-official hiring of Doug Collins as their head coach makes no sense from a common-sense perspective, but perfect sense to John Paxson, their GM. And to think everyone once praised the guy for drafting Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng. As far as I'm concerned, he's the boob who traded LaMarcus Aldridge, overpaid for Andres Nocioni, and failed to trade for Pau Gasol.
The Pistons as we know them are probably dead, as all signs point to them firing Flip Saunders and trading Rasheed Wallace. Their likely breakup saddens me; in spite of everything they did to the Magic this decade, I wanted them to win the title this year. The thought of the Lakers, Celtics, or Spurs winning it instead was just too awful to stand.
Speaking of the Spurs... I'm not losing any sleep over their demise. And I'm glad that Robert Horry is done. Pretty soon, we won't have to listen to him say ridiculous things like "I'm smarter than probably 98 percent of this league."

Magic player-by-player evaluations start tomorrow with Carlos Arroyo and will run Monday-Friday for each of the next two weeks. See you then.

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Not trading for Gasol

looks even worse when you see what the Lakers actually gave up for him.
-The biggest draft bust in NBA lottery history? (an expiring contract)
-A retired player.
-A rookie at the same position where the Grizz already have a couple of youngsters.
-A late first round pick this year.
-A 2010 first-rounder (top 6 protected) that probably won’t be very high.

The Bulls couldn’t beat that at any point in the last 2 years?

The Utah Jazz. The Jazz... duh.
The best NBA team in Utah... no doubts about it!
Playing For Pride. Pirates, Utes, Panthers, and more...
Because, in the end, only one team can "win it all".

by UtesFan89 on Jun 1, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

P.J. Brown’s expiring contract, Deng, and draft picks might have done it.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Evan Dunlap on Jun 1, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Ouch

You a little grumpy today? Anyway, I look forward to your player evaluations. Oh, btw, I am completely sold on the Jeff Foster Trade now, so can we get that to Otis’s attention post haste?

'Coach, Dwight is a nice guy. Dwight don't hit anybody. But Superman will knock the crap out of you.' - D12

by Eyriq the Red on Jun 1, 2008 4:08 PM EDT reply actions

Not grumpy, just disappointed with this season. The top seeds from each conference made the Finals. No upsets. The final four teams were all unlikeable. Just an awful way to end what was an exciting season.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation

by Evan Dunlap on Jun 1, 2008 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed completely.

The Utah Jazz. The Jazz... duh.
The best NBA team in Utah... no doubts about it!
Playing For Pride. Pirates, Utes, Panthers, and more...
Because, in the end, only one team can "win it all".

by UtesFan89 on Jun 1, 2008 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I’m dissapointed as well. I’m kind of torn on who i want to win the finals this year. I can’t root for the Lakers, i just can’t do it. I want to see the big three get rings but I don’t think I can root for a team from Boston either. I do think that the Celtics will win in 5 but i think that will make me feel even more devistated about the way the season ended. I seriously believe Orlando could have beat the Celtics in a 7 game series so seeing them win it all will be harsh.

Anyway, can’t wait for the player evaluations, ecspecially Hedo’s. I think his fate will spark a heated conversation.

by magic fanatic on Jun 1, 2008 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions