Boston's Big Three reign already over?

This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors. This post was edited as the series went on to Game 4.

Boston's Big Three in a tough situation

In a battle between two of the East superpowers, we may have seen a momentous change of dominance between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.

As two of the league's best trio collide, this series has shown two different sides of the coin. One is a new, and still-at-their-prime trio, while the other seems to be seeing the sunset in their illustrious careers. For the Celtics "Big Three", this could be their last push for a championship crown, with Garnett nearing the end of his playing years. While, Miami's "Superfriends" is just seeing the start of what they are projecting to be a dominant trio that is looking to bring back the trophy to South Beach.

And in the first two games of the series, it seems like age has come up with the original Big Three. The Heat dominated both games all throughout the ball game, although not by a very big margin, with their youthfulness and athleticism. While the Celtics showed how hard it is for them to keep up with faster and younger legs.

Two of Miami's Big Three has also shared dominating performance in the first two games of the series. Dwayne Wade rampaged back in Game 1 with a whopping 38-point performance. While earlier, LeBron James shot the lights out with a 14-of-25 shooting, amassing him 35 points.

On the other hand, the Celtics' Big Three struggled to score heavily with the stingy defense of the Heat. In Game 2, Allen, Pierce, and Garnett scored 36 points, 1-point higher than James' performance. Overall, the Superfriends outscored the Big Three of Boston, 80-36.

In their two losses, the game was relatively close until the 4th quarter, where they just couldn't stop Miami's scoring. A strong 4th quarter defense from the C's will help their chances come Game 3. Injuries has also been a factor in this series. Rondo, Allen, and Pierce are all ailing right now. And a not-100-percent Big Three of the Celtics will be a major disadvantage to the already atletic and young Miami team.

In Game 3 though, Garnet showed up big for the Celtics. Turning back the hands of time, he led the Celtics to a big 97-92 win over the Heat. Garnett scored28 points on 13-of-20 shooting. The Celtics also got some inspiration from an injured Rondo, who got back in the 4th and played significantly after gaining a dislocated lebow injury in the 3rd quarter.

But come Game 4, it's Miami's Big Three in full force.The game earlier showed what Pat Riley has sowed in the off-season. As the Big Three of Miami delivered big numbers. Wade, James, and Bosh tallied

Is it time for them to wave the white flag? Not yet.


The most telling factor in this series is Rajon Rondo. If he's at his best, no one from the Heat can keep up with him. An aggressive Rondon, both on the offensive and defensive end, will giver headaches to the Heat. But a key elbow injury in Game 3 caused his game to be very limited. And his costly turnovers has doomed the Celtics earlier in Game 4.

All is not over for the Boston Celtics. But a 1-3 deficit is an insurmountable lead already for the Heat. And the age might be limiting them but I'm pretty sure that their hunger for the crown is still their. They just need to take it one game at a time.

Is this the end of the Lakers' dynasty?

This post is originally published by yours truly in the blog site The Hotdog Stand, where I am one of the contributors.


 Everyone in the arena were celebrating. A wave of blue and white cheering exuberantly for their team. The loud and proud Dallas Mavericks have swept the 2-time defending champs Los Angeles Lakers and ended their aspiration for a three-peat. And this series victory will go down in the history books. This is the first time a back-to-back defending champion was swept in the playoffs after the ’96 Rockets team. The last defending champion to be swept in the playoffs was the ’07 Miami Heat, who were swept with the Bulls in the NBA playoffs.

Last title run for Kobe?

As this series comes to a close, is this the sign of the end of the Kobe-Pau-led Lakers dynasty?

It will be a very daunting task for the Lakers to get back from this setback. Leading the list of errands that is facing the Lakers is finding a new coach. Phil Jackson has expressed already even before the season started that this will be his last season. And it seems like he won’t be breaking any promises he made right now. After all, his 11 championships, highlighted by his 3 three-peats back in Chicago, is already an achievement no NBA coach has ever done.

This early, two names have already been talked about by some Lakers fans on who will replace Jackson. Assistant coach Brian Shaw has been rumored to take the vacant seat that Jackson has left for the next season. But, doubts on whether he can lead the Lakers to another great run are floating. Plus, the question on whether he can handle the egos of these players.

The more reasonable and convenient choice, though, is Rick Adelman. He would be the perfect coach to handle the “rebuilding” Lakers next season as they try to build another dynasty. He has proven back in Houston that he can handle the pressure of winning games under many circumstances, like dealing with an injured superstar and numerous player movements before and during the season.

One more thing to worry for the Lakers is their bench. Their main weakness was exposed in this recently-concluded series. The Lakers bench was ass-raped by the Mavs bench. Actually, in Game 4 earlier, the Mavs bench MATCHED the total output of the WHOLE Lakers team (86). Though it isn’t that significant anymore as the game was already decided during the 2nd quarter.

For the Lakers to come back next season, they need to find a true point guard. Blake showed his inconsistencies the whole season and playoffs. Fisher isn’t getting younger too. And one more thing, they need shooters. It could be funny but they kind of missed a shooter like Vujacic. Someone who can open up the floor for the Lakers. And they really struggled offensively in this series, being too predictable by going one-one-one with Kobe or post plays from Drew, Pau, and Odom.

I also expect one among Gasol, Bynum, and Odom to be traded this off-season.

The Lakers are back from scratch. I can safely say that the dynasty that Mich Kupchak created by getting Gasol is nearing, or has reached it’s end. There’s no way for the Lakers to go but up. And that way must be taken up this off-season.