Those Sandbagging Celtics

I'm hacked off.

I hate losing, and almost as bad as losing, I hate when the teams I pick to win lose. LeBron James went for a triple-double Thursday in game 6 of the Eastern Conference semis, with 27 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. He also had nine turnovers and shot 8-21.

But, at the end of the day, the Celtics won and will move on to face the streaking Orlando Magic who have been nearly unstoppable this post-season.

I'm most upset about how the Celtics snuck up on me. I, like most others, had bought in to the opinion that the Celtics were too old and battered to challenge The King. Did the team we just watched run roughshod over the number one seed look like a 50-32 team that is too old and past their prime to compete? I am of the opinion they coasted, tanked, sandbagged, whatever you want to call it, to prepare for such a run.

Kevin Garnett got healthy, Rajon Rondo took over, and Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rasheed Wallace stepped up to fill out a formidable team.

Watch out Orlando.

I think Cleveland overlooked these geezers, while forgetting they have a couple of their own (Shaq and Big Z), and they also forgot that after 82 games YOU STILL HAVE TO PLAY IN THE PLAYOFFS. It seems like LeBron was the only one who got that memo.

I will cool down a little and break down LeBron's July 1st decision soon, but I will be hard pressed to find the positives to staying in Cleveland as far as the talent goes. The $ will be best in Cleveland, with a longer contract worth up to $30 million more than anyone else can offer, but Jamison, Mo Williams (aside from the first half of game 6), and the rest of James' supporting cast pulled a Houdini Thursday night.

LeBron had better meet with every prospective teammate and ask him if he is scared to play in the post-season, because the Cavs were loaded with that kind of player.

Yes, I'm bitter.

Well, lets enjoy the rest of the playoffs and join together in a nationwide prayer that the Lakers don't repeat; I'm not sure my heart could handle that.

LeBron #6?

  LeBron James says he is going to change his number to six from 23 in honor of Michael Jordan.  James states that 23 should be retired all over the NBA because of the greatness Michael Jordan, who is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all-time.  

The only problem with this gesture is that he is going from 23 to six and six is the number of the greatest winner in NBA history, Bill Russell.  Russell appeared in 13 NBA finals as a Boston Celtic winning 11 of them and winning atleast one as a player/coach, which is unheard of these days. 

Of course, honoring Jordan is something that the NBA should probably do.  In fact, it had been bantered around to change the NBA logo to the Jordan logo.  But shouldn't Russell be honored?  Russell won five more titles than Jordan.  Of course, these titles come in a different time and it seems competition was much greater in the time of Jordan because Russell was one of the tallest players in the NBA at that time at 6'9."  Russell is not to blame for this he played the competition that was put in front of him and absolutely dominated it.  Russell is one of the greatest rebounders of all-time, but his greatest attribute is being a great leader of men for this Russell should be honored.  

In my opinion James is doing the right thing but if he is going to change his number six is not the number that he should change it to.  My suggestion is 2 because by the time he is done he will be considered the 2nd greatest player of all-time.