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Home , Paul Pierce, Sam Cassell, Showtime (basketball)

May 2008 The PEOPLE News Page 27

Sports NBA Finals

by Jerry Keys Association) stars , Ray Bryant and hope he trusts younger, fresher legs. If it before merging in 1976. Allen, and ac- his teammates. The Lak- turns into a shoot-out every Bird, the NBA’s popular- Both the Lakers and night, “Showtime” re- ity was a distant fourth, Celtics had storied begin- turns and Los Angeles It all seems like yester- behind major league base- nings in the NBA but had will prevail. day. We always knew ball, NFL football, and fallen back to mediocrity In the November 2007 who was going to the NHL hockey. Their popu- in the 1970’s. Magic and edition of The People Bird faced off in col- News, I went out on a lege before going limb and picked the At- pro, setting the tone lanta Hawks to finish for a 1980’s rivalry. around .500 and get into Magic’s Michigan the playoffs for the first State defeated Bird’s time since the strike- Indiana St. 75-64 for shortened 1998-99 sea- the 1979 NCAA Bas- son. They made the ketball Champi- playoffs (and will exit onship. quickly facing Boston) From 1980 to 1991 but came up short on 41 Magic’s Lakers ap- wins. Keep an eye on peared in nine NBA these guys…they’re in Finals, Bird’s Celtics the Eastern Conference, five. The Lakers won a .500 record assures a five titles, the Celtics playoff spot. three. These teams And on a quick faced off in the Finals note…Bob Knight re- three times (1984, signed earlier this year 1985, 1987), the Lak- Seeks NBA Title #10 at Tech. He is ers winning the last best remembered for his two. From 1980 to years at Indiana (1971- 1988, either Los An- 2000). He brought the geles or Boston counting for about 60 ers match Boston well in Hoosiers three NCAA claimed the NBA ti- points per game. Throw the starting five, Bryant, championships (1976, tle (except 1983, in veterans P.J. Brown, , Lamar Odom, 1981, 1987). After his last Vintage Magic vs. Bird Philadelphia 76’ers). , and James Derek Fisher, and Andrew title, his teams were still Boston and Los Posey and you have an Bynum. perennial Sweet 16 teams NBA Finals; it was just larity was reflected by Angeles are once again overwhelming chance of If Boston can shut down until 1994. Was it just me the matter of who would their trading cards; being gearing up for an- win. For over a decade, virtually ignored by the other showdown. the public. Yes those cards Each team cap- and domi- today bring top dollar if tured the #1 seed in nated the NBA landscape. still in nm (near mint) or their Conference. It has been 21 years since better condition. The Celtics (66-16) they last squared off in the The NBA had numerous should waltz Finals, but that drought franchises relocate before through the play- looks to be over. the Magic/Bird era and offs until they “will Before the arrival of faced stiff competition most likely” face and Larry from the ABA (American Detroit in the East- ern Finals. The Lakers (57-25) are in a loaded West- BANKRUPTCY ern Conference, where a 50-32 team • REPOSSESSION was the #8 seed. It • GARNISHMENTS may come down to • FORECLOSURES the Lakers and San • CREDITOR Antonio Spurs in HARASSMENT the Western Finals (Spurs are defend- Bryant vs. Pierce CHAPTERS 7 & 13 ing champions, and have won four of ROD MILLER, ATTORNEY AT LAW the last nine NBA Finals winning every night. Gasol and have Kobe win or did Indiana brass start 473-7400 [email protected] after the true “Jordan Era” Los Angeles is not as it on his own, the Celtics belittling him at about the Website: www.rodlaw.org ended. deep as the Celtics coming will prevail. Although same time his teams were off the bench. They will Boston has more depth off Federal law has designated us a debt relief agency. Boston is a well- no longer championship- We help people file for relief under the bankruptcy code. balanced team with super- rely heavily on Kobe the bench, the Lakers have caliber?