Celtics won NBA 2008 Championships (Photo: AP)
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Lakers won Western Conference championship (Photo: NBA)
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Celtics won Western Conference Championship
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Celtics celebrates with the Larry O'Brien trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the 2008 NBA Finals (Photo: NBA)
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Kobe Bryant became the fourth Laker to be named the league's Most Valuable Player (Photo: NBA)
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NBA Season Awards 2007-08
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Garnett |
James |
Howard |
Bryant |
Paul |
Most Valuable Player:
Kobe Bryant (6'6''-G-78) of Los Angeles Lakers
Rookie of the Year:
Kevin Durant (6'9''-G/F-88, college:
Texas), Seattle SuperSonics
Defensive Player of the Year:
Kevin Garnett (6'10''-F-76) of Boston Celtics
Sixth Man of the Year:
Emanuel Ginobili (6'6''-G-77, agency:
Interperformances), San Antonio Spurs
Most Improved Player:
Hidayet Turkoglu (6'9''-F-79), Orlando Magic
Coach of the Year:
Byron Scott , New Orleans Hornets
Executive of the Year:
Danny Ainge , Boston Celtics
Sportsmanship Award:
Grant Hill (6'8''-F-72, college:
Duke),
Phoenix Suns
All-NBA First Team:
F
Kevin Garnett - Boston Celtics
F
LeBron James (6'8''-F-84) of Cleveland Cavaliers (6'8''-F-84)
C
Dwight Howard (6'10''-F-85) of Orlando Magic
G
Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers
G
Chris Paul (6'0''-G-85) of New Orleans Hornets
All-NBA Second Team:
F
Dirk Nowitzki (6'11''-F-78) - Dallas Mavericks
F
Tim Duncan (6'10''-F-76, college:
Wake Forest) - San Antonio Spurs
C
Amare Stoudemire (6'10''-F-82) - Phoenix Suns
G
Steve Nash (6'3''-G-74, college:
Santa Clara) - Phoenix Suns
G
Deron Williams (6'3''-G-84, college:
Illinois) - Utah Jazz
All-NBA Third Team:
F
Carlos Boozer (6'10''-F/C-80, college:
Duke)
- Utah Jazz
F
Paul Pierce (6'7''-F-77, college:
Kansas) - Boston Celtics
C
Ming Yao (7'5''-C-80) - Houston Rockets
G
Tracy McGrady (6'8''-G/F-79) - Houston Rockets
G
Emanuel Ginobili (6'6''-G-77, agency:
Interperformances) - San Antonio Spurs
NBA All-Defensive First Team:
F
Kevin Garnett - Boston Celtics
F
Tim Duncan - San Antonio Spurs
C
Marcus Camby (6'11''-F/C-74, college:
Massachusetts) - Denver Nuggets
G
Kobe Bryant - Los Angeles Lakers
G
Bruce Bowen (6'7''-F-71, college:
Cal.St. Fullerton) - San Antonio Spurs
NBA All-Defensive Second Team:
F
Tayshaun Prince (6'9''-F-80, college:
Kentucky) - Detroit Pistons
F
Shane Battier (6'8''-F-78, college:
Duke)
- Houston Rockets
C
Dwight Howard - Orlando Magic
G
Raja Bell (6'5''-F/G-76, agency:
Interperformances, college:
Florida Intern.) - Phoenix Suns
G
Chris Paul - New Orleans Hornets
NBA All-Rookie First Team:
Alfred Horford (6'10''-F/C-86, college:
Florida) - Atlanta Hawks
Kevin Durant - Seattle SuperSonics
Luis Scola (6'9''-F/C-80) - Houston Rockets
Al Thornton (6'8''-F-83, college:
Florida St.) - Los Angeles Clippers
Jeff Green (6'9''-F-86, college:
Georgetown) - Seattle SuperSonics
NBA All-Rookie Second Team:
Jamario Moon (6'8''-F-80, college:
Meridian CC) - Toronto Raptors
Juan Carlos Navarro (6'4''-G-80) - Memphis Grizzlies
Thaddeus Young (6'8''-F-88, college:
Georgia Tech) - Philadelphia 76ers
Rodney Stuckey (6'4''-G-86, college:
E.Washington) - Detroit Pistons
Carl Landry (6'7''-F-83, college:
Purdue) - Houston Rockets
Celtics won NBA Championship 2008 !!!
On a new parquet floor below
aging championship banners, the Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA title and a
first oneat lastfor
Paul Pierce (6'7''-F-77, college:
Kansas),
Kevin Garnett (6'10''-F-76) and
Ray Allen (6'6''-G-75, college:
Connecticut)
their Big Three for a new generation.
After 22 long years, the NBA has gone green.
Lifted by ear-splitting chants of Beat L.A. from their adoring crowd, which
included Boston legends Bill Russell John Havlicek and JoJo White, the Celtics
concluded a shocking rebound of a season with a stunning 131-92 blowout over the
Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 on Tuesday night.
With the outcome assured, Boston fans sang into the night as if they were in a
pub on nearby Canal Street. They serenaded the newest champs in this city of
champs, and taunted
Kobe Bryant (6'6''-G-78) and his Lakers, who drowned in a green-and-white wave
for 48 minutes.
Garnett scored 26 points with 14 rebounds, Allen scored 26 and Pierce, the
finals MVP, added 17 as the Celtics, a 24-win team a year ago, wrapped up their
first crown since 1986.
This was total domination. The Celtics obliterated the Lakers, who were trying
to become the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals.
No way. No how. No chance.
Bostons 39-point win surpassed the NBA record for the biggest margin of victory
in a championship clincher; the Celtics beat the Lakers 129-96 in Game 5 of the
1965 NBA finals.
Pierce doused Celtics coach
Doc Rivers with red Gatorade. Owner
Wyc Grousbeck , who named his group Banner 17 to leave no doubt about his goal,
put an unlit cigar in his moutha tribute to Red Auerbach, the patriarch who had
a hand in the franchises first 16 titles.
Garnett dropped to the parquet and kissed the leprechaun at center court, then
found Hall of Famer Bill Russell for a long embrace.
I got my own. I got my own, Garnett said. I hope we made you proud.
You sure did, Russell said.
Rivers pulled Pierce, Garnett and Allen with 4:01 left and they shared a group
hug with their coach, who was nearly run out of town last season. In the final
minute, Rivers, who lost his father at the beginning of this remarkable season,
was soaked by Pierce, the Celtics captain who decided to stay when things were
bad and was rewarded for his loyalty
Its was Bostons first title since the passing of Auerbach, whose signature
victory cigar was the only thing missing on this night. Even Auerbach, who died
in 2006, got some satisfaction. Led by Rivers, his beloved team denied Lakers
coach Phil Jackson from overtaking him with a 10th championship.
A perfect ending: a 17th title on the 17th of June.
The Boston-Los Angeles rivalry, nothing more than black-and-white footage from
the 60s and TV highlights of players wearing short shorts in the 80s to young
hoops fans, remains titled toward the Atlantic Ocean. The Celtics are 9-2
against the Lakers in the finals.
They missed their first crack at closing out the series in Game 5, but didnt
miss on their second swing, running the Lakers out of their gym.
Bryant, the regular season MVP, finished with 22 points.
Garnett and Allen were All-Stars i
NBA All-Star Game 2008: Sunday
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The New Orleans Arena was rocking
on Sunday evening and after the previous days of success expectations were very
high.
There is no league in the sporting world that provides quality entertainment
like the NBA.
As usual the performers that sang the national anthems of the USA and Canada
were amazing.
The game was the icing on the cake after a great weekend for the city of New
Orleans and the NBA.
LeBron James (6'8''-F-84) and
Ray Allen (6'6''-G-75, college:
Connecticut)
put on impressive performances to lead the East to a 134-128 victory over the
West to win the bragging rights for this years contest.
King James scored 27 points, grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 9 assists to
capture his second NBA All Star Game MVP in three seasons.
Ray Allen scored 28 points and hit all of the big 3pt shots down the final two
minutes where the East had to fight off the West and
Chris Paul (6'0''-G-85, college:
Wake Forest)'s
amazing comeback.
In defeat
Chris Paul almost stole the game for the West with his overall floor game of
scoring, stealing and passing the ball displaying why he is one the point guards
in the NBA.
His final stats were 16 points, 14 assists and 4 steals combined with some very
flashy skills that had the crowd in New Orleans going crazy.
Brandon Roy (6'6''-G-84, college:
Washington)
in his first all star game scored an impressive 18 points showcasing his
enormous potential.
The game was a even contest with the East team holding a slight margin in the
first quarter.
However in the second quarter
LeBron James,
Jason Kidd (6'4''-G-73, college:
California)
and Dwight Howard (6'10''-F-85) put on a fastbreak dunkshow.
Having those three guys on the same team should be against the law.
The East held a 74-65 lead at halftime with
Dwight Howard leading the way.
The East All Stars held a 106-93 advantage after the end of three quarters with
LeBron leading the way.
Going into the fourth quarter the East appeared to coasting to a victory but the
West came back and took the lead in an exciting thrilling finish.
Chris Paul hit a couple of 3pt shots that gave the West the lead but
Ray Allen's shooting and LeBron impressive drive and dunk took the life out of
the West hopes.
The weekend was a big win for both the city of New Orleans and the NBA
especially after the the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.
The Big Easy was the place to be on this very special basketball weekend.
By Eurobasket NBA correspondent Darryl Reshaw
All-Star Game 2008: Saturday
The New Orleans Arena had the
jazzy blues atmosphere on Saturday
night featuring Dr. John playing that down home type of music.
The arena was full of past and present legends including George
Gervin, Darryl Dawkins and Julius Erving just to mention a few.
The team competition was won by the surprised team of San Antonio
featuring a couple of seven footers of
Tim Duncan (6'10''-F-76, college:
Wake Forest) and David Robinson.
In the skills challenge
Deron Williams (6'3''-G-84, college:
Illinois)
defeated hometown favorite
Chris Paul in a record time. Defending champion
Dwyane Wade (6'4''-G-82, college:
Marquette) finished
in last place.
Jason Kapono (6'7''-F-81, college:
UCLA)
out dueled
Daniel Gibson (6'3''-G-86, college:
Texas)
and Dirk Nowitzki (6'11''-F-78) to capture
back to back NBA 3pt shooting contests.
He tied the the record held by Craig Hodges in the 1986.
The dunk contest was the featured event of the evening and was the most
entertaining contest in recent years.
Gerald Green (6'8''-G/F-86) and
Dwight Howard (6'10''-F-85) put on a show of electrifying dunks with a
variety of imagination which the world of basketball has not seen.
Gerald Green actually blew a candle out which was place on the ledge of
the rim after dunking the basketball.
He also windmill dunk barefooted which was a first to the basketball world.
However this night belong to
Dwight Howard who had a creative dunk where he bounced the ball off of
the backside of the backboard and still dunked the ball on the front side of
the goal without hitting his head on the rim.
He also surprised the audience by wearing a superman cape where he flew and
displayed a spectacular dunk.
His other dunks were very creative as well as he shocked the basketball
world with his new found creativity.
Dwight Howard was the NBA Dunk Champion in New Orleans in 2008 with big
time style points.
by Eurobasket NBA correspondent - Darryl Reshaw
NBA All Star Weekend - Friday (Rookie Challenge)
The NBA All Star weekend is in
the big easy and this mega sporting event is lighting up the city of New
Orleans.
After enduring Hurricane Katrina New Orleans and it's residents have expereinced
some difficult times.
Recently the city has had some positive sporting moments with the New Orleans
Saints in 2006, LSU winning he National Championship in college football and the
returned of their NBA franchise with Chris Paul this season.
The NBA community has done an excellent job by creating a variety of community
related events this weekend aim to benefit the youth and the low income
residents of the city.
The Rookie Challenge features the best young players in the league and the
Sophmores who are second year player dominated the rookies as usual with a
136-109 victory.
The game was a typical no defense type of game that featured a lot of dunks,
alley oops, turnovers and easy layups.
Daniel Gibson (6'3''-G-86, college:
Texas)
(6'3''-G-86, college:
Texas)
tourched the Rookie team with 33 points while making eleven 3pt shots and
capturing the games MVP award.
The Rookie team was led by
Kevin Durant (6'9''-G/F-88, college:
Texas)
and Al Horford (6'10''-F/C-86, college:
Florida)
with 23 and 19 points respectively.
The sophmore team also had good performances from
Rudy Gay (6'9''-F/G-86, college:
Connecticut)
with 23 points and
Brandon Roy (6'6''-G-84, college:
Washington)
with 17 points and 7 assists.
Tonight the city will be host a variety of celebrity parties throughout the
French Quarters and Bourbon Street.
Saturdays events should be exciting with the Dunk Contest, Three point shooting
contest and NBDL All Star game.
by Eurobasket NBA correspondent - Darryl Reshaw
Sprite Slam Dunk Contest
Winner:
Dwight Howard Orlando Magic
Finalist:
Gerald Green Minnesota Timberwolves
Rudy Gay (6'9''-F/G-86) Memphis Grizzlies
Jamario Moon (6'8''-F-80) Toronto Raptors
Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout
Winner:
Jason Kapono Toronto Raptors
Finalist:
Daniel Gibson Cleveland Cavaliers
Richard Hamilton (6'7''-G-78) Detroit Pistons
Steve Nash (6'3''-G-74) Phoenix Suns
Dirk Nowitzki* Dallas Mavericks
Predrag Stojakovic (6'10''-F-77) New Orleans Hornets
PlayStation Skills Challenge
Winner:
Deron Williams Utah Jazz
Finalist:
Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets
Jason Kidd (6'4''-G-73) New Jersey Nets
Dwyane Wade Miami Heat
Haier Shooting Stars Competition
Winner: San Antonio
Tim Duncan San Antonio Spurs
Becky Hammon (5'6''-G-77) San Antonio Silver Stars
David Robinson San Antonio Spurs (Retired)
All-Star Game rosters:
Eastern Conference Western Conference
Starters:
Dwyane Wade (6'4''-G-82) Miami Heat
Jason Kidd (6'4''-G-73) NJ Nets
Dwight Howard (6'10''-F-85) Orlando Magic
Kevin Garnett (6'10''-F-76)* Boston Celtics
LeBron James (6'8''-F-84) Cleveland Cavaliers
Reserves:
Caron Butler (6'7''-F-80)* Washington Wizards
Antawn Jamison (6'9''-F-76) Washington Wizards
Chauncey Billups (6'3''-G-76) Detroit Pistons
Richard Hamilton (6'7''-G-78) Detroit Pistons
Chris Bosh (6'11''-F-84) Toronto Raptors
Paul Pierce (6'7''-F-77) Boston Celtics
Joe Johnson (6'8''-F-81) Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach:
Doc Rivers of Boston
Western Conference
Starters:
Allen Iverson (6'1''-G-75) Denver Nuggets
Carmelo Anthony (6'8''-F-84) Denver Nuggets
Ming Yao (7'5''-C-80) Houston Rockets
Kobe Bryant (6'6''-G-78) LA Lakers
Tim Duncan (6'10''-F-76) San Antonio Spurs
Reserves:
Dirk Nowitzki (6'11''-F-78) Dallas Mavericks
Steve Nash (6'3''-G-74) Phoenix Suns
Amare Stoudemire (6'10''-F-82) Phoenix Suns
Chris Paul (6'0''-G-85) New Orleans Hornets
David West (6'8''-F-80) New Orleans Hornets
Brandon Roy (6'6''-G-84) Portland Trail Blazers
Carlos Boozer (6'10''-F/C-80) Utah Jazz
Head Coach:
Byron Scott of New Orleans
* Kevin Garnett has been replaced by Rasheed Wallace of the Detroit Pistons.
* Caron Butler has been replaced by Ray Allen of the Boston Celtics.
Rookie Challenge
Rookie:
Mike Conley (6'1''-G-87) Memphis
Kevin Durant (6'9''-G/F-88) Seattle
Al Horford (6'10''-F/C-86) Atlanta
Jamario Moon (6'8''-F-80) Toronto
Juan Carlos Navarro (6'4''-G-80) Memphis
Luis Scola (6'9''-F/C-80) Houston
Sean Williams (6'10''-F-86) New Jersey
Jianlian Yi (7'0''-C/F-87) Milwaukee
Jeff Green (6'9''-F-86) Seattle
Sophmore:
LaMarcus Aldridge (6'11''-C-85) Portland
Andrea Bargnani (6'10''-F/C-85) Toronto
Ronnie Brewer (6'7''-G-85) Utah
Jordan Farmar (6'2''-G-86) L.A. Lakers
Daniel Gibson (6'3''-G-86) Cleveland
Rudy Gay (6'9''-F/G-86) Memphis
Paul Millsap (6'7''-F-85) Utah
Rajon Rondo (6'1''-G-86) Boston
Brandon Roy Portland
Rivers
