The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Lakers 93, Celtics 81
By Rachael Hansen |ESPNLosAngeles.com
March 1, 2015



BOSTON -- The Lakers (39-19) met their rival the Celtics (26-31) in the Garden and this game was not a pretty one. While the Lakers are battling for the top seed in the West, the Celtics are struggling to hold onto the eighth seed in the East. Injuries to Kevin Garnett and Avery Bradley have hobbled the team, but both still played in tonight’s game.


This marked the second and final matchup of the top two draft picks from this past summer. Wiggins vs. Parker, round two, and both young men came out playing to beat the other. Parker’s comments about being passed up for number one overall has irked the calm Wiggins. Both players have taken on the personalities of their respective franchises.


The game was about the two of them from the beginning. The Lakers would go down early, take the lead in the second, and maintain that slim six point lead in heading into the fourth.


It would be in that quarter where the fireworks would really start in this game. The Celtics would go on an early run, led by the hobbled Bradley, and tie the game. The rest of the quarter would be a seesaw battle, back and forth, between the bitter rivals. The Lakers would take the lead with less than six seconds to go.


The Celtics would tie the game on a Jason Terry jumper.


Overtime had arrived.


Both Parker and Wiggins were tied with 21 points at the beginning of overtime. The Lakers would win the tip, Parker would get the ball, and he blew past KG, unleashing a windmill on the crowd at the Garden.


That was the dagger shot. The Lakers were energized while the Celtics, pride and all, could not match the scoring ferocity of Jabari Parker, who scored nine straight points in the period and finished the game with 30 points, four rebounds, and four steals. Parker shot 12-of-26 from the field, catching fire in overtime. Kobe finished with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting. No other Laker scored in double-digits.


Wiggins finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, Bradley finished with 18 points, and Rondo finished with 18 points.


Here are three takeaways from the game:

Parker Wins Again


Jabari Parker has played with a chip on his shoulder all season after being passed up by the Celtics for the first overall pick. Parker even went so far as to choose number two as his jersey number in order to remind himself of that. He again stepped up in a critical stretch, providing the Lakers with a bright future post-Kobe.

Celtic Pride


One has to give credit to the banged up and beat up Celtics however for playing a tough, gritty game. The Celtics made the Lakers play their style and the Lakers had trouble adjusting to that for most of the game, especially in the fourth. “We nearly had this one,” said a somewhat dejected Doc Rivers. “Close doesn’t count but we nearly had it.”

End of the Big Ticket?


Kevin Garnett has been hinting at retirement at season’s end and those hints are looking more and more like fact. After the game Garnett addressed the question of the possible end of his career. “Yeah, it’s on my mind, especially after nights like this … it’s just me and Rondo here, really. We’re the last of the old dogs in this pound.”

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Lakers 93, Pacers 89
By Rachael Hansen |ESPNLosAngeles.com
March 13, 2015



LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers (45-20) welcomed the Pacers (42-24) to Staples Center and the team from Indiana proved they could play with the big boys of the West. Indiana got off to a slow start as the Lakers jumped out to an early 24-15 lead in the first. By halftime, the Lakers were up by 13 points, led by Jabari Parker who had 12 points on a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.


But the Pacers did not go quietly into the night as they came out and blistered the Lakers in the third quarter. Paul George, George Hill, and Roy Hibbert each came out and dominated the Lakers. George confounded the younger Parker, Hill shook Billups out of his shoes, and Hibbert hit shot after shot over Bogut.


By the time the fourth started, the Lakers lead had evaporated to a measly two points.
The Lakers were struggling all around. Parker had gone stone cold, missing every shot he took in the third and forcing things. Alvin Gentry took the rookie out of the game at the beginning of the fourth and played Gerald Wallace. He then went to the Lakers closer, Kobe Bryant, and Kobe stepped up.


But the Pacers were not without their own answer. Kobe began dishing the ball and getting to the hoop and the line at the beginning of the fourth. A minute in and Frank Vogel subbed in Gerald Green. Green went one on one with Kobe and the two engaged in a duel.


Shot for shot, point for point, the two dueled. The difference? Kobe got help from the rest of the Lakers. Andrew Bogut and Gerald Wallace came alive in the fourth. Gerald Green could not get his teammates to knock down shots.


The Lakers squeaked out a win in the end. Kobe had 28 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Jabari Parker scored 18 points on 6-of-21 shooting. Bogut had 16 point and Wallace chipped in 11 points.


The Pacers got a well-rounded effort from their team as George, Hill, and Hibbert scored 18 points each.


Here are three takeaways from the game:


Cold Streak


Jabari Parker has had his bad shooting stretches this season, as is common with rookies, but this one nearly cost the Lakers a game they should have won easily. Parker continued to force up the ball even as he kept missing much to the chagrin of Coach Alvin Gentry, who pulled him in the fourth and sat him for most of the quarter. “He needed to calm down. He gets frustrated with himself … he gets locked in a cycle that makes him think he has to be the one to break it … he’s young and young players think that. He needed a break,” said Gentry. Parker was not pleased after the game but did offer a short comment. “I’m tired of screwing the **** up. I’m hitting the gym.” He left promptly after that.


Kobe for the Save


Kobe Bryant is being called on more and more at this point in the season to save the Lakers in the fourth. It’s not a role he’s uncomfortable with but one wonders how this will affect him in the playoffs. “I’ll be fine,” said a smirking Kobe. “I’ve averaged 36 minutes a night or something close to that this year … I’m rested. I’m ready. Let’s go.”


Pacers Hang Around


The Pacers are battling the 76ers and Bulls for the best record in the East and are a threat to come out of a top heavy East. “We proved we can hang with anyone,” said Paul George. “Now we just have to close things out and we will when it comes playoff time.”

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Hornets 94, Lakers 91
By Rachael Hansen |ESPNLosAngeles.com
March 20, 2015



NEW ORLEANS -- The Lakers (47-22) traveled to the Big Easy to take on the Hornets (33-34) in a game that could determine if the Hornets make the playoffs this year. The Hornets are battling the Rockets and Spurs for the Southwest Division crown and a berth in the postseason. The Lakers throttled the Hornets 100-78 the last time these two teams met in L.A.


It looked like it would be more of the same this game as the Lakers jumped out to an early lead and by halftime they were leading 48-40. Jabari Parker and Kobe were both having strong, efficient games.


That continued in the third quarter but then the fourth arrived. That’s when Caron Butler and Eric Gordon stepped up. Gordon and Butler became a two-man tandem, both catching fire in the fourth and the Lakers could not stop them.


Heroics from Kobe and shots from Jabari Parker both fell short as the Lakers only managed to put up 19 points to 33 points from the Hornets. With 13 seconds to go the Lakers were down by three. Kobe got the ball and attempted to find a shot, but the ball was blocked. Parker recovered and jacked up a shot, but it rimmed out.


Gordon finished with 29 points and Butler with 18. Kobe had 27 points and nine rebounds, while Parker had 32 points and eight rebounds, but both struggled in the fourth.


Here are three takeaways from the game:

Andrew Bogus?


Andrew Bogut has had a solid season. Though he’s no longer the emerging star that he was early in his career, Bogut is still a defensive force and a rebounding savant, but did not show up tonight. Bogut struggled against Anthony Davis and Cody Zeller as he wasn’t quite fast enough to keep up with either. The derisive nickname was chanted by the New Orleans crowd and it seemed to affect Bogut.

No Save


Kobe has been playing the role of closer the last few weeks but could not close this game. “Just one of those times where things didn’t go in for me,” said Bryant after the game. “It’s one game and it doesn’t break us … we’re still number one in conference. I’m not worried.”

Iso-ball


The Lakers only dished out 15 assists the entire game, having difficulty getting the ball around the court. The offense broke down often into isolations and the Hornets liked it that way, playing great one on one defense against the Lakers ball handlers.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story



3-24-15

She stared out through the car window as the homes rolled by. One of these houses was where she was going to live, but she couldn’t figure out which it could be. All of them seemed … huge. “Ronnie, I can’t believe you bought a house out here. It must have cost a fortune.”

He chuckled. “It this was two years ago, yes. If this was last year, probably. But now?” He shook his head, a smile firmly on his face. “I’m GM of the Lakers. They pay top dollar.”

She still couldn’t get her head around that. He had told her how he took the job for her, for the treatment, and she accepted that but the Lakers? For a basketball addict like Ronnie, the Lakers were the holy grail, comparable only to the Celtics in terms of championship pedigree.

She had grown up in California as a kid, had cheered for the Lakers on occasion though, if she was honest, she only cheered for them because of their jerseys. They were gold. She cast an amused glance at Ronnie. She had a thing for gold.

He didn’t seem to notice her amusement and continued speaking. “This season has been better than even I could have predicted. We’re fighting for the top seed, Liz … it’s incredible. I didn’t think this roster had a real shot at making a deep playoff run, but things are falling into place.”

Basketball. Always about basketball with him. She rolled her eyes and gave him a gentle pat on the arm. “Is there anything else to talk about?”

He winced. “Sorry, you know—”

“I know,” she interrupted with a smirk. “I want to see a game. Maybe a few games, actually.”

He looked at her with surprise. “Really?”

“I haven’t been to a Lakers game since I was a little girl. Besides, I’ve been stuck in a hospital for way too long. I want to get out. I want to have some fun.”

He smiled at her. “The doctors told you to take it easy. You did just get cleared to leave today.”

“And I can walk and talk now with the best of them,” she said without hesitation, moving quickly to dispel any thoughts from him or her about her well-being. She was tired of being treated like she was fragile … she wasn’t. She was fine.

Mostly. There were still lingering problems … she didn’t remember how she got there in the hospital and Ronnie didn’t want to talk about it, saying only that she needed to get there herself. Whatever that meant.

She wasn’t going to obsess over it. She was in L.A. She was under the California sun again. To hell with memory issues. “When we get to the house, I want to see the bedroom first.”

His face flushed.

She punched him in the arm. “Not for that reason.”

He cleared his throat. “Of course, of course … uh … why then?”

“To see what horrible interior decorating you did while I was out.” She feigned an angry face. “I have no doubt it’ll make my eyes bleed.”

“I painted the room purple and gold, I’m that kind of guy,” he said with a wave of his hand. Before she could get off a response he slowed the car down, pointing out the window. “There it is!”

Liz’s eyes found their way to the sprawling house before her. Large, tall, and made of brick, it was big and so were the tall black gates protecting its interests. Ronnie pulled up to it, entered a security code, and drove in. The driveway was white stone and at the front of the house was a large water fountain.

A bit of an eyesore, but extravagant. That’s pretty much what this place was.

He stopped the car, got out, opened her door, and escorted her out of the car. Her legs were still weak but she could manage to walk now if she had him to lean on. “This … this is huge,” she said with surprise. She had expected big but not this big.

“It looks that way on the outside, but really it’s modest. Six bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and a few other rooms for fun,” he said with a wink.

She nodded, eyes wide. “Fun.” This was so much, so so much …

Wide eyed and a bit dazed, Ronnie escorted her in the house, pas the rather intimidating looking security officers, and she got the first look at everything. He held her hand tightly, giving it a loving squeeze. “Well?”

She kissed him on the cheek. It was all she could do.

He beamed. “All right, bedroom. You’ll be surprised at what I did.”

She laughed at that. “Oh, really? Are the walls decorated with posters of past NBA players?”

“Only the ones from the 80s, wearing the short-shorts.”

She ribbed him with her elbow.

They entered the bedroom and she found it decorated to her preferences, even the bed-spread, which was dark blue. He let go of her hand as she sat on the bed, feeling the softness of the spread. God, it was good to be on a real bed again.

And it was, at that moment, that she realized he wasn’t standing anymore.

He was on one knee.

She felt her heart pound in her ears. “Ronnie?” she asked in a whisper.

He took out a velvet box from his pocket and popped it open, revealing a beautiful ring. “Elizabeth, you have been with me since … well, since the beginning of all this and I need you with me for the rest of my life.”

She opened her mouth, but couldn’t speak, as tears ran down her face, choked up as she was.

He took the ring and slipped it on her finger. “Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

His eyes looked up at her, glistening.

She nodded, dropped to the floor, and fell into his arms.

She had a thing for gold.

And now she was about to become part of that.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Rapid Reaction: Lakers 89, Rockets 81
By Rachael Hansen |ESPNLosAngeles.com
April 1, 2015



LOS ANGELES -- The Lakers (51-23) invited the Rockets (37-37) to Staples for a throwdown. This game was a contest from beginning to end. The Lakers could have played strategy and let the Rockets win this game, giving them the lead in the race for the Southwest Division title and a playoff spot. The Hornets and Warriors are both fighting for the eighth spot, both their records tied. The Lakers have had more success against the Rockets than the Hornets.


But any sort of strategy of that sort went out the door at the beginning of the game where the Rockets got the opening tip, but Kobe stole it and slammed it home to a raucous L.A. crowd. The Lakers and Rockets would trade buckets back and forth all through the first.


They were tied 24 all at the start of the second. The Lakers would jump out to a brief led in the second thanks to a three from Trey Burke, who returned to the starting lineup after being out weeks with a severe ankle sprain. Burke was not efficient but he was much faster on defense, allowing the Lakers defense to move quicker.


The Rockets would trim the Lakers lead to three points by the beginning of the fourth.


That’s when James Harden, Kobe Bryant, Jabari Parker, and Josh Smith decided to turn it up. All four had struggled throughout the game but that changed in the fourth. Bryant and Harden engaged in a duel while Parker played stifling defense on Smith, forcing him to make some bad shots. He made some early in the fourth but as the quarter went on he began missing them.


Those misses would come back to haunt Houston at the end. Kobe finished 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Parker had 19 points and nine boards while Bogut showed up big with 18 points and eight boards.


Harden finished with 20 points and seven assists, while Smith finished with 18 points on 8-of-24 shooting.


Here are three takeaways from the game:

Number One in Sight


The Lakers have a two game lead over the Thunder for the number one seed in the West and have now won five straight since their last loss to the Hornets. “We’re fighting for homecourt, all the way,” said Jabari Parker. “I want that for these guys and I want that for these fans … we’ll get it.”

Wild, Wild West


David West had a bipolar game. He was dominated by Al Jefferson in the first half but came back and had a strong third quarter, scoring all 10 of his points in that quarter alone. West’s shot has been off since suffering from a minor ankle sprain two weeks ago and though the Lakers claim he’s healed up, his play is inconsistent. Getting West right and to hit his patented mid-range jumper is key for the Lakers spacing on offense.

The Return of Trey


Trey Burke is a fan-favorite with the Lakers as his ability to hit threes and pass the ball makes him a key unselfish member of this team. “I can score when asked upon but my job is to get these guys the ball and make sure they get it in good spots to score,” said Burke after the game. He’s only averaged 10 points and six assists a game this year, but knows his role on the team.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Final Trimester Breakdown
By Rachael Hansen |ESPNLosAngeles.com
April 17, 2015



This is the end of the season for fourteen of the teams in the NBA while it’s the beginning of the long awaited postseason for sixteen other teams. It’s been a wild and crazy regular season but things are about to get even more intense in the coming weeks. Here’s what’s happening around the league.

Eastern Conference

1. Bulls (54-28)
The defending champs are back on top as the number one seed in the East, led by the MVP like numbers of one Derick Rose. Rose has had an outstanding year, averaging 24 PPG, 7.2 APG, and shooting .459% from the floor. He’s truly been the leader of the Bulls and has gotten them the coveted number one seed, guaranteeing homecourt for the team. Chicago prepares for another parade.

2. 76ers (53-29)
Holiday, Bynum, and Thad Young continue to make the 76ers a threat in the East, the franchise making a strong statement at the end of the year for the number two seed, beating out the Pacers just barely for it. Holiday is averaging a cool 20 points and 9 assists a game, improving from the previous season’s numbers. Bynum continues to dominate in the paint, going 17 points and 10 boards most nights. The 76ers are no stranger to regular season success, the question is whether they can get back to the finals.

3. Pacers (52-30)
Indiana had the number two seed slip away in the final week of the regular season, much to the Pacers chagrin. The difference between the number two seed and three seed is the difference between playing the Nets and the Cavs. If you’re any team in these playoffs, you don’t want to play the Cavs, who managed to win their last seven games to vault into the sixth seed. The Pacers must now look forward to Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, two players who are growing more comfortable with one another with each passing minute.

4. Wizards (45-37)
The D.C. area should be celebrating like they won something because they did: the division. In the surprise of the year, the Wiz beat back the Heat and captured the division crown. They won’t have long to savor this or their first playoff appearance in years, but they get to take a crack at the Heat in the playoffs now. John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Tony Mitchell are the core of a very good, very young team, one that is feeling hungry to fell the titans known as the Heat.

5. Heat (43-39)
Speaking of the Heat, here they sit in the fifth seed, missing out on the division title and clearly missing out on the floor spacing Chris Bosh brought to them. Letting Bosh walk in FA, replacing him with Gortat and then Gasol has not worked for the Heat, who have fought through injuries to their bigs all years. Now they face the team that took the division crown and are extra motivated to win … the question is, can they? The Wiz did beat them in the season series.

6. Cavaliers (41-41)
The most dangerous team in the playoffs, the Cavs pulled it together over the last seven games, winning them all, getting here, and now are looking to make some noise. Kyrie Irving’s new running mate in Al Horford has stabilized the Cavs front line and has made life very easy for Irving, who is having one of his best seasons in his short career. Irving, the face of the franchise, now faces another young star in Paul George of the Pacers. Who will shine brightest?

7. Nets (41-41)
It seems like the Nets are here every year. And that’s not far from the truth. Brooklyn, despite its hefty payroll, is back here in the mediocrity spot of the seventh seed and face the 76ers in the playoffs, a team that matches up very well with them and, more importantly, is quite younger than them. Can Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez finally get over the hump and make it further than the second round?

8. Raptors (40-42)
Who would have guessed the Raptors would be here? Answer: no one. The battle for the final playoff spot in the East came down to who wanted it … less. Teams that were in position to get this spot lost, consistently, in the last week of the season and by attrition the Raptors got gifted a spot. Don’t think the people in Toronto aren’t aware of this but they’re excited nonetheless. The matchup against the Bulls is certainly an interesting one, but don’t expect an upset. Do expect a lot of dunks from Derozan, Ross, and Gay though.

9. Pistons (37-44)
This wasn’t quite the year the Pistons expected or wanted. Late season injuries to Greg Monroe and Jonas Jerebko derailed the Pistons faint playoff hopes and now the offseason has arrived for them. Expect Brandon Knight to be let go and possibly the trade of Andre Drummond, who is upset at the losing direction of the franchise. Changes are coming in Detroit, who look to be players in FA, but Eric Bledsoe continues to improve, averaging 19 points a game with 6 assists. He’s getting better, growing, and will be a very good player.

10. Bobcats (36-46)
The magic has worn off for the Bobcats. After an amazing run last year, they find themselves out of the playoffs this time around. That’s due in no small part to the breaking in of new point guard Ryan Harrow and the sophomore slump of Nerlens Noel. Oh, and Michael Beasley was there, jacking up shots. The Suns got their man in Derrick Williams, the Bobcats got their draft pick, and this offseason is about finding the right mix for this team.

11. Hawks (36-46)
Dion Waiters showed why the Cavs valued him so highly and he’s going to be a big piece in ATL for years to come. He and Jeff Teague both complement one another well, but this Hawks team seems to have run its course. Chandler Parson, Patrick Patterson, and Marcus Morris are all unrestricted free agents and all could be playing somewhere else before next season. The Hawks, again, will have to rebuild but this time they know they have at least two pieces and a host of young assets.

12. Knicks (34-47)
Melo got his money and the Knicks didn’t make the playoffs. Marking a two year absence from the postseason, Melo and his Knicks are about to hit the shredder this offseason. Pressure in New York is mounting to critical levels. Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire are both off the books. Dolan, owner of the Knicks, may even trade Melo … rumor has it out of New York that Dolan feels “betrayed” by Melo’s play and is souring on the player. If that’s the case, New York may see another rebuild.

13. Celtics (31-51)
Andrew Wiggins and co. played well in their first year together but the second half of the schedule obliterated the team. The Celtics are going to be losing KG to retirement this offseason and rumor has it that Doc Rivers may also be walking away from the team as well. Rondo, Jeff Green, and Avery Bradley are all names that have been tossed around as potential trade bait as the Celtics look to rebuild around their star rookie.

14. Magic (25-57)
Shabazz Muhammad and the Magic aren’t much better than the year before, but they’ll be in a much better position by the end of the offseason. Not only will they have a high draft pick, they’ll also have tons of cap space and look to be big players in FA. This Magic team is about to go from chump to … well, less of a chump, but at least more competitive.

15. Bucks (23-59)
Milwaukee can’t catch a break. Sending Ellis and Jennings away was supposed to help them rebuild faster but they just can’t seem to find the right combination of players to make their team even decent to watch while drunk (don’t drink and drive, kids). The fans in Milwaukee are despondent, but the offseason will bring cap space, a high draft pick, and hope. We’ll see what it looks like when the dust settles but at least they have a chance now.


Western Conference

1. Lakers (57-25)
The L.A. Lakers are back and brimming with confidence. After a tough last week of the season, the Lakers throttled their opponents in the last two games and are back as the number one seed in the conference for the first time in years. Kobe Bryant has been efficient all season long, averaging 20 points a game on .475% shooting. Jabari Parker has been Kobe’s near clone and the two have formed one of the most interesting scoring dynamos in recent memory. Andrew Bogut, David West, and the bigs of the Lakers bench have all played better as the season went along and the Lakers are back where they feel they belong: on top.

2. Thunder (54-28)
OKC just missed out on the top seed and though that has to make Durant and Westbrook unhappy, the two partners in crime have played true to themselves all year. Kevin Durant has made huge strides defensively and is now a feared two way player, almost on the same level as LeBron. As always with the Thunder, you expect them to get here. A potential clash with the Lakers has to wait till the conference finals, but what a potential clash that will be. OKC won the last two bouts against L.A. and look to have the advantage in a long series. Of course, before that happens, they need to get there first.

3. Nuggets (52-30)
Denver just misses out on the two seed but George Karl’s group is prepared, as ever, for a deep playoff run. Injuries are not a factor this year for the team and they’ve been playing at a mile high level (you know you want to laugh) for the last month or so. Ty Lawson is having his best season ever as a pro (23 PPG, 8 APG) and the rest of the Nuggets chip in consistently on a nightly basis. The big question here is Javale McGee, who’s averaging 13 and 9 a game. Can he do that in the playoffs or will we see the return of “Can’t Get Right”?

4. Trail Blazers (52-30)
Portland fans, take heart, as the Trail Blazers are lined up in the fifth seed, getting ready to face off against the Hornets. The guys from Oregon have had a good season together but that could be marred by an unsatisfactory effort in the playoffs. Losing to the Hornets in the first round would undoubtedly damage the chances of Portland retaining Lamarcus Aldridge, free agent to be. They need to make some noise and have the talent to do so.

5. Timberwolves (44-38)
The Twolves are back in the sixth seed but draw a favorable matchup with division rivals Denver. K-Love, Rubio, and Ellis continue to form a nice trio of players but K-Love is considering using his opt out clause to sign a longer term deal. Peklovic, the bruising big man, is also likely to opt out, leaving Minnesota in need of a good showing in the playoffs. Their franchise could be on the line.

6. Kings (44-38)
These Kings have impressed all year long. Finally recovering from the horrid Maloof era, the bad drafts, and the worse free agent signings, the Kings are back in the playoffs. It’s been a long time coming Sactown, and the league will welcome back that crowd for the first time in many years. The matchup is not favorable, though, as this young Kings squad has to battle the Thunder. Don’t expect an upset, but enjoy the ride anyway.

7. Rockets (42-40)
The Rockets just get into the playoffs with the eight seed, barely beating out the Spurs for the final spot. They lost the division crown to the Hornets, but still got there. Considering how injury plagued the team has been all year, that in of itself is an accomplishment. But it’s not the kind Houston wants. They want titles and this isn’t doing it. They draw the Lakers and don’t look to be a threat. Expect questions in the offseason for Houston as Jeremy Lin hits free agency. Do they bring him back? Do they find someone else? Houston, they may have a problem.

8. Hornets (42-40)
Anthony Davis and co. get back into the playoffs, but are without Cody Zeller and will be without him for the majority of the playoffs, assuming they get any further. Don’t doubt for a second that Monty Williams has a contingency plan all drawn up but that will only take them so far. Expect the Hornets to get bounced early and enter an offseason with some questions, namely at the small forward spot. Caron Butler is a free agent and the Hornets could bring him back. Or not.

9. Spurs (41-41)
This looks to be the end for the Spurs and the big three era. Manu, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan are all getting up there in age and out of them all, only Duncan has a contract for next season. Manu and Parker are both free agents and neither may be back in Texas as the Spurs have fallen into a rut of mediocrity, something the franchise hasn’t experienced two years in a row in nearly twenty years. Expect the Spurs to make some moves towards rebuilding this offseason.

10. Warriors (41-41)
Injuries rocked the Warriors in the last month of the season as Steph Curry and David Lee both missed significant time. With them gone, the Warriors fell out of the playoff race and couldn’t make the ground back. Chris Bosh’s first year in California did not go as planned but next year will, hopefully, be better.

11. Suns (39-43)
Jennings to Williams just didn’t turn out as well as the Suns had hoped. Jennings got his (27 PPG and 9 APG) and so did Williams, but the Suns just couldn’t stop a cold. Their defense was atrocious, desperately missing the presence of Marcin Gortat, and now they enter the offseason with an explosive offensive attack and no defensive anchor. That problem, however, could be solved in free agency as the Suns will have some cap to play with but not much. The Suns need a defensive presence somewhere on the team. Expect them to make some calls.

12. Clippers (38-44)
Chris Paul has just about had it with the Clippers and Blake Griffin is with him. Both are demanding the Clippers make some moves in the offseason to get them back into contention, otherwise things could get very, very ugly. Paul, especially, is adamant. The Clippers are going to make some calls, they’re going to do some begging, but if they can’t make any progress, expect trade rumors to float.

13. Mavericks (38-44)
The Mavs find themselves in a similar position as the Clippers. They made moves to make their team better and yet they missed the playoffs this year. Dwight regressed some, suffering a nagging shoulder injury, while Dirk, Granger, Mayo, and Walker couldn’t decide who should shoot the ball more. Dirk and Granger averaged near career lows in points as the two struggled to get space, and now it seems that Dallas has to move someone to help fix the team. That someone could be Dwight, who is looking once more to be a free agent next offseason if he doesn’t see progress. Mark Cuban can write as many checks as he wants, but Dallas is looking to be in trouble.

14. Jazz (34-48)
Utah wasn’t expected to do much this year, especially with the trade of Jefferson and the development of Kanter in his place, but they still did all right. The problem with the Jazz is that all right just isn’t good enough … they need to get out of this cycle and move into a stronger position. Utah may try to swing for the fences in the offseason.

15. Grizzlies (21-61)
The Grizzlies have suffered horribly. The end of an era is upon them as Marc Gasol looks to be leaving Memphis. Evan Turner, Mike Conley, Ed Davis, and Otto Porter are the future of the team. Gasol is eyeing championship contenders as Memphis is unwilling to pay him market value. Expect Marc to go where Pau does, as the two have publicly professed a desire to play together.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

League News

Season Award Winners:


MVP: Kevin Durant (Thunder)
27.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 6.1 APG, 1.9 SPG, 1.7 BPG
.453 FG% .905 FT% .387 3P%


Rookie of the Year: Andrew Wiggins (Celtics)
20.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG
.455 FG% .809 FT% .337 3P%


Sixth Man of the Year: Anthony Randolph (Nuggets)
9.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 0.3 APG, 0.6 SPG, 1.0 BPG
.515 FG% .776 FT%


Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin Durant


Most Improved Player: Rodrigue Beaubois (Suns)
17.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.9 BPG
.420 FG% .873 FT% .307 3P%


Coach of the Year: Alvin Gentry (Lakers)
57-25 Record, 1^st in Division and Conference

All-NBA First Team
Brandon Jennings (Suns)
John Wall (Wizards)
Kevin Durant (Thunder)
LeBron James (Heat)
Cody Zeller (Hornets)

All-NBA Second Team
Russell Westbrook (Thunder)
Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers)
Paul George (Pacers)
Blake Griffin (Clippers)
Greg Monroe (Pistons

All-NBA Third Team
Jrue Holiday (76ers)
Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers)
Gordon Hayward (Jazz)
Andrew Wiggins (Celtics)
Demarcus Cousins (Kings)

All-Defensive First Team
Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers)
Shabazz Muhammad (Magic)
Kevin Durant (Thunder)
Anthony Davis (Hornets)
Larry Sanders (Bucks)

All-Defensive Second Team
Eric Bledsoe (Pistons)
Bradley Beal (Wizards)
Kenneth Faried (Nuggets)
Blake Griffin (Clippers)
Nerlens Noel (Bobcats)

All-Rookie First Team
Andrew Wiggins (Celtics)
Jabari Parker (Lakers)
Julius Randle (Raptors)
Noah Vonleh (Magic)
Glenn Robinson (Knicks)

All-Rookie Second Team
Mitch McGary (Nets)
LeBryan Nash (Pistons)
James Young (Bucks)
Aaron Gordon (Hawks)
Ilimane Diop (Wizards)

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story



Western Conference Playoffs: Round One


1 Lakers vs. 8 Rockets

Recap: The Rockets again are the benefit of sneaking into the playoffs, but their accomplishment is much more meaningful this year. They were banged up and injured all year long, and only now were they getting a chance to really play together.

Unfortunately for them, they met a very confident Lakers squad who had schooled them in nearly every meeting between the two teams during the regular season. Here, it would be no different, as Andrew Bogut took it upon himself to set the pace in game one with a 23 point, 10 board outing that made Al Jefferson look like a statue. Game two would feature Jabari Parker, putting up 22 points while Bogut and West both chipped in 16 points and 10 boards apiece.

The Rockets were beaten by over fifteen points in every game they played and were easily swept by the Lakers.

Winner: Lakers 4-0



4 Hornets vs. 5 Trail Blazers

Recap: New Orleans entered the playoffs without Cody Zeller, who sustained a broken jaw towards the end of the regular season, and could not have picked a worse opponent to face off against. With Zeller out and Davis playing center, Lamarcus Aldridge had his way inside and out in a 116-106 game one win.

Game two, the Hornets came back and tied the series thanks to a hot shooting performance from Eric Gordon, who scored 32 points in route to a 101-88 Hornets win. After that, thought, Lillard and Aldridge went to work on the Hornets. New Orleans game within two points of winning both games three and four, but in game five they were beat by a solid ten points.

Winner: Trail Blazers 4-1



3 Nuggets vs. 6 Timberwolves

Recap: You would expect these two teams to dislike each other and know one another, and you’d expect correctly. The Twolves knew the Nuggets, back and forth, and beat them at their own game behind the impressive shooting of Ricky Rubio (28 points) and K-Love (24 points) in this high scoring game one affair, where the Twolves would win 113-106.

Game two saw the Nuggets win in big fashion behind Iggy and C.J. McCollum. McCollum had to enter the game due to the loss of Ty Lawson to a severe abdominal strain, one which put him out the rest of the playoffs. With Lawson out, the Twolves took advantage of his absence in game three. The Nuggets answered back in game four behind another outstanding performance of McCollum (29 points) and Iggy (24 points). Game five was a defensive battle, a rarity for either team, but one that came down to star power. K-Love stepped up, getting 20 points and 20 boards, securing the 88-78 win for his team.

Game six arrived, back in Minnesota, where Love closed out the series behind an impressive 22 points and 22 boards, crushing the Nuggets 99-64. In the end, the Nuggets could not advance without their star Ty Lawson.

Winner: Timberwolves 4-2



2 Thunder vs. 7 Kings

Recap: The Kings fought hard to get here and harder still to make this series as hellish for the Thunder as possible. The succeeded in that respect, making OKC work for every win. The Thunder didn’t win a game in this series by more than six points and the fourth quarters of every game were fraught with drama.

But Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook had done this dance many times before and withstood the Kings best shot. They move on.

Winner: Thunder 4-0




Eastern Conference Playoffs: Round One

1 Bulls vs. 8 Raptors

Recap: The Raptors didn’t expect to be here and the Bulls didn’t expect to see them, but that’s how the regular season came to an end and what an end it was. Now, with the playoffs here, the Bulls had to buckle down and get to the business of dealing with the only Canadian team the NBA had.

The Raptors would play the Bulls close in games one and two, coming within a point each time of winning but falling short. Rudy Gay and Julius Randle were both playing lights out basketball, but neither could quite do enough to get the team over the hump. When the series went to Canada, the Bulls finished the Raptors off with little fanfare.

Winner: Bulls 4-0



4 Wizards vs. 5 Heat

Recap: LeBron and Dwade lost the division crown to the Wizards. They lost the regular season series to them. They would not lose this series. Right?

Well … no. In what would be the biggest upset in these playoffs at this point (more on that later), the Wizards were not intimidated by the Heat. Not in the least. The Wizards won games one and two in convincing fashion, as Wall, Beal, and Tony Mitchell effectively outscored every member of the Heat. While LeBron and Wade tried to win the games themselves, the Wizards got good efforts from everyone. The Heat only had Wade and James show up.

That is until game three when the Heat saw a 37 point explosion from Wade, helping them secure a 111-95 win on their home floor. It felt like a series then, but by game four that feeling was gone. The Wizards came out and their bench obliterated the Heat’s, allowing them to sneak away with a 91-87 win. In game five the Wizards put the Heat out of their misery with a 117-107 win, ending the postseason for the heralded Heat team.

Winner: Wizards 4-1



3 Pacers vs. 6 Cavaliers

Recap: This would be the biggest upset in the playoffs, as the Cavs, a mere 41-41 squad who had gone on an insane seven game win streak to get here, entered into the Pacers house in game one and won in astounding fashion behind a 36 point outburst from Kyrie Irving. The Cavs would then go on to lose the next three games straight.

Until game five and another Irving outburst of 31 points. Trailing 3-2 in the series, the Cavs got back home and engaged in a game six for the ages. Everyone came to play but two players in particular, Tristian Thompson and Rakeem Christmas, showed up huge throughout the game and in OT.

Tied 101-101, the Cavs got the tip off and began to hammer the ball away in the low post to Thompson, who had battled all game against Rakeem Christmas as Dejuan Blair was out with a twisted ankle. The OT period would be rife with back and forth rough play, fouls aplenty, but the play of the game was from Thompson who took a three and made it, in an ultimate gamble. The arena went wild and the Pacers were crushed by the play. The Cavs would win game six 117-112.

Game seven was the Cavs abusing George Hill with Kyrie Irving again and Cleveland walked away with their first playoff series win since LeBron left town.

Winner: Cavaliers 4-3



2 76ers vs. 7 Nets

Recap: This series was a lot closer than most people would have expected. Game one seemed to confirm that Philly was far and beyond the better team behind Holiday’s 28 points but in game two the Nets put on a defensive show, only allowing the 76ers to score 75 points in a route.

Once things got back to Brooklyn, the 76ers would lose again in game three thanks to a Joe Johnson sighting. Johnson pulled in a near triple-double of 23 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds, as the 76ers found themselves down 2-1. But Doug Collins wasn’t going to let that stand and he rode Holiday for 27 points and 15 assists, evening up the series in a 92-87 win.

Game five was a close, last second affair, as the Nets came back from a deficit behind the tough play of Brook Lopez, who had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lopez, however, could not stop Andrew Bynum who had 34 points and 11 boards and the 76ers squeaked away with a 95-94 win.

In what has to be one of the most embarrassing showings in recent memory, Brooklyn returned home in game six to a rocking crowd and didn’t show up, getting throttled 99-70 by the 76ers in a performance that had the home crowd booing their team, an ominous sign for the offseason in Brooklyn. For Philly, they go on to meet the Cavs in round two.

Winners: 76ers 4-2

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Western Conference Playoffs: Round Two

1 Lakers vs. 5 Trail Blazers

Recap: The Trail Blazers had given the Lakers problems during the regular season, the play of Damian Lillard among the factors that made the Blazers a tough opponent for the Lakers. But the Lakers came into this series looking to right those wrongs during the regular season and they started out in dominating fashion, unleashing the twin fury of Jarbari Parker and Kobe Bryant.

Parker and Bryant, in game one, were unconscious from the floor, scoring 28 points each on 50 percent shooting, helping the Lakers secure a 104-97 game one win in front of the Staples Center crowd. In game two, the Trail Blazers came out flat and Jabari Parker ran over them with another 28 point performance.

Game three saw the series shift back to Portland but the results were the same, as the Trail Blazers were dominated by Kobe to the tune of 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Game four, the Blazers were again destroyed by the twin fury of Parker and Bryant, Kobe getting 29 points and Jabari getting 26 points. The Rose Garden was silenced.

Winner: Lakers 4-0



2 Thunder vs. 6 Timberwolves

Recap: Division rivals once more met again and this time the Thunder weren’t going to let the Wolves get by without a fight. Last season’s loss to the Timberwolves in the playoffs stuck in the craw of KD all year long and finally he got his shot to get payback.

And what a payback it was as KD and Westbrook combined for 60 points in a game one thrashing of the Twolves. The Thunder beat them 119-91 in a statement game. In game two the Wolves responded by double-teaming Durant, but Westbrook caught fire and scorched them for 37 points to lead the Thunder to a 108-88 win.

In game three the Timberwolves finally showed their full force, behind an outstanding shooting performance from Monta Ellis (28 points on 11-of-19) and solid play from everyone else. But game four saw the Thunder go for the kill shot. Durant was effectively limited but Ibaka and Westbrook each chipped in 20 points to secure the dominating 105-75 win.

Game five saw the Twolves come alive behind Kevin Love’s 26 points and seven three-ball performance, and a surprise effort from Al-Farouq Aminu, who scored 19 points and had 8 boards. Heading back to Minnesota, the Wolves were confident they could even the series 3-3.

They were wrong however as the Kevin Durant exploded for 37 points, blasting through the Wolves defense and ending any thoughts of a comeback. Once more the winner between these two teams advances to the conference finals, where the Thunder will face the Lakers.

Winner: Thunder 4-2



Eastern Conference Playoffs: Round Two

1 Bulls vs. 4 Wizards

Recap: This was a matchup of premier point guards, Wall vs. Rose, and the battle didn’t disappoint. In game one Wall got the better of his (supposed) better, Rose, and scored 29 points as the Wiz ran the Bulls back and forth in a blistering pace. The deep balls from Bradley Beal helped spread the floor (Beal went 4-of-6 from deep, finishing with 20 points) and the Bulls could not close out fast enough, losing 102-90.

In game two, Derrick Rose let loose for 34 points, throttling Wall (who had only 10 points) and leading the Bulls to a 104-90 win. Game three saw Rose repeat the same formula, scoring 39 points with help from Luol Deng and Taj Gibson. The Bulls would win that one 113-101, taking a 2-1 series lead.

But John Wall was not about to be outdone. In game four he scored 25 points, allowing Tony Mitchell and Bradley Beal to rain threes while he drove inside and got the job done. The Bulls, looking gassed, lost 90-75 and the series was tied again. Game five featured the closest game of the series as all the players of the two teams showed up. Rose and Deng combined for 45 points as Wall, Beal, and Mitchell combined for 48 points. In the end, however, it came down to the benches of the two teams and the Wizards bench won the game with its superior play.

Up 3-2, heading home, this looked to be the Wizards series. But Derrick Rose was not to be denied and he scored 29 points while Wall scored 32 in a dual for the ages, but ultimately it was decided by the supporting cast of the two players. And the cast that won was the Bulls.

3-3, game seven. The Bulls headed back to Chicago to an uproarious crowd. Losing to the Wizards was not an option and Chicago played with the lead the entire game as the Bulls decimated the Wizards 102-90, Derrick Rose finishing with 39 points and Taj Gibson adding in 23 of his own.
Winner: Bulls 4-3


2 76ers vs. 6 Cavaliers

Recap: The Cavaliers came into this game as the darlings of the playoffs after having beaten the favored Pacers in seven games. The 76ers, though, had things the Cavs did not, namely experience. In Kyrie Irving’s first trip to the second round, his team was coming in on short rest.

That would be a huge theme in the first two games as Philly dominated the Cavs, not letting the team catch its collective breath. Doug Collins made sure the pace was fast, playing a style that he hadn’t used much during the regular season, and wore the Cavs out from the beginning.

But game three saw the Cavs get their wind back. Down 2-0, back at home, the kids from Cleveland put on a show for the home crowd. After being down by ten at halftime, the Cavs came back in the third quarter with a blistering barrage of deep balls from Alonzo Gee, who had 26 points in the game. In the fourth Kyrie Irving took over and the 76ers lost a tight one, 105-101.

In game four the two teams played an ugly defensive battle. It was a slow, methodical pace, one that the 76ers did not play well in and the Cavs got away with the series tying win, 78-68.

Game five saw the series return back to Philly and with it, the momentum of the 76ers. Philly embraced the homecourt advantage and got a stellar performance from Jrue Holiday and Andrew Bynum, the two showing why they were such a lethal duo together. The 76ers won 100-78.

Cleveland would not go quietly. They returned back home in game six, winning easily, and then returned to Philly for game seven. In was a close game before the fourth quarter, when Irving scored ten of his 19 points and put the Cavs over the top. Cleveland won, advancing to the conference finals for the first time since LeBron left.

Winner: Cavaliers 4-3

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Western Conference Finals

1 Lakers vs. 2 Thunder

Recap: It was meant to be. Both teams had battled hard throughout the regular season for supremacy and both wanted this matchup. The Thunder wanted to beat the Lakers in the playoffs and the Lakers wanted to prove to the league that the Thunder could be beaten by them when it counted most.

And boy, were the Lakers right on that. Game one of the series was a statement game, one which saw Andrew Bogut step up his game in a big way. Bogut dominated the interior of the Thunder and scored 28 points, nabbing 9 boards, and was a perfect 10-of-10 from the line. Bogut's play, combined with big help from the bench (notably Anderson Varejo and J.J. Redick) put the Lakers over the top, 93-84.

In game two the Thunder entered the fourth quarter with a sizable 13 point lead, one that the Lakers had let the Thunder get after a disastrously slow third quarter. Halftime froze the team and it took them the third to work through it. The fourth was anxious for Lakers fans as they watched the team slowly chip away at the lead. And then, with six minutes to go, down by five, they watched Kobe Bryant knock down a three, get a steal, and chuck another three, giving the Lakers the lead. The Staples crowd rocked the house as Kobe led the Lakers to a hard fought 98-94 win, scoring 32 points on 11-of-17 from the field, 4-of-4 from deep.

Game three in OKC saw the Lakers down again entering the fourth, this time by two points. The Thunder rode Jeremy Lamb for most of the game but he went cold in the fourth. He went cold as Kobe went killer. Kobe had only six points entering the fourth, going 2-of-4 from the field and hitting two free throws. He would catch fire in the fourth and not miss another shot all game long, finishing with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 8 assists. The Lakers would get away with a 100-94 win.

Game four was do or die for the Thunder. Getting back to the conference finals was good but losing like this was unacceptable for them. Before the game, guarantees were made by Kendrick Perkins, former Celtic and longtime Lakers enemy, that the Thunder would win. His guarantee was premature as the Lakers came out firing and didn’t stop. Jabari Parker led the charge, scoring 29 points on 11-of-18 shooting going 2-of-3 from deep, outdueling Kevin Durant for the closeout series win. The Lakers were back in the Finals.

Winner: Lakers 4-0







Eastern Conference Finals:

1 Bulls vs. 3 Cavaliers

Recap: The Cavs again found themselves visiting a court not their own, this time heading to Chicago to duel with Derrick Rose and co. Rose and the Bulls came out with one thing in mind: contain Irving. Contain him they did as they held the Cavs to a measly 72 points in their 93-72 win, letting Irving only get 20 points as the rest of his team struggled.

In game two, the strategy backfired. The Cavs not named Irving stepped up, particularly Shannon Brown who scored 19 points on 8-of-10 from the field, 2-of-2 from deep, and thoroughly confounded the Bulls defense with his shooting. Despite a 33 point show from Derrick Rose, the Bulls could not mount a comeback and lost 94-78.

Games three and four would be close affairs for both teams, as the winner only squeaked by with a victory margin of four points. But those four points were enough to put the Cavs up, 3-1, heading into game five. Chicago was primed and ready for fireworks but instead they got a fizzle, as the Bulls could not stop the onslaught of scoring from Shannon Brown and Kyrie Irving. The two guards gutted the Bulls defense and, in another upset, the Cavs arrived at the Finals.

Winner: Cavaliers 4-1

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

NBA Finals

Cavalier vs. Lakers

Recap: This was it. This was the Finals. Neither team was expected to be here. For the Lakers, this year was supposed to be competitive, not legendary. They completed the four, four, four sweep and had a chance to do what no NBA team had ever done-win 16 straight games on their way to a championship. History awaited for this team on a number of levels. Kobe would get his sixth ring, tying Jordan. Jabari Parker would join a select group of NBA players who had started on a championship squad all season long as a rookie. Alvin Gentry would finally put to rest comparisons to his former boss, Mike D’Antoni. Andrew Bogut would live up to his draft selection. A return to the championship level for the retiring Chauncey Billups. A title for the Gerald Wallace, a good player who had struggled for years on bad teams.

For the Cavs, they weren’t supposed to be in the playoffs. They put on a seven game win streak at the end of the regular season to get here. They won two seven game series straight before dispatching the Bulls in five. They were ahead of schedule, young, but poised to win something Cleveland desperately craved. Their playoff run was already a legendary one and a championship would send it beyond that. Kyrie Irving would permanently erase from the collective memory of Cleveland the departure of LeBron. Byron Scott would win his ring as a coach against the franchise he helped bring three championships to, against a player he had helped mentor in Kobe Bryant, and would forever be a legend in Cleveland.

There was a lot at stake. Both teams had plenty to play for. This was the Finals.

Game one started out with the Lakers putting on a show for the L.A. crowd. Cleveland walked into the bright lights of Staples and looked lost. Their players chucked up bad shots, turned the ball over, and generally looked out of sorts as the pressure of the Finals affected them. Jabari Parker had 23 points, Bogut had 21, and Kobe chipped in 19 in a big game one win. The Cavs could not get going, especially in the frontcourt, where Thompson and Horford were in foul trouble all night long.

In game two the Cavs again struggled to get started and once more Jabari Parker and Kobe Bryant led the way to a 97-88 Lakers win, Parker scoring 26 points with Kobe adding in 24. While the Cavs managed to score well, they were inefficient in their shooting, notably Shannon Brown (former Laker) who was 9-of-23 from the field.

In game three, the show returned to Cleveland. The Cavs need some home crowd love and got it, going into the fourth quarter with a three point lead in a tightly contested game. Jabari Parker had played atrociously up to that point and would finish the game on 3-of-15 shooting, scoring only 9 points. But The Lakers got a huge lift from their bench (Trey Thompkins and J.J. Redick combined for 22 points in 20 minutes of play) and a vintage Kobe performance. Bryant scored 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting, dishing out 7 assists and grabbing 5 boards. The Lakers escaped with a 93-88 win in a tightly contested game.

Game four arrived and Cleveland was on the verge of being swept, again, in the Finals just like LeBron’s team in 2007. The Cavs came out and scored six points straight on two deep threes from Shannon Brown, who finished with 15 points, but the Lakers withstood the early barrage and forged a one point lead heading into the second despite poor play from Parker and Bryant. But David West wasn’t playing poorly. West helped the Lakers establish a six point lead at halftime, 45-39, behind his 14 first half points and 5 boards. In the second half, Jabari Parker and Kobe finally found their groove.

With it, the Cavs Finals dreams ended. Parker and Bryant helped the Lakers fuel a huge third quarter run and by the fourth, they were up by 15 points. In that final quarter Parker and Bryant would display the chemistry that had gotten them here, feeding one another the ball, and setting the other up. Parker would finish with 27 points and 9 rebounds while Bryant finished with 21 points and 8 assists. The Lakers would win the game 103-89 and take home the championship banner, tying them with the Celtics with 17 apiece.

Winner: Lakers 4-0



Finals MVP: Kobe Bryant


Playoff Averages
22.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.5 BPG
.554 FG% .323 3PT% .917 FT%

[BraedenG33]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Wow. What a run there at the end. This is a surreal ending to an outstanding season for your lakers. Im a Kobe fan (even though i don't like the lakers at all, there is just something about Kobe Idk what). They tie my celtics for most titles, Kobe ties MJ, he does what MJ couldnt do with the playoff sweep. Jabari begins a long road to success and could someday join Kobe in he ranks of all-time greats, and LA is a town of gold trophies and Gold GMs. Outstanding.

[trekfan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

Wow. What a run there at the end. This is a surreal ending to an outstanding season for your lakers. Im a Kobe fan (even though i don't like the lakers at all, there is just something about Kobe Idk what). They tie my celtics for most titles, Kobe ties MJ, he does what MJ couldnt do with the playoff sweep. Jabari begins a long road to success and could someday join Kobe in he ranks of all-time greats, and LA is a town of gold trophies and Gold GMs. Outstanding.

Thanks man! Yeah, it was a heart-pounding run in the playoffs, an unbelievable run. Season 3 has pretty much concluded, and we'll be getting some offseason news and story updates in the coming days.

[BlueJays09]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

great job..looking forward to more!

[JazzMan]

Re: The Gold Standard: The Ronnie Gold Story

My man Hayward making the All-NBA 3rd Team

This is great stuff you have here man, just read through it and it's wonderful.