Thanks to a traditional refusal to succumb to team-oriented tactics, the NBA is capable of generating a load of upheaval in only six months.
In that brief interlude, the league can become saturated with interim coaches or Phoenix Suns employees announcing that a system change has sabotaged their joy.Entire teams can be relocated, then earmarked for Secaucus, in only six months.
Sometimes the gestation period for dramatic change is considerably shorter. Stephon Marbury, for example, must have alienated his new bosses in about six minutes, while Kevin McHale managed to draft and discard a Rookie-of-the-Year contender in a few hours.
But while the NBA remains vulnerable to myriad climate shifts over six measly months, the two most important variables seem relatively status quo. Those variables happen to be registered as the combatants from last June's NBA Finals, a showdown that is threatening an encore performance at the close of this season.
Before we revisit the resurrected rivalry — co-starring the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers — on Christmas Day, it seems necessary to examine where these teams now stand in their quest for a June rematch.
Well, despite recent Laker tribulations, the second Finals date looks — with specific apologies to the Cleveland Cavaliers and a few other squads — to be in fine shape.
The Cs are prolonging their commitment to strangling opposing offenses and have won 27 of their first 29 games, an NBA first.
Despite the loss of three veteran role players, Boston's efficiency at both ends of the court is right where it was last season. Kevin Garnett continues whipping his teammates into a defensive frenzy, and has provoked tears from at least one young Celtic during a sideline scolding. Paul Pierce hasn't quite matched his World's Best Player self-assessment, but may be working on a rope-a-dope scheme that will manifest itself in the playoffs.
Tuesday's action
- Surging Celtics make it 19 straight
- Lakers have no problem with Hornets
- LeBron, Cavs pull away from Rockets
- Harris hits game-winner for Nets
- Okafor powers Bobcats past Wizards
- Johnson's triple-double lifts Hawks
- Warriors fail to cool down Wade, Heat
- Stuckey scores 40 as Pistons beat Bulls
- Bucks stay hot at home, whip Jazz
- Spurs' Parker torches T-wolves again
- Nowitzki, Mavs stomp Grizzlies
- Blazers bounce back, beat Nuggets
FOXSports.com analysis
- Rosen: Cavs are championship material
- Hill: 70 wins or 70 losses?
- Rosen: Mavs erred in trading for Kidd
- Galinsky: NBA Power Rankings
