NBA Finals Guide for Dummies
June 5th, 2010
Don't know who any of these guys are? Or why they are mad at each other? You need The NBA Finals for Dummies guide.
Did you find yourself watching Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night and were totally confused when Jesus was guarding The Black Mamba? Or were you lost when The Truth took down Fish? Well, AdenaAndrews.com has you covered, breaking down all the nicknames and lingo of this storied matchup between Los Angeles and Boston.
Who: Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics
When: June 3, June 6, June 8, June 10, June 13 (if neccessary), June 15 (if neccessary), June 17 (if neccessary)
Why: The Lakers (16 championships) and Celtics (17 championships) are the two most successful franchises in NBA history have met in the finals 12 times .The matchup has seen the likes of Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlin, Bill Russell, Kevin McHale, James Worthy and other Hall of Famers go head to head over the past four decades.
The Cast
BOSTON CELTICS
The Truth a.k.a Paul Pierce
Origin: Shaquille O’Neal, in the midst of his three-peat and a role as the most dominant force in the game, pulled a Boston reporter aside and offered the following: “Take this down. My name is Shaquille O’Neal, and Paul Pierce is the [expletive] truth. Quote me on that, and don’t take nothing out. (via ESPN.com)
KG a.k.a Kevin Garnett
Origin: Obviously this is his intials. You may also hear him refered to as The Big Ticket. Probably by ESPN announcer Mark Jackson when he is searching for words.
Jesus a.k.a Ray Allen
Origin: In the 1998 Spike Lee film He Got Game, a young Ray Allen played a high school basketball standout from Coney Island named Jesus Shuttlesworth. Allen played the hell out of his role and the movie went on to live in basketball lore.
Sheed a.k.a Rasheed Wallace
Origin: Just a shortening of his first name. Something we like to do a lot in the basketball world. If you don’t know which player is Sheed, just look for the one that looks like he needs some change and a hot shower.
Orgin: When he was a 9-year-old playing pee-wee football, where because of his size he had to play against kids three years older and, when he felt like he was being bullied by the elders and reacted, his coach would yell, “Stop crying, you big baby.” (via NYPOST)
Glen "Big Baby" Davis posing with the 2008 NBA championship trophy won by the Celtics against the Lakers.
Origin: Given his nickname by then-Marquette assistant coach Rick Majerus. Rivers attended a summer basketball camp wearing a “Dr. J” T-shirt. Majerus immediately called him “Doc” and the players at camp followed suit. The name has stuck ever since. (via NBA.com)
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Black Mamba a.k.a Kobe Bryant
Origin: Bryant started calling himself “Black Mamba” a few years ago, explaining to ESPN, “The mamba can strike with 99% accuracy at maximum speed, in rapid succession. That’s the kind of basketball precision I want to have.” (How lame are you if you make up your own nickname?)
Ron Ron a.k.a Ron Artest
Origin: Simple it’s his name. He can also be referred to as Queensbridge, the housing project in New York that he calls home and shouts out during every interview.
Fish a.k.a Derek Fisher
Origin: Shortening his last name of course. It’s fun to yell, GO FISH! (like the card game) when he is on the court.
The Spaniard a.k.a Pau Gasol
Origin: ESPANA! The Spainard has been pegged soft as a Pau-ssy Cat (via @bomani_jones) this postseason but is attemting to shed that reputation with tough play in The Finals.
Coach Zen Master a.k.a Phil Jackson
Origin: Jackson defines himself as a Zen Christian and is known to apply spiritual practicesto basketball as stated in his book Sacred Hoops. The 10-time NBA Champion has used unorthodox practices with his teams like practicing without a ball or cleansing the lockeroom with sage.
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