Tuesday, June 9, 2009

All Three Previous 0-2 Winners Have a (Sorta) Lakers Connection

The Orlando Magic currently trail 0-2 in the NBA Finals. Only three teams have ever come back from down 0-2 to win the title series.

All three have (sort of) a connection with the Lakers.

In 1969, the LA Lakers won the first two games of the Finals against the Boston Celtics. The C's would go on to win 4 of the remaining 5 games ... including Game 7 in Los Angeles ... to capture the title.

In 1977, the Philadelphia 76ers won the first two games of the Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers would stomp the Sixers in the next four games to win the series. Kobe Bryant's dad played for Philly in that series.

In 2006, the Dallas Mavericks won the first two games of the Finals against the Miami Heat. Of course, Dwyane Wade went off in the next four games to bring the championship to South Florida. The center of the Heat in that series???? Former 3-time Finals MVP with the Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal. Also, current Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy was the head coach of that Miami team for the first 21 games of that season.

No comments: