Post by Nathanjyd on Apr 16, 2005 9:32:32 GMT -5
The Storybook Season
As the confetti fell, and fireworks went off, one team was left and one went back home for a long off season of regret and time to think. The roller-coaster season which was headlined with a league leader in scoring, beating the Pistons 5 times, and advancing past the first round of the playoffs in BBS history. A season full of glitz and glamour which was disappointedly ended with no a ticker tape parade.
Paul Pierce refused to leave the court when; Shaq, Jermaine and Kobe were partying it up in the middle of the court looking to advance past the Bulls for a championship. Pierce was quoted as saying, “I will never forget this moment as long as I live. Scoring 32 points a season and working my a** off too have it end like this. Naw man, my teammates and I worked too hard. Wont happen again.”<br> The season was one of team work, dedication, hard work and signs of a heck of a future. The Hawks started off winning a ton of games being third in the league also—third in the division. Once again they had to overcome the odds to persevere, being in the hardest division in sports. A surprisingly young team that had the world to prove, made some luke warm fans into believers. Ben Gordon, Shannon Brown, Peja Samardzski, Derek Character all were teamed up in the starting lineup and all were less than 22 years old. Many people told Nathan the commissioner that the team was too young and could not win in the division with Shaq, Kobe, Lebron, and Tracy McGrady. Many told him that Rafer Alston and Raef LaFrentz should be starting because they had the experience you needed to win. He stuck it out through the thick and thin and it paid off with a playoff birth and some success in the playoffs.
Paul Pierce was the man, who was stuck in a world that thought he couldn’t win and he threw the haters off his back. He led a team that had less experience than most college players and took them to the second round almost upsetting the top team in the league. He set headline after headline becoming the leading scorer in the league. Numerous times the box scores would read 45, 48, 42, 44— time after time, game after game, nothing changed. Paul was hurt late in the season and showed he taught the kids a lesson and they stepped up and held their own against the elite.
The story within the story was the grudge match with Detroit. Paul Pierce was fumed after Spencer called him late one night and told him he was traded to Atlanta—the team the BBS forgot. Pierce made it known that he was pissed at the organization leading Atlanta to a 3-1 regular season record against the nearly 70 win Pistons, even scoring a season high 56 one night.
Caracter and Brown had amazing rookie seasons that could lead to long and illustrious careers as NBA phenoms. Caracter won rookie of the year but don’t forget about Brown who averaged amazing numbers.
The playoffs commenced with Atlanta taking the 4th seed playing 5th seed Toronto. Atlanta was down 3-1 and never looked back. Rafer Alston returned from injury to replace Damon Jones and provided the spark they needed to win the series. Just like McGrady was over confident when he was up 3-1 against Detroit, Toronto may have been a bit too confident. Atlanta went on winning 3 strait in convincing manner.
Detroit vs. Atlanta. Perfect match up right? Shannon Brown still in street clothes with a injury hurt the Hawks tremendously. The Hawks took games 1 and 3 with Alston being the unsung hero averaging 25, 9 and 7 or close too it. In game 4, Alston burned out and Shaq and Kobe stuck it too the youngsters beating them by nearly 50 points. The Hawks were exasperated and could not find anything to play for in game 6, and lost again by 20 plus pointed. Paul Pierce did not leave the court, and was determined to never let it happen again.
As the confetti fell, and fireworks went off, one team was left and one went back home for a long off season of regret and time to think. The roller-coaster season which was headlined with a league leader in scoring, beating the Pistons 5 times, and advancing past the first round of the playoffs in BBS history. A season full of glitz and glamour which was disappointedly ended with no a ticker tape parade.
Paul Pierce refused to leave the court when; Shaq, Jermaine and Kobe were partying it up in the middle of the court looking to advance past the Bulls for a championship. Pierce was quoted as saying, “I will never forget this moment as long as I live. Scoring 32 points a season and working my a** off too have it end like this. Naw man, my teammates and I worked too hard. Wont happen again.”<br> The season was one of team work, dedication, hard work and signs of a heck of a future. The Hawks started off winning a ton of games being third in the league also—third in the division. Once again they had to overcome the odds to persevere, being in the hardest division in sports. A surprisingly young team that had the world to prove, made some luke warm fans into believers. Ben Gordon, Shannon Brown, Peja Samardzski, Derek Character all were teamed up in the starting lineup and all were less than 22 years old. Many people told Nathan the commissioner that the team was too young and could not win in the division with Shaq, Kobe, Lebron, and Tracy McGrady. Many told him that Rafer Alston and Raef LaFrentz should be starting because they had the experience you needed to win. He stuck it out through the thick and thin and it paid off with a playoff birth and some success in the playoffs.
Paul Pierce was the man, who was stuck in a world that thought he couldn’t win and he threw the haters off his back. He led a team that had less experience than most college players and took them to the second round almost upsetting the top team in the league. He set headline after headline becoming the leading scorer in the league. Numerous times the box scores would read 45, 48, 42, 44— time after time, game after game, nothing changed. Paul was hurt late in the season and showed he taught the kids a lesson and they stepped up and held their own against the elite.
The story within the story was the grudge match with Detroit. Paul Pierce was fumed after Spencer called him late one night and told him he was traded to Atlanta—the team the BBS forgot. Pierce made it known that he was pissed at the organization leading Atlanta to a 3-1 regular season record against the nearly 70 win Pistons, even scoring a season high 56 one night.
Caracter and Brown had amazing rookie seasons that could lead to long and illustrious careers as NBA phenoms. Caracter won rookie of the year but don’t forget about Brown who averaged amazing numbers.
The playoffs commenced with Atlanta taking the 4th seed playing 5th seed Toronto. Atlanta was down 3-1 and never looked back. Rafer Alston returned from injury to replace Damon Jones and provided the spark they needed to win the series. Just like McGrady was over confident when he was up 3-1 against Detroit, Toronto may have been a bit too confident. Atlanta went on winning 3 strait in convincing manner.
Detroit vs. Atlanta. Perfect match up right? Shannon Brown still in street clothes with a injury hurt the Hawks tremendously. The Hawks took games 1 and 3 with Alston being the unsung hero averaging 25, 9 and 7 or close too it. In game 4, Alston burned out and Shaq and Kobe stuck it too the youngsters beating them by nearly 50 points. The Hawks were exasperated and could not find anything to play for in game 6, and lost again by 20 plus pointed. Paul Pierce did not leave the court, and was determined to never let it happen again.
