It also marked the first NBA postseason since 2003 not to feature Dwyane Wade. The Miami Heat missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003, thanks to a league worst 15–67 record. The New Jersey Nets missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001, largely due to a trade that sent Jason Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks. However, all eight qualifiers in the Western Conference finished with at least 50 wins, thus leaving the Warriors out of the postseason. The Golden State Warriors won 48 games, more than 5 of the 8 playoff teams in the Eastern Conference.
#2008 western conference finals series#
The Hornets would not win another playoff series until 2018, in which they were now known today as the Pelicans. This was notable since this marks the playoff debut of Chris Paul and the Hornets’ first postseason appearance after Hurricane Katrina, pushing the defending champions San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the Conference Semifinals before bowing out. The New Orleans Hornets made the playoffs for the first time since 2004 and for the first time as a member of the Western Conference.
The Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, taking the top seed and eventual champion Boston Celtics to seven games before bowing out. However, they lost to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The Phoenix Suns entered their fourth consecutive postseason. Thanks to a midseason trade for Pau Gasol, they entered the playoffs as the top seed in the west for the first time since 2000. The Los Angeles Lakers entered their third consecutive postseason. It was also their first playoff appearance since 2005. Thanks to preseason trades for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Boston Celtics entered the playoffs with an NBA best 66–16 record. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. According to a mock draft compiled by the Web site, the Lakers are projected to take Joe Crawford, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Kentucky.The 2008 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season. 28 overall) to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the deal for Pau Gasol on Feb.1. The Lakers have only one selection in next week’s NBA draft, a second-round pick (No. But otherwise, there’s little difference. In case you’re curious, Lakers spokesman John Black said that with Champion Air (the company that San Antonio and the Lakers were using) out of business as of June 1, the Lakers have switched to Atlantic Aviation, which flies a re-configured 737 that has all first-class seats.Ĭhampion Air flew 727s, which had about 10 more seats than the 737s that Atlantic Aviation flies. “We get there at the gate and we see the Lakers plane taking off, and I was saying, `Oh, this is nice,”‘ Rivers said. Jackson’s team had no such problems getting to Boston. The delays added to what was already a quick, difficult turnaround. “We had something, but it took a while to get there.” “The third plane didn’t have any food on it, like we normally do,” said rookie guard Gabe Pruitt (USC). When a replacement plane finally arrived, there was another problem. Those not caught up in romance novels slept, visited with their families who’d been allowed to travel on the team plane for the first time this year, or received treatment on their assorted injuries. “My girlfriend and I are reading P.S., I Love You. “I barely even noticed, I was reading the whole time,” Celtics forward Glen Davis said.
#2008 western conference finals cracked#
The Celtics were originally supposed to leave at 11:30a.m., but their first plane had a cracked window so the players were told to get to the airport a half hour earlier so the team could catch an 11 a.m. They’ll probably tell you exactly what happened,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “Why don’t you call Mitch Kupchak and Phil (Jackson). Denver’s bus caught fire on the way to a game, San Antonio’s plane had mechanical problems before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, and now this. It was the third time a Lakers opponent has had travel problems during these problems. The Celtics were delayed by about four hours leaving Los Angeles on Monday, due to mechanical problems on two different charter planes out of LAX. First the NBA got its dream match-up with the Lakers and Celtics reprising one of the best rivalries in sports after 21 years, then disgraced ex-referee Tim Donaghy uncorked some bombshell allegations about the officiating in the 2002 Western Conference finals.īut those are nothing compared to what happened to the travel plans of the Lakers opponents during these playoffs. BOSTON – These NBA Finals have been a conspiracy theorists’ dream, for the most part.
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