…is what EA’s first 5-on-5 basketball game for Sega Genesis should have been titled when it was released in 1990.The MS DOS version, released in 1989, could have been entitled “Lakers v. Pistons and the NBA Playoffs,” but we’re not playing the Lakers tonight, are we ?
But instead, we were force-fed the pointless title of “Lakers v. Celtics and the NBA playoffs.”“Pointless” because the two teams hadn’t met in the playoffs since 1987-88. The following year, when the finals featured Magic and Jordan (NBA darlings compared to our rough and tumble Pistons), the title was changed to “Bulls vs. Lakers and the NBA playoffs” to represent the teams that actually met in the finals. The next year the Blazers would receive some redemption for the slight, with the release of “Bulls vs. Blazers and the NBA Playoffs.”
Sadly, the Bad Boys never made it back to the finals before before the franchise was renamed “NBA Showdown” in 1993.
So as the Pistons and Blazers rekindle their battle of 1990 tonight,Or, as noted Blazer-sympathizer Henry from TrueHoop might call it, “Danny Young’s last stand.” think of all the youths wearing Piston blue who were denied a chance to see their favorite team on the cover of this classic gaming franchise. (And, yes, I remain bitter.)
As always, leave your in- and post-game insights in the comments.
Nobody could stop a Barkley Go-Rilla.
Nobody.
Ian this is quite possibly your greatest post ever.
in other completely random news, Maceo Baston put up 10 points, 2 boards, 3 steals, and a block yesterday.
Can we just skip the recap post and pretend this never happened?
Forget Chauncey getting a raise. He’s stealing money now on his current deal.
Perimeter defense was non-existent tonight. To make matters worse, no one seemed interested in challenging shots once they Blazers did stroll into the paint.
The Blazers couldn’t hit an outside shot to save their lives. They shot 41%! But so long as they were close enough to hit the square, they were going to score. Jarrett Jack… really? I hate to admit it, but they missed Lindsey… a lot.
I haven’t been this mad after a throwaway game in a long, long time.
The only thing cheering me up right now?
Garrett, I’m partial to Isiah’s completely unnatural 360 scoop ‘n score and Tom Chambers’ triple pump dunk from the three point line. But Barkley dunking with two hands from the free throw line with no run up was pretty impressive too.
Yes…. it’d be great if we could land Randolph. As he says, he loves playing in Detroit.
Trade Flip Murray!!! The only time he is effective is when he attacks the basket. Lousy PG, lousy outside shooter, awful defense. Could Will do worse?
I challenge you all to focus on Flip for a whole game. I counted no less than 10 times last night where he simply left his man, and never NEVER tried to recover or do anything to help… he didn’t even block out.
-Tim
Ian, Tom Chambers’ crazy dunk was probably inspired by this (as told as only an old skool Rock can):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UDyBSTQDwH8
That dunk might only be topped by my Skyers team of all Shawn Kemps in NBA Showdown 94 on the Genesis. Respect.