LOOKING BACK
What did the world look like the last time there was an NBA Finals without Lebron James?
Stephen Uzick
May 17, 2018, 9:37 am
Lebron James has made it to the Finals for eight straight years. Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
Well it looks like this year may very well see the end of the Warriors-Cavaliers Finals repeat cycle. While it remains to be seen if the Rockets victory in Game 2 a mere flash in the pan or sign of things is to come, the Cavs look like they’re toast. If the Cavs do not escape their current 0-2 hole to the Celtics this will be the first time since 2010 that the NBA Finals will not feature LeBron James. For the arithmetically challenged that’s eight straight years. If you include the one Finals trip he had before going to Miami, LeBron has ended his season in the Finals for 60% of his career. So, with that in mind lets dust off the flux capacitor, hop in the DeLorean and see what life was like the last time an NBA season didn’t end with LeBron in the Finals.
2010 in Houston Sports (Spoiler: It was pretty bad all around)
Houston Rockets
Record: 42-40.
Notes of significance: Traded Tracy McGrady mid-season.
Remember these guys: Aaron Brooks, Chase Buddinger, The Chuck Wagon, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin.
Houston Astros
Record: 76-86.
Notes of Significance: Traded away Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman.
Remember these guys: Michael Bourn, Carlos Lee, Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez, Geoff Blum.
Houston Texans
Record: 6-10.
Notes of Significance: None – Of course not, it’s the Texans.
Remember these guys: Kevin Walter, Amobi Okoye, Antonio Smith, Vonta Leach, Steve Slaton.
Other 2010 Things:
Top Billboard Song of 2010 – Tik Tok by Ke$ha.
Top Grossing Movie of 2010 – Toy Story 3 (You are a liar if you contend you didn’t at least tear up in this movie).
Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The iPad is released.
Obama Care Passed.
First real-world Bitcoin transaction. Two Pappa Johns pizzas purchased for 10,000 Bitcoin. Today that would be worth about $83,000,000.
When the name Harvey was mentioned you either thought of Steve or Dent.
Eight straight years in the finals is a most impressive feat, but if the Warriors make it back this year Steph Curry will already be halfway to that mark, and by the looks of things he could actually meet or exceed it.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.