Lakers sweep talk could be premature

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Home team wins Game 1 of the NBA finals by a lot.

Local fans start talking sweep.

Local media start talking sweep.

Today in L.A.?

No, the day after Memorial Day in 1985 in Boston.

The Celtics beat the Lakers, 148-114, in Game 1 of the Finals that year, a game still remembered as the Memorial Day Massacre.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had a mere 12 points that night, the same number that Dwight Howard had last night for the Orlando Magic in the 100-75 Game 1 loss to the Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar felt so bad after the game that he apologized to his teammates and said he wouldn’t be a no-show again.

And he wasn’t.

He had 30 points, 17 rebounds, eight assists and three blocked shots in Game 2 as the Lakers won in Boston, 109-92 -- a 41-point turnaround.

The Lakers went on to win the series in six games. Abdul-Jabbar was MVP, averaging 30.2 points, 11.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists.

A cautionary tale?

--Randy Harvey