The Western Conference hasn't been this up in the air since 1995, when 6 seeded Houston Rockets won the NBA title, thanks to a few Dream Shakes and some Nick Anderson free throw misses. The 95 Spurs with the Admiral looked poised to move to the next level, Utah was solid, but Hakeem et al. put it all together in one of the great NBA spring runs, going 5-0 in games they could have been eliminated in. In line with yesterday's EC preview, I wanted to honor the West by matching up teams with movies that came out in that glorious year of 1995. So I went to the trusty Internet Movie Database, to see what we could come up with. In reviewing the list, I saw what an incredible year for movies this was! Here's a good sized list of movies I saw from 95; check the full list on imdb for movies released. (I haven't included any adult titles - find those on your own. Me, I'm partial to Vivid's "Where the Boys Aren't 7" .) After each movie, I'll comment and say which each one reminds me of.
1995 Movies:
Billy Madison - It's Nudie Magazine Day! (Nuggets)
The Quick and the Dead - Sharon Stone has decidedly more pants on than in Basic Instinct (why do I think it's the Suns?)
Before Sunrise - Interesting little indie movie; didn't need a sequel (one great night, reflected on 12 years later in Before Sunset; maybe we'll reflect in 2020 about 22 great nights of the Rockets)
The Brady Bunch Movie - Hollywood's cookie cutter formula: take a beloved show from the 60's/70's, update it, make characters sad and trapped from that era (I think that's how George Karl decides on how to dress for some Nuggets games)
Dream a Little Dream 2 - Corey and Corey together again to answer all the unanswered questions of Dream a Little Dream (Spurs sequels (no back-to-backs) haven't worked either)
Outbreak - check out that cast! And McDreamy is Patient Zero! Not bad, but shouldn't it have been better? (Nuggets)
Circle of Friends - Umm... no, didn't see it. But my wife liked it. (Lakers. Sure, they're all happy now; 6 months ago, the Clippers looked better - and Brand was already hurt)
Bye Bye Love - I just remember that this movie, about divorced families and weekend dads, had a McDonald's tie in. Smooth move. Thank you for introducing Eliza Dushku though. (a team of "smooth moves" - Mavericks)
Major Payne - Remember when Damon Wayans was funny? Good, then you don't remember Major Payne (Jazz - Damon Wayans, star of Celtic Pride, where he is a star for the Utah Jazz; sometimes it's real simple)
Tommy Boy - The seminal piece from the Farley-Spade duo. Cute and endearing. (Hornets: Paul-West = Farley Spade. Think about it.)
Bad Boys - What a turn the 2 stars have gone through; one is a major movie star, the other has his picture popping up on Deadspin all the time (pick a team with a great duo - any one of eight)
Jury Duty - Chillin' with the Weas. (No playoff team should be linked with Pauly Shore; how about the Kings?)
Stuart Saves His Family - for SNL skits -> movies, better than It's Pat. (Just like the Mavericks)
Friday - Lakers. All day.
French Kiss - I saw this chick flick and I wasn't even dating anyone at the time. I hope you're happy, Charles and Kelli. (Spurs. Because Tony Parker is Le French. Just like Kevin Kline.)
Crimson Tide - Great older actor sparring with great younger actor, spruced up dialogue by Quentin Tarantino. (Suns. Their Mr. Orange, Boris Diaw, is undercover too, posing as a basketball player. Shhh, I won't tell.)
Die Hard: With a Vengence - To this day, whenever I need to exercise my brain, I try to think of how to get exactly 4 gallons using only a 3 gallon jug and a 5 gallon jug. Try it. (Lakers - now that's how a seasoned veteran (McLain/Kobe) integrates a new teammate (Zeus/Gasol) on the fly.)
Braveheart - Freedom! (Northwest Division Championship! - Jazz)
Forget Paris - How many NBAers are embaressed they are in this movie? 4? 12? Everyone except Isiah Thomas? (Dick Bavetta)
The Bridges of Madison County - Truthfully, I haven't seen it. (Suns - but I bet Boris Diaw has read the book.)
Batman Forever - Okay I guess, but I think at this point, we were over the Batman stuff. Cast change didn't really help. (Mavericks)
Slam Dunk Ernest - (pour a little out for the Warriors)
Judge Dredd - I am the law. (David Stern)
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie - Thank Jeebus my son isn't involved with this stuff (5 robots combining to form one powerful robot - Rockets)
Clueless - ya know, this movie still kinda holds up over time (Spurs, although Robert Horry at 37 doesn't hang nearly as well as Stacey Dash at 42. Damn!)
Babe - That'll do, pig. (Mavs - that'll do, Erick Dampier)
Dangerous Minds - the white star (Pfieffer) coming in to save the inner city kids (of course, the Utah Jazz and Kyle Korver)
The Usual Suspects - it all comes together at the end (Lakers - Jerry Sloan will drop his coffee cup after he sees Derek Fisher limp off the court)
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar - Ummm, yeah. (Suns)
Empire Records - Interesting little cast, good cable filler (Hornets)
Se7en - Young up and comer, teamed with the grizzled veteran, plus Spacey. Things going seven. (You know, there's really not the perfect fit on this one. Hornets? Lakers? Jazz? Suns? This would be a great formula for a title team - it's like the '06 Heat.)
Showgirls - I don't know what's better, the Jessie Spano boob-filled craptacular, or the VH1 version where they digitally add bras (Jazz - well, Nomi Malone did come from Utah. How do you survive as a hooker in Utah? Is there a freaky-deaky side no one cares to tell about? I both do and do not want to know.)
Jade - Caruso left "NYPD Blue" for this? (Mavericks - Kidd left Jersey for this)
Get Shorty - Made me almost want to read the book. Almost. (Lakers)
Mallrats - An underrated pic in the Kevin Smith View Askewniverse. (Hornets - and the Mavs will get the Stinkpalm.)
Leaving Las Vegas - What a depressing punch in the gut flick. I love it! (Mavericks)
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls - While seeing this trailer at the movies in 1995, people openly cheered. I openly wept for America. (Nuggets)
Casino - One of my favorite Scorsese flicks (Rockets - a lot of ups and downs)
Toy Story - Thank you Pixar. Now I have to spend all this money on Nemo and Lightning McQueen stuff. (Lakers - now that's how a seasoned veteran integrates a new teammate on the fly.)
Jumanji - Remember Craig Kilborn? He often said Jumanji! (He also liked the Clippers Pooh Richardson and the Warriors Chris Webber. Where are those three now?)
Grumpier Old Men (Spurs - again, the sequel thing hasn't been working here)
Cutthroat Island - Geena Davis as a swashbuckling pirate? Can't lose! (Mavericks)
Dead Man Walking - Nuggets.
Mr. Holland's Opus - If your only son was deaf, wouldn't you learn to sign really well? (Suns - when you're getting the ball from Steve Nash, wouldn't that be good for your career, Matrix?)
I'm still trying to get a handle on the Hornets, but I like the Lakers and Jazz. Too bad they'll meet in round 2.
Today's Sunday NBA Round 1 Game 1 Parlay Special:
Cleveland -4 (-105) The Cavs have done pretty well against the Wiz this year, and I don't this Washington squad is ready just yet. This has the feel of a Game 1 blowout --> Game 2 really close type of series.
Phoenix +4 (-110) The Spurs sometimes give away a game early in a series, and I think Phoenix wants to make a stand early. And Amare is playing like a beast right now. Wow! Shaq is a helper!
New Orleans -5 (-105) Forget about the season finale, the emotion is going to be sky high for this tilt. Of course, it didn't work for Toronto in their game 1 last year. Then again, they didn't have a CP3/West/Peja/Chandler combo.
Units: 1
Units to win: 6.28
Result: Winner!
Units +/- to date: 26.51
--Doneycat
1995 Movies:
Billy Madison - It's Nudie Magazine Day! (Nuggets)
The Quick and the Dead - Sharon Stone has decidedly more pants on than in Basic Instinct (why do I think it's the Suns?)
Before Sunrise - Interesting little indie movie; didn't need a sequel (one great night, reflected on 12 years later in Before Sunset; maybe we'll reflect in 2020 about 22 great nights of the Rockets)
The Brady Bunch Movie - Hollywood's cookie cutter formula: take a beloved show from the 60's/70's, update it, make characters sad and trapped from that era (I think that's how George Karl decides on how to dress for some Nuggets games)
Dream a Little Dream 2 - Corey and Corey together again to answer all the unanswered questions of Dream a Little Dream (Spurs sequels (no back-to-backs) haven't worked either)
Outbreak - check out that cast! And McDreamy is Patient Zero! Not bad, but shouldn't it have been better? (Nuggets)
Circle of Friends - Umm... no, didn't see it. But my wife liked it. (Lakers. Sure, they're all happy now; 6 months ago, the Clippers looked better - and Brand was already hurt)
Bye Bye Love - I just remember that this movie, about divorced families and weekend dads, had a McDonald's tie in. Smooth move. Thank you for introducing Eliza Dushku though. (a team of "smooth moves" - Mavericks)
Major Payne - Remember when Damon Wayans was funny? Good, then you don't remember Major Payne (Jazz - Damon Wayans, star of Celtic Pride, where he is a star for the Utah Jazz; sometimes it's real simple)
Tommy Boy - The seminal piece from the Farley-Spade duo. Cute and endearing. (Hornets: Paul-West = Farley Spade. Think about it.)
Bad Boys - What a turn the 2 stars have gone through; one is a major movie star, the other has his picture popping up on Deadspin all the time (pick a team with a great duo - any one of eight)
Jury Duty - Chillin' with the Weas. (No playoff team should be linked with Pauly Shore; how about the Kings?)
Stuart Saves His Family - for SNL skits -> movies, better than It's Pat. (Just like the Mavericks)
Friday - Lakers. All day.
French Kiss - I saw this chick flick and I wasn't even dating anyone at the time. I hope you're happy, Charles and Kelli. (Spurs. Because Tony Parker is Le French. Just like Kevin Kline.)
Crimson Tide - Great older actor sparring with great younger actor, spruced up dialogue by Quentin Tarantino. (Suns. Their Mr. Orange, Boris Diaw, is undercover too, posing as a basketball player. Shhh, I won't tell.)
Die Hard: With a Vengence - To this day, whenever I need to exercise my brain, I try to think of how to get exactly 4 gallons using only a 3 gallon jug and a 5 gallon jug. Try it. (Lakers - now that's how a seasoned veteran (McLain/Kobe) integrates a new teammate (Zeus/Gasol) on the fly.)
Braveheart - Freedom! (Northwest Division Championship! - Jazz)
Forget Paris - How many NBAers are embaressed they are in this movie? 4? 12? Everyone except Isiah Thomas? (Dick Bavetta)
The Bridges of Madison County - Truthfully, I haven't seen it. (Suns - but I bet Boris Diaw has read the book.)
Batman Forever - Okay I guess, but I think at this point, we were over the Batman stuff. Cast change didn't really help. (Mavericks)
Slam Dunk Ernest - (pour a little out for the Warriors)
Judge Dredd - I am the law. (David Stern)
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie - Thank Jeebus my son isn't involved with this stuff (5 robots combining to form one powerful robot - Rockets)
Clueless - ya know, this movie still kinda holds up over time (Spurs, although Robert Horry at 37 doesn't hang nearly as well as Stacey Dash at 42. Damn!)
Babe - That'll do, pig. (Mavs - that'll do, Erick Dampier)
Dangerous Minds - the white star (Pfieffer) coming in to save the inner city kids (of course, the Utah Jazz and Kyle Korver)
The Usual Suspects - it all comes together at the end (Lakers - Jerry Sloan will drop his coffee cup after he sees Derek Fisher limp off the court)
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar - Ummm, yeah. (Suns)
Empire Records - Interesting little cast, good cable filler (Hornets)
Se7en - Young up and comer, teamed with the grizzled veteran, plus Spacey. Things going seven. (You know, there's really not the perfect fit on this one. Hornets? Lakers? Jazz? Suns? This would be a great formula for a title team - it's like the '06 Heat.)
Showgirls - I don't know what's better, the Jessie Spano boob-filled craptacular, or the VH1 version where they digitally add bras (Jazz - well, Nomi Malone did come from Utah. How do you survive as a hooker in Utah? Is there a freaky-deaky side no one cares to tell about? I both do and do not want to know.)
Jade - Caruso left "NYPD Blue" for this? (Mavericks - Kidd left Jersey for this)
Get Shorty - Made me almost want to read the book. Almost. (Lakers)
Mallrats - An underrated pic in the Kevin Smith View Askewniverse. (Hornets - and the Mavs will get the Stinkpalm.)
Leaving Las Vegas - What a depressing punch in the gut flick. I love it! (Mavericks)
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls - While seeing this trailer at the movies in 1995, people openly cheered. I openly wept for America. (Nuggets)
Casino - One of my favorite Scorsese flicks (Rockets - a lot of ups and downs)
Toy Story - Thank you Pixar. Now I have to spend all this money on Nemo and Lightning McQueen stuff. (Lakers - now that's how a seasoned veteran integrates a new teammate on the fly.)
Jumanji - Remember Craig Kilborn? He often said Jumanji! (He also liked the Clippers Pooh Richardson and the Warriors Chris Webber. Where are those three now?)
Grumpier Old Men (Spurs - again, the sequel thing hasn't been working here)
Cutthroat Island - Geena Davis as a swashbuckling pirate? Can't lose! (Mavericks)
Dead Man Walking - Nuggets.
Mr. Holland's Opus - If your only son was deaf, wouldn't you learn to sign really well? (Suns - when you're getting the ball from Steve Nash, wouldn't that be good for your career, Matrix?)
I'm still trying to get a handle on the Hornets, but I like the Lakers and Jazz. Too bad they'll meet in round 2.
Today's Sunday NBA Round 1 Game 1 Parlay Special:
Cleveland -4 (-105) The Cavs have done pretty well against the Wiz this year, and I don't this Washington squad is ready just yet. This has the feel of a Game 1 blowout --> Game 2 really close type of series.
Phoenix +4 (-110) The Spurs sometimes give away a game early in a series, and I think Phoenix wants to make a stand early. And Amare is playing like a beast right now. Wow! Shaq is a helper!
New Orleans -5 (-105) Forget about the season finale, the emotion is going to be sky high for this tilt. Of course, it didn't work for Toronto in their game 1 last year. Then again, they didn't have a CP3/West/Peja/Chandler combo.
Units: 1
Units to win: 6.28
Result: Winner!
Units +/- to date: 26.51
--Doneycat
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