By JessicaCamerato
CSNNE.com
When the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers walked off the court following Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, it was not unreasonable to expect one -- or both -- would be back in the championship round this season. With players like Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Pau Gasol on either side, each squad boasted enough talent to make another title run.
This season, though, both the Celtics and Lakers were eliminated in the second rounds, making way for two different teams to fight for the trophy.
The Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat are so different from the 2010 Celtics and Lakers, in fact, that none of the players from the 2010 NBA Finals advanced to the 2011 Finals. So what happened those players and their title hopes this season?
Atlanta Hawks: Eliminated in Eastern Conference Semifinals by Chicago Bulls (4-2)
Josh Powell
Boston Celtics: Eliminated in Eastern Conference Semifinals by Miami Heat (4-1)
Ray Allen
Glen Davis
Kevin Garnett
Paul Pierce
Rajon Rondo
Chicago Bulls: Eliminated in Eastern Conference Finals by Miami Heat (4-1)
Brian Scalabrine
Boston Celtics
Los Angeles Lakers: Eliminated in Western Conference Semifinals by Dallas Mavericks (4-0)
Ron Artest
Shannon Brown
Kobe Bryant
Andrew Bynum
Derek Fisher
Pau Gasol
Lamar Odom
Luke Walton
Memphis Grizzlies: Eliminated in Western Conference Semifinals by Oklahoma City Thunder (4-3)
Tony Allen
New Orleans Hornets: Eliminated in Western Conference First Round by Los Angeles Lakers (4-2)
DJ Mbenga
New York Knicks: Eliminated in Eastern Conference First Round by Boston Celtics (4-0)
Shelden Williams
Oklahoma City Thunder: Eliminated in Western Conference Finals by Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Kendrick Perkins
Nate Robinson
Did Not Play in the 2010-11 Playoffs:
Marquis Daniels (Sacramento Kings)
Jordan Farmar (New Jersey Nets)
Sasha Vujacic (New Jersey Nets)
Did Not Play in the NBA This Season:
Michael Finley
Tony Gaffney
Oliver Lafayette
Adam Morrison
Rasheed Wallace
Former Celticcurrent Heat guard Eddie House is the only member of the 2009-10 team to advance to the Finals this season. He was traded by the Celtics to the Knicks in February of 2010 and did not appear in the playoffs last year.
Jessica Camerato is on Twitter athttp:twitter.comjcameratoNBAShe can bereached at jessicacamerato@gmail.com.