Yes, the Clippers won last night. I'll let all the national sports websites let you know all about that, I'm just going to tell you that I have begun shopping for materials to build my shelter and if you know anyone who can help build it for cheap, email me here. The Mavericks continued the Grizzlies playoff torture last night, sweeping them 4-0.
But because all of the mainstream media is focusing on those two matchups from last night, we're going to talk about the other series. The Pistons beat the Bucks last night 109-99. Chauncey Billups had 34 and 6 assists including 16-16 from the freethrow line. Holy crap. Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince each chipped in 18 points. For the Bucks, Michael Redd had 33 points and T.J. Ford had 21. So now the series goes back to Detroit where the Bucks will not win.
As a Spurs fan, the Pistons honestly scare the ish out of me. This team is a lot more solid and consistent than it was last year. I still believe that their bench is weak and if they had an injury or two and/or got into foul problems, they could be in trouble. But so far, that hasn't happened. I believe that the Spurs can beat any team they face, except the Pistons. Not to say that they can't beat the Pistons. I just think that if they played every other team in the league in a 7 game series, they would win at least 7 out of 10 times. But against the Pistons, I think that they would split it. These teams are that good.
And despite what I think as a Spurs fan, I believe that this is great for the NBA. The league hasn't had a rivalry like this in while. There were the Kings-Lakers games from a few years ago, and the Bulls-Knicks during the 90's. But we haven't seen an interconference rivalry like this that should meet in the Finals year after year in some time. Off the top of my head, I can't think of one. You would probably have to go back to the late 80's/early 90's when the Lakers were at their prime along with the Celtics, Pistons and up and coming Bulls.
Even though the ratings for this Finals last year were bad and casual fans didn't appreciate the tough, physical, half-court style of playoff basketball that these teams played, a rivalry like this is what the NBA needs.
David Stern has done great job marketing the league, placing stars over teams, but there needs to be a balance. Great teams need to be marketed just as much as great players. And what better way for that to happen when these two teams meet in the Finals for the second year in a row.
Now if the Spurs can just do their part and finish off Sacramento.
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Monday, May 01, 2006
Quality AND Quantity?
I'm sure everyone has heard the saying "Quality over quantity." It's a very popular quote. But so far through these NBA playoffs, we've had both. The first round of these playoffs have been some of the best games I can remember from any of the playoffs in the last few years. In only one series, Memphis-Dallas, has a team not won a game. Four out of the eight series are tied at two games apiece. This postseason is on pace to be one of the greatest playoffs ever. How many last second shots can you remember that have either tied or won the game already? Plenty. The playoffs this year are easily must see TV. And the best part? The NBA playoffs take forever. We'll be seeing these great games well into June.
I'm sure every saw or at least read about the Spurs blowing both games in Sacramento this weekend. They lost game three on a last second layup by Kevin Martin, and were blown out last night in game four. Big deal. As a Spurs fan, I understand that the Spurs possess a very soft killer instinct. They rarely every put teams away swiftly, whether it be in one game, or a series. They will let teams hang around, usually they win, but sometimes it comes back to bite them in the ass. But I'm confident in Gregg Popovich's ability to make adjustments for the team and put them in a position to close out the series in six games. Plus, have you seen how Tim Duncan has looked these last few games? I understand that Sacramento is no longer double teaming Tim Duncan, but that could be a problem because if Duncan can get in a groove like he has these past couple of games, he can easily carry this team to a title.
The series that intrigues me the most though is the Bulls-Heat series. The Bulls have been playing great basketball throughout most of the series, other than their defense in the first two games, but in front of their home crowd they have really gotten it going. I know I jumped the gun in writing them off after the first two games, but it happens. I'm sure 99% of the country wrote the Red Sox off two years ago when they were down 3-0 to the Yankees, and look how that turned out. The Heat are turning into the Heat that everyone was weary of at the beginning of the season. Many people questioned if throwing together too many big egos would cause chemistry problems, and it appears it may have. I don't think that it will be too big of a problem in game five, but it is definitely something to keep an eye out for.
Watch out for the Clip Show to close out Denver tonight. With the Suns down 3-1 to the Lakers, and the Clips up 3-1 on the Nugs, could we see an LA round 2 series? It looks that way. But even more shocking, could we see the Clips in the Western Conference Finals? The same Clips that up until this past season were one of the most embarrassing franchises in all of sports? The same Clippers that their biggest (and only) fan in a city of celebrities was Frankie Muniz? Surely it couldn't happen. But it might. If that is the case I will begin building my fallout shelter and stocking up on canned goods because that would be the beginning of the apolcalypse. And if they make the NBA Finals? There will be wireless internet in that fallout shelter and I will post from their, because there is no way I would ever see the outside world for fear of my face melting.
Revelations aside these playoffs are turning out different than anyone ever pictured at the beginning of the season other than the inevitable Detroit-San Antonio Finals rematch. If you don't tune in tonight, you're crazy. Until next time...
I'm sure every saw or at least read about the Spurs blowing both games in Sacramento this weekend. They lost game three on a last second layup by Kevin Martin, and were blown out last night in game four. Big deal. As a Spurs fan, I understand that the Spurs possess a very soft killer instinct. They rarely every put teams away swiftly, whether it be in one game, or a series. They will let teams hang around, usually they win, but sometimes it comes back to bite them in the ass. But I'm confident in Gregg Popovich's ability to make adjustments for the team and put them in a position to close out the series in six games. Plus, have you seen how Tim Duncan has looked these last few games? I understand that Sacramento is no longer double teaming Tim Duncan, but that could be a problem because if Duncan can get in a groove like he has these past couple of games, he can easily carry this team to a title.
The series that intrigues me the most though is the Bulls-Heat series. The Bulls have been playing great basketball throughout most of the series, other than their defense in the first two games, but in front of their home crowd they have really gotten it going. I know I jumped the gun in writing them off after the first two games, but it happens. I'm sure 99% of the country wrote the Red Sox off two years ago when they were down 3-0 to the Yankees, and look how that turned out. The Heat are turning into the Heat that everyone was weary of at the beginning of the season. Many people questioned if throwing together too many big egos would cause chemistry problems, and it appears it may have. I don't think that it will be too big of a problem in game five, but it is definitely something to keep an eye out for.
Watch out for the Clip Show to close out Denver tonight. With the Suns down 3-1 to the Lakers, and the Clips up 3-1 on the Nugs, could we see an LA round 2 series? It looks that way. But even more shocking, could we see the Clips in the Western Conference Finals? The same Clips that up until this past season were one of the most embarrassing franchises in all of sports? The same Clippers that their biggest (and only) fan in a city of celebrities was Frankie Muniz? Surely it couldn't happen. But it might. If that is the case I will begin building my fallout shelter and stocking up on canned goods because that would be the beginning of the apolcalypse. And if they make the NBA Finals? There will be wireless internet in that fallout shelter and I will post from their, because there is no way I would ever see the outside world for fear of my face melting.
Revelations aside these playoffs are turning out different than anyone ever pictured at the beginning of the season other than the inevitable Detroit-San Antonio Finals rematch. If you don't tune in tonight, you're crazy. Until next time...
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