Well, we've finally reached the formerly highly entertaining event that is known as the NBA Finals. I'd have to say I'm a little disappointed, but hey, you can't win'em all- or any, in the case of me with the NBA. Even with my disappointment in the worst playoffs I've ever witness (or failed to by the second round, when I stopped watching), I will say that it is has given birth to a new point in NBA, maybe even sports history. You all recall "one of the greatest playoff performances ever" last week, when LeBron James lit up the Pistons and single-handedly carried the Cavaliers on his back. Well, that could finally be the passing of the guard we were looking for since Michael Jordan retired the second time.
Think of everyone that has been dubbed the "Next MJ" since His Airness retired following his sixth title, a monumental victory against the Utah Jazz in six games with Jordan himself putting the exclamation on the sixth game, series, and at that time, his career. After that, many wondered who the "Next MJ" would be. They thought it was Vince Carter, but though he's self-absorbed enough to be like Jordan, he lacks the raw skill and intensity to be considered anywhere close to Jordan in the history of the Association. Some thought Allen Iverson, but he just wasn't the game-changing force that Jordan was. People grabbed onto Kobe Bryant as well, but he's not really liked by anyone at this point, so I think we can all just count that one out. Other names have been tossed about as well, but then a couple years ago, we saw real hope. LeBron James, donning Jordan's #23 entered the league, for the downtrodden Cleveland Cavaliers. We all thought this could've been it. An 18 year old was going to save the NBA, bridge the gap between MJ and the travesty we have watched since his second retirement. Four years later, King James has assumed his throne.
LeBron James, though heralded, is NOT the next Jordan, because that person does not and will not exist. However, he WILL make his name remembered and his story told by those of us who witnessed it, to our children and grandchildren. LeBron is not as good of a defender as Jordan, and he may be slightly behind in the intensity department, but for all the criticisms we all laid upon him, especially after the first two games of the Eastern Finals, I will say this: LeBron is the scariest player I have ever seen.
LeBron's physical presence is that of a linebacker, on the basketball court. He can be a pounding brute under the hoop or a finesse shooter. He can carry a team on his back like not even MJ could. The man can play ball. And he may have just saved the National Basketball Association with his performance last week.
After all of this LeBron hype, I so badly want to pick the Cavaliers to win the NBA Finals, especially since they are facing the San Antonio Spurs, who you should know that I despise by now. However, after plodding through the crowd of cameras surrounding The King, I can see that it just isn't meant to be.. this year. Remember, the guy is only 22. The fact that he single-handedly beat the best Eastern Conference team of the past 5 seasons already proves to me that even if he can't pull it off this year, he'll be back and better than ever next season. He's got that drive now, and it's what will carry him into the record books and our memories.
After all of that, my Finals prediction: San Antonio 4- Cleveland 3.
LeBron makes this series an interesting one and the Cavs miraculously force a Game 7, only to lose to Tim Duncan, who I hate. Let's just hope that I'm not as accurate with this prediction as I was with my Stanley Cup one.
Showing posts with label San Antonio Spurs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Antonio Spurs. Show all posts
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
The Spurs' True Colors
San Antonio Spurs, congratulations. You pulled me out of hibernation and forced me to comment on the NBA Playoffs, when I it is near the bottom of my priority list. Or at least it was, until Game 4 of the Suns-Spurs series.
Now I have always hated the San Antonio Spurs. Maybe it's because they are my Dallas Mavericks rivals. But even in the 90s, when I was still a Knicks fan, I hated them. It was probably how they refused to conform to the NBA image as a flashy league that played little defense. It could've been the fact that Tim Duncan was the quietest superstar on earth. It could've been their dominance over the Knicks (who were my team at the time) in the Finals in the lockout season. Regardless though, I felt that there was a reason to hate them. I felt they were arrogant, I just had nothing to back it up. Now I do.
During Game 4 against the Suns, the Spurs did a very un-Spurs-like thing- they collapsed with a lead in the fourth quarter. It is rarely seen in today's NBA, similar to the Chicago Bulls of old, and the Lakers teams of the early part of this century. Once you're down, that's pretty much it. But the Spurs did collapse on this particular night. The Phoenix Suns, on the back of Steve Nash, the real MVP of this season, charged at the Spurs head-on, gained the advantage, and were just waiting for the last 18 seconds to tick off of the game clock. That's when the series changed. When the Spurs gained the upper hand. When they were virtually crowned NBA Champs for the 4th time in the past 8 years. It made me sick.
Robert Horry, to quote every other column on this subject "hockey checked" Nash into the scorers table, basically knocking him underneath it. The game was already out of reach for the Spurs, so it was completely unnecessary. But Horry still did it, because as a member of the Spurs, he thought he could get away with it. Or did he?
The Spurs were having trouble containing both Nash and the Suns other NBA First-Teamer, Amare Stoudemire. Horry was scoring a little more than four points per game, and was not a pivotal player in this series, outside of one instance of last second heroics. With the way the Spurs have been playing this series (see Bruce Bowen going unpenalized for his actions against various Suns in the previous games), I wouldn't put it past the snide Gregg Popovich, and his team, to have planned this. Proof? It won't hold much weight in the eyes of many fans but look closely at the replay of the events after Horry's hard foul. The Spurs stayed put. Nobody moved off of that bench. There was little facial expression. The Spurs players did not look concerned about the brawl that was about to occur on the court. Why? Because they knew it was going to happen. The San Antonio Spurs, formerly the quietest, dirtiest team in basketball finally showed the world their true colors that night. They are cheaters. They knew the reaction they would receive from Suns players. They knew that Stoudemire, among others would rise to Steve Nash's aid. They knew Horry would get suspended. But they also knew that his actions would potentially draw other suspensions. They might have even hoped that Nash was injured on the cheap shot, but he's too much of a warrior for that. Still, in the end, the Spurs cheated. They cheated the fans, the Suns, and their league. The league did not have to let them get away with it, but they did, because they are the Spurs.
David Stern should be ashamed of himself for falling into the Spurs trap. Two players were suspended for being good teammates. Two players- Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire- were suspended for a critical Game 5 in a series that may very well decide who wins the NBA Finals two rounds from now. I know that there are rules, but this one was unncessary to begin with, and even more unnecessary to enforce in this situation. The NBA has messed up. If the Spurs do go on to win this series, and the NBA Finals with their play, they may lose a fan, in me. Is that what they want? To lose fans because they let cheaters win? I doubt it.
Now I have always hated the San Antonio Spurs. Maybe it's because they are my Dallas Mavericks rivals. But even in the 90s, when I was still a Knicks fan, I hated them. It was probably how they refused to conform to the NBA image as a flashy league that played little defense. It could've been the fact that Tim Duncan was the quietest superstar on earth. It could've been their dominance over the Knicks (who were my team at the time) in the Finals in the lockout season. Regardless though, I felt that there was a reason to hate them. I felt they were arrogant, I just had nothing to back it up. Now I do.
During Game 4 against the Suns, the Spurs did a very un-Spurs-like thing- they collapsed with a lead in the fourth quarter. It is rarely seen in today's NBA, similar to the Chicago Bulls of old, and the Lakers teams of the early part of this century. Once you're down, that's pretty much it. But the Spurs did collapse on this particular night. The Phoenix Suns, on the back of Steve Nash, the real MVP of this season, charged at the Spurs head-on, gained the advantage, and were just waiting for the last 18 seconds to tick off of the game clock. That's when the series changed. When the Spurs gained the upper hand. When they were virtually crowned NBA Champs for the 4th time in the past 8 years. It made me sick.
Robert Horry, to quote every other column on this subject "hockey checked" Nash into the scorers table, basically knocking him underneath it. The game was already out of reach for the Spurs, so it was completely unnecessary. But Horry still did it, because as a member of the Spurs, he thought he could get away with it. Or did he?
The Spurs were having trouble containing both Nash and the Suns other NBA First-Teamer, Amare Stoudemire. Horry was scoring a little more than four points per game, and was not a pivotal player in this series, outside of one instance of last second heroics. With the way the Spurs have been playing this series (see Bruce Bowen going unpenalized for his actions against various Suns in the previous games), I wouldn't put it past the snide Gregg Popovich, and his team, to have planned this. Proof? It won't hold much weight in the eyes of many fans but look closely at the replay of the events after Horry's hard foul. The Spurs stayed put. Nobody moved off of that bench. There was little facial expression. The Spurs players did not look concerned about the brawl that was about to occur on the court. Why? Because they knew it was going to happen. The San Antonio Spurs, formerly the quietest, dirtiest team in basketball finally showed the world their true colors that night. They are cheaters. They knew the reaction they would receive from Suns players. They knew that Stoudemire, among others would rise to Steve Nash's aid. They knew Horry would get suspended. But they also knew that his actions would potentially draw other suspensions. They might have even hoped that Nash was injured on the cheap shot, but he's too much of a warrior for that. Still, in the end, the Spurs cheated. They cheated the fans, the Suns, and their league. The league did not have to let them get away with it, but they did, because they are the Spurs.
David Stern should be ashamed of himself for falling into the Spurs trap. Two players were suspended for being good teammates. Two players- Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire- were suspended for a critical Game 5 in a series that may very well decide who wins the NBA Finals two rounds from now. I know that there are rules, but this one was unncessary to begin with, and even more unnecessary to enforce in this situation. The NBA has messed up. If the Spurs do go on to win this series, and the NBA Finals with their play, they may lose a fan, in me. Is that what they want? To lose fans because they let cheaters win? I doubt it.
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