Pistons and Spurs Show
Bleacher Talk
May 27, 2007
Pistons and Spurs Show
If you aren't happy with the current match-ups of the NBA Playoffs, blame it on the Golden State Warriors. They were the ones who prevented us from watching a Dallas-San Antonio series. You can also add Detroit to the blame list for doing everything almost effortlessly, getting the job done even if they had to go through a scare against the Bulls. The Pistons even had the luxury of playing lousy ball and still came out on top over Cleveland in their ongoing series.
In sum, after a high-octane first two rounds of the playoffs, it looks like the excitement, following and hype being produced by the Spurs-Jazz and Pistons-Cavs series isn't up there as expected. And so I ask. Are the playoffs getting “boring?” Hmmm.
A San Antonio–Phoenix clash would've been a better conference finals match-up, di ba? And in a way, the playoffs set-up wasn't “fair” to the Bulls who ended up facing the Pistons so early. Thus, the jury is out on the Cavs and Pistons to prove that their series is better than a dream Detroit-Chicago Conference Finals showdown.
I'd like to be proven wrong, but if you check out the TV ratings and over-all fan following of the ongoing playoffs, my guess is that ratings of the two ongoing conference finals won't be higher than other series that of the first two rounds. I just can't imagine how the Spurs-Jazz series can rate higher than the Spurs-Suns games, and ditto for Detroit-Cleveland vis-à-vis Detroit-Chicago.
I have to admit that when Golden State lost, also went my enthusiasm to continue to watch the playoffs and cheer for the underdogs. In a way, I wished that Dallas made it through to meet the Spurs in what could've been a great series. But that's done and there's nothing we can do about it now, is there? Out in the East, things were so-so until the Bulls suddenly won two straight games over Detroit. I had also wanted at least another Eastern Conference Finals for Jason Kidd, but I guess it's Lebron's turn to shine.
But is it really that bad? We all have to remember that the current teams got to where they are now due to their rankings at the end of the regular season. Moreover, nobody expected the party's gatecrashers called the Warriors to totally dominate the top seed in the league. Despite all these, there's much to look forward to in this round.
For starters, the Spurs and the Pistons are out on a mission to prove that their previous championships were for real, and that their core is good for another two, maybe three championship rings. They just took a “break” somewhere in between seasons and are now roaring to win another trophy.
In San Antonio, the troika of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will show that there's plenty of gas left in their tanks good for another serious run at the title. They’re solid favorites in the West, now that Dallas and Phoenix are out of harm’s way. I’m sure the Spurs would also like to win at least one more for their vets like Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry and Michael Finley.
Detroit still hasn't overcome their 2006 loss to Miami in a season where they were expected to win back-to-back titles with two different coaches. But that’s all in the past and like the core of the Spurs, the Chauncey-Rip-Tayshaun-Sheed combo is proving while last year’s loss to the Heat was a tough pill to swallow, they’re still strong enough to dominate the entire league. They’re also optimistic that the entry of Chris Webber and the contributions of Antonio McDyess will prove to be crucial pieces to the Detroit puzzle.
I have to admit that all the talk around is leading to a Spurs-Pistons finals. And I’m sure Utah and Cleveland are protesting to all these. But they’ve got a lot to prove, and I have yet to see or read an analysis predicting two upsets in the making.
For all he has done for Utah, there is no doubt that Jerry Sloan is truly one of the most underrated coaches of all time. He has proven that he can work with different sets of players and take them deep into the playoffs. Gone is the Stockton and Malone era, and now “in” is the Williams, Boozer and AK show. But can they pull off a big upset over the Spurs? Can Sloan finally win that big one?
Cleveland? Although not favored to defeat Detroit, it's that next logical step for Lebron James as he takes his team slowly but surely to an NBA Finals stint (unless the Bulls have something to say about it in the future). Every “next step” that the Cavs make every year will all depend on Lebron. And this includes making decisions to take game-winning shots and literally carry the team on his shoulders. If he can’t handle this, then expect the Bulls to do a better job of challenging the Pistons in the East.
It’s not that bad at all now, is it? Yes, the high-octane games of Dallas, Golden State and Phoenix are gone, but after all is said and done, you’ll realize that it will take more than high octane to win championships.
**
Time-out: Happy birthday to Mark Calo and Boy “Ali” Montes! >> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com
May 27, 2007
Pistons and Spurs Show
If you aren't happy with the current match-ups of the NBA Playoffs, blame it on the Golden State Warriors. They were the ones who prevented us from watching a Dallas-San Antonio series. You can also add Detroit to the blame list for doing everything almost effortlessly, getting the job done even if they had to go through a scare against the Bulls. The Pistons even had the luxury of playing lousy ball and still came out on top over Cleveland in their ongoing series.
In sum, after a high-octane first two rounds of the playoffs, it looks like the excitement, following and hype being produced by the Spurs-Jazz and Pistons-Cavs series isn't up there as expected. And so I ask. Are the playoffs getting “boring?” Hmmm.
A San Antonio–Phoenix clash would've been a better conference finals match-up, di ba? And in a way, the playoffs set-up wasn't “fair” to the Bulls who ended up facing the Pistons so early. Thus, the jury is out on the Cavs and Pistons to prove that their series is better than a dream Detroit-Chicago Conference Finals showdown.
I'd like to be proven wrong, but if you check out the TV ratings and over-all fan following of the ongoing playoffs, my guess is that ratings of the two ongoing conference finals won't be higher than other series that of the first two rounds. I just can't imagine how the Spurs-Jazz series can rate higher than the Spurs-Suns games, and ditto for Detroit-Cleveland vis-à-vis Detroit-Chicago.
I have to admit that when Golden State lost, also went my enthusiasm to continue to watch the playoffs and cheer for the underdogs. In a way, I wished that Dallas made it through to meet the Spurs in what could've been a great series. But that's done and there's nothing we can do about it now, is there? Out in the East, things were so-so until the Bulls suddenly won two straight games over Detroit. I had also wanted at least another Eastern Conference Finals for Jason Kidd, but I guess it's Lebron's turn to shine.
But is it really that bad? We all have to remember that the current teams got to where they are now due to their rankings at the end of the regular season. Moreover, nobody expected the party's gatecrashers called the Warriors to totally dominate the top seed in the league. Despite all these, there's much to look forward to in this round.
For starters, the Spurs and the Pistons are out on a mission to prove that their previous championships were for real, and that their core is good for another two, maybe three championship rings. They just took a “break” somewhere in between seasons and are now roaring to win another trophy.
In San Antonio, the troika of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili will show that there's plenty of gas left in their tanks good for another serious run at the title. They’re solid favorites in the West, now that Dallas and Phoenix are out of harm’s way. I’m sure the Spurs would also like to win at least one more for their vets like Bruce Bowen, Robert Horry and Michael Finley.
Detroit still hasn't overcome their 2006 loss to Miami in a season where they were expected to win back-to-back titles with two different coaches. But that’s all in the past and like the core of the Spurs, the Chauncey-Rip-Tayshaun-Sheed combo is proving while last year’s loss to the Heat was a tough pill to swallow, they’re still strong enough to dominate the entire league. They’re also optimistic that the entry of Chris Webber and the contributions of Antonio McDyess will prove to be crucial pieces to the Detroit puzzle.
I have to admit that all the talk around is leading to a Spurs-Pistons finals. And I’m sure Utah and Cleveland are protesting to all these. But they’ve got a lot to prove, and I have yet to see or read an analysis predicting two upsets in the making.
For all he has done for Utah, there is no doubt that Jerry Sloan is truly one of the most underrated coaches of all time. He has proven that he can work with different sets of players and take them deep into the playoffs. Gone is the Stockton and Malone era, and now “in” is the Williams, Boozer and AK show. But can they pull off a big upset over the Spurs? Can Sloan finally win that big one?
Cleveland? Although not favored to defeat Detroit, it's that next logical step for Lebron James as he takes his team slowly but surely to an NBA Finals stint (unless the Bulls have something to say about it in the future). Every “next step” that the Cavs make every year will all depend on Lebron. And this includes making decisions to take game-winning shots and literally carry the team on his shoulders. If he can’t handle this, then expect the Bulls to do a better job of challenging the Pistons in the East.
It’s not that bad at all now, is it? Yes, the high-octane games of Dallas, Golden State and Phoenix are gone, but after all is said and done, you’ll realize that it will take more than high octane to win championships.
**
Time-out: Happy birthday to Mark Calo and Boy “Ali” Montes! >> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com
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