In one of those popular T-Mobile commercials, Charles Barkley comments, "Man, the eighties were the good old days." Now, I enjoyed the Bulls dynasty of the 90's. It was great stuff, witnessing live legends being engraved in history. Shaq muscling his way to the winner's circle three years in a row was great too. I appreciate the team basketball the Rockets, Spurs, and Pistons have all exhibited over the last 12 years.
If there's one thing I do miss about the 80's though, it's the rivalry. The one that everyone knows is there. The two powerhouse teams that are constantly aware where the other team is at, and constantly having not only a physical, but emotional and psychological war with as well. The Lakers and Celtics, and later on the Bulls and Pistons gave us that rivalry.
Miami and New York gave us a good, if ugly rivalry in the late 90's. The only thing lacking in that was the potential each team had to win a championship. While they fought like territorial alley-cats, they were mere kittens to the Bulls of the late 90's. Nothing more than advancing to the next round was ever on the line.
TNT tried its best to hype up the current Bulls/Pistons matchup, but frankly, the star power between the two teams is pretty underwhelming. Only one player out of the two teams was named to an All-NBA team this season. A paltry two All-Stars can be found, and neither one was thought of enough by fans to be voted in as starters. That's not rich soil where a good rivalry could take root.
There is hope for the NBA, however. Given the right sequence of personnel changes and perfect conditions, we could see the dawn of a renewal of the Lakers and Celtics rivalry. Is this anywhere close to happening right now? Heck no. But it could be.
Both the Celtics and the Lakers have great All-NBA caliber players in Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant, respectively. Pierce is a solid, high scoring and low-key All-Star...a perfect fit for Beantown. Kobe is a glitzy, acrobatic, and unstoppable scorer with almost too much swagger...pure Los Angeles. The foundations are in place, now each team just needs to build up.
The Celtics have a step up in this category, thanks to a wonderfully tanked '06-'07 season. If they can land one of the top two picks in this summer's draft, suddenly, they're in one of the most envied positions in the league. Not only would they have a chance at Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, but they also have other young players with potential that they could trade away for proven role players to fill in the gaps.
The guess here is that the Celtics, with Bill Russell's legacy imprinted on the franchise, go for Oden. Suddenly, the Celts are primed with one of the best inside-outside tandems in the league, if not the best. The Celts options from here are almost limitless. They will have what over half the teams in the NBA want: an expiring contract in Theo Ratliff at over 11 million. Trading him and one or two of their youngsters like Tony Allen, Al Jefferson or Kendrick Perkins could land them the all-important point guard they've been lacking due to immature stand-ins (see Sebastian Telfair).
Mike Bibby should be a prime target, since Sacramento's not going anywhere soon and has to realize sooner or later that what they have isn't working. Other floor generals that might be available include free agent Chauncey Billups (sign-and-trade?) and Chris Duhon of the Bulls.
Should any or all of the above scenarios play out, Boston suddenly launches itself to the top of the Leastern Conference, where a trip to the Finals is literally up for grabs to the team with the most momentum. With Pierce, Oden, a solid point guard and well-cast role players, it's not so hard to fathom Boston coming out on top. And this could all happen over this summer.
The Lakers meanwhile, are in more of a sticky wicket. Kobe ensures entertainment and a competitive element, but as we saw in the first round against Phoenix, he is in desperate need of a more adequate supporting cast. This will not come from the lottery, since they made the playoffs, so shrewd trades and free agent signings are in order.
The first thing that Lakers brass must come to grips with is that Lamar Odom is not an ideal Number Two option. Maybe a number 3, but after Odom, their trade bait becomes pretty thin. To get anywhere, Lamar's gotta go. We're talking about getting competitive here, so this will take some guts and a plunge. Part with any two players out of the rotation of Walton/Mihm/Cook/Brown/Bynum. It'd be best to keep and develop Bynum, but beggars cannot be choosers. At this point with the roster they have, the Lakers have no other choice but to beg.
Now, with Odom and two out of the afore-mentioned quintet, the Lake Show should go out and grab another marquee player. Kevin Garnett has been the name most often mentioned. He's still only 30, but plays with the passion of a young twenty-year-old. He's talented, hungry, but willing to defer to Kobe. It doesn't get much better than that. With his versatility, Phil Jackson would have a field day running an offense featuring a multi-dimensional forward and the most feared scorer in the universe. Again, your ideal 1-2 punch. If not Garnett, go for Pau Gasol or Rashard Lewis.
At this point, the Lakers should still have at least one out of their big man threesome of Mihm, Bynum, and Kwame Brown. Ronny Turiaf and Jordan Farmar showed enough consistent potential in the postseason to be held on to and worked as more integral parts of the team. L.A. could then wait for key role players to slip through the cracks of free agency. Somone out of the group of Matt Barnes, Anderson Varejao, Andres Nocioni, Steve Blake, Mickael Pietrus, Quinton Ross, Jamaal Magloire, and Morris Peterson could be available for the Lakers to pick off the ground and put on the finishing touches.
Suddenly, the Lakers are a well-balanced, dangerous team. There's no more spare-part syndrome where cast-offs are trying to fulfill roles that are beyond them. Kobe won't have to score over 40 and simultaneously hope his teammates shoot better than 50% from the field to win the game. He could actually have a chance to win something relevant without being in Shaq's shadow.
The best part about all this is that both the Lakers and Celtics would be just young enough to bang heads almost eighties-style for at least five years. The dual matchups of Bryant/Pierce and Oden/Garnett/Gasol would be instant headline material. Role players would be stressed and praised for "fitting in." The history of the two teams would only add to the sweetness and TNT drama.
Is it too good to be true? Probably. Impossible? Not remotely. Another sports commercial reminds is, "Impossible is nothing." To the Lakers and Celtics, respectively, I say, "Just do it."
A shame and a sham. That's what this series will be should the Spurs win. It's a shame because this was developing to be one of the best playoff series of all time with the Suns ready to knot things up at two games a piece.
Then Robert Horry, in a frustrated and low-class move, bodychecks Steve Nash, igniting a mini-melee towards center court. Reacting (but not participating), Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudemire left the "immediate vicinity" of the bench towards the altercation. What their intentions were, we may never know. We cannot assume anything, and by "we", that must include the league offices.
What is hard to understand is why those two players would be punished for leaving the bench, when those who were actually participating in the fracas were not even fined (with the exception of Horry, of course). On an even bigger scale, the league officials (most namely Stu Jackson and David Stern) are looking at the tape of this incident, knowing full well the options they have in front of them. They had to know that should they suspend Stoudemire and Diaw, that would be the biggest story, effect and consequence to the entire thing. And that is wrong. The biggest focus should be punishing what Horry did, and discouraging players from repeating the same bone-headed and cowardly act.
That's not the case now. What Horry did has been incredibly minimized because the suspensions of STAT and Diaw are by far the most series-altering actions that have taken place. The Phoenix Suns were punished far worse than the Spurs, even though they (the Suns) misbehaved far less than their opponents. The league is trying to punish individual players, which is all well and good early in the regular season, but leaves any playoff series tainted and false.
Now the Suns find themselves brutally undermanned in the frontcourt against one of the best frontcourts in the NBA. How are the Spurs sent a message, especially considering Bruce Bowen is fresh off receiving a Flagrant 1? Rules in the NBA are designed to make the game fair, but by all that can be observed, this is as far from fair as it gets.
With one fell swoop, the NBA has crippled the Suns when it matters most. For the third year in a row, they will be missing a critical component of their team in the postseason. In 2005, Joe Johnson was involved in a collision with Jerry Stackhouse of the Mavericks in the Western semis, which caused him to miss several games in that series and the following against the Spurs in the conference finals. Last year, Raja Bell suffered a severely pulled hamstring during the conference finals against Dallas. Bell, up to that point, had been the Suns' most consistent threat offensively.
Now this. With the series tied 2-2, the aftermath of "Cheap Shot" Rob is the Suns being without two of their best big men for the one of the biggest Game Fives in history. Everyone has been saying that the difference for the Suns this year is Stoudemire, yet that difference is history along with one of the most versatile forwards in the game because another player couldn't help but throw a temper-tantrum.
Spurs fans, and even some of the reps, are probably thanking the league offices right now for their actions. Any moral regret for what Horry did will be forgotten in the wake of these devastating suspensions. The Spurs may very well win the series, and all because Horry was angry enough to level a two-time MVP into the scorer's table. Is that the message the NBA wanted to send? If so, they did a darn good job.
Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki? Gone. Chris Bosh, Yao and T-Mac? First round fodder. Dwight Howard, D-Wade and Melo? On vacation. Such are the results as half of the All-NBA first, second, and third team members have been sent home after the first round of the playoffs. That includes one MVP, a two-time league scoring leader, six All-Star starters, and two of last year's Finals' participants. While the awards and honors are given for regular season effort, the playoffs is where a player's true identity is made and known. Last year's champion, the Heat, didn't do so hot in the regular season, but convincingly won its first NBA title. Steve Nash, a two-time MVP, will be the first to tell you that regular season accolades mean nothing once the teams are narrowed down to sixteen and the new motto is "win or go home." Nash is on a mission to prove this point too. After a Game 1 loss to the Spurs, Nash called out his teammates to play with the intensity and fire that is required during the NBA's version of the Big Dance. The Suns responded, emphatically routing San Antonio in Game 2. Their floor general has been an assist machine and hasn't shied from taking the big shot, doing whatever it takes to get his team to the promised land. In response, Duncan had a monstrous Game 3 with 33 points and 19 rebounds, instilling his quiet dominance on the Suns the way he's done to the league for almost a decade now. Younger players should take notice of Timmy D's focus on winning, and utter lack of interest for a slice of the spotlight. While those qualities don't sound as sexy as Melo's scoring prowess or T-Mac's mad skills, it is Duncan that has the hardware (3 championships) to show for his efforts. Carlos Boozer the Bruiser of the Utah Jazz is having his own coming-out party in the postseason. Going against Yao Ming in the first round is no easy task, considering the nine-inch differential in height. Boozer went right at the great wall of Ming, taking it hard to the rack with authority and converting impossibly high-arching shots outside the key. After taking care of business in 7 grueling games, he's lead his team to a 2-1 advantage over the Cinderella Warriors from Golden State. The Jazz forward has been rocking this tune all year, so the fact that he didn't make any of the All-NBA teams is a travesty. Maybe the NBA should have just put the Detroit Pistons' starting lineup in as its All-NBA first team. They're 7-1 in the playoffs, and have gotten that far in dominating fashion. Only Chauncey Billups made an All-NBA team, and that was just the third team. They, more than any other team, understand that individual accomplishments by themselves don't amount to Larry O'Brian trophies. King James, meanwhile, is making the voters look foolish for demoting him to the All-NBA second team this season. LBJ's clutch play down the stretch of games has us all being witnesses to the Cavs' 6-1 playoff record. Once questioned for his star power in close-game situations, James has slammed down those doubters with the same authority he does on the break. Would voters make corrections to the All-NBA teams were they given another chance? Probably a few. Great players in the NBA are heroes to fans, but the post-season champions are those who become legends of the game. Babe Ruth said in the film Sandlot, "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die." The playoffs are proof of that.
Saturday, May 5, 2007, 02:59 PM EST
[NBA Playoffs]
Nash vs. Parker (a.k.a. dazzling distributor vs. quicksilver penetrator)- It's been beaten like a dead horse how Parker has just killed the Suns in the regular season. Nash is no stranger to the killer instinct either, whether it's the back-breaking shot or pass. Both floor leaders know what to do at the end of games to gut out a win. Whichever point guard has the better overall game will probably determine which team wins. Team defense will be the key to stopping Parker get into the lane whenever he wants. Parker's only hope is to get the ball out of Nash's hands...easier said than done.
Bell vs. Finley (a.k.a. Suns '05 Summer Option #2 vs. Suns '05 Summer Option #1)-Remember, the Suns were hot on Finley's trail until he officially decided to go to the Spurs, so the Suns "settled" for Bell to be their starting 2 guard. Which team came out better? Neither can say yet, since neither team has won a championship with them. Both guards are experienced, gritty, and able to hit a big three when needed. This will be a great battle of savvy role players who've played too long without winning the big one.
Marion vs. Bowen (a.k.a. Does all the little things that everyone loves vs. does all the little things that everyone hates)- Both teams need these players for their more-than-tangible effect they have on the floor. Marion needs to rebound, score in the flow, and get his non-recognized-snubbed-off-the-defensive-team steals and blocks. Bowen needs to lock down whoever he's guarding (which may very well be Marion) with his boney body-up defense and hit his trade-mark three from the corner. For the Suns especially, Marion cannot be shut down like he was in 2005.
Stoudemire vs. Duncan (a.k.a. Quick and Powerful vs. Slow and Steady)- Everyone knows what Amare did to the Spurs in the '05 playoffs, and it's probably that he was like nothing better than to repeat his dominating performance again. Aside from his charges to the rim and earthquaking dunks, Amare must play good defense, and at the same time stay out of foul trouble. Not easy when in all likelihood he'll be matched up against Tim Duncan at least half of the game. Duncan will try and teach STAT Post Moves 101, and with the offense constantly being run through the Big Fundamental, the Suns will need to pay attention to their individual defensive assignments before getting burned by the Spurs' execution.
Barbosa vs. Ginobili (a.k.a. Brazil vs. Argentina)- I lived in Argentina for a few years, and they simply adore Manu down there. There were a couple people who told me that he's better than Jordan was...seriously. Their respective contries have enough bad sports blood (soccer) between them, and this may provide more incentive for each player than many on the outside looking in may realize. Both players can get to the rim, Barbosa with his quickness and Ginobili with his strength and crazy flailing. Both can hit the outside shot. Both players could average ofver 20ppg. Both are x-factors in determining victory for their team.
Diaw/Thomas vs. Oberto/Elson (a.k.a. under 6'10" center committee vs. over 6'10" center committee)- When either team can get good production out of any of these guys, it's a huge bonus. When Diaw is aggressive getting in the lane and making smart passes, it adds a whole new wrinkle to the Suns already potent offense. When Thomas is boxing out, playing post D and hitting his mid-range jumper, Phoenix is suddenly, well, tougher. When Oberto or Elson get aggressive rebounding and put in some garbage points, it absolutely kills the Spurs opponents.
James Jones vs. Barry/Horry- (a.k.a. young gunner vs. old snipers)- All of these guys can hit dagger threes throughout the course of a game, most notably Horry in crunch time. When they're hitting their long bombs, the other team has a major headache trying to decide when and when not to double Amare/Duncan. Barry and Horry have done this before, while Jones just started getting comfortable with the idea late in the Lakers series. The guess here is that all of them will make their presence felt in at least one respective game of the series.
D'Antoni vs. Popovich (a.k.a. Sexy Italian Spaghetti vs. Homemade Mashed Potatoes)- D'Antoni has brought the flashy, attractive fast-paced game back to the NBA. He's won almost 180 games in three regular seasons. He's friendly with the media and empathetic with his players. Popovich is not...period. He knows that his half-court oriented run the offense through the low-post has won championships in the past, and will continue to have his team play that way. He's won 3 rings, is morose and boring with the media, and is not bashful about ripping his players on national TV.
Truth: The Orlando Magic weren't remotely ready to challenge anyone in the playoffs. Dwight Howard will be one of the best rebounders in NBA history, but unless he does some serious work on his low-post game, Orlando will need to bring in a marquee scorer, since they don't have one. Vince Carter is the most obvious choice, being a free agent and Orlando having cap space, but should that option fall through, the Magic need to have Plans B, C, and D ready to help out their big man.
Falsehood: Cleveland showed its might by sweeping the Wizards. In reality, all four games were closer than they should have been, considering the Wizards were without their two all-stars, Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler. Only one game (Game 1), was won by double-digits, and even then the Cavs didn't pull away until late in the game. With Lebron, a healthy Larry Hughes, and Big Z, the Cavs more than anything showed that they have yet to possess the killer instinct of champions.
Truth: Kobe needs help. I joked about this in a previous article, but in all fairness and honesty, the best individual player on the planet should not be stuck with such sub-par teammates. Not bad, mind you, just sub-par. Sub-par will get you one win in five games. Kobe is in the middle of his prime, and while no one should be panicking about his possible decline (see Steve Nash, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Michael Jordan), L.A. should be worried about Kobe's patience with management. He said he wants changes now, and if we learned anything from 2004, what Kobe wants, Kobe gets.
Falsehood: San Antonio is old and slow and over the hill. How many years have we been saying this now? This "over-the-hill" team dispatched the feisty, younger, more athletic Nuggets in five games. As long as they have Duncan in the low post and funnel Coach Popavich's offense through him, San Antonio will always be a threat to win it all. What gives them an edge in close games is their near-flawless execution to get the shot they want, or the key defensive stop they need. If San Antonio loses, it will not be because they are old. It will be because they were fairly beaten.
Truth: Jerry Colangelo and Sam Mitchell are Executive of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectively. Admit it, how many people thought the Raptors would win game 5? For those of you that did, how many thought they would do it with Chris Bosh getting a measly 11 points and 8 boards? Colangelo and Mitchell had the foresight to know which players to obtain and how to use them (see Calderon, Parker and especially Bargnani). If this young core can continue to develop and the two head men can keep adding integral parts, Toronto will be a future, consistent contender.
Falsehood: The Golden State Warriors were lucky to beat Dallas. This is more to smack Don Nelson around than anything else. I like what Barkley pointed out that with Nelson downplaying everything the way he did, the Mavs never found themselves able to be angry with or mad at the Warriors. Even more than that, though, is that Nelson simply outcoached his former pupil Avery Johnson in this series. Not that Nelson is hands-down the best coach between the two, but for one series, he did outdo last year's Coach of the Year. The way he attacked Nowitzki on the defensive end with double-teams coming on the blind side, no wonder Dirk didn't want to get closer to the basket.
Truth: Home-court is huge. Case in point: the Rockets vs. Jazz series. The home team has won every game. Look at the Golden State crowd; they didn't sit down once during the entire second half! The Suns are well aware that their home-court could be the difference-maker in beating the Spurs this year. Toronto, Dallas, and Utah all staved off elimination in large part because of the support of their fans. It's been a refreshing reminder that the the fans are part of this game too.
Falsehood: Miami was the defending champions this year. Forgive me for being blunt, but when at any time this season did the Heat resemble the appearance of "defending champions"? They under-achieved, failed to adapt to a changing game, didn't upgrade an aging and mismatched roster, and D-Wade may be affected long-term by his shoulder injury. It wasn't nearly as surprising to see the Heat swept as it was the Mavericks, nevermind that Miami won the Larry O'Brien trophy last year. They have some serious thinking and tinkering to do this summer.
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