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Final Four, NBA Version
Monday, May 18, 2009
The NBA season runs so long that you can't come up with a phrase like March Madness. But the pros are now down to the final four even if May Madness will run into June.
Eastern Conference
Orlando put an end to the Celtics reign in dominating fashion, crushing the C's in the fourth quarter of a game seven on the defending champs home floor. Boston was of course done, as in not going to repeat, the moment it was revealed that KG was not returning to the fray.
And quite frankly, most Beantown sportswriters seem to think taking the Magic to seven games represents a solid achievement given the injury. But count me among those that felt the Celtics should have been back in the Eastern Finals even if they would have been whipsawed by the Cavs once they got there. Losing to the Magic is a step in the wrong direction even without KG - given how tired Pierce and Allen looked it seems that the three year window for the big three may in fact be already over.
At the same time, hats off to Orlando, left for dead after trailing in the series 3-2. The won the two biggest games of the season despite their best player questioning the coach, the media questioning the coach, hell everyone questioning the coach.
Ultimately, the Magic will be over-matched against King James and the rampaging Cavaliers. The Cavs are better, much better, and they are also better coached (sorry Stan).
Given that Cleveland is 8-0 in the postseason thus far, it will be news if Orlando takes even one game. Still, it would seem that Orlando should be good for at least one win. After all this team won 59 games during the regular season and was a strong 32-9 at home.
Give Orlando one win on their home floor meaning it will be the Cavaliers in five.
Western Conference
As with the Cavaliers, everyone had the Lakers in the Western Finals. In fact, most had them winning the whole shebang, at least until the Rockets took them to seven games.
A depleted Rockets team no less. Is LA not quite so good?
Actually, in the key, game seven of the Rockets series, it was all Lakers from the get go. This team does in fact have another gear when it decides to reach for it. The question is whether they will reach for that gear consistently over the next few weeks.
Depending on your viewpoint, the Lakers weaknesses were either prominently exploited by the Rockets or the seven game series was necessary foil to remind the West's most talented team that they did have to come to play. It could be that the Lakers take from this early challenge the necessary toughness to win it all, much as the Celtics seemed to do last year when they were extended by Atlanta in round one and Cleveland in round two.
Just as Orlando is a big surprise in the East, Denver was not seriously considered as a potential Western finalist. Most had the veteran Spurs reaching back in the second season to join LA in a showdown of mammoth proportions.Instead it is Chauncey Billups and the upstart Nuggets on a big time roll, full of confidence and with the chip on their shoulder, the one that says this team has something to prove. It is hard to believe that this all came about because of the Iverson for Billups trade, one of the most one-sided in NBA history if you are interested in team chemistry and winning.
TheNuggets also have now won 16 straight home games.
But alas, there in lies the rub. The Lakers get four at home, the Nuggets only three. That fact has most picking the Lakers in seven, especially since LA last lost a home, game seven, in 1969.
Watch the first two games closely to see if LA holds serve. Those are the key - a tired, pushed to the limit Lakers just might be vulnerable. If Denver gets one of those first two in LA, this one is going seven and the Nuggets just could pull the upset.
But if the Lakers hold serve in the first two, then the Rockets taught Kobe and his mates a key lesson. In that case, take the Lakers in six.
4:34 PM
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