So, round two of the NBA playoffs are in the books and things could not have been more disappointing. I think if I had to pick my least exciting NBA Conference Finals in the East and West I would have picked just the match-ups we have. At least the lottery is tonight so we have something to look forward to.
Eastern Conference
(1) Boston Celtics beat (4) Cleveland Cavaliers 4-3
(2) Detroit Pistons beat (3) Orlando Magic 4-1
At the beginning of the year I underrated Boston, saying they were the seventh best team in the NBA and the third best in the East behind the Pistons and……ugh, the Bulls (a homer pick that went horribly wrong). I thought Allen was about to hit a severe down slope in his career, Pierce was perhaps a bit overrated, and everyone outside of the big three were horrible (I loved Garnett and saw a MVP caliber season from him). So, naturally the Celtics came out and dominated the regular season. I’m feeling a bit vindicated right now because the Celtics seem to be the worst team still standing based on their play in the playoffs. The Pistons are right here where they’re supposed to be as they are riding that impressive starting five to the Eastern Finals yet again (although I’m liking their bench more this year than in years past). But I’m sick of the Pistons. I can’t stand to watch them anymore. Despite wanting to feel vindicated by seeing the Celtics lose, I can’t root for the Pistons. Plus, it’s not like the Celtics are a team of unlikable guys; I would argue it’s actually the opposite (outside of Posey anyway). Really the reasons I dislike the Celtics are because they were better in the regular season than I thought they’d be and I felt they received more kudos than were deserved and they’re from Boston and I’m sick of seeing Boston teams be good. Despite this, I must root for them to beat the Pistons but I’m not happy about it. I’m also not happy that I really don’t see the Celtics being able to beat the Pistons. Allen is looking old and bad and this team just sucks outside of Boston. Some of those criticisms against Garnett that were around in Minnesota (shrinking down the stretch in big games) are showing up again in Boston. I’m guessing Detroit finishes off this series in 6.
Western Conference
(1) Los Angeles Lakers beat (4) Utah Jazz 4-2
(2) San Antonio Spurs beat (2) New Orleans Hornets 4-3
I’m not going to be able to adequately describe my disappointment at the outcome of these two series. The problem with the Lakers-Jazz series was just that the Lakers were better and the main reason the Jazz were able to stay in as they were is that Kobe sometimes still forgets that his teammates are skilled and he can be really stupid. There were stretches where this series was a lot of fun to watch because it actually involved some beautiful teamwork and ball movement. I guess that’s what you get when you have a series with two of the league’s great coaches. It needs to be pointed out that the Lakers’ third option, Odom, tends to get forgotten a lot behind Gasol and Kobe, but he was really fantastic in this series. The other series was even more frustrating. In the first three games in New Orleans the Hornets were lights out from three-point range and won on the glass. In the decisive Game 7 the Hornets couldn’t make anything and they got killed on the boards. I don’t want to hear the experience card either. One of the worst players for the Hornets was Peja and he has had plenty of playoff experience. The Hornets just sucked a bit more than the Spurs sucked. So, how we have to deal with the Spurs for yet another year against the freaking Lakers and I have no choice but to root for the Spurs, as sick as it makes me. Unfortunately the Spurs have their worst team in a few years and the Lakers are really good. The greatest shot the Spurs have is Kobe sabotaging the series for the Lakers and that’s certainly possible. I don’t think the Lakers will have too much trouble and I’ll pick them to win in 5.
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