1. The playoffs will drag on far longer than any of us thought imaginable. The regular season is 82 games. The NBA finalists could play an additional 28 games -- 34% of the season -- before this is all over. To give that some additional context, the MLB playoffs last a maximum of 19 games for a single team, or 12% of the regular season. Tell me this isn't about money.
2. Kobe Bryant will score a gazillion points but the Lakers will still lose to the Suns in the first round. Debate all you'd like about what makes an MVP, but I'll vote for Steve Nash over Bryant 10 times out of 10.
3. Mark Cuban will throw at least one fit related to officiating and the Mavericks will not reach the NBA finals. Let me know what happens in the game, because I'm going to be watching Cuban. The Mavs should reach the Western Conference Finals, but I'd take my chances with the Suns or the Spurs.
4. The media will make a really big deal about Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets facing Toronto. After all, it's the media's job to make a big deal about things. I just have a hard time getting excited about that matchup.
5. LeBron James will airball at least one game-winning shot attempt and the Cavs won't escape the first round. Incidentally, one of the two games I watched was Cleveland against Washington -- I think it was the second day of the season. I'm not claiming credibility on this basis, but my gut tells me (or maybe that's my double-shot, no-whip hazelnut mocha...) that James still isn't ready to carry a team.
6. And last but least, some team will win the NBA finals without my watching it, and I will somehow manage to care even less than I did last year. Basketball just isn't catching my attention the way it used to.
This could turn into a debate about the lack of true superstars or basketball icons, and if you want to, we'll talk about that. Bryant, James, Carter, Dwyane Wade and others are truly great players. But for me, they lack that certain X factor, that thing that makes me want -- even need -- to watch.
For better or worse, the playoffs are here. Do your best to enjoy them.
5 comments:
For the record, and it pains me to say this, I think Nash is MVP, too.
Why is that painful to say? The guy's a baller. And unlike Kobe, there's more than one dimension to his game.
Let's be honest though, if Nash were on the Lakers, they wouldn't be THAT much better if any. Nash is surrounded by all-stars and that certainly helps when you're looking for someone to pass to. Unselfish yes, but put him on the Lakers with the likes of Turiaf, Cook and Brown and I doubt he'd be running an ESPN special every night as he is in Phoenix. Still probably an MVP though because of the supporting cast.
It's painful because I'm a Maverick fan.
And Kent is right, too. Nash is a perfect fit on his team. I have said elsewhere (see the link in the post) that Nash would not be a two time defending MVP if he was still a Mav.
While I agree that Phoenix is the optimal setting for a player like Nash, you have to consider what he DOES for the team every year. The Suns were major underachievers before he got there, but since, they have been legitimate title contenders every year. That's what an MVP means to me.
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