Jeff: The NBA is Faaaannnnnntastic!!

That was the old NBA slogan in the late '80's, when the NBA really was fantastic. You had about 42 future hall-of-famers in the league, David Stern was his old self when he wasn't afraid to "influence" a playoff series or two, and refs actually allowed a hard foul or two. Although we're not back to the glory days yet, the NBA is truely exciting again for the first time since Jordan left the second time (we're all in agreeance the whole Wizards comeback never happened, right? Right? Just checking). There's storylines galore, and as good as the 1st round has been, the second looks to be even better. Here's what I've noticed so far...

THE LAKERS
They're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccckkk!! Growing up a Sonics fan, I've always hated the Lakers. Always. They are the New York Yankees/Dallas Cowboys/Notre Dame football/Duke Basketball of the NBA. But they make for great theatre. There was a time in my life, not so long ago, when I didn't like the idea of a Goliath. I wanted parity I wanted everyone to have as good a chance as possible to compete. You know what? I was wrong. I think even the NFL needs That Team. Every sport needs That Team that polarizes people. Love 'em or hate 'em you're going to watch them because if you have no soul you love their dominance, or if you're a decent person, you want to see the upset. Well apparently I have no soul. I LOVE Steve Nash, love watching the Suns play, but I'm openly rooting for the Lakers to win that series, and the worst part is, I'm not even ashamed of it. I WANT A HALLWAY SERIES!!! I don't just want it, I DEMAND IT!!! I want a Hallway Series so that the eternal little brother, the LA Clippers, can knock off the Lakers. You don't get many opportunities for this, and the timing happens to be perfect.
And I think David Stern will make sure it happens. D Stern has lost some of his edge in his later years as NBA Commish. There was a time when you could count on the most interesting and desirable teams going as far as possible. MJ's Bulls never needed help, but well, let's just say the refs had a way of curiously influencing games in the NBA's best interests. Now? We've had to deal with the Spurs and Pistons in the Finals, which NOBODY wants to see. Two very solid basketball teams who couldn't be more boring to watch. (If those two make the Finals again, there won't be a TV outside of the greater Detroit and San Antonio metro areas with the game on). I'm not sure Stern needs to interfere with those teams getting there, but I DO think he will make sure the Lakers get by the Suns tomorrow night. You know what? I have such confidence in The Godfather I'm going to go ahead and guarantee a Lakers victory, and there will be AT LEAST 2 questionable/pivotal calls that will go the Lakers way.

PAT RILEY EARNING THE "KEVIN MCHALE AWARD" FOR BIGGEST SCREWUP BY A GM
This isn't rocket science. Want to win in the NBA? 1) Don't have Isiah Thomas or Kevin McHale running your team. 2) Unless you're the Pistons, you need a superstar, and at least one other very good 2nd banana (or if you're the Spurs you have 2), and a bunch of other guys who know their roles. This is a very simple formula and, excluding the Pistons, has worked for every NBA champ for like the past 900 years. Last year, the Miami Heat had Dwayne Wade as the superstar, and a still VERY productive Shaq as the 2nd fiddle. They had role players around those 2 that could hit open jumpers, rebound, and play some D. With this time-tested formula, the Heat got within one game of the NBA Finals, losing to the Pistons in game 7 WITHOUT WADE!!!
(who was hurt and who frankly concerns me. I love his game and who hard he attacks the basket, but he's not a big guy like Kobe or Lebron, and he's not made of titanium like Iverson, so the beatings he's taking at the rim are really taking a toll on him. After suffering a hip contusion last night, he looked like he was being held together by duct tape. OF course he finished with 28 and led his team to victory, but it bears mentioning. Maybe he's the NBA's version of Steve McNair. We'll see)
Anyways, if Wade is healthy, there's a good chance they beat the Pistons and go the Finals and then who knows what happens against San Antonio (other than it would have been a vastly more intereting series). What they should have done was resign a few key role players and go at it again with another year of chemistry for their team. Instead? Pat Riley blows it up and brings in two players, Jason Williams and Antoine Walker, who have ALWAYS BEEN SHOOT FIRST GUYS!!! ALWAYS!!!! I have no idea what Riley was thinking here. Wade proved last year he's a great big game player, and if you're making a list of guys who you want taking a big shot for you, he's one of the first guys on the list (speaking of big shots, TNT ran a poll last night asking who you want taking a big shot: MJ, Kobe, or Reggie Miller? My new roommate Kris made a great point: where's Big Shot Bob Horry in this discussion?). Between his effectiveness and Shaq in the post, they had the perfect system. Instead, Riles goa and gets Williams and Walker, who are not and never will be role guys, and can't do much of anything if they don't have the ball in their hands.
Well they may survive this Bulls series, but with all the bickering going on already, I don't like their chances of getting past the 2nd round. And the beauty of it is? Williams, Walker, and James Posey, along with Shaq and Wade, cap out the Heat for the next 3 or 4 years. Well done Pat. Kevin McHale salutes you.

THE BIG 3 LAY A BIG EGG
I mentioned that Lebron, DWade and Melo were going to make that next step in these playoffs. Now it looks like all 3 might not even get out of the 1st round!! Wade and Melo have been shackled by their teammates, or lack thereof, and after an incredible opening game for Lebron, he hasn't been the same. A VERY interesting offseason for all 3 of their teams is coming, where there needs to be some changes made to give these guys a chance to get deeper in the playoffs.

THE WEST IS WILD ONCE MORE
Well we have the 6th seeded Clippers already in, the 7th seeded Lakers guaranteed to get in (Stern should resign if it doesn't happen), and 8th seed Sacto giving the top seeded Spurs all they can handle. In what looked like a 2 team race all year (Spurs and Mavs), whoever comes out of the Hallway Series now looks to have a legit chance of playing the Pistons in the Finals. I think San Antonio survives in 7 against the Kings (who if they had Artest all year would have been a 2nd seed instead of 8th), but I don't think they'll have enough left to beat a rested and feisty Mavs team that looked VERY strong against Memphis. Because of their success, the Spurs have played a ton of games over the last 3 or 4 years, and coupled with some of their stars (Duncan, Manu and Parker) playing in international events on top of that, I just think this team is flat worn out. As for Dallas, my big question was Dirk, because he's looked all-world in the regular season before only to fall flat in the playoffs. One series in, and he's been the best player in the playoffs. He's not only hitting shots, he's hitting BIG shots when it counts. Last year I told the story of him chewing out Jason Terry for missing a game winner at the buzzer, only to watch Dirk go 0-5 in the OT as Dallas got knocked out. This year against the Grizz, Dirk hits the game tying shot at the buzzer, then goes for 3 more big baskets in the overtime to bury Memphis. That never happened before but it's happening now, and this team has a swagger to it that's lead by The Diggler. I don't know what made this happen, but it looks like he's finally figuring it out, and they're my pick to go the Finals.