Brian Kimmes
The NBA playoffs have arrived. It is the time of year when I can stand to watch an NBA team other than the Timberwolves. The NBA regular season can be so boring it is difficult to watch. The playoffs are a completely different stor, and are actually quite exciting.
Playoffs by nature are more exciting, and the NBA is no different. The element of the season-ending game jacks up the intensity of the players and the fans. It makes for much more excitement.
Once again, the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs are the two favorites to win the title. The two teams faced each other in last year’s final, with the Spurs emerging victorious. Other teams receiving attention as possible champions are the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat.
The Heat are a contender because of Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade. Although O’Neal’s best seasons are behind him, he is still the most difficult person to guard in the post. Wade is one of the top five young players in the league. Those two players, along with veterans Gary Payton and Antoine Walker, will give the Heat a chance in the playoffs.
Dallas has done a phenomenal job of losing key players, yet managing to get better. In the past few seasons, the Mavericks have lost two of their big three players, reigning league MVP Steve Nash and Michael Finley. Dallas has relied on Dirk Nowitski, who will finish in the top five MVP voting this year. This is the best Dallas Maverick team in recent memory. This is probably the best chance the Mavericks have at winning a championship. Unless they make a big trade or big free-agent signing, the team will probably not improve much in upcoming years.
It is a shame that this year is Dallas’ best team, because the Mavericks are only the third best team in the league. The Spurs and Pistons are both superior.
The Pistons have been to the finals the past two seasons, and have the most complete team in the league. The Pistons are the epitome of a team. They are the most balanced team the league has seen in years. Former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Chauncey Billups has emerged as the leader of the team. He will be the only Piston in the top-10 for MVP. The big drawback for the Pistons is they have a different coach this year then in the past two years when they made the NBA Finals. Flip Saunders, the former Timberwolves coach, leads this year’s Pistons squad. Saunders has done an excellent job of coaching this season, but he does not have a track record of success in the playoffs. During his tenure with the ‘Wolves, he only advanced past the first round once.
The Spurs are the defending champions. Tony Parker continues to get better every year. He is a clutch playoff performer. Manu Ginobili is a wiry and hard-to-guard player. Tim Duncan remains one of the five best players in the league. Only Shaq is more difficult to guard in the post. Robert Horry is a veteran who has won titles with the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs. The Spurs also added veteran Michael Finley. The Spurs’ coach, Gregg Popovich, has won three NBA titles and has proven to be one of the best coaches in league history.
I predict the Spurs will triumph over the Pistons for the second season in a row. I think the addition of Finley and the coaching of Popovich will boost the Spurs over the Pistons and the inexperienced Saunders.
Throughout the playoffs, I look for Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to post some amazing games. Those two players have very little help on their teams, and are capable of taking over and winning a game on their own. I expect Bryant to score more than 50 points in at least one game. James will get more than 40 points. I don’t believe either person will win his opening series, which is a shame. Those two players alone make their teams worthwhile to watch.
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