Send the college hoopsters back to school for their finals and “bracket fans” (posing as basketball fans) back to whatever they do during the regular basketball season. March Madness is over and the real basketball season begins. It’s NBA Playoff time.
The greatest athletes in the world, a.k.a. professional basketball players, begin their quest for that elusive ring and NBA glory. Not everyone can boast of 11 or six rings as can Bill Russell and Michael Jordon, respectively. Rings are hard to come by. Just ask Kevin Garnett, who thought he was on his way to ring number two this year, only to learn his balky knee likely won’t allow him to even compete for another.
You can play the college bracket-game all you want…but give me the NBA Playoffs as the best and most exciting time of the year for real hoop fans. Which other sport do we even dream to consider that amateur athletes provide more entertainment than the pros? Don’t get me wrong, college basketball can be exciting – but I prefer watching the greatest athletes in the world play – especially during the playoffs.
So with Garnett reportedly out of the picture, it appears we’re down to two teams legitimately vying for the 2009 NBA Championship. Aren’t we destined to see a LeBron–Kobe match-up? If so…God, spare me the hype! They are indeed the two greatest players on the planet – and we’ll surely be reminded daily of their greatness for weeks. I assure you, the four-letter network and ABC have already started shooting special segments in preparation for a LA–Cleveland finals that they desperately want to occur. If you hate Kobe now, wait until the end of the playoffs. And, even the likeable LeBron might be so over-hyped that he, too, will get too much face-time. The media can hurt an athlete’s appeal as much as it helps. That is, unless your Jordon or Tiger.
So, is there any real threat to either the Lakers or Cavs gaining the finals? In the east, the Garnett-less Celtics will have a tough time getting by Orlando to face Cleveland. But even without Garnett, the C’s are a bigger threat to LeBron than the Magic. The Cavaliers might have a tougher time with the Pistons in the first round than they would against Orlando in the eastern conference finals.
In the west, I’d like to see the Trail Blazers get by the Rockets and eventually face the Lakers in the finals. Kobe has lost eight-straight games in Portland’s Rose Garden to the athletic, Brandon Roy-led Blazers. I’d love to see if that success can carry over to the playoffs.
All that said; get ready for the Kobe – LeBron hype. It’s inevitable. To all NBA conspiracy theorists…it’s post time.
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“Bracket Fans”… how apropos! March Madness and Super Bowl viewers are one-in-the-same. Half of them have no clue about the game!
Comment by Delmartian — April 17, 2009 @ 7:41 am
I can’t wait to watch the refs coordinate a Lakers-Cavs final. Watching an NBA ref take over a game is criminal.
Comment by hoopster — April 17, 2009 @ 7:51 am
Criminal yes, common, of course, but that reality underscores that the sport is more
theater than anything, produced for a desired outcome..much like today’s media.
Comment by Bostonian — April 17, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
I’ve been an NBA conspiracy theorist since Ewing went to the Knicks. Then, when LeBron ended up with Cleveland - that was the icing on the cake. It’s all too obvious to deny.
Comment by SpursGuy — April 18, 2009 @ 6:48 am
Why is the legendary Bernard King not in the Hall of Fame. He needs to be in there one of the best scorers ever
Comment by Maceo Johnson — April 21, 2009 @ 10:45 am
Chris Mullin should be inducted as well great college and pro career
Comment by Maceo Johnson — April 21, 2009 @ 10:54 am
No doubt about Bernard King is best of world player in NBA. He performed in all championship and won major title of world Basketball. He is real Legend of NBA Basketball.
Comment by Rockets tickets — May 9, 2009 @ 1:01 am
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