The NBA playoffs are starting tomorrow. First and foremost, I have to mention that the Phoenix Suns won't be in it. I was watching their last game against the Warriors and was wondering if anybody thought at the beginning of the season that this would be a game between 2 lottery teams. But here were the Suns, just finishing their slide down the down-slope and closing shut the proverbial window of opportunity. It was amazing to see how the Suns looked like a championship caliber team against the Warriors and even the Warrior announcers talk about the Suns like they are so much better than Warriors. But the bottom-line is, they are both lottery teams. Thats how crazy the West is. The Suns are 10 games over 500 and 17 games over the Warriors and they both looking in from the outside. Some people say the Suns are old while the others say they under-achieved big-time. I think the truth is somewhere in-between. Thats life in the West I guess.
The playoffs should be good, though it's gonna be long and slow as usual. With KG being questionable for the playoffs, I think we might as well cancel the Eastern playoffs and send the King to the Finals. The Orlando Magic can make some noise, but I think the Cavs are too tough and too legit for the Magic. There's no point doing any in-depth analysis of the Eastern playoffs, but it'll still be fun to watch because of the great talent on display in the form of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade. I am sure Wade will give us a highlight reel or three before it's all said and done. The Cavs-Pistons first round series will be mildly interesting because of the history and the rivalry, though these Pistons are not the same. It's too bad that KG's injuury alters the Eastern landscape. The Bulls still think the Celtics are lying. Two things. First and foremost, how the hell did the Bulls make the playoffs? What kind of conference is this stupid L-East? Secondly, why would the Celtics lie to beat the lowly Bulls? The Celts can probably beat the Bulls without KG, Pierce or Allen and with Eddie House's right hand tied up.
The real games are going to be in the West, though even the Western contests are not going to be as good as in the past. Couple of reasons for that. The Lakers are too good and they are going to go all the way to the Finals anyways. The other teams may be very good, but they still don't have a chance against the Lake-show. Secondly, the Spurs are not as strong as they used to be. Duncan is hobbled, Ginobli is out and the team is glacier-old. I can't believe they were one shot away from ending up 5-Th and starting the playoffs on the road. But the Mavs-Spurs series should be fun though. I will watch it for old time's sake. Utah would have been a challenger, but they have been injured all year and they have to deal with the Lakers in the very first round. New Orleans and Portland are still too young and Denver is Denver. I can't believe that Denver finished second in the West. That proves my point about how West is not "THE WEST" anymore. That leaves Houston. I think Houston is a sleeper and we will see how they do. They can cause some trouble even to the mighty Fakers.
One thing is for sure though. The NBA badly wants a Lakers-Cavs finals and it wants the Cavs and LeBron to win it all even worse.
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