a few notes on the Playoffs: since most of the games are usually not on public cable TV, i missed out on some of the great moments of this season's run - like the Dallas meltdown. i managed to download the much raved-about Bron-Bron's East Finals Game 5 performance, but i can't watch it on my DVD player or PS2 because it was recorded off a DVR. this means i can only watch it on my PC. all the teams i pegged or wanted to reach the promised land (Phoenix, Chicago) went by the wayside. and even in the East Finals, i predicted Detroit would win. given my impeccable skills in prognostication, i will now go on record to say that the winner of the 2008 US Presidential Election will be ... Ru Paul. oh wait, his name is Ron Paul? sheeesh.
the other feel-good storylines, apart from the rise of the Cavaliers and the ascension of King James, are the resurrection of Bay Area basketball (but could be just a blip because Don Nelson might just leave the Warriors again) and the maturation (of sorts) of the Utah Jazz. i'm still disappointed Jerry Sloan hasn't won the ultimate coaching accolade, but i expect the Jazz to be contender for years to come with the Deron Williams-Carlos Boozer combo. Boozer in particular, seems to have refurbished his rep after that mess he left in Cleveland. even i soured on him and thought the Jazz should trade him, especially during his injury streak. if he never left Ohio, would he be playing with LeBron right now? that would have given the Cavs a greater chance against the Spurs.
so now in just 4 years, King James has brought the Cavs to the Promised Land, where they've never been before, even back in the Mark Price/Brad Daugherty days, thanks to someone named Michael Jordan. now they have someone cut from the Jordan mold (although more Magic than Michael), and i can only imagine the frustration and dejection and deja vu in Detroit, after their short reign/dynasty has been ended (again) by a player whose last name starts with a 'J' (note to Joe Dumars: time to reboot).
the one big thing going against the Cavs is the Spurs' experience (3-0 in three Finals, Tim Duncan, great supporting cast), and odds are they will be celebrating another championship down the Riverwalk this month (which means, ugh, more Eva Longoria sightings, and Bill Simmons picking up the razor blade for the umpteenth time). for all the Spurs (and Duncan's) contributions to the greatness of the game (fundamentals, teamwork, winning tradition), it may all be backfiring against them because audiences want sexy back. TD is not sexy, he's the Big Fundamental. people want insane point makers, alley oops, crafty passing and last-second game winners. the Spurs are easily the bad guy in this series (hello, Bruce Bowen). but do they care? hell, no. not when they have three championship rings and you don't.
it's no secret that the NBA's ratings have been steadily going down the drain, and LeBron's rise may be the only way to stem that tide. problem is, LeBron is not MJ, and if he ever wins the championship, it will be because he controlled the game, not dominating it a la-MJ. he's not going to score 48 points every night. but you have to admire his body of work, which has just begun. this is the only way he'll be gaining that experience that the Spurs have in heaps.
so prepare to be disappointed, but don't dismiss the thing altogether. after all, you never know what you might witness.
so what am i predicting ...? despite the crappiness of the Eastern Conference overall, they've won 2 out of the last 3 Finals. so let's see them make it 3 out of 4. Cavs in 7, blind faith.
by the way, Melo fans, its your guy's move.
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breaking news: Parasite Hilton just got out of jail. probably because she freakin' HAS to be in San Antonio tonight for Game 1. justice in this country is a sham (are you listening, Alberto Gonzales?).
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