As the 2008 NBA Playoffs hit the Conference Finals tonight, we have seen many ups and downs through the first two rounds. Lets take a look at what we can take from the playoffs, and perhaps what we can expect to the end.
5. The Year of the Aging Superstar:
Yes it’s true; we will all end up old. As an NBA star, you hope to hold onto the youth for just one more year, one more postseason. Unfortunately for some, the aging process has not gone as smoothly as they would like.
Shaquille O’Neal played about as well as he could in the first round against the Spurs, but Father Time has a stranglehold on that big body. The years of pounding have taken their toll.
Allen Iverson showed his youthful exuberance by averaging 24.5 points while being swept out of the first round at the hands of the Lakers. At 32, he is not getting any younger and figures to lose a step or two in the near future. Plus, it appears Iverson is just destined to lose, no matter how old.
Ray Allen is starting to rust as the flat third wheel of the “Big Three” with the Celtics. His horrid performance in the Cleveland series made him look washed up. His 9.3 points per game nearly pushed the C’s to elimination, had it not been for Paul Pierce and his magnificent Game Seven.
Even the Big Fundamental has lost some of his polish. Tim Duncan was held in check for most of the series against the Hornets, shooting just 42.1 percent from the field. Granted, his Spurs still managed to reach the Conference Finals. He should still be thanking his younger mates, Parker and Ginobili, for helping save the season.
4. The Hornets Will Sting Harder Next Year:
The Hornets know you can only become wiser by making it that far in the playoffs.
They pushed the reigning champions to a Game Seven in the second round, eventually succumbing to the Spurs after a back and forth series. This team looks like it’s almost ready for prime time.
Chris Paul is a master on the court, looking like a seasoned veteran in just the blink of an eye. They have the tools to win next year with a great midrange shooter in a West, an anchor on defense in Chandler, a three-point sniper in Stojakovic and an impressive supporting cast in Pargo, Wright and Peterson.
All they have to do is figure it out. And that shouldn’t be too hard with a star like Paul in the backcourt and a cohesive unit that has the swagger to get even farther a year from now.
3. Why Do We Overlook the Pistons?
It’s a question many of us should ask ourselves.
When the Sixers took two games in the first round, we thought the Pistons were getting old and looked beatable.
However, they smacked Philly down with a thumping in Game Six of the first round series and then revved the engine a little more by smoking the Magic in five games in round two.
Even when it looked to be falling apart as Chauncey Billups went down in Game Three with a hamstring injury, players like Rodney Stuckey and Jason Maxiell grew up before our eyes with solid performances, allowing Mr. Big Shot to rest. Billups sat out games four and five and the Pistons won both.
Richard Hamilton has shouldered the scoring load in the postseason and on any given night, any one of the other stars on the team can kill you. If it’s not Rip, look out for Prince or Wallace. And if they aren’t clicking, McDyess or Maxiell can murder you too.
Boston fans, you might be in for some trouble. The Pistons are going to fire at all cylinders.
2. Can Kobe Win?
It’s an age—old question.
Well it’s not that old, but you know what I mean.
This debate has been stewing since Shaq left town and took the titles with him.
Now, Kobe is in a position to succeed once again.
After blowing through the first two rounds in just 10 games, the Lakers look fresh and have a locked in Kobe Bryant ready to carve through the Spurs in the Conference Finals.
This is the ultimate test of a champion.
If you want to become one, you must beat one. Kobe can show us all that he can win on his own and what better way to do it than slay the dynasty of the last decade.
We know what Bryant can do every single night on the court.
For them to win, it’s the surrounding players who need to step up. Derek Fisher needs to lock down on Parker and Gasol and Odom have to work with fervor on defense to keep Duncan from getting easy looks at the hoop.
If they can do all of this, the Lakers can be champions.
Kobe looks ready, but are the rest of the boys?
1.Don’t Count Out the Champs:
The clock keeps ticking, but the Spurs keep winning.
It sure seems like it is done with smoke and mirrors, but somehow the Spurs continue to march on towards their fifth NBA title in the last 10 seasons.
The real “Big Three” of the postseason, Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili know exactly what it takes to win. When one is off, another comes up large.
They have an ultimate test in the Lakers coming up and need a crisp Tim Duncan on the low block doing what he does best. If he can get back on track after a sub—par (for his standards) second round, then the rest should fall in place.
Many figured that the run would end in Game Seven against the Hornets, yet the Spurs showed their playoff savvy by swatting the bugs away.
Sure they are an older squad, but they are a cohesive unit.
Gregg Popovich understands every nook and cranny of the game and will be well prepared for the Zen-master and Kobe’s army.
This is a series you wait for. So continue watching, because we are almost there.
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4 months ago
I totally agree with you about everyone counting out the Spurs and underestimating the Pistons even though they have argruably the best starting five and as much experience as any team in the league. Kobe is going to show everyone that he can win a championship this year.
4 months ago
Pistons are an ageing team...what they have in abundance is experience, which matters a lot in the playoffs. That coupled with diverse options on offense (Rip, Tayshaun, McDyess, Rasheed) have made them formidable in the playoffs. Don't forget that both their opponents - Sixers and Magic were young teams with hardly any playoff experience. Against the Celts, its gonna be a different ball game - and given The Truth's recent surge, I think its high time KG got his silverware....
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