The NBA Playoffs: The Poor Man's Instant Classic

The NBA Playoffs have definitely brought a lot of excitement this year, and most of the attention has been on the Bulls-Celtics.

Those games have been entertaining and filled with drama in all but game three, with the champs fighting off a very scrappy young challenger. As an average NBA fan, I can’t wait for game five in Boston, because I don’t know where the series is headed, but I can almost guarantee that another close ending or overtime is in store.

Some other series have been very interesting as well.

Houston is getting really close to breaking their playoff curse by outworking a younger Portland team. Dwayne Wade is playing huge as Miami looks poised to knock off Atlanta.

One playoff series has had three games with game winning shots in the last five seconds, yet the series has zero buzz. It’s almost as if the Sixers-Magic series doesn’t exist.

The quality of play has not been stellar. Orlando appears to be lethargic and have no ability to deliver a knockout blow. Dwight Howard is playing great ball, but the rest of the Magic supporting cast is shooting poorly and the bench play has all but disappeared. Philadelphia is playing scrappy ball, but it’s not really pretty to watch.

The Sixers stars are also not big names and don’t bring viewers to the game. Of course viewers often struggle to find these games, since this series for a majority of it has been relegated to NBATV.

The NBA markets stars, which is why Cleveland got prime television slots even though everyone knew the Pistons would lay a giant egg and be swept. Nationally, there is no excitement despite the buzzer beaters, and there isn’t even much of a local buzz for this series.

Orlando’s first two home games barely sold out and Tuesday’s game still has seats left. Philadelphia drew 16,000 for their first two home games, about 3,000 people below capacity.

There are multiple factors for the ticket sales including the economy and opponent; however one should expect that three game winning shots would help sell tickets, but apparently it’s not. Game five is once again on NBATV, starting a half hour after the Bulls-Celtics game with probably about a tenth of the viewers.

I almost feel like the winner of Bulls-Celtics advances to face the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals, with the winner of the Magic-Sixers winning a trip to Disney World, which would be a horrible prize for Orlando.

Orlando-Philly could easily go seven games, and the winner will have a shot in the next round because of the damage the Celtics and Bulls are doing to each other.

Maybe the lack of interest and noise is helpful in creating a malaise that will make either the Magic or Sixers appear to be an easier opponent.

Philly has shown a resolve which would make them a tough out for any team, and Orlando has to get hot at some point. At this point, unless a bald eagle flies around the Wachovia Center, this series will probably remain off the sports radar. This is unfortunate, since it has not been great basketball, it has been suspenseful.