It's never easy. Cheering for your favorite team or player in the NBA Playoffs when suddenly, there is no one to cheer for...Earlier today, the Phoenix Suns were ousted by the San Antonio Spurs denying Steve Nash and the rest of the spurned Suns yet again... It's never easy losing. And never easy losing to the same team year by year...
In my entry sometime last week i really believed that this was going to be Nash's year for a serious run at an NBA championship, but the basketball gods would have none of it.
The western conference semis is pretty much set with the Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz battling in the only first round series left. The Rockets trail the Jazz, 2-3 and will visit the Jazz's home court on Saturday. Tough task as Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer protect their own floor very well. This is the series which i am not cheering for the underdog because the winner of which goes up against the Los Angeles Lakers, which swept the Denver Nuggets in the first round. If i haven't mentioned it yet, i am a big time Laker-hater. Well since Shaquille O'neal blocked Jason Williams shot during the 2000 playoffs. That is practically the last memory of my J-Dub in a Kings uniform as he was traded after that season. Nah, it's not the players really as i have utmost respect for Kobe Bryant and other Lakers star this era--- it's just the Lakers are the prototypical "winning" franchise--- great and consistent program by the general managers... And this year, they have a chance to do something real special and go all the way. But of course, nothing beats a good underdog story... So it's more special if one way or the other a "weaker" team defeats this celebrated Hollywood squad.In other match-ups, the Spurs will take on the up and coming New Orleans Hornets. Of course, you know by now that i will be cheering for the young guys composed of Chris Paul, David West and Tyson Chandler. Chris Paul by the way is the next favorite-to-be... Well, until Jason and Steve retire.
The Spurs for all their class act is simply becoming a bore (Well, they are already a bore) winning year in and year out... At least an upset here will assure us of a new NBA champion.
In the East, the Boston Celtics took a 3-2 lead over the Atlanta Hawks and can close their series on Saturday... Kevin Garnett's C's better because they have no business at all slugging it out in a Game Seven against the lowly but upset-thirsty Hawks team that features Josh Smith, Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson... In the others semis act, the Orlando Magic took the easy 4-1 route over the Toronto Raptors and awaits the winner of the Detroit and Philly series.
Predictions for the rest of the weekend's matchups:
Philly forces a Game Seven against the Pistons but loses the decider... Then on Saturday, everyone closes out their respective series.
(Photos from yahoosports.com)
