Red ‘n Rowdy Recap
By urbanhoustonian at May 1, 2007 | 3:40 PM | Print
Okay, so I’m just going give into my inner b-ball fan, and interject a running commentary on the NBA Playoffs. It may come daily or after Rockets’ games, but I will continue to report on these playoffs until the bitter end. FYI, I may go back on this promise if and when the Rockets are eliminated. Just sayin’.
East vs. West
The Western Conference is falling behind their Eastern Counterparts in their ability to end these series. Three of the of Eastern series have ended in 4-0 sweeps, while the fourth could end tonight in Toronto. On the Western side, we have three 3-1 series, with one 3-2. The one advantage the East can take into the Finals is having a well rested team. The West is going to be hard to win for anyone, and their representative in the Finals is going to be banged up. Watch for the Eastern Conference Champion. That team may come into the Finals well rested, and equipped to surprise an expectedly tired Western Conference opponent.
In the East
Keep an eye on the Detroit vs. Chicago series. They say the winner will more than likely represent the East in the Finals. This is also the renewal of a great Eastern Conference rivalry, and brings with it a nice dash of drama. You see, Ben Wallace, starting center for the Bulls, played on the Pistons championship team of 2004. He left on bad terms with his former team, and there is bound to be some retribution thrown down. One the other end, you would appear to be looking at a Cleveland/New Jersey match-up. The Cavaliers could end up sneaking into the Finals by dispatching the Nets, giving them a good deal of rest to take out the winner of the Pistons/Bulls series. Brace yourself now for the possible lovefest for Lebron James’ first Finals appearance. It will be nauseating, it will be overblown, it will piss the Western Conference team off.
In the West
By all accounts, it would appear that Phoenix and San Antonio have all but locked up their second round match-up. Let the games begin! The other side of the West is a little more complex. Everyone is writing off the Dallas Mavericks at this point. I am leaning towards doing the same, but I will not dismiss them entirely. If they can assert themselves tonight, they can still make a go of it in this series. However, the reports today of Mavs coach Avery Johnson criticizing his best player, and probable NBA MVP, Dirk Nowitzki, place an ominous cloud over any hopes Dallas has to rebound. For my part, I have to think they will win tonight, if nothing more to salvage some part of their dignity. I do, however, see them falling in Golden State in Game 6.
Now for the Rockets. It amazes me that the media is seemingly reluctant to call the Rockets out for their poor play in this series. I mean, there seems to be no doubt in the articles I am reading about the Rockets’ chances of winning this series. Mayb I am a Houston pessimist, but it would seem to me that the Rockets are far from locking this series down. It was pretty tense during the last minute of Game 5, and I still don’t think they have played well enough to expect them to close this series when it returns to Utah. Maybe I’m just troubled by the fact that it would appear they have a really good shot at the Western Conference Finals, and that we’re wasting the best shot we’ve had a title since the ’94 upset of the Seattle Supersonics. Removing Dallas from our road to the Finals would go a long way. I don’t necessarily fear the Warriors, as they have had a HARD time dealing with Yao Ming in the middle. In fact, they do not have an answer for him at all.
Still, these Warriors are turning it on during the right time, and may prove to be hard to beat.
Revised Picks
First Round
New Jersey in 6
San Antonio in 5
Phoenix in 6
Houston in 7
Golden State in 6
Second Round
Chicago in 7
Cleveland in 5
San Antonio in 7
Houston in 6
Conference Finals
Chicago in 6
Houston in 7
NBA Finals
Houston in 5 or Houston in 7
Yeah, I am pretty nervous about the fact that the Rockets appear to have a legimate shot at the title, but could mess it all up against an inferior Utah team.
