Stanley Cup Finals: Boston Bruins over Vancouver Canucks

When reviewing a series or other climactic sporting event, the question we ask ourselves is, “What did this tell us about the sport as a whole?"  What the 2011 Stanley Cup Final showed us is that hockey can be an ugly game.

Though the NHL has been gaining fans every year since the ’04-’05 lockout, this matchup between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks didn’t encourage much bandwagon jumping.  Outside of a couple of masked goalies, there were no real superstars for the NHL to market.  Vancouver is pretty much the opposite of an American draw: the NHL team farthest away from our East Coast bias—though warranted as 47% of America’s population lives in the Eastern time zone—and a team from north of the border.  Then there are the Boston Bruins who come from a city with an overabundance of championships in recent years.  Though the Bruins themselves hadn’t won a Stanley Cup since 1972, between Boston’s Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots, a Bruins win would mean seven championships for the New England metropolis since 2001.

An ugly matchup carried over to ugly play on the ice.  From Alexandre Burrows biting a Bruins player’s finger, one blindside hit that led to Nathan Horton’s concussion, another hit that led to Mason Raymond’s cracked vertebra, Brad Marchand repeatedly punching a Sedin just for the hell of it, to the series’ wildly inconsistent energy level, this Stanley Cup Final was almost unwatchable.

Though something remains to be said about a championship-deciding series going to seven games, how these two teams got there was not tremendously riveting.  The team that scored first won every game.  The home team was undefeated until Game 7, but at that point the Bruins had demoralized the Canucks.  Prior to that though, Vancouver threatened to be the first team ever with a negative goal differential to win a Stanley Cup.  Through Game 6, the Bruins had outscored the Canucks 19-8.

Vancouver won Games 1 and 2 in an exciting fashion, playing to a 0-0 tie through 59:42 until Rafi Torres scored the decisive goal with just 18 seconds left in regulation.  Game 2 was an overtime contest where the winner came off the finger biter Burrows’ stick just 11 seconds into the extra period.

Shifting to Boston, it seemed like the Bruins were the only team that boarded the plane.  Boston won Game 3 by a score of 8-1 and shutout the Canucks in their next contest, winning 4-0.

I thought Game 5 was going to be a real statement game.  After getting their asses handed to them in Games 3 and 4, Vancouver got back to business on home ice.  Roberto Luongo recorded his second shutout of the Bruins, and the Canucks notched another 1-0 victory.

Game 6 back in Boston was the same old story though.  The Bruins scored four goals in about five minutes during first period of action, and the Canucks gave up, just flat out quit, seemingly biding their time until they could fly back to Vancouver.

But once back to comfortable confines of home ice, Vancouver didn’t elevate their play one bit.  Immediately after Boston scored the first goal, all the air went out of the stadium.  If there were any thoughts of coming back, they were quickly dispelled by Tim Thomas’ play and a second Bruins goal.  The B’s tacked on two more before the final horn blew, and Thomas blanked the Canucks once again for another 4-0 Boston win.

The ugliness on paper and on the ice even spilled onto the streets of Vancouver.  Just like in 1994 when the Canucks lost a heart-breaking Game 7 to the New York Rangers, citizens of Vancouver rioted and tore their fair city apart.

As a franchise, the Canucks have never won a Stanley Cup, and no Canadian team has won since the Montreal Canadiens last did it in 1993. Vancouver fans, and practically the entire nation of Canada, rested their hopes on the Canucks’ cause, so when the players on the ice didn’t live up to expectations, it was a monumental letdown.  Moving forward, I’d like to see a Canadian team win a championship in the sport they invented, but most of all I’d just like to see some cleaner hockey.

It wasn't pretty, but another Boston team claims a title.

--from @jeuneski

(image from flickr.com)

Stanley Cup Finals: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks

This isn't a close matchup at all.

Vancouver is the juggernaut of the Western Conference Playoffs.  They ousted their long-time playoff hang-up, the Chicago Blackhawks, in the first round and outslopped the Nashville Predators in the second.  The Conference Finals were where Vancouver really turned it on, and they handily defeated the #2 seeded San Jose Sharks in five games.

With over a week off between the last game of the Western Conference Finals and the first of the Stanley Cup Finals, the Vancouver Canucks will certainly be more rested from their foes on the East Coast, the Boston Bruins.

Boston's road to the finals was a difficult one being taken to seven games in the first round by Montreal.  Then after a quick sweep of the defending Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers, Boston had another grueling seven-game series against the upstart Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Bruins face a long road in this series as well, literally and figuratively.  Such a distance physically separates Boston and Vancouver, an entire continent, and the Canucks have home-ice.  Also there is a severe talent gap between them and the Presidents' Trophy-winning team.  Vancouver has the edge in forward play, overall defensivemen play, and special teams.  Boston may have the goalie advantage with Tim Thomas, but you absolutely cannot look past Roberto Luongo.

Yet to face a team a team this playoffs as deep offensively, defensively, or with as hot a goalie, I do not like Boston's chances to end their 39-year championship drought.  Instead I like Vancouver to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Prediction: Canucks in 5

--from @jeuneski

LeBron Turns the Page, Embarks on his Championship Chapter

If only we had known then what we know now.  Last summer we all watched with baited breath as Dwyane Wade made sneaky visits to the Bulls, LeBron James was wined and dined by the Knicks, and Chris Bosh was rumored to land anywhere from Houston to Los Angeles.  But after seeing the emotion and hearing the words of Wade, James, and Bosh after this latest series, it seems there was never any doubt where the three would end up.
 

The Boston Celtics had a mental stranglehold on Miami for most of this season; fear was literally struck into the hearts of the Miami’s big three by Boston, especially James.  The Celtics were tougher, stronger, smarter, more experienced; they were the better team.  Last year with Cleveland, James actually gave up in the conference semis against the Celtics.  He may as well have played the series with a white flag hanging out his pocket.
 

We did it.

In this year’s series, which the Heat just claimed in five close games, you could see the relief in Miami every time they won.  After Game Four, in which the Heat took a commanding 3-1 series lead, James and Wade found each other immediately and collapsed into each other with a massive and prolonged embrace.  It seemed to say, “We did it.  We won a pivotal game in their house, and we did it in the clutch.”
 

When the Heat polished off the aging Celtics Wednesday night, the emotion was even more apparent.  As the buzzer sounded and the scoreboard read 97-87 in Miami’s favor, James fell to the court overcome with relief, joy, and the sense that his career had finally turned a corner.  The first words of his on-court interview thanked the Celtics for teaching him what it takes to win in the NBA, for molding him into the competitor he has become.
 

LeBron also mentioned in his postgame comments that he loved his time in Cleveland, but that it showed him he could not beat a team like Boston by his self—an unintentionally arrogant statement, for which James is notorious, that contains the truth we as writers seek but simultaneously condemn.
 

With the Celtics vanquished for this year, and perhaps done for good as a championship contender—next year Pierce will be 34, Garnett 35, and Allen 36—James has to feel that his path to championship glory is finally traversable.  The Lakers’ early exit on the other side of the bracket has to be uplifting as well.  Sure, the talented Bulls, Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Thunder remain as possible foes in these playoffs, but none will have the mental edge or championship mettle to intimidate the boys from South Beach.
 

So now, as much as some of us might despise the thought, we may be looking at a sustained run of dominance from the much hated Heat.  As the odds-on favorite to win the title this year, and with James at the tender age of 26, Bosh at 27, and Wade at 29, Miami should have at least a 5-year window to pile up titles.  There’s been a changing of the guard in the Association, and while plenty of teams may retool and build superstar trios of their own, there is no possible duo as potent as James and Wade.
 

Turning the Corner

For years we’ve seen James as a brilliant singular talent, an entertainer, and a regular season force.  At the same time we’ve prophesized that he was destined to fall short in the playoffs, that he didn’t possess the Jordan, Kobe, or Bird DNA.  With the way things look now though, we may have to completely shift the paradigm on James.  He has a chance now to win his first title and to win multiple rings after that.

LeBron shook the non-clutch label and beat the one team that was clearly a mental road block for him over his career.  Now we may see what James is capable of when he plays without fear and without anything to prove, when he focuses solely on basketball.  It could be positively awe-inspiring.

James has won two MVP awards and put up mind boggling numbers since he stepped on the NBA hardwood, but haters have always been able to comfort themselves with his playoff failures.  That may no longer be the case as the Heat seemed poised to take the mantle as kings of the NBA.  With championship failure or success, legacy is the first thing to be discussed.  At age 26, James may be writing a new chapter in the book of his career, and if he wins rings like I think he now can, the title of that chapter could be, “The Best There Ever Was.”
 

--from Adam 

(first image from nydailynews.com, second from usatoday.com)

2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Championships

#3 Boston Bruins vs. #5 Tampa Bay Lightning

Both these teams should be well-rested after nearly a week off since both quickly swept their higher ranked opponents in the Second Round.  

Even though this current group of Lightning players hasn't been in the playoffs together, you can't call this an inexperienced team.  Despite an offense led by the 21-year-old dynamo, Steven Stamkos, playoff-tested veterans pepper the roster.  Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis, and Pavel Kubina all won rings with the Lightning in 2004.  Ryan Malone reached the Stanley Cup Finals with Pittsburgh in 2008 and Simon Gagne with Philadelphia last year.  Plus, there's the 41-year-old goalie, Dwayne Roloson, who's on fire right now and has a little playoff experience of his own, taking the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2007.

On the other hand, the Boston Bruins do have playoff experience together, though this is the first time in Boston's recent run of success that they've advanced past the Second Round.

If when you think Tampa Bay you think offense, when you think Boston you certainly think defense.  Vezina trophy finalist Tim Thomas gives this Boston team their identity in net.  He's the tough, scrappy fighter that won't give up.  He attacks the puck and set the record for goals against average in a season this year, .938.  In front of him is the ever imposing and Norris-nominated defender, Zdeno Chara.

With the two hottest goalies in the playoffs facing off against each other, goals will be at a premium.  So when picking this series, I'm going with the team that has better goal scorers.

Prediction: Lightning in 7

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #2 San Jose Sharks

At least one good thing will come out of this matchup: one of these teams can finally shake its "choke artist" label (for another round any way).

There's a bit of a contrast in styles here.  The Canucks are a star-laden team that typically relies on the efforts of its big guns the Sedin twins, Hart trophy finalist Daniel and brother Henrik, Ryan Kesler, and Roberto Luongo in net.  The Sharks have a more balanced approach with contributions coming from Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi, Ryan Clowe, and Dan Boyle.

Typically, the Canucks' playoff Achilles' heel has been the Chicago Blackhawks, a hurdle they thought they cleared in the first round.  What the Sharks have though is Chicago's Stanley Cup hoisting goalie from a year ago, Antti Niemi, protecting their net.  Even though the Canucks are probably the best team still alive in the playoffs, I'll say Niemi's presence is enough of an advantage to go with San Jose for my pick.

Prediction: Sharks in 6

--from Eric

2011 NBA Playoffs: Second Round Picks

#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #5 Atlanta Hawks

It’s time to get over the fact that Atlanta actually won a series.  They’re here, and they have a shot at giving Chicago a run for their money.  Carlos Boozer is a good player, but he’s always going to be undersized at the power forward position and struggled against the bigger Pacers in the first round.  Zaza Pachulia and Jason Collins aren’t great talents, but they are serviceable 7-footers that will clog the lane, snatch rebounds, and make life difficult for Boozer and Joakim Noah.  Add in the talented combo of Al Horford and mega athlete Josh Smith, and the Hawks have an imposing four man post rotation.  Derrick Rose is going to be the best player in the series, but Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich used to share the backcourt with Rose and is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league, so he could have a favorable matchup.  Marvin Williams has underachieved, but he is a very good athletic match with Bulls swingman Luol Deng.  Jamal Crawford is going to be the x-factor for this whole series.  Capable of averaging 25 points over the course of a series, he will shoot from anywhere on the floor.  Crawford, Joe Johnson, Smith, and Horford is probably a more talented scoring group then Rose, Deng, Boozer, and Noah.  Atlanta also has more playoff experience than the younger Bulls.  As you can see, the matchups are really in Atlanta’s favor, and overall the Hawks might be the more talented team.  Where Atlanta has always struggled is giving effort each night and committing on the defensive end.  The Bulls never waver on defense or effort, so even if their offense disappears, they still stay in games.  Chicago got a wake up call from the scrappy Pacers, and though the Hawks are a more talented foe than Indiana, Chicago’s focus, style, and coaching will be enough to guide them to the East Finals.

Prediction: Bulls in 7

#2 Miami Heat vs. #3 Boston Celtics

Throughout the regular season Boston maintained a mental edge over Miami, but now they don’t have their most imposing figure, Kendrick Perkins.  And after blowing out Boston in their last meeting, Miami certainly gained some confidence.  Still, Rajon Rondo is going to dominate the point guard battle with Mike Bibby and Mario Chalmers.  Paul Pierce and Ray Allen won’t match the production of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but if they can come close, that will be enough.  Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh should cancel each other out; both are thin framed, jump shooting bigs.  Even minus Perkins, Boston has the edge inside with Glen Davis, Jeff Green, Jermaine O’Neal, Nenad Kristic, and Garnett.  That collection of forwards should thoroughly outplay Zydrunas Illgauskas, Bosh, Juwan Howard, and Joel Anthony.  With the point guard and pivot play favoring Boston, James and Wade will have to seriously dominate Pierce and Allen, and with the way Boston defends, I don’t think they will.  Boston will win the rebounding battle and thus be able to turn this into a half court series.  Neither team is great in the half court, but I trust Boston to execute better, especially in the clutch.  If James and Wade are jump shooters all series, the Heat can’t win.

Prediction: Boston in 6

#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #3 Dallas Mavericks

Considering the perennial success of both these teams, it comes as a surprise that Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki have never faced each other in a playoff series.  Dallas proved their worth by beating a tough Portland team in round one, and while LA started slowly, they easily rolled over an undermanned Hornets squad.  In terms of matchups, Dallas just isn’t constructed to give the Lakers issues.  What traditionally confounds LA are a quick, penetrating point guard and size to battle the Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom trio. Jason Kidd is not exactly that dynamic point guard, and Jason Terry, who provides scoring off the bench, doesn’t get in the lane.  Rodrigue Beaubois, the one player for Dallas that might be able to cause problems with his speed, has been out all postseason with a foot injury.  The Mavs also don’t really have a guy capable of making Bryant uncomfortable.  Shawn Marion’s best days are certainly behind him, and he’s a liability on offense.  Conversely, Peja Stojakovic couldn’t guard a statue, though he provides three point shooting.  DeShawn Stevenson doesn’t play very much but could guard Kobe when he sees the floor.  The problem there is that Stevenson isn’t a smart defender.  He tends to go for head fakes, overplay his man, and commit silly fouls.  Brendan Haywood and Tyson Chandler, especially Chandler, provide adequate length, shot blocking, and rebounding to battle with Gasol, Bynum, and Odom, but they won’t score much at all.  Gasol, Odom, Ron Artest, and Matt Barnes off the bench can all bring a different element guarding Nowitzki; he will have to work for his points.  Basically, Dallas has nobody to stop Bryant, and LA has multiple guys capable of frustrating Nowitzki.  Add to that the Lakers’ skill inside and quality depth, and this should be a one-sided series.

Prediction: Lakers in 5

#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies

It’s just a bad joke that the Thunder is a 4 seed.  They are on par with the Lakers, Heat, Bulls, and Celtics as championship favorites, and I expect them to prove their excellence again against Memphis.  Don’t get me wrong, Memphis can play, and they’ll make life hard for OKC, but the Thunder just have more guns to fire than the Grizzlies do.  Zach Randolph is a tremendous player, but he’s the third best player in this series behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.  Additionally, Randolph will have his work cut out, posting against the best one-on-one pivot defender in the NBA, Kendrick Perkins.  Add the shot blocking of Serge Ibaka, the length of Nazr Mohammed, and the size/energy of Nick Collison, and the Thunder will have plenty of options to throw at Randolph and Marc Gasol.  In the half-court though, Memphis will have some advantages.  The Thunder have no post player capable of providing reliable scoring, whereas Randolph is as efficient as it gets on the low block, and Gasol is a pretty adept offensive player that shoots at a great percentage.  Durant may find operating in the half-court difficult as well with the tremendous defender, Shane Battier, shadowing him for most of the game.  Strong and athletic swing-man Sam Young may also cover Durant adequately.  Westbrook is impossible to stay in front of, but Mike Conley, OJ Mayo, and Tony Allen is as good a group as possible for trying to slow him down.  I think both defenses in this series will control the game, but ultimately Durant and Westbrook will have a little easier time against their defenders than Randolph and Gasol will have against the vicious combo of Perkins and Ibaka.  Mayo and Conley have to score well in this series to support Randolph and to give the Grizzlies any chance.  On the other hand, Durant and Westbrook are assured of scoring, and if James Harden can up his level of play, this could be a quick series.

Prediction: Thunder in 6
 

--from Adam

2011 NBA Playoffs: First Round Recap

Chicago Bulls over Indiana Pacers in 5

Three of the Pacers’ four losses in this series came by 5, 6, and 4 points respectively, in other words, three defeats by 15 total points.  Indiana was the better team for long stretches of this series, but Derrick Rose took over at the end of every game, and he was the difference.  Going forward, if you’re a Bulls fan, you worry that Rose needs more help on the offensive end.  At times during this past series, he looked like the only Bull with confidence shooting the ball.  Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng must produce more consistently.  The Pacers can take a lot of positives from this experience.  They really could have sent this series to 7 games, Darren Collison and Roy Hibbert looked like good NBA starters, Danny Granger played like he’s capable of being a leader on a playoff team, and Tyler Hansbrough had some terrific stretches.  In the end, Rose was the best player in the series, and he was the narrow difference in nearly every game.

Miami Heat over Philadelphia 76ers in 5

There really wasn’t much to this series.  Most games were relatively close, save for one Heat blowout in Game 2, and Philly stole one game while they were at home.  In the end though, the Sixers didn’t have a single player as good as any of the Heat’s top-3 guys.  Now we’ll see if Boston’s decline—precipitated by trading Kendrick Perkins—has brought them down enough to the Heat’s level.

Boston Celtics sweep New York Knicks in 4

The Knicks should have won Game 1, and if they could’ve figured out how to foul, could have won Game 2.  After those two back-breaking loses the series was pretty much over, especially with various injuries suffered by Chauncey Billups and Amare Stoudemire.  Carmelo Anthony was great, averaging 26, 10, and 5.  He did everything he could, but against a superior opponent, it wasn’t enough.  Still, you see why New York gave up so much for Anthony: he can dominate the 4th quarter of playoff games and is always a clutch shot maker.  The Knicks will retool around their big three with a better supporting cast and could be a championship contender next year.

Atlanta Hawks over Orlando Magic in 6

I’m shocked by this result only because I thought the Hawks had mentally checked out earlier in the season.  Certainly Atlanta has talent to play with nearly any team; Jamal Crawford, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Al Horford is about as good a foursome as exists in the league.  In the past however, Atlanta has been consistently inconsistent and just hasn’t played smart basketball.  I thought that Dwight Howard would be enough for the Magic to win this series, but I didn’t expect his teammates to absolutely disappear.  Even averaging 27 points and 16 rebounds a game wasn’t enough from Howard to overcome the suddenly streaking Hawks.

Los Angeles Lakers over New Orleans Hornets in 6

It was harder than anyone predicted, but the champs survive and advance.  We’ve seen LA struggle against scrappy, quick, and feisty teams before like the 2009 Rockets and last year’s Thunder.  Generally a quick, talented point guard spells trouble for the Lakers, which is what the Hornets have in Chris Paul.  What was different about this matchup was that the smaller post players of New Orleans gave LA fits, Carl Landry was able to drive around Pau Gasol anytime he wanted, Aaron Gray’s big body was vital to the Hornets’ success, and Emeka Okafor was solid.  Gasol and Lamar Odom were terrible for much of this series, but Derek Fisher and Ron Artest stepped up their scoring big-time.  Kobe Bryant produced well enough, but just like last year’s first round against the Thunder, he looked to be playing his way into a playoff rhythm.  The Hornets have to be pleased with their level of play, considering that they have one star and a collection of role players.  Besides Paul, New Orleans may not have a player who would start on any of the elite teams in the league.  Trevor Ariza proved he could be a reliable scoring option, maybe a third scorer on a championship level team.  Chris Paul was flat-out unbelievable, single-handedly winning games in this series, getting in the lane at will, and seemingly always making the correct decisions.  The Lakers tried to guard him with Bryant, Steve Blake, Fisher, Shannon Brown, and even Artest; nothing worked.  Paul’s stats for the series were immaculate–22 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds.

Dallas Mavericks over Portland Trail Blazers in 6

Looks like all those (including myself) who thought Portland would be too tough for Dallas were dead wrong.  Even when the series was tied at two games apiece, the Mavs always seemed in control.  Tyson Chandler proved to be enough of a force in the lane to allow Dirk Nowitzki to do his thing—27 points and 8 rebounds per game.  Dallas shared the ball, shot well, and played solid defense.  They were just the more seasoned, ready team in this series.  Next comes a huge challenge against the Lakers.

Oklahoma City Thunder over Denver Nuggets in 5

Is it possible to lose a series in 5 games and prove that you are a really good team?  If so, both the Pacers and the Nuggets did just that.  Three of Denver’s losses came by a combined 10 points, but in the end, their downfall was what many thought it would be.  Denver did not have a single player that could close down a game, a guy that can create something out of nothing, and everyone on the team knows, “this is our guy.”  The Thunder has two of those types of guys in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and that was the slim difference in the series.

The Memphis Grizzlies lead the San Antonio Spurs 3-2; look for a recap after the series wraps.

--from Adam

2011 NBA Playoffs: First Round Picks

#1 Chicago Bulls vs. #8 Indiana Pacers

Indiana doesn’t even have what you would call a "puncher's chance" in this series.  The Pacers don’t do anything exceedingly well, and they don’t have major star power to carry them through tough stretches.  A lack of experience is the only knock on the Bulls, but at least they made the playoffs last year, and new Bull Carlos Boozer brings a fair share of postseason familiarity as well.  Most of Indiana’s roster has never even appeared in a playoff game.  While the Pacers are a young and athletic team with some decent talent—Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Darren Collison—those players aren’t household names for a reason.  I look for Chicago to clamp down defensively and make quick work of the over-matched Pacers.

Prediction: Bulls in 4

#2 Miami Heat vs. #7 Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers and Heat play a similar brand of basketball: up-tempo, transition-oriented, lots of athletes on the floor.  You can look at those similarities in one of two ways.  Playing a similar style means either the 76ers will matchup well against Miami, or it will play right into the Heat’s hands.  I tend to think that when two teams play the same style, the better team is obviously more adept at that particular style.  The Heat are clearly more talented than the 76ers, and letting LeBron James and Dwyane Wade out in transition is deadly for any opponent.  The 76ers are in a conundrum because they won’t be able to score in a half-court game, and if they try to speed the pace up, Miami might run them off the floor.  Philly just doesn’t have the type of personnel that can give the Heat problems.  Elton Brand is a decent low post scorer, but at only 6’8” and getting on in years, he won’t be too much of a handful for Chris Bosh, Joel Anthony, or Zydrunas Ilgauskas.  Outside of Brand, the 76ers have virtually no one capable of punishing the Heat where they’re weak, in the post.  Andre Iguodala is a great athlete, but he doesn’t have a jumper or a mid-range game.  Ditto for Thaddeus Young.  I think Philly might squeak one game out in this series because they will have the athletes to guard James and Wade.  Ultimately though, they just won’t have enough scoring punch to keep up with the James gang.

Prediction: Heat in 5

#3 Boston Celtics vs. #6 New York Knicks

This is definitely the East’s most intriguing first round matchup, if only for the cumulative star power of both teams.  Boston’s newfound weakness in the post has been well documented, but the Knicks don’t really have the personnel to exploit it.  Sure Amare Stoudemire is a great player, but he’s a finesse guy who doesn’t rebound or defend particularly well.  Outside of Stoudemire, the Knicks have been throwing out Shelden Williams, Shawne Williams, and Ronnie Turiaf to fill the pivot positions.  Combined those three players average just 14 points and 10 rebounds per game.  Even Boston will be able to pound this team in the paint.  Chauncey Billups will make his share of big shots, but he won’t be able to defend the much quicker Rajon Rondo.  Carmelo Anthony will score, but Boston will make him take a lot of shots to get his points.  Ray Allen and Paul Pierce will more than offset the production of Anthony, Kevin Garnett should be able to check Stoudemire, and Rondo will outduel Billups.  Basically, the big four of Boston will at least match the Knicks' big three, and the Celtics' superior depth will take care of the rest.  New York has talent to be sure and could rob a game or two from Boston, but they just aren’t a complete enough team to win this series.

Prediction: Celtics in 6

#4 Orlando Magic vs. #5 Atlanta Hawks

I don’t have a whole lot of love for either one of these teams, but Orlando should be favored in this matchup.  The Hawks have five good players—Joe Johnson, Al Horford, Josh Smith, Jamal Crawford, and Marvin Williams—but not a single great one.  Johnson is a star in name only; he wasn’t able to lead this Hawks squad to anything more than mediocrity all year.  While Horford is solid, he is going to be completely overmatched by Dwight Howard.  Howard will be the best player in this series by a mile, and his teammates are good enough to provide ample scoring support.  Horford and Josh Smith won’t be able to score inside, meaning Atlanta will have to rely increasingly on the three point shot.  Howard will control the boards and challenge every shot in the paint.  The Hawks also will suffer because they have essentially zero home court advantage.  This year it wasn’t uncommon for fans of the Lakers, Celtics, Magic or Heat to outnumber Hawks fans in Atlanta’s arena.  The Hawks may steal a game or two if Howard gets in foul trouble or if they get hot from the three point line.  In the end though, Howard is the best player in this series, and that will be the difference.

Prediction: Magic in 6

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs #8 Memphis Grizzlies

Losing All Star Rudy Gay for the season was the death blow for any big dreams the Grizzlies had.  Gay and Zach Randolph made for a dynamic forward duo that could score with anyone.  Now Randolph will have to shoulder most of the load, as the Grizzlies next highest scorer is point guard Mike Conley, who nets just 14 points per game.  OJ Mayo is a confounding player; he averaged 18 points per game through his first two seasons, but only 11 this year.  He needs to step up if Memphis wants to do anything.  The Spurs rested their veterans a ton down the stretch and still secured the number one seed out West.  They might not be as sharp as they would like, but they’ll be healthy and can play their way into a rhythm against the inferior Grizzlies.  Tim Duncan will see more minutes in the playoffs, although Marc Gasol will be a big body to compete with.  Tony Parker easily wins the point guard matchup against Conley.  Manu Ginobli has moved from his familiar sixth man role in previous years to the starting lineup this season and excelled.  He’s always big come playoff time, though his sprained elbow has him listed as doubtful for Game One.  He should be back at least by Game Three, and playing at home for the first two contests of the series the Spurs should be fine without him.  San Antonio has five guys that score in double figures—Duncan, Parker, Ginoblie, Richard Jefferson, and George Hill—and five more guys that play a significant role—DeJaun Blair, Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal, Matt Bonner, and Antonio McDyess.  The Grizzlies have similar depth but not nearly as much talent or experience.  Finally, Spurs' coach, Gregg Popovich, is as good as it gets in the NBA.  I can’t see the newbie Grizzlies taking even one game from the finely tuned Spurs.

Prediction: Spurs in 4

#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #7 New Orleans Hornets

As a Laker fan, this was exactly the matchup I was hoping for in the first round.  Even if Andrew Bynum needed some extra rest, the Lakers could cruise through this series without him.  The Hornets' second best player, David West, recently went down for the year with an ACL tear.  West was their leading scorer, now Chris Paul, who averaged just 16 points per game during the year, takes that mantle.  Usually really talented point guards give the Lakers fits, but Paul hasn’t been fully healthy all year, and even if he goes crazy, he won’t have enough help to make this a series.  After Paul, the Hornets don’t have any one that scores more than 12 points per game.  That’s not going to get it done against the potent Lake Show.  Also, size is going to be a huge factor in this series.  The 6’9” Carl Landry and Emeka Okafor at 6’10” are the Hornets' starting big men.  They will be completely over-matched by the Lakers' pair of 7-footers in Pau Gasol and Bynum.  Throw in the versatile 6’10” Lamar Odom, and LA should absolutely dominate the paint.  We saw all year that the Lakers were the best team in the league if they were focused.  They’ll be focused for the playoffs and I think they’ll steamroll New Orleans.  And after all this I still haven't mentioned that the Lakers happen to have a guy named Kobe Bryant.

Prediction: Lakers in 4

#3 Dallas Mavericks vs. #6 Portland Trailblazers

All week I’ve been itching to see if this matchup would occur, and it has.  So many prognosticators have said that Portland has a really good shot to upset Dallas, and I agree.  Dallas and Portland split their four meetings during the year, however Dallas won twice when they had Caron Butler and the Blazers didn’t have newly acquired Gerald Wallace.  Since Butler went down and Wallace came aboard for Portland, the Blazers have beaten Dallas twice.  The thing that is so drastically different about the playoffs is that over the course of a seven-game series, teams are able to make adjustments and take away their opponents’ biggest strengths.  Teams have time to focus on just one opponent and really hone in on how to best approach that matchup.  Dallas has always thrived in the regular season because in one-game situations; they are good enough to outscore a lot of teams.  All this is a way of saying I think Portland has the personnel to really limit Dirk Nowitzki over the course of a series.  Having multiple long and athletic players to throw at Dirk is always important, and that’s exactly what the Blazers have.  Wallace, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Marcus Camby all bring different elements to the table, and all are capable of guarding Nowitzki.  They also have a great coach in Nate McMillan, who will have a sound gameplan in place.  If Nowitzki is limited or has to work a ton to get his points, Dallas will struggle.  The Mavs second leading scorer is aging sixth man Jason Terry, who is a streak shooter you can’t always rely on.  Beyond Terry and Dirk, ancient Shawn Marion, Jason Kidd, and Peja Stojakovic join youngsters Rodrigue Beaubois and JJ Barea as the Mavs' main supporting players.  All those role players are either too limited by age or inexperience to be big factors in this series.  Another way of saying that is, Dirk Nowitzki might be the best player in this series, but Portland has the next three or four best players in LaMarcus Aldridge, Gerald Wallace, Wes Matthews, and Andre Miller.  Portland is much more athletic than Dallas on the wings with Wallace, Matthews, Nicolas Batum, and Rudy Fernandez matching up against Marion, Stojakovic and DeShawn Stevenson.  Inside, Aldridge, Wallace, and Camby will battle Nowitzki, Tyson Chandler, and Brendan Haywood to about an even draw.  Miller is certainly an old dog in this game, but he’ll be matched up with an even grayer beard in Kidd and should win that matchup all series.  Ultimately the superior athleticism, depth, and favorable matchups lead to Portland's upset of the playoff soft Mavericks.

Prediction: Trail Blazers in 6

#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #5 Denver Nuggets

There’s no question that Denver became a better team after trading Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.  The Nuggets are now deep, young, athletic, and unselfish.  Looking at the matchups in this series is really interesting.  Kendrick Perkins and Nene both are big-bodied players who aren’t afraid to bang in the paint and should have a great battle all series.  Perkins, Serge Ibaka, Nazr Mohammed, and Nick Collison will have their hands full battling Nene, Al Harrington, Danilo Gallinari, Kenyon Martin, and Chris Andersen in the post.  Denver also has an assortment of athletic and long wing players to throw at Kevin Durant.  Wilson Chandler, JR Smith, Gallinari, and Aaron Afflalo, if healthy, are all capable of checking Durant for stretches, though I would think Chandler will see the most time on him.  Russell Westbrook is a flatout star at point guard, but perhaps no team has as much of a fighting chance to slow him down as Denver.  Between Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton, the Nuggets have a ton of speed at point guard to defend Westbrook and make him work when Denver has the ball.  The Nuggets are the deeper team in this series as they can play up to ten players without much of a drop off.  The Thunder really only have eight main rotation guys, nine if you include Collison.  I love what the Nuggets have done this year, and I really enjoy the way they play.  In the end, though, I can’t pick against the Thunder because they have the two best players in the series—Westbrook and Durant.  The playoffs usually come down to who executes better in the half-court, and I give a slight edge there to OKC.

Prediction: Thunder in 7

--from Adam

2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round Picks

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 New York Rangers

This recent group of Washington Capitals, despite how successful they typically are during the regular season, consistently struggles in the playoffs.  Maintaining defensive intensity has always been the Caps' Achilles heel and will likely be their undoing again this postseason.  The other issue I'd like to bring up though is Alexander Ovechkin.  When a team is built around one player, like the Caps are with Ovechkin, they become much easier to stop over a seven game series—when a defense can gameplan and really focus on shutting down that one player—than in the regular season when they are just one game on the schedule.  Now, even though I'm not high on the Capitals' chances the rest of these Stanley Cup Playoffs, I don't think the Rangers have enough firepower to pull off the upset just yet.

Prediction: Capitals in 5

#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. #7 Buffalo Sabres

The Flyers are probably my pick for Eastern Conference champions, so I say they get the train rolling here with a quick sweep.

Prediction: Flyers in 4

#3 Boston Bruins vs. #6 Montreal Canadiens

Goals should be tough to come by in this series as both teams are top-10 in the NHL in goals against.  I give the edge to Boston who has a better group of goal scorers than does Montreal.  Plus, Tim Thomas led all goalies this season in both goals against average and save percentage.

Prediction: Bruins in 6

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Tampa Bay Lightning

Even though they will be without Sidney Crosby this series, I'm going to go with playoff experience and pick the Penguins to beat the Lightning. 

Prediction: Penguins in 7

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Chicago Blackhawks

This is the same Canucks team that lost to the Blackhawks in each of the past two postseasons, but these aren't the same Blackhawks that won the Stanley Cup last year and went to the Western Conference Finals the year before that.  If the Canucks do choke again this year, it won't be in the first round.

Prediction: Canucks in 6

#2 San Jose Sharks vs. #7 Los Angeles Kings

Speaking of choke artists...

Prediction: Kings in 6

#3 Detroit Red Wings vs. #6 Phoenix Coyotes

This is a rematch of the most exciting matchup from last year's first round, which the Red Wings won in seven.  I expect good hockey once more, but I don't think the results will be much different.

Prediction: Red Wings in 6

#4 Anaheim Ducks vs. #5 Nashville Predators

If that last matchup was the most exciting, this one might be the least.  Only in the Capitals-Rangers matchup did two opposing playoff teams score fewer goals this season.  (The Capitals and Rangers combined for 457 while the Ducks and Predators combined for 458.)  I have no idea who'll win, but I gotta pick somebody.

Prediction: Predators in 7

--from Eric

Catch and Shoot: Trade Deadline

I want to talk about a big trade that went down in the NBA a few weeks back, one we haven't covered yet.  And it’s Goran Dragic to the Rockets.  Just kidding.  It was the trade of Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson from Boston in return for Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic from the Thunder.

Impact on the Celtics: I hate, repeat hate this trade for Boston.  Yeah, Jeff Green is a nice player, but he’s just a guy.  He isn’t going to be a huge difference maker, especially on a team with so many offensive options.  He doesn’t fit Boston’s offensive scheme either; he’s not a spot-up shooter so he doesn’t fit great with the penetrating Rajon Rondo, and he doesn’t really have a back to the basket game.  Green really occupies the same role that Kevin Garnett does as a face up shooting forward, but he isn’t nearly as effective.  While he might turn into a nice piece for Boston down the road, you don’t think long term when the ultimate prize is within reach right now.  Green does a lot of different things well, but isn’t great at any one thing.  He’s undersized for power forward and doesn’t have enough handle or scoring ability for the small forward slot.  He only gets 6 rebounds a game, and certainly won’t be able to protect the rim or bang with opposing centers, which is exactly what Kendrick Perkins did do for Boston.  Perkins’ numbers weren’t as good as Green’s, but his impact was much larger.  I realize Boston didn’t have him for most of this year, but he has been integral in their previous playoff runs.  As maybe the best one-on-one post defender in the NBA, Perkins is strong enough to hold up at the point of attack against Andrew Bynum or Dwight Howard.  Now who fills that role for Boston?  Garnett doesn’t have the body, and Jermaine O’Neal is always injured and can barely move at this point in his career anyway.  Shaquille O’Neal is enormous but has hardly been on the floor this year and can’t log major minutes in the playoffs (even if he could play a lot he’s too slow to stay with anyone).  Glen Davis has a wide body, but at 6’8” opposing bigs shoot right over him, and Nenad Kristic is a stiff.  Boston’s calling card, their biggest advantage, is their defense, and in many ways Perkins was its anchor.  Now they’ve forfeited that advantage for a guy that will come off the bench for Garnett or Paul Pierce.  This trade must make the Heat ecstatic.  Now Chris Bosh can enjoy a little more freedom in the post and won’t endure as much punishment.  Bosh can also now take Garnett away from the rim and allow LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to drive to the hoop against the likes of Davis, Green, and maybe Shaq.  Bad, bad move Boston.

Impact on the Thunder: I love the move for Oklahoma City.  They had nobody in the post for the last two years, and their lack of size was probably the biggest weakness of any team considered a major contender.  Perkins isn’t a scorer, but he’s going to grab a bunch of rebounds, eliminate most people he guards, and dump in 8-10 points with high percentage shooting.  Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are going to carry the scoring load for this team, which made the tweener Green expendable.  Green has plateaued as a player, and it was time for the Thunder to cash him out for a valuable return.  The Thunder don’t need much more offensively than their dynamic duo, so what they did was grab a defensive specialist and overall post presence.  In a separate deal the Thunder also acquired center Nazr Mohammed for Morris Peterson and D.J. White, two stiffs (I just like that word right now).  The Thunder gain two guys who aren’t going to score much, but have the length and bulk to battle the Lakers, Spurs, and Mavericks in the West.  Add uber-athlete and shot blocker extraordinaire Serge Ibaka, and the Thunder boast maybe the best defensive frontcourt in basketball.  Ibaka has the athleticism to come from the weakside and challenge shots, while Perkins will use his body to wear out opposing centers.  Keep in mind that Durant is a 6’10” small forward.  Put it all together and this should be a very strong rebounding team moving forward.  The Thunder did lose some scoring in this deal, and they may be an offseason acquisition away from being a Finals-worthy team, but I think they made a wonderful move to change the team dynamic.  If Nate Robinson can be a guy that can consistently score 10-12 points off the bench, then this deal is even more of a slam dunk.

Recap: Bad Boston!!  Good Oklahoma City!!

--from Adam

Opening Night Thoughts

Celtics over Heat

-What I couldn't wait for all off-season was to see the star power oozing from Miami's starting five.  Despite three mega stars on the same team, on opening night, the Heat looked a lot like last year's Cavaliers—lots of LeBron James and everybody else watching.  James canceled Dwyane Wade out a bit because they both thrive on isolation and pick and roll sets.  So if one doesn't have the ball, he isn't nearly as impactful.  Neither Wade nor James is a great spot up shooter, so it is not as if those two can really set each other up.  Chris Bosh, while a skilled offensive player, doesn't play with his back to the basket, so just like Wade and Bosh, he needs space and the ball to be effective.
-Against deep teams with great defense like Boston, the Heat will look one-dimensional.  The good thing for Miami though is that not too many teams can D up like the Celtics.  This is only opening night; this Heat team will win plenty of games.  They need time to gel and figure out how the three stars can play off each other.  Boston's roster has largely been together for a long time, and has a lot of guys comfortable in their roles.  When these teams play again in a month or two, it will be a much different game.
-Boston looked really good.  Shaquille O'Neal was good crashing the boards, anchoring the paint on defense, and drawing fouls (though not at making many free throws).  Rajon Rondo had seventeen assists, Ray Allen was hot from outside, and Paul Pierce defended well and made plays to get others involved.  Glen Davis and Jermaine O'Neal looked like really good front court depth.  Marquis Daniels made some nice plays as well.  Kevin Garnett looked really live out there; he was moving great and was hedging on the pick and roll like he did in his prime.
-The Heat made a comeback in the third and fourth quarters, but that was largely because Boston was playing to protect a lead and the Heat were bombing away from outside.  The Heat must learn how to play in a half court mode, because that's what wins in the playoffs.
-Also for Miami, Eddie House cannot be playing twenty-seven minutes per game.  He is a streak shooter that should get no more than ten minutes when he is shooting well.

Blazers over Suns

-Steve Nash and Jason Richardson combined for forty-eight points in this game, but nobody else on Phoenix did much of anything.  Nash only had six assists, which is not the formula for this team to win ball games.
-The Blazers dominated this game by winning the battle inside and utilizing a balanced scoring attack.  The Blazers out-rebounded the Suns 48-30.  Rebounding is something the Suns will struggle with all year, and they will hope to combat that deficit with the three point shot.  The Blazers also had sixteen more assists than Phoenix, which is unusual for a Steve Nash team.
-LaMarcus Aldridge only scored eight points, and that is a good thing considering how much they won by.  Aldridge will have to do more throughout the year, but it's a great sign that they have other guys who can step up and score.  Once Greg Oden is back and healthy, this team could be really good.

Lakers over Rockets

-Laker fans, meet Steve Blake and Matt Barnes.  Last year in a pinch, we went to Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic, who were always good for a turnover or a bonehead play.  Now they have two veterans who can score and are born role players that have been coming off the bench and contributing their whole careers.  Blake was lethal from outside and showed his great ball distribution skills.  He also showed that he is leagues quicker than Derek Fisher, playing down the stretch because only he could stay in front of Aaron Brooks.  Shannon Brown was the other hero in this game, coming off the bench to put in sixteen points.  Blake and Brown have to take more minutes from Fisher, because they are simply better players.  Blake, Brown, and Kobe Bryant is a lethal backcourt.  Add it to Ron Artest, Barnes, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum and you've got the best team in the league.
-Bryant looked really good on that surgically-repaired knee scoring twenty-seven, and Gasol was huge going for twenty-nine points and eleven rebounds.  Odom looked great as well.
-The only issue last night was the Laker defense, which will come with time.
-The Rockets played really well in this game, and the backcourt combo of Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin showed that it is one of the best in the league.  Luis Scola was a monster with eighteen points and sixteen rebounds.  Yao Ming was good in the time he played, especially considering all the time he's missed.  I think he will give the Rockets about eleven points and eight rebounds if they stick to the twenty-four minute limit.  The Rockets also showed their great depth.
-The Rockets will be a playoff contender, and if Yao stays healthy, will be one of the Lakers' top challengers.


--from Adam

The Quiet Earth

Although it may seem as though LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh left the free agent landscape barren with nothing else worthy of discussion, we would be remiss if we did not mention some other teams that did well for themselves in the initial rush of free agent activity.

New York Knicks:  Many fans in the Big Apple may be buying excess rope and heading for the Chrysler Building now that LeBron has spurned them, but in all the Knicks are an improved team.  Amare Stoudemire is a guy that as the main star will average twenty-five points and ten boards a night.  They dealt David Lee, who became obsolete once Amare arrived, for Anthony Randolph, Kelina Azubuike, and Ronny Turiaf.  Randolph has elite talent and produced solidly last year.  He is an athletic big that will likely play multiple positions in New York.  Azubuike is a prototype sixth man and a perfect fit for Mike D’Antoni’s system.  He is athletic, can run, and shoots the three.  Turiaf has more energy than the dorky guy at a college party who isn’t adding any alcohol to his Red Bull.  He is a solid rebounder and defender.  In this trade the Knicks get three solid complementary players for the slightly overrated Lee.  They add these affordable pieces around Amare, and then wait for next year and hope to add free agents-to-be Tony Parker, Carmelo Anthony, or both. 

Chicago Bulls:  Adding Carlos Boozer was supposed to be the domino that led to either Wade or James joining the fold, but even so, the Bulls are in much better shape than they were last year.  Letting Kurt Hinrich go hurts in retrospect because the Bulls did not get two max contract players, but they will have cap space moving forward with a very nice roster already in place.  Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah, and Carlos Boozer form a very nice foundation that has the flexibility to accommodate changes.  Boozer is not a super star but he is a consistent scorer and rebounder that should work well with Rose, a talent not far removed from his previous running mate in Utah, Deron Williams. 

Memphis Grizzlies:  All indication were that Rudy Gay was on his way out of town, but Memphis retained him, and with that keeps together a young and improving core of Gay, OJ Mayo, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, and Zach Randolph. 

Boston Celtics:  Ray Allen and Paul Pierce come back, as does Doc Rivers.  This team will be healthy heading into next year, but their championship window is closing, if not already closed. 

Miami may have the league’ attention, and rightly so, but these other teams did very well for themselves, and should be proud of their offseasons.


--from Adam 

Finally Wrapping Up Finals

With the NBA season in our rear view mirror and free agency the order of the day, I wanted to just quickly wrap up the finals and bring closure to another great season.

We finally got a seven game series—the first time since the Spurs beat the Pistons in 2005 and only the fourth time in twenty-six years—yet this Lakers-Celtics series really had no great or epic game.  Up until Game Seven each contest was essentially one-sided.  Even Game Seven was sloppy, feeling more like it simply ended with LA ahead rather than the Lakers truly snatching victory.

Both teams were playing through pain as well.  Andrew Bynum was banged up for the entire postseason, and Kendrick Perkins was famously unable to play Game Seven.  Kobe Bryant was hobbled throughout the year (finger, knee, ankle) and Kevin Garnett seemed to really only get healthy toward the end of the season.  I think what we saw in that Game Seven were the effects of three, long NBA seasons in a row for both the Lakers and Celtics.  The Celtics ran out of gas in the end, and the Lakers were darn near on empty, but just found a way to put the ball in a few times, and let their home crowd carry them to the championship.

The legacy of these finals will likely be that they signified Kobe's fifth and Phil Jackson's eleventh championship.  Kobe's bad seventh game will likely be lost in the mix of the overwhelming accomplishment of winning back-to-back titles and five overall.  For instance, most people don't recall Jordan shooting just 12-for-38 in Games Five and Six of the 1996 Finals as the Bulls closed out the SuperSonics.

These finals may also be marked as the end of the Celtics' mini dynasty.  It's fascinating what one game and four total points can mean to the history of the NBA.  If the Lakers lose, Kobe wins only four times in seven Finals appearances, twice bested by bitter rival Boston, and Phil Jackson cannot solve Doc Rivers.  If the Celtics had won, they would have a real dynasty winning two of the last three titles, Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce become unquestioned first ballot hall of famers, and Doc Rivers becomes the smartest man in hoops.

Perhaps these finals are an indication that the NBA season is a bit too long, or that at least the playoffs shouldn't have seven games in the first round.  It's almost impossible after all the basketball it requires to reach the Finals to be totally healthy and primed once you get there.  Basketball is perceived as a game of beauty and artful grace, yet it seems toughness, grit, and sheer will are the true components of today's champions.

These Finals also showed what it is going to take in today's NBA to reach the mountaintop.  A collection of good scorers will not be enough.  Winning the NBA is about the number of ways you can find to win, and the versatility/resourcefulness a team employs.  The Lakers could lean on their defense (best field goal percentage defense in the league).  The Lakers could also of course lean on Kobe to take over a game offensively, the inside trio of Bynum, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol, the occasional hot shooting of Ron Artest, and a consistent advantage on the boards.  Stars are what the NBA markets, but they are not necessarily what bring home titles (looking at you LeBron).

These finals may have taught us that stars win in the regular season, and teams win in the playoffs.  Boston and LA had plenty of talent, sure, but they were undeniably the best teams in the league.

These finals did not provide us with the stunning Jordan moment, or the Magic Johnson smile, or the Isaiah Thomas bum ankle performance (although Kobe's twenty-three straight points was pretty impressive).  What we did get was unquestionably the two best teams in basketball, who knew all each other's tricks, matching wills in a battle of endurance over skill.  It may not have been artistic, but it was competition in its most honest form.

--from Adam

(All images from nba.com)