NBA Conference Finals

The NBA Conference Finals are underway. I thought I’d provide a few observations from the playoffs thus far:

1) Steve Nash actually had an MVP –performance. I still can’t believe the 3-pointer he hit to get Phoenix into OT in Game 6 against Dallas. He was running at full speed and just stopped in an instant and launched a quick 3. Nash showed that if he wants to he can take over. Granted, his team is at its best when he scores 20 points and has 15 assists. (He had that 48-point game with only 5 assists and they lost by 10). The problem against the Spurs is that he has to play defense. Tony Parker is capable of just abusing Steve Nash, and that’s what it will take for the Spurs to win. So far, focusing on everyone but Nash has worked as the Spurs have a 2-game lead, though it’s mainly due to their offense being incredible during the 4th quarter of each game.

2) Dwayne Wade single-handedly was carrying his team w/o Shaq. Was is the key, since now he’s up against a team that actually plays defense (sorry – the Nets & the Wizards aren’t known for their defensive prowess). Between Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups, I’m guessing the Pistons will have enough guards to throw at Wade. Or, they could just let Wade go nuts and try to guard the rest of the team. Shaq is really not 100%, he only grabbed 5 rebounds in the first game.

3) Don’t leave Brent Barry open. In Game 1 of the Spurs-Suns, Barry hardly played and still scored 21 points. There was 1 stretch when he made 3 straight 3s to put the game out of reach. It was strange how they kept leaving him open. In Game 2 he didn’t play that much, but Robert Horry came off the bench to knock down 3 triples. Robert Horry! He doesn’t age, he just keeps resurfacing on championship-caliber teams (Rockets-Lakers-Spurs).

4) Leave Glenn Robinson open. A lot of teams pick up aging veteran 3-point shooters just to be the last guy off the bench. It must be for leadership reasons, because “Big Dog” really doesn’t play that much. Other veteran shooters who have gotten championship rings without really playing: Steve Smith, on San Antonio ; Mitch Richmond on the Lakers ; (I’m leaving Ron Harper and Steve Kerr off this list. They actually made major contributions in their quests for championships. )

5) Pistons-Spurs is the Finals everyone wants to see. No offense to Shaq, but I just don’t think he’s healthy. Spurs-Heat would be interesting, just to see how far Wade could go. Nonetheless, the Pistons just have so much depth and it would be fun to see them matchup with the Spurs. It would be the 2 deepest teams in the league.

6) As if we already didn't know this, sports announcers are idiots. Carlos Arroyo entered game 1, and the announcers kept saying, "how can you let a backup point guard enter a close game like this? Billups must be tired." These idiots haven't done any research and didn't even realize that Arroyo was a starting point guard on the Utah Jazz just a few months ago, and if it wasn't for his "attitude problems", he still would be the starting point guard on Utah. Needless to say, Arroyo got 7 assists in just 10 minutes. I'd say that's pretty good.