Cancel the Rest of the NBA Playoffs
Published May 23, 2006
Speaking of boredom, of the three second round series that went seven games, only one finale (Dallas-San Antonio) was exciting. Detroit pummeled Cleveland 79-61 while Phoenix slapped around the Clippers 127-107. A stickler would also point out that the Mavs-Spurs overtime-thriller was only exciting in regulation. Dallas won in overtime by eight. This could all be a sign of the next round's games.
To the league's credit, of the four remaining teams only one has an NBA championship (Detroit) and only two (Detroit and Phoenix) have even experienced the finals. So if Detroit does get whacked in the Eastern Conference Finals we will be guaranteed to witness a greenhorn champion, and that team's city likely won't be bored if they win by way of blowout. But most of us don't live in those cities.
So here's what Detroit, Miami, Phoenix, and Dallas can do instead. With the postseason cancelled, talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic. "Who would have won the championship?"
The sudden stoppage of play will create some quality endless debates that the infamous BCS concocted for college football. Could Phoenix's European-style offense be able to overcome Detroit's suffocating defense? Could Shaquille O'Neal lead the Heat to a title without Kobe Bryant or Phil Jackson around by shutting down Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks? We'll hopefully never know the answer.
So, my dear NBA, do what Seinfeld did and finish on top. Quit while you're ahead. Begin analyzing the NBA Draft. And if you want a champion next year, don't make the opening rounds so daggum exciting.
For the good of the league, stop the postseason. Don't make me get my gun.
Matt Sussman is the sports editor of BC Magazine and also writes for Deadspin, SPORTSbyBROOKS, The Futon Report, and the Toledo Free Press. Catch him Mondays and Fridays at 8 p.m. ET with asst. sports editor Tuffy on Treehouse Fort, the official show of BC Sports. E-mail sports-related inquiries (or inquiry-related sports, such as full-contact Twenty Questions) to matt.sussman@blogcritics.org.
- Cancel the Rest of the NBA Playoffs
- Published: May 23, 2006
- Type: News
- Section: Sports
- Filed Under: Sports: Basketball
- Writer: Matthew T. Sussman
- Matthew T. Sussman's BC Writer page
- Matthew T. Sussman's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
the only flaw in suss's plan is that it leaves no chance for the NBA officials to screw up the proposed 4-way debate over which team would have won...otherwise it's solid!
heh
Now I gotta run to rockies (no kidding).
You can't be serious - are you?
If you are, then I am tempted to write an heartfelt opposite view :-)
Re: Seinfeld -- you know, when I watched it, I didn't give a goat's lick who was in the writing room. It was good to the end, even if it demoted from great.
Hey man,
You make a good point, but think about it........lopsided NBA playoff games are a helluva lot more exciting than June baseball. What do you want me to do with my free time? Spend quality time with the Mrs.? Yeah Right!!!!
Wow. I found your link on deadspin.com. You've reached blog heaven.
Dallas plays no defense? Huh? Did you actually watch the NBA this year, or have to ability to check, like, stats and stuff? Why don't you look at the defensive rankings for this year and get back to us.
Extremely valid point Don -- Dallas opponents have been averaging in the high 90s, well among the top in the league, both regular and post season.
But look at the season series vs. Phoenix. They each won two games, with the average final score of Phoenix 109, Dallas 106. (Note: Not necessarily an indicator of who will win.)
It'll be just almost as high scoring as the Suns/Clips game, that's my point.
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(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/48151)
NBA, don't do it. I've got money riding on Miami to win the whole thing since before the season started.
"So, my dear NBA, do what Seinfeld did and finish on top."
Wha? While you may be technically correct ratings-wise, the show was a shell of its former self in the last few years. Once Elaine turned into one of the guys, probably the year producer Carol Leifer left, who Elanie was based on, the show went into the toilet and it's painful to watch after Larry David left.