If you have plans tonight, shelve them.
Why?
The NBA Western Conference Semifinal deciders: Two Game 7s.
The battle of underdogs in the desert: Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Clippers. The battle of Titans in Texas: Defending champion San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.
Lines are drawn. Strategies are in place. The details have been chalked out. Only the executions wait.
Nature tells us there could only be two winners, and you are invited to witness.
That's why.
Not yet convinced? Consider this:
Cliffhangers
Do you enjoy rides on a roller-coaster — the ones that go through your mind and emotions? Do you enjoy the moment when your heart pumps blood faster, your mind races through the universe and you stop blinking because it takes less than a blink for wonderful things to happen?
If your answer is yes, continue reading.
Excluding Game 2 of the Spurs-Mavs series, the other five games saw a combined victory margin of 14 points.
That's less than a three-point differential per game. Now look closer: two games were decided by one point, one by two points and one in overtime. In other words none of the games were decided till the last moment, last possession, and the last shot.
Conventional wisdom runs for cover
Example 1: Phoenix wins when they score 100+ points, that is, if you want to win you better keep them below 100.
Counter example 1: In Games 4 and 6, the Suns scored 106 and 107 and lost. Wait. There is more. In Game 3, they scored 94 and still won!!
Example 2: Defense wins in the playoffs.
Counter example 2: The Suns-Clippers series. They don't play D. They simply outscore each other, and both teams are averaging 100+ points. Expect another mythbuster in Game 7 with fresh legs after three days of rest.
Example 3: You have two 7-foot players and so you run plays through them. You keep at least one of them on the floor always. Right? Wrong.
Counter example 3: The Spurs are obviously running their offense through Tim Duncan. But that's about it. The other 7 footer, Rasho Nesterovic, is idling on the bench, barely seeing a minute or two.
Digging out from 3-1 hole, forcing Game 7 and a chance to win
As recently as in the first round, the Phoenix Suns became only the eighth team in the league history to win a series after falling behind 3-1 against the Los Angeles Lakers. Now the San Antonio Spurs have a chance to become the ninth.
Article comments
1 - Matthew T. Sussman
I really really really want to see the Clippers win, but Phoenix is like the home I never lived in, so I have to think Suns.
2 - Q Bit
loll. I will go with the Clippers simple coz there was a time when LA was my home.
Objectively, I like the chances of the Clippers. Unless the Suns shoot around 60%, I don't think they have a chance.
If Phoenix wins, it's going to be a blowout; if the Clippers win, it's going to be tight and Sam will come through.
What worries me is Mike Dunleavy. His substitutions have been terrible all series. Noting that I was a witness to the last game 7 he coached, I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hope Billy Crystal has some adv for him in the 4th quarter.
3 - RJ Elliott
Dallas wins ANOTHER close game, in overtime, and advances to the next round...
4 - Q Bit
One of the best ever.
5 - Dave
How embarrassing. You got both wrong.
6 - Q Bit
Dave: you got it !
7 - JJ
Nice try, Q. The Suns were the more veteran team, and while the Clips had a nice run, the Run-n-Gun Suns will be headed to the Finals after they shut up Mark Cuban again.
8 - Q Bit
I am rooting for the Suns coz there's no way am going to cheer for a Mark Cuban team.
9 - Amare
Suns should win this series. Lets have faith on the MVP
10 - RJ Elliott
I don't like Mark Cuban much, but I DO like Avery Johnson...GO MAVS!!!
11 - RJ Elliott
Grrr...
Miami up 1-0
Suns up 1-0
12 - Q Bit
RJ: I'v been informed that Detorit makes it 1-1 tonight and Mavs 1-1 tomorrow :-)
13 - RJ Elliott
The Pistons have indeed tied their series with the Heat 1-1.
But Game Two of the Western Conference Finals is not looking so good for the Mavs as I write this...they're down by 2 in the 4th...
14 - Q Bit
Dallas wins. Not that it makes me happy. But I didn't see them losing two in a row at home.
15 - RJ Elliott
Okay, both series are 1-1 so far...
Wanna bet they both go at least 6, and probably 7?
16 - Q Bit
Pistons-Heat: goes to 6 in any case.
If Pistons win , they win in 7, if Heat wins, in 6.
Suns-Mavs: goes to 6 at least.
17 - RJ Elliott
Pistons down 3-1...
Suns-Mavs tied up, 2-2...
18 - RJ Elliott
Miami up 3-2...
Mavs up 3-2...
19 - Q Bit
RJ: You didn't bet :-)
For a change I kind of got the predictions right (I know they were quite fuzzy but so was yr question)
:-))))
20 - RJ Elliott
I really believe that both series will be decided in Game Six.
If the Pistons win their second in a row against Miami, on the road, I would happily bet real money that they will go on to win Game Seven at home and make it back to the Finals for the 3rd straight year.
As for the Western Conference, I am going in the opposite direction. Dallas must win Game Six in Phoenix, or else Steve Nash will have no choice but to destroy them in his 3rd Game Seven of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, this time on the road...
21 - Q Bit
I believe you too!
Pistons have a tough game coming up-frankly I don't have a clue who's going to win. Going by the strengths of each team, Heat should wrap it up w/o much difficulty.
But then, San Antonio should be playing now and not Dallas.
The Pistons play their best with their back against the wall - true. But winning 3 consecutive games against this Heat team is a bit too much. But hey, in basketball anything could happen.
Suns, if they win game 6, probably have a better chance than Dallas in game 7. Here I kind of agree with you.