Point to prove
For Steve Nash: the reigning MVP. His awards are questioned. His defense carries multiple asterisks. Yet the little Canadian fought through the odds carrying the team on his shoulders. When you realize what he's achieved with his team in the playoffs without Amare and Kurt Thomas, you know he's very very special.
For Sam Cassell: The 36-year-old running the point for L. A. Clippers is the only Clipper who's been there, who's done that. He keeps barking at the officials with the same ease he hits big shots from his days at Houston Rockets. Yet he gets traded all the time.
For Tony Parker: Mr. Eva Longoria was phenomenal during the regular season. In the playoffs, he's streaky and Greg Popovich's most important concern.
The hardest part of being a witness is that I know two teams will be going home. And I don't like it.
Why don't I want any team to lose tonight?
Because if the Suns lose, their style is the loser. They haven't won a championship yet but they have won a lot of hearts. They made a lot of new friends. At best they are a bunch of dream weavers and at worst they are better than the best Rick Carlisle team.
Because if the Clippers lose, that ends a fairy tale. And I love fairy tales and Grimm Brothers. No one expected them to be here. Yet here they are. No guarantees. Just balls.
Because if the Mavericks lose, that makes Mark Cuban upset. That makes his incessant whining on officiating a lost cause and no more fines from David Stern. That means no more money to the charities this season.
Because if the Spurs lose, it becomes personal. I will miss Tim Duncan hitting the sweet bank shots. I will miss Ginobili curling his way to the basket from nowhere. I will miss Robert Horry netting his signature daggers. And I will miss Ms. Eva Longoria because they show her regardless of a Tony Parker clank or swish.
But as always, I know Nature prevails.
My picks: San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers both win and meet in the Western Conference finals.
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.