NBA Finals... some thoughts

So, after receiving some frantic text messages with the content of...

"Powe!"

"Das is shit!"

"I'm getting the jug band back together"

I've decided that I must be on a mission from God to blog about this series.

DISCLAIMER: This is going to ramble a bit, but hey, that's what blogs are for right? (copy editor, please!)

Now, I have to admit, I'm not a big basketball fan, and I mostly chalk this up to the fact that neither of my parents are sports fans (hence, never really watching bball when I was younger) and also, having never played any type of youth basketball, my knowledge of the finer points of the game is nonexistent. But still; living in Boston as I do, it is almost impossible to not get caught up in the fever of the moment. Bill Simmons has an excellent column on this where he contrasts the local sports scene now and from just a few years ago and how truly remarkable that all 3 major teams (and you could include the minor two, the Bruins and Revolution) are all of championship caliber and clearly, as witnessed that within the calendar year, every team BUT the Bruins have been in their leagues respective championship game/series. So, with such excitement throughout the city it is hard to not be interested.

This brings up an interesting point, and that is... Yablo mentioned that he's stuck it through the lean years with these teams (especially the Celtics, also known as his binky) and I fully respect that from him as a sports fan. However, this is where I tend to disagree with the hardcore fan (and this is where Simmons and I disagree the most). I don't see any problem with liking teams when they are doing well.... Sports are entertainment, and if your team is in the midst of a losing streak, season, etc, why the hell should your mental well-being by tied to them? So, I'm a front runner, and not afraid to say so. Now, its not that I am willing to switch my allegiances to another team (I would NEVER become a fan of any NYC area team), but simply decide that my time is better spent watching or paying attention to something more important than a team that is well below 500. I think that too many people live and die with their sports teams, and Boston is by far the perfect example of that. If Boston were a person... I think we'd probably think of him as the dorky older brother whose younger brother (NYC and LA especially) constantly out-performs him in everything, gets better looking dates, and has all the attention directed towards them. Boston reeks of an inferiority complex and it seeps into the sports fan's mindset and they become unbearable, loathsome, individuals.

Anyway, that's my short rant.

In regards to the finals, I did watch game 2. My general impression:

Pierce did not look like the knee injury was an impediment. We can all conjecture as to whether he really was injured, but my guess is, he fell down, heard the pop, it hurt and they brought him to the locker room where Mr. Miyagi performed the healing ritual and BOOM.. he was ready.

Powe looked great, was able to drive to the rim and score and get fouled. I don't think I've seen anyone write this, but he did a great job nailing most of his free throws.

KG need to drive to the rim... those mid-level jumpers were not falling and it drives me crazy when an intense 6-11 guy does not drive to the rim...

Kobe is evil.... Clearly he's so good, because he's evil. I noticed him complaining about all the fouls, but did you see some of those elbows and the full-on running slam into Pierce?

Doc may have out-coached the Zen-Master, the only problem was putting Cassell in, who is completely unable to stop shooting when he has the ball. Terrible shot selection, every time he put the ball up.


Thoughts for Game 3.....

Celtics are probably going to lose, but that's ok. As long as they can keep it close and show LA that they can play ball in their building that's what they need to leave LA up 3-2.