HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
May 6, 2005 After the first round of the NBA playoffs nothing looks certain. This even applies to the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, the consensus preseason pick to repeat and the Detroit Pistons, the team with the league’s best record. The Spurs closed out a scrappy but undermanned Sacramento Kings team even with Manu Ginobili playing inconsistently and Tim Duncan playing on a fragile ankle. But the Spurs look vulnerable, especially against a rested Dallas Mavericks team that swept their first round opponents, the Memphis Grizzlies. Furthermore, Mavs coach Avery Johnson actually has the Dallas quintet playing defense down the stretch. The Mavericks should run the Spurs out in six… For the better part of three decades the Los Angeles Clippers were the laughingstock of the league. Poor drafting and playing in the shadow of that other team from L.A., the Clippers garnered no respect. But owner Donald Sterling finally loosened his purse strings and kept his teams young nucleus intact and its paid off with a first round win over the lifeless and underachieving Denver Nuggets. Look for the Clips to stun Phoenix (who I believe will win Game 7 at home against the Los Angeles Lakers) in seven, then lose to the Mavericks in the Conference Finals, 4-1. The Pistons are breathing a sigh of relief after first, drawing a weak Milwaukee team in the first round. Despite winning in the series in five games, the lone loss the Pistons suffered was a blow out and perhaps put a chink in the vaunted Detroit defense. The Pistons were again lucky as LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers ousted the Washington Wizards in six. Washington had won all three regular contests against Detroit and present matchup problems for the Pistons. The Cavaliers are LeBron and maybe an occasional appearance by Flip Murray and solid veteran Eric Snow. Look for the Pistons to sweep. Miami and New Jersey are an intriguing contest, with both teams struggling against game opponents in the first round. New Jersey defeated Miami 3-1 during the regular season and the Heat has difficulty defending the small forward position, so look for New Jersey’s Vince Carter to have a huge serious. The other two heads in the Nets triumvirate—Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson will give the Heat all they candle. The Heat counters with the dynamic duo of Superman and the Flash—Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade. But the key to this team winning lies in the hands of three other players: Alonzo Mourning, who must play well for the Heat to win. Jason Williams must continue playing as he did in the first two games of the Heat-Bulls series. Finally, Gary Payton must drink from the fountain of youth in order to keep Kidd reigned in. Take the Heat in seven. Hence, the Erastern Conference Finals pits the two teams that fought a tough seven-game war lasty season. However, this year’s Heat is weaker—missing defensive stalwart Eddie Jones and three-point specialist Damon Jones) bopth traded away in the off-season). In order for Miami to reach the finals, Antoine Walker will have to step up big-time. I don’t see him doing it. Pistons in six. The Finals will be a contrast in styles and presents intriguing matchups: Mavericks, Pistons—Nowitzki Vs. Rasheed Wallace; Josh Howard Vs. Richard Hamilton. It will be the Mavs offense against Detroit pressure defense. Detroit will win the close games and be blown out in the games they lose. One concern the Pistons have is the health of Richard Hamilton’s ankle. Against Milwaukee they were able to get their All-star guard plenty of rest. The Mavericks will come into the series rested and have solid veterans in Jerry Stackhouse and Jason Terry. Neither will fare well in matchups with the Detroit twosome of Chauncey Billups and the tireless Richard Hamilton. Tayshun Prince is the unsung defensive stopper who will help defend Nowitzki. Outside of Antonio McDyess, the Pistons bench is weak. It’s been proven that “Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.” Look for the Pistons to win their second title in three years, but in an up and down seven game thriller over the Mavericks. ------------ About the author: Timothy N. Stelly, Sr. is a 46-year old poet, novelist and aspiring screenwriter who resides in northern California with his three youngest children--Lawrence, Kimberly and Dante. He is a member of various writer's groups and has three novels in print, his most recent, "Like A Straight-Up Sucka," is available at www.lulu.com. website: http://stellbreadO@tripod.com Email: stellbread@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
