The Conference Finals

(I’m a day late sue me)

Detroit/Boston: Game 1 is already in the books so I can’t do a huge write up on this series. Let’s instead pretend to be on ESPN and point out the obvious. The Pistons can’t win if Chauncey is going to be hobbled the entire series. And to be honest I’m not sure he is going to get any better than he was last night health wise. Having a week off to rest and to get treatment is out of the window. Flip needs to get Chauncey down in the post and have him work out on Rondo. Of course, this being Flip he won’t realize that until Game 3. The only problem with this is that the Pistons have to win in Boston.

KG could not have played much better last night. It wasn’t the numbers are how well he shot, it was how aggressive he was. He posted McDyess on the LOW block numerous times and not only that he then made aggressive moves TOWARDS the basket. I couldn’t believe it.

Doc’s going to need Big Baby at some point in this series. How he got a DNP is beyond me. Does Doc not remember the game when Big Baby had 20+ in Detroit and was the reason they won? Let the boy play Doc.

What was Boston’s biggest Achilles’ heel in rounds 1 and 2? Athleticism. When the Hawks got to running and gunning (something they could seemingly only do in Atlanta) it was awful for the Celtics. When the Cavs pushed it…or actually when LeBron decided to LeBron type things the Cavs looked like they would take the series. Detroit on the other hand….they don’t push the tempo. They’ll play methodical, they’ll play a half court game. This plays right in the Celtics hands. They excel in the half court game. Defensively if you’re feeding them pick and rolls they can do it. If they could guard it with LeBron James on the court they aren’t exactly going to struggle if Tayshaun Prince is coming off it. Also, when you have KG, Pierce and Ray Allen in a half court game…more times than not you’re going to win out.

Celtics in 7. They are too good in Boston and Detroit tends to play the style of basketball that leads to them finally winning a game on the road.

San Antonio/Lakers

Before everyone keeps jumping on the Kobe/Lakers train….listen to this scary fact.

The Spurs won that series basically in cruise control.

Stay with me on this one. The Spurs played one game that series and one game only. They got blown out in Games 1, 2 and 5. They had blowout wins in games 3, 4 and 6. Then they turned it on for the one game they absolutely, positively had to win….and they won it. Ladies and gentlemen we have no idea what the Spurs ceiling is right now…and that’s scary.

The Lakers were supposed to be here. As soon as the brackets were finalized it seemed pretty obvious the Lakers would make it to at least the Conference Finals with ease. The Spurs on the other hand…much easier to doubt them. They weren’t supposed to beat the Suns. And then they weren’t supposed to beat the Hornets. Now they aren’t supposed to beat the Lakers. The only problem is….they are the Spurs.

These two teams bring everything to the table and this is going to be a great series to watch. The Lakers should be worried.

1. the Spurs have both Bruce Bowen AND Ime Udoka to throw at him for 48 minutes over the course of 6 or 7 games. That equates to no fun for Mamba. That’s a major upgrade from facing Kenyon Martin and JR Smith and then Kirilenko, Brewer and Harpring. It would be beyond foolish to say they can shut Kobe down, but they can definitely cause him some issues and get him a little flustered.
2. You’re depending on Pau Gasol to guard Tim Duncan. Can Pau guard Tim Duncan? No. Maybe in the Olympics…but no. So then does that mean they have to double Duncan? That’s exactly what the Spurs want you to do? It’s a Catch-22. They need Pau to show up in a big way and this is precisely the type of series in which he could disappear.
3. By the way…Duncan has seen Shaq and he’s seen Chandler. The Lakers have no one who can fluster him. Bad. News. Bears.
4. Derek Fisher has to guard Tony Parker. Hold your horses I’m not saying he can’t. But history is not working in Fisher’s favor. First off is his age. Fisher can lock Deron Williams up because Williams is more strong than quick. Parker….is lightning fast. Can’t body him up. Let us take a trip down memory lane when Parker demolished a certain Laker players defensive reputation (he used to be called the Glove). Could be a repeat for Fisher. Besides last year when the Jazz took on the Spurs in the Conference Finals, Fisher was completely ineffective. In three of the five games, Fisher had 5 or more fouls, fouling out of two of them. He has been a key part of the Lakers attack in this postseason and if he can’t keep up with Parker/stay in the game…they could be headed toward some issues.
5. The Lakers bench has to find their game ASAP.

I’d be a fool if I didn’t do this. San Antonio is just too good. They are good enough to steal one in LA. Seeing the Finals this close will bring the real Spurs out and we all know no one can play with them. Spurs in 6.