The playoffs are HEATing up!

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This season's NBA playoffs is probably one of the more interesting ones in recent memory.

I first started watching the NBA over ten years ago (early 90’s) when the Chicago Bulls ruled the roost. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, B.J. Armstrong and Dennis Rodman (crazy bugger but fun to watch) played seamlessly as a team to win title after title after title. But the fact is that it never got boring watching the Bulls pull off the victories with their buzzer-beaters and off-balance acrobatic shots. MJ truly deserved the six titles and six MVPs that went along with it, wouldn’t you agree?



The raging Bulls of yesteryear


Then came the era of the L.A. Lakers, with Shaq and Kobe delivering the one-two punches that knocked out the Eastern champs for three years consecutive. Nets, no chance. 76ers, try harder. Pacers, good effort but *crash*. By the way, I’d like send my best to Reggie Miller as he is now formally retired after having lost to Detroit last week. I never really did like the skinny stickler, but his perseverance and drive for the title deserves to be commended (too bad he failed). If I’m not wrong, he’s spent his entire NBA career (18 years) with one team, which is a rarity in today’s game. Bravo, Reggie.

Anyway, back to this year’s Playoffs. To me, this is a fun season to watch because:

1. Truly the BEST in the East versus the BEST in the West.

There is no fluke here. The teams have survived this far because they are GOOD. In terms of standings, there is no room for seventh-place teams, fifth-place teams, and even third-place teams. The no.1 Heat are playing the no.2 Pistons in the East, as the no.1 Suns battle the no.2 Spurs in the West. How exhilarating!

2. Shaq is back. With the HEAT!

Albeit Shaq has a bruise on his right thigh, he will give his best should the team doctors allow him to play. Also, he should be well-rested after sitting on the sidelines for weeks now. In the worst case scenario, Shaq will sit out for this round against last year’s champs and he’ll join them strong for the NBA Finals (see Piggy’s Predictions below). Anyway, the Heat have been on fire (no pun intended) without him so far. They haven’t dropped a match yet in the playoffs…and hopefully I don’t jinx them by saying so.

3. Passing clouds gone, Suns are shining.

When I read that it’s been 13 years since Phoenix Suns smelt the Finals, I was flabbergasted about how quickly time passed! I can still recall Charles Barkley playing around with his mouthpiece back in dem yonder days, his sidekick point guard Kevin Johnson, and of course who can forget, ‘Thunder’ Dan Majerle whose 3-pointers seemed like a surety. As a staunch supporter of that previous Suns team, I’d like to see this year’s Phoenix team put in their best efforts to finish off the season strong. The new generation found in this year’s MVP Steve Nash, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire lack the crucial playoff experience but they’ve been on a roll, so don’t count them out yet.


Can the blazing Suns go all the way?

PiGGy’S predictions

What Piggy hopes it’ll turn out to be:

Eastern Conference Finals:
Heat over Pistons in four.

Western Conference Finals:
Suns over Spurs in four.

NBA Finals:
Suns over Heat in seven

Finals MVP:
Steve Nash (Man, I love this guy!)

What it’ll probably turn out as:

Eastern Conference Finals:
Heat over Pistons in seven.

Western Conference Finals:
Spurs over Suns in six.

NBA Finals:
Heat over Spurs in six.

Finals MVP:
Shaq, if playing without injury, else Dwyane Wade.

Whatever transpires in the June Finals, whatever the outcome, I will still say in true NBA fashion, “I Love This Game.”



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