Journals

Normal 0   Not sure how may professional basketball fans we have around here, but in case you’ve missed it, this year’s NBA Playoffs are vying for the crown of best-ever-right-now in the media-crazed crush to provide instantaneous analysis of where the game just finished ranks in the pantheon of all-time post-season performances. We, the viewer, are usually told it ranks somewhere in the top 5, maybe 3 – great, but not quite as amazing as the legendary iconic games and series which have become symbols of the sport.   Think Russell and Chamberlain, Bird and Magic, Jordan and, well, just Jordan.     In awe of what we have just witnessed, it is quite easy to come under the spell of the talking heads’ words, often times repeating verbatim what they have said to our friends the next morning.   I, myself, am not immune, but nevertheless try as much as I can to form my own opinions based on what I know and have seen.   Having played the game itself from an early age up until my High School years, having watched the NBA since the beginning of the running of Jordan's Bulls (my earliest memory was watching him switch hands in mid-air to make “a spectacular play” to beat Laker’s Magic in the ’91 Finals), I would like to think I know a thing or two about the game and can infer sound judgment of a particular game or performance and its merits for being called great.   Having said that, these NBA Playoffs are the best in recent memory, and maybe the best I've ever seen.     Honestly, I can't remember another playoffs with so many series as closely contested as these have been. As you may have heard, or seen, the Magic-Celtics series just last round was widely claimed as a stunning upset, for one because the Celtics were the defending champs, and for another because it seemed they couldn’t be beaten in a game 7.   The Celtics, you see, had just won one of the “greatest” series ever against the spunky Bulls, going to seven overtimes overall to eventually prevail in game 7.   Even after the Magic shocked us by making the Celts disappear, know one, not even the most original of NBA analysts, thought they’d have a chance against LeBron’s Cavs.   League MVP and undeniable greatest player on the planet, commonly referred to as The Chosen One.   You may have heard, or seen, he made a shot, over the defender’s outstretched hand, as time was expiring, to win a game recently.   It was his first ever game-winner in the postseason, which may have been part of the reason for all the hoopla. Making these game-winning shots to win NBA playoff games is a necessary requirement if he seeks to take Jordan’s place on the mantle as G.O.A.T.   Still, the potential for serious upsets are brewing, in both series. The cover of SLAM magazine (the authority on Basketball culture) pictures profiles of Kobe and LeBron starring each other down, the headline reading something like Kobe Vs. LeBron . The basketball world has proclaimed a Cavs-Lakers series an all but foregone conclusion.   This is supposed to be the year of King James’ coronation – but not if Kobe had anything to say about it.   But it just may be that neither Kobe nor LeBron gets the chance to contend for the champions’ crown.   Last night, the Cavs required an otherworldly performance from The Chosen One, just to stay in the series. Game leader in points, rebounds, and assists last night. Scored or assisted on 31 straight at one point, down the stretch no less, when his team needed it most.   Incredibly, he has scored just a shade under 40 percent of his team’s points so far in this series, an all-time high.   And his team is just barely hanging on, down a game and on the road. They still have to go to Orlando and win, then come back home for a grueling game 7.   And that’s not to mention the Denver Nuggets, the seldom talked about sleeper quietly sneaking up on the field.   They have given L.A. all they can handle and seem set to force a game 7 Showdown. Let’s hope so.   I’m not much of a homebody, but I swear and I don’t swear often,   I could stay at home this entire weekend perfectly happy, knowing I get to witness Kobe, LeBron and some of the best basketball you'll ever see.