NBA Playoffs Preview

As I tossed and turned early Saturday morning, I was thinking in my head (where else would I think?) about writing a lil NBA playoffs preview. Make some predictions. Hand out some hardware. I figured it could be a great idea.
I even went so far as to text Barnes and Miggy with my big upset. My dark horse NBA Finals match up was Boston-Portland. That was a stretch before they both gave away home court. Now I feel like a real heel. I know the C’s were a huge reach without KG, but I just could see him pulling a Willis Reed if they made it to a game 7 vs. Cleveland. He’d sacrifice his career to get numbers 2 and 18. (If you don’t know what I mean, stop reading now…)
I’m (or maybe, was) really sold on this Portland team. I had seen very little, okay none, of them this season. I’d been reading, watching some highlights and I caught their season closer the other night on TNT. The Rose Garden always brings their A-Game – they did dating back to the Jail Blazer days. It just seems like a great crowd to play in front of. B-Roy’s performance has been scrumtrulescent this season.
I think of the two teams in my dark horse match up, Portland had/has the best shot at making it to play for the O’Brien Trophy. It would take a tremendous effort to get through Los Angeles, but I think the Blazers are the team most prepared to walk into the Staples Center and come away with some W’s.
Beyond that, I have to agree with the notion that this is the Lakers/Kobe’s year to get their chip. The Cavs and the Heat are only going to get better, as long as their stars stay put. Portland and NO are on the rise out West. NO, with their playoff experience last year might seem to be the team better equipped to make the leap this year, but I think they have too many injuries and question marks (read: changes to last year’s lineup) to properly apply last year’s experience. After all, why did they fall to the 7-seed this year?
In the end, I’m fairly confident we’re heading for a Cle-LAL finals. Those two have just been too good all year long. After them, every other team seems to have that major/tragic flaw. Believe me, I’d love to have Kobe choke his chicken and not make it to 12 wins. I just can’t imagine it happening.
Having said that, the MVP race still seems to be a source of controversy. In hindsight, last year the award should have gone to the Big Ticket. Look at the difference in the C’s without Garnett. They struggled on the road last year, not at home. (Then again, last year Pooh was in Memphis feasting on Gummi Bears and Co-eds by the handsful.) That would make this year’s award the property of one Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant. And I’d have no problem with that. I think LeBron’s transformation into…the Evolution?...puts him head and shoulders above the other candidates. Yet, Dwyane Wade’s season was simply sublime. That roster is so half assed and they landed a 5-seed. Thank you, Mr. 2005 NBA Finals MVP.
So we’re right back to where we started, there is no clear cut MVP. It sucks when it rains and pours. As opposed to when the league is depleted, I’m looking at your Mr. Nash. These cats are all worthy winners and I’d even go so far as to accept arguments for Paul, Chris; Roy, Brandon and O’Neal, Shaquille. I know they didn’t make the tourney for the O’Brien trophy, but the Diesel had a renaissance season for big man ‘that age’. I will not however accept Dwight Howard’s application due to subpar performances against the quality bigs.
In conclusion, they playoffs will not surprise to anyone. They will play out like the NCAA Tournament. The Big East will be splendtacular but not make it to the Finals. I’ll see you guys for Game 7 for the O’Brien trophy from Cleveland in a month and a half. Here’s to Kobe crying like a little bitch when Bronnie gets his first Chip.