And now, the final post-season prediction numbers from the NBA playoffs:David Thorpe, ESPN: 13-2 (3)
Ball Don't Lie, Yahoo!: 13-2 (3)
Jalen Rose, ESPN: 13-2 (3)
Chris Sheridan, ESPN: 12-3 (7)
John Hollinger, ESPN: 12-3 (4)
Ken Berger, CBS Sports: 12-3 (3)Nunzio Ingrassia, CBS Sports: 12-3 (3)
J.A. Adande, ESPN: 12-3 (2)
Sergio Gonzalez, CBS Sports: 12-3 (2)
Kenny Smith, Yahoo!: 12-3 (2)
Chris Broussard, ESPN: 11-4 (5)
Chad Ford, ESPN: 11-4 (5)
Lyle Crouse, CBS Sports: 11-4 (3)
Jamey Eisenberg, CBS Sports: 11-4 (3)
Marc Stein, ESPN: 11-4 (3)
Henry Abbott, ESPN: 10-5 (4)
Tim Legler, ESPN: 10-5 (4)
YOURS TRULY: 8-7 (4)
So there you go, folks. A ridiculously poor showing this year for myself in NBA prognosticating, but not really all that great a year for the league playoffs in general.
While the opening round series between the Celtics and the Bulls certainly created a lot of excitement to open the playoffs, even in that series and in many series throughout the post-season, officiating was sloppy and inconsistent. And just as many of us thought, when that Bulls-Celtics series ended, it was assuredly the best series of any in the playoffs.
While one could reasonably argue that the Los Angeles Lakers were in fact the favorite to win the entire thing all season long, I'm still not sure that anybody is going to be remembering this as a season in which the franchise overcame an opponent that will make this title win worth remembering. While it assuredly does cement Kobe Bryant among the legends of the game and makes Phil Jackson stand alone with 10 career NBA Championships, the Lakers didn't have to get by Tim Duncan and the Spurs that also won four titles in a decade because they were without Manu Ginobli. And L.A. didn't need to worry about avenging last year's loss by overcoming the defending champions because the Celtics were without Kevin Garnett.
Now, of course the Lakers are only guilty of beating whomever got in their way. It's not their fault so many of the perennial favorites ended up getting dealt some shitty late-season cards.
But I am of course upset only because I hate the Lakers and they didn't end up blowing it like it can be fun to watch them (or anyone you really hate for no particular reason) do sometimes. This year, they actually got the job done because, well, the Orlando Magic beat themselves.
Oh, c'mon—you know the Magic could have just easily been up three games to one, provided a last-second layup went in and Dwight Howard sinks either one of the two free throws he both missed. And there I am at the end of the NBA season this year, clinging to notions of what could've been.
I am left with the final feeling for my Chicago Bulls being something of still modest concern: Vinny Del Negro likely gave himself a little more wiggle room by getting the team to push the defending champions to the limit in a series they were expected to be bounced from far more routinely. That doesn't necessarily mean the guy's a great coach (as some of his decisions and non-adjustments in that Boston series proved) but I know he's going to survive the early-season calls for his head on the radio next year.
And I (still) want to lose Ben Gordon. Derrick Rose becomes a better player and the Bulls become a better team without Gordon around, and you tried making that jackass an offer (twice, I believe) only to have him strut away like everybody else will be jeopardizing their chances in the LeBron sweepstakes for some 6'3'' guard with wildly hot and cold shooting streaks to complement his inability to pass. Let somebody else have Ben Gordon, I say. Sure, he can become the top scorer on a different team and they can get knocked out each year in the first round. Have fun with that. Me, I want another Larry O'Brien Trophy to be brought into Grant Park.
Anywhere but Los Angeles next year, please.
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