NBA Western Conference Playoff Preview

BY EVAN SPORER

EDITORIAL. PHOTOS BY AP IMAGES

The NBA season has finally concluded. And while much has been made of the Eastern conference and the likes of the Miami Heat, probable MVP winner Derrick Rose, and the ageless Celtics, the Western Conference is certainly formidable in its own right. Check out how the West might play out.

#1 San Antonio Spurs vs.  #8 Memphis Grizzlies

The Spurs have heard the criticisms before.

They’re too old. Their time has passed. They’re boring to watch, and haven’t adjusted to the new NBA.

Well, I’ll take boring and effective over flashy and on the outside any day (a’hem, Golden State Warriors).

The Spurs finished first in the Western Conference this year, amassing 61 wins, giving them home court throughout the West’s playoffs. They did so with the many of the same faces -- Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili -- but also an infusion new producers: DeJuan Blair, George Hill, and Gary Neal.

Even Richard Jefferson, whose acquisition was supposed to be a bust, came up big for the Spurs this year.

So, as always, this team was a defensive juggernaut. Although their 98 points allowed per game is deceptively high, the Spurs will wear you down on D. They’ll make you work on every possession just to get a decent look, and on many possessions, teams won’t. Defense wins championships; plain and simple, just ask Spurs head coach Greg Popovich (the guys has won four NBA titles).

Can't Get No Respect

By Alexander Tam

Editorial. Photos by AP News

The late and great comedian Rodney Dangerfield once said, “I can’t get no respect.” The battle cry of the Denver Nuggets and their fans rings an eerily similar tune.

Even after a heartbreaking game one loss to the Lakers, the Nuggets continue to prove that they are a force to be reckoned with. Their 102-100 loss to the Lakers marks only their third postseason loss – all by two or less points.

A lot can be said about the Nuggets. They are a team that has never made it to the NBA finals, a team that nobody gave a second look at, and a team who made playoff history against New Orleans – a game that wasn’t even televised on national TV.

They are a team of underdogs and have gone through their fair share of strife. Chris Anderson was suspended for two years for violating the NBA drug abuse policy. Nene has come back from testicular cancer, chemo, and surgery. Carmelo Anthony’s leadership has been constantly questioned, and has been overshadowed by fellow 2003 draftees Kobe, Lebron, and D-Wade.

I have news for all the doubters - the Nuggets are back in full swing. Nene is playing with raw power on both offense and defense, Anderson is second in the NBA with blocks, and the always underestimated Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points tonight and did an excellent job in being physical with Kobe. And if that wasn’t enough to grab your attention, the Nuggets now have “a gift from the basketball Gods” as coach Carl puts it; Chauncy Billups. Mr. number 7 (same as Elway’s…coincidence?) is just that. This 4-time NBA All-Star, Finals MVP and 2004 Champion has been and continues to be the shinning homegrown savior of the Nuggets.

But this isn’t enough for the monster that is the sports world. Flashy basketball moves, big names, and drama is what they like. Never mind that the Nuggets are a more well rounded team than either Cleveland of L.A., its all about Kobe or Lebron. Wade was given his time but then the focused quickly changed to King James and the Black Mamba.

Remember watching that historic game where Denver beat New Orleans by an NBA record 58 points? Neither do I, because it wasn’t nationally televised. It was on NBA TV. An NBA playoff game wasn’t nationally televised. How many Lakers, Celtics, or even Rockets games weren’t televised nationally? I will help you out, ZERO.

The media infatuation with the Lakers and King James must be put to an end, and I believe the Nuggets can help with at least half of that – or hopefully all of it. You can have your disagreements with me, but this is what being a fan is all about: never giving up on your team. And when the sun sets it all comes down to this:

L.A. - Where jaded movie stars and fans take championships for granted

Denver - Where fans don’t take the few championships they have for granted, and are faithfully awaiting the next.

NBA Playoffs: Where Amazing Is Happening

By Alexander Tam

Editorial, Photos by AP

Before every NBA playoff game I bring the following (and you would be wise to do the same): a bucket, a towel, plenty of water, loose fitting clothing, and a power bar. Why do I need all of this you may ask?

Because, my eager padawans, during playoff basketball you will loose 20 pounds of sweat, which is why you need the towel. You will become dehydrated from all the sweating, hence the water. When Ray Allen makes that buzzer-beating-three with two hands in his face you will jump out of your seat, making good use of the loose fitting clothing - oh and stretching will help, you don't want to pull anything. And finally, you will need to find more energy during half time as it has all been used up from screaming and jumping, which is why you have the power bar - healthy, and a great source of energy. NBA playoffs are indeed that exciting, and then some.

With a record setting NBA playoff season halfway through, you can expect it to only get better from here. So far we have had a playoff history winning margin of 58 points by my Nuggets, a record setting seven overtimes in the series by the Celtics and Bulls,

and in that series Derrick Rose went for a record matching rookie playoff debut 36 points in game one. All of this just from the first round.

So what exactly makes NBA playoffs so exciting? You may say, what about football Tam? That’s exciting too! My friends, don’t hate me for this, but I’m here to tell you that NBA playoffs are MORE exciting than football playoffs. And here is why.

In the NFL, you have two teams going at it – winner moves on; loser goes home. In the NBA, we have best out of seven series and it goes for quite a while. You may cry foul and say, “the single-game elimination makes it that more intense!” However, with more games, you get the added drama of dragging the series out. Teams go back to game film, they come prepared the next day to counter the opposing teams’ superstar, they go over what they did wrong and you can see a completely different team on the court. The pressure only builds after game 1 and so does the excitement. Plus – Red Sox fans read this one closely – is there anything more awesome than a team coming back from down three games to none in a series?

You can also sense and see it from the players themselves. Basketball becomes physical like you’ve never seen before. Every foul becomes a hard foul. We have seen ejections, flagrant fouls and suspensions left and right. Each player gives it their all come playoff time. We saw it from a Bulls team that refused to loose. We see it when Lebron and fellow teammates go bananas when their point guard wins a simple jump ball.

And then there is the crowd. The home crowd expects nearly every single basket to go in. And if it does, they go berserk – every point sunk, every block made, every rebound grabbed. And if the game is close, expect to find 50,000 people who have lost their voice the next day.

The last time the Denver Nuggets made it past the first round, it was 1994, and they were an eight seed. The team they beat? A one seed. Now, in 2009, they look like a lock to make the Western Finals. Because in the game of basketball, a player suspended for two years for violating drug rules can return to be the team’s savior and help push them through the first round of playoffs for the first time in 15 years. In the fast-paced game of basketball, a 15-point deficit can turn into a five-point lead in a matter of three minutes. In the game of basketball, a King and an MVP has single-handedly brought a lost Cavaliers team to its first championship round ever, and may give them their first ring this year.

In the game of basketball, this is where amazing happens? You better believe it.