Well I aint been on in a minute but let me drop some thoughts on the conference finals.
First up Detroit. Man, that **** was just unfourtunate and still I feel like Dertoit beat themselves. Those guys underestimated Cleveland (shoot I think we all did) the result was in a home court series Miami stole on there court and although they played well in other home games that's all Miami needed. But oddly in a time when everyone is blaming people in Detroit they need look at themselves. I was shocked that the Pistons didn play with that sense of urgency and blue collar work that defined themselves the past 4 years. It's one thing when your opposition flat out beats you, it's another thing when you dont play well yourself. Lotta people want to blame Flip for the team's misfortune. I feel bad for dude a little. When they were winning he got no credit for giving the team an offensive and letting them play more fluidly. However when the screw ups happen in the playoffs people want to put the blame on him and say Larry Brown was right (huh? right about what? As if LB defined himself in NY this year...please). But with that said there could have been some adjustments.
Notice that when they played the zone they won (game 2 and 5) and when they played man to man they got burned. They knew this, why did they change? Of course one on one Wade is gonna burn you that's why you play zone and have Tayshaun Prince gaurd the back. Prince already has stumped Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant in the past playoffs and Lebron James in the 4th of game 7. Why not apply this consistently? Very very bizarre.
Now I'm hearing people talk about this is the end of the Pistons run. It's over. Really? It depends on the off season. Ben Wallace is a huge priorty. He played like **** in the last 2 rounds but he's still Ben Wallace and at 32 he's still one of the strongest and hardworking frontcourt players in the league. His relationship with flip is a concern but I dont know why these 2 cant work it out, I dunno if either has to go. I dont think the team needs a revamp but they do need to re-vamp there bench. One of the keys to there success in the playoffs in 2003-2006 was they had deep benches (Okur, Cliffy, Corliss, Lindsey etc) this year they played with essentially 7 man rotation with Lindsey and Dice coming off the bench and compared to the Heat they needed more punch than that. They also need a slasher who can come off the bench with the same impact as Lindsey and Dice. My guess is bring Mike James back to the Pistons, he would be a good pickup. Basically if they beef up the bench, re-sign Ben and use this season as a motivation like they used Game 7 last year there still a championship contender. They may in there 30's but it's not like there 35-37, they still got 4 years of playing ability in them. But they need to resurrect that Motown Blue Collar mentality for real. Pistons can still be proud: A Title, 2 Eastern Conference Titles, 4 straight ECF's apperance, having the best record in the east 3 out of the last 4 seasons and a franchise record 64 wins created by a bunch of mid-level castoffs is EXTRAORDINARY achievement. I dont why you fairwhether fans who only watch the highlights on sportscenter are hating they redefined the way the game is played in a superstar-first sports culture.
Now on to Phoenix. First of all I dont like white people in general (lol).....but bigs up and infinte props to Nasty Nash and PHX suns. I mean in the words of DJ Kay Slay DAMN! They came into this season with people saying they wouldnt even make the playoffs and they stuck it out. Boris Diaw, Raja Bell and Leandro Barbosa were straight beastin. And I gotta give props to Tim Thomas. Dude's taking a lotta flack in his careeer but he really manned up with Phoenix and that "Yayo/Cena" Hand waive after his 3's is classic. This team kept there resilency against the fake ass Lakers and the clippers was great. Steve Nash truly is the MVP he makes everyone around him better. Phoenix are gonna be a monster next year if Amare returns to full health. He beat up on the Mavs last year and I think he could do the same next year.
But they need to address there defensive issues. True, that sometimes the best defense is an offense but you can outrun teams for so long. Now I'm hearing that there's talk of trading Marion? Why? I hope not he's a staplepiece for the Suns for 7 years. I heard he wants to go somehwere he would get more regocnition. Well it does suck that he doesnt get as much pub as others on the team but yo Matrix keep doing and play the background bruh. You dont want that much attention. Dont Joe Johnson the situation. So like B Wallace with the Pistons I hope Shawn stays in the valley.
Props to the best defensive team and offensive team. I really wanted to see a Pistons-Suns final. It would have been fun, Phoenix is great to watch on the run but so is Detroit when they do defensive to offensive runs. Plus seeing Sheed and TT go back and forth hitting threes would have been classic. Both teams played excellent against a lotta adversity coming into the season so big them ups
Oh and more thing I'm hearing some of you dudes saying you wouldnt want a San Antonio and Detroit in the finals. Well in the words Gloria Carter's favourite son "Pardon me I had to laugh at that". Lets keep it for real, for real San Antonio and Detroit are still the 2 best teams in basketball in this current era even if there not in the finals there still the 2 best teams in the NBA and if your not a Mavs or Heat fan I know you would want some of there players on your squad. I mean Laker fans need to keep quiet, its bad enough you blew the 3-1 lead but the guy you let go looks like he's gonna win his 4th title without Kobe. Doesnt that ultimatley kill the Shaq-Kobe debate?
Now onto the finals. Well the matchups are close. Like my man J said Diop and Dampier provide big bodies to gaurd Shaq. But the question for the Heat is can they play defense? In the Detroit they didnt have to because the Pistons sadly were missing wide open shots. They are gonna have to gaurd the permiter against Dirk cause he dont play like Pastor Troy in GA.
Still unlike many I think Miami is more deep but the Mavs need to exploit, key lookout is to see if Josh Howard is gonna be healthy from that last series. Should be an interesting series.
Who do I want to win?
I want to see win? Well I dunno I want to see a Black Coach lift the NBA trophy
