Sports Talk with MC

by MC

Here in the Philippines, the rainy season is about to kick in.

Along with that, comes the impending deluge representative of the glory and drama involved in witnessing, playing in, and breaking down, the NBA Finals.

The Spurs became the first team in with a resounding 109-84 victory over the overmatched Utah Jazz. Carlos Boozer was held to 3-10 shooting, and ace point gaurd Deron Williams was brought back down to Earth, as he was held to 11 points, on 4-9 shooting, along with only 2 assists.

Why did the Spurs win the West this year? Well, apart from Parker and Duncan, and the fact that the Jazz are a young and inexperienced team piloted by an old dog in Jerry Sloan, San Antonio was the benefactor of stellar play from its two Argentinian stalwarts, Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto. Michael Finley’s had a renaissance-type playoff run as well, scoring in double figures in all of 1 of his games in the Western Conference Finals.

In the East, the Pistons and Cavaliers are in a dogfight. A betting man would still stake his claim to a Pistons-Spurs final, but don’t count King James and the Cavs just yet. Wildcard rookie Daniel Gibson’s provided enough toughness, athleticism, and smarts to supplement Lebron’s brilliance, and to make up for Larry Hughes’ woes (he’s been bothered by an injury as of late). Furthermore, allowing anyone whose last name isn’t James to make 12-12 free throws is a felony, plain and simple. Gooden, Varejao, and Ilgauskas have played solidly, and should they manage to keep Rip and Chauncey in check, then there is a good chance that maybe, just maybe, Cavaliers fans can finally witness their team make it to the big stage and erase memories of Jordan kicking Craig Ehlo all over the floor.

Because I am a betting man, I’d say the Pistons and Spurs will still tussle in the 2007 edition of the NBA Finals, but hey, gamblers aren’t always correct. Odds are just that- odds, not final judgments. This is what makes it all so thrilling- the unpredictability of it all.

*Who would have thought Portland would land the number one pick? Look for them to grab Oden and keep Zach.

*Durant’s a shoo-in for the Sonics if Oden goes first.

*Conley, Jr. should go to the Hawks at 3rd because of the mere fact that Joe Johnson needs backcourt help and that Speedy Claxton’s acquisition has turned out to be a bust- a really big one.

*Kobe wants out of LA? Hmmm…I think the melodrama will eventually boil over, with Kobe staying in LA with Jackson as his coach, and LA getting rid of Odom and others in the process of getting help in the form of a solid 3 or 1.

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