So I’m not even sure where to begin with the NBA Finals thus far. For one thing, it’s my first taste of real employment for a while so my opportunities to watch any ball have been flattened. Nevertheless, as Johnny Tap so eloquently put it once upon a time, it’s harder to pick than a broken nose.
As a reference point this is about as close to halfway as you’ll get for this series; game four is tonight and before you know it we’ll be back in LA for the final two (assuming it gets that far). Since I’m not really in a position to wax lyrical on what’s happened so far, I’ll offer up what I know to be true. Firstly, Kobe is pretty much having another stinker of a series, by his lofty playoff standards. This may be something to do with the Celtics defence, or perhaps when the finals come, he thinks he needs to do it all on his own. Regardless, while he hasn’t played well for the most part, he’s still managed to leave his imprint on both LA wins. If he actually shoots the ball well – which he should – anytime soon, the Lakers can put a figurative hand on the trophy. But in this series, after what’s happened, is it really a case of when and not if?
Boston needs to get Paul Pierce more involved in the game. He needs some buckets in the first quarter of any game just to get in a rhythm, because right now, he’s something of an afterthought. Artest has done a sublime job of shutting him down and he seemed to be just missing a lot of shots. That’s basketball. Having said that, it was mentioned that whenever Rajon Rondo has a good game, Pierce has the opposite – and vice versa. They both need a lot of the ball to be effective, but when Rondo does the team seems to flow well; when Pierce does, he can get seriously hot and the team can feed off him. So it’s almost six of one, half a dozen of the other. Regardless, he is Boston’s best player and he needs to have an impact immediately if Boston are to survive.
I think the best thing about this series thus far has been the intensity. There have been an above average amount of fouls called in the series which seems to have detracted from the flow of the game and players, but these guys are trying, for lack of a more effective word. The effort and intensity are literally off the scales, and the crowds are playing their part. All up, it has made for a much more compelling product than last year, and so far, more exciting than ’08. Because right now, you still have no idea who will win. A 7 game series is still on the table, and regardless of who you want to win, this is the perfect result.
