I Do! I Do Love This Game!

I have to admit that I am absolutely loving the NBA playoffs this year. It's not just because the Bulls are in it either.

Though it certainly helps.

There have been some absolutely fantastic series so far, and we could possible be facing three Game 7's this weekend.

As far as the Bulls go, it was a nice run, but unfortunately Shaq decided to shut people up last night. It was still a great season, despite being eliminated. I guessed that the Heat would win in 6, and regretfully I was correct.

A few good things that came out of the Bulls playoff series was now the rest of the country has seen what we can do. We are no longer going to be viewed as the doormats of the league like we have been since Jerry Krause blew up the dynasty.

Andres Nocioni was easily the best Bull in this series, and quite possibly the best player in this series. Though realistically I think you have to give it to Dwyane Wade. (BTW it is true that Wade has been nominated for Best Actor in next year's Academy Awards.) Also Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon may start getting some respect from NBA officials now.

That right there was another reason I felt the Bulls had to make the playoffs again, instead of tanking for another lottery pick. The Bulls on the season never got to the free throw line. By getting to the playoffs though they start earning respect from NBA officials. I mean has there ever been a more shocking moment in NBA history than when Shaquille O'Neal got called for 2 offensive fouls on LUKE SCHENCHER(Who!? Exactly.) in a 5 minute span?

No.

Shaq was in shock. In fact I think the shock he felt from that incident is what caused him to have such a poor Games 3-5. It wasn't until last night that he got over it.

There have also been a number of other great things so far in the first round. The best thing so far though has been the Suns/Lakers series.

This series has easily been the classic. Two MVP candidates, buzzer beaters, overtimes, shoving matches, clotheslines, even a guy named Smush. Game 4 featured 2 buzzer beaters by my MVP, Kobe Bryant, and last night Game 6 had another by the Suns Tim Thomas in overtime. I mean after Kobe's shot in Game 4 that gave the Lakers a 3-1 lead in the series, who didn't think this series was over? The Suns have no depth, and no inside game, and they sure as hell have no defense. Now 5 days later things have completely turned around and the series is tied 3-3 going back to Pheonix for Game 7.

This series has done something else that completely shocked the hell out of me. Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade have switched places as far as how I see them. Before this first round I hated Kobe, and loved Wade. Now after watching Wade posture and fake injuries through 6 games and Kobe transform into MJ I like Kobe and hate Wade.

Seriously the way Kobe has just become the ultimate teammate in this series has been absolutely stupefying. He's making Kwame Brown look like an NBA player and even some guy named Vujacic. Because of this Lamar Odom finally is playing like someone with the talent of Lamar Odom.

Kobe truly reminds me of MJ right now. Though Kobe appears to know how to take a left hook better.

In Game 6 he managed to score over 50 points, garnering some "Here comes the real Kobe." sentiment, but he still kept his team involved. It's just that with the Suns absolutely killing it from the 3 point arc, Kobe had to take over in the second half to keep the Lakers in it.

He did too. The only thing he did wrong was miss the game winner at the end of regulation. Whereas Steve Nash has also been incredible for the Suns in this series, I still feel Kobe should have been MVP even if the Suns win. (Which they will now.) If for nothing else than the fact that Kobe plays defense, and Nash just doesn't.

To me a guy who can play both offense and defense is more valuable than a guy who plays just offense. Especially when the guy who does both averages over 30 points a game, and routinely sticks the other teams best scorer.

The other fun series to watch so far has been the battle between Lebron and Gilbert. The Cavs lead the series 3-2 going into tonight's Game 6, and both James and Arenas have been huge for their teams.

Of course if either one of these teams was capable of playing defense it could be a classic series. I mean NOBODY on either of these teams plays defense.

NOBODY.

One need not look at the last play of game 5. With the game on the line, and possibly the series, the Wizards let the Cavs get the ball into Lebron uncontested. As if that wasn't enough Antawn Jamison then happily gave James the baseline.

Now I ask you this, pretend your an NBA defender. Your team has a 1 point lead with a few seconds left. You're guarding Lebron James. He's already got 43 points (I think. Something like that anyway) at this juncture, and you know he's getting the ball.

You think maybe you might not only try to stop him from getting it, but also try to stop the shot if he does?

Antawn Jamison wouldn't.

What this series has done though is shown us that Lebron can turn it on when it really matters. Not many people put up a triple-double in their first career playoff game. Also it's giving Gilbert Arenas some face time as he is still relatively unknown outside the DC area. Game 6 of this series is tonight, and if you're at a bar that's showing it and you like offense, check it out. You won't leave unhappy.

The scariest aspect of all so far though is the fact that an NBA Finals featuring the Clippers is not out of the question.

Let that sink in a lil bit.

Seriously the Clippers are playing great basketball right now thanks to 36 year old Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley, Elton Brand, and Corey Maggette. Looking at this team and they are built for the playoffs. They can score, rebound, and play good defense. I have no doubt that they will beat whoever comes out of the Suns/Lakers series. They would then likely go on to face the Spurs or Mavericks.

The Spurs are winning their series with Sacramento, but they've hardly looked as dominant as we've come to expect with the Spurs. Ginobli has been inconsistent, and at times they have been outplayed by the Kings. The Mavs had an easy time of it with the Grizzlies in the first round, so we really don't know what to expect of them yet.

A Spurs/Mavs series should be pretty good though. I'm still gonna root for the Clippers though for the rest of the playoffs. Lots of local connections there. Elton Brand is a former #1 pick of the Bulls, Corey Maggette grew up about 2 miles away from me, and Shaun Livingston is from Peoria.

Plus they're just really fun to watch.

The playoffs so far though have revitalized my enjoyment of NBA basketball. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the rest turns out. Bulls or no Bulls.

Random Thoughts

• Jose Contreras won his 13th straight start yesterday, despite not being at his best. Those are Jose's words, not mine, and keep in mind "not at my best" means 7.1IP 3H 3BB and 1 run. He has not lost a game since August 21, 2005, and is hands down the best pitcher in Major League Baseball. The White Sox are also the first team in the league to 20 wins, and it doesn't appear that they're going to slow down anytime soon.
• I nearly choked on my beer this weekend when I got to the first bar of the 14 hour bar crawl I was on and saw that the Texans DIDN'T draft Reggie Bush.
• Also as far as the Bears draft goes, well, I'm not happy. Though unlike the rest of this city, I'm not unhappy with it either. Jerry Angelo has a pretty good track record when it comes to drafting, ESPECIALLY on defense, so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Still wouldn't have minded a Tight End though.
• Speaking of the Bears, congrats to free safety Chris Harris for getting kicked out of the United Center during Game 6 of the Bulls/Heat for yelling at Alonzo Mourning. You did more than Mike Sweetney or Tyson Chandler did in the game.
• I do believe Jason Kendall charging the mound against John Lackey the other day is the first time I've seen a guy charge the mound WITHOUT getting drilled.