What the Thunder Said...

As we had predicted earlier, the Spurs outlasted the Suns in six games Friday night. You'll read a lot about the shafting of the Suns and how it affected the series, when Robert Horry cross checked Steve Nash in Game 4 resulting in the (some say unfair) suspension of two of the Suns top players, Stoudemire and Diaw. Yes, the Suns may always be haunted by what-ifs, but they shouldn't be.

The Spurs don't technically win games, they merely beat their opponent. Game 5 helps to highlight this: when nearly every game showed both teams over the century mark, the low scoring game 5 (in which the Suns were missing their key players) had a box score of 88 - 82. The Spurs don't have a scoring ploy, other than to shut down the opposing team and run their own offense. This is a refreshing change from the outscore-your-opponent NBA. However, clearly not everyone agrees with me.

The Spurs face the Jazz for the Western Conference finals, and should deal with them easily (five or six games). I think they'll similarly dispatch whoever wins in the East between the Pistons and the LeBron James revamped Cavs. I'd love to see a Spurs - Pistons finals, which would be a battle of coaches. Unfortunately for the Pistons, I think Popps just has more talent to work with.

In hockey, the Red Wings are locked up at two games apiece with Anaheim. It looks like the Ottawa Sens are making the Buffalo Sabres look like the Red Sox of hockey. They lead the series 3 - 1. I'm hoping for a Red Wings - Senators final, which would be too tough to call.

Update:
Scott Burnside argues that whoever wins Sunday's battle between the Red Wings and Ducks has the edge. While the Big Red Machine has been tied at 2 a piece in each of its previous series (and then gone on to steamroll the opposition), the Ducks are taking their first real postseason challenge. Whoever wins game 5 in a 2-2 tie have historically gone on to win the series 80% of the time. Will this hold true here? Go Red Wings!

Any predictions from the readers? Favorite teams or players? Who do you think will go the distance? Leave your crystal ball readings in the comments, or shoot me an email!

Labels: City of Man, Gymnasium