Ten Reasons why you should be watching the NBA Playoffs

by Trevor Freeman

Before I get started………yes I know I am the same guy who penned “25 Reasons why the NCAA trumps the NBA”. However I am a basketball fan. I think basketball is the finest sport on the planet and I believe this year’s NBA season has been the best one in the past five years. That is why I am writing this piece, as I would like to encourage all of you to watch the NBA playoffs. “40 games in 40 nights” has already gotten off to a great start and should only get better. Here are ten storylines/reasons why you should be watching the NBA Playoffs in reverse order.

10. An Old Face returned….

I don’t know how you felt, but I liked seeing the Bulls return to the fray. From the PA announcer to the way that building shakes when their team is going, the United Center is just a great place. It has been a good year for hoops in the state of Illinois, which is probably the most underrated hoops state in the Union.

9. Ben Gordon

Just about every writer out there has repeated it, but it is true. Ben Gordon is a modern day version of the “Boston Strangler”. There is not a more exciting player in the playoffs than the rookie out of UConn. Listen to the ovation he gets from the crowd in Chicago when he walks over to the table to check in. His game is tailor made for the viewing public. Completely unguardable as he needs no space at all to get off his jumper and is blinding off the bounce. Gordon also possesses two of the better nicknames out there with his current one of “Ben Jordan” and the one he had in college which was “Madison Square Gordon”.

8. Melo and D-Wade

I just wanted to be the writer that pointed out that they made the playoffs but LeBron didn’t. And yes, I am worried about being assassinated by the Nike/David Stern hype machine for pointing that out.

7. Can Detroit repeat?

Nobody plays better team basketball than the Detroit Pistons. They are the NBA equivalent of the New England Patriots. However the sledding this season is going to be rougher than last as Miami now runs on Diesel.

6. Spurs-Nuggets First Round Series already feels like a classic in the making

In my opinion they are the two of the three best teams in the Western Conference. Their first round matchup is going to be a seven game heavyweight fight. One thing I will say though is that Denver is going to regret settling for the split in San Antonio. Tim Duncan only had to play 28 minutes in Game 2 and his not having to bang in that game will leave him ready to roll in the Rocky Mountain State…………….Spurs in 7…..you didn’t think I wouldn’t make a prediction, did you?

(Time for a mid-article break. Did anyone see Tom Cruise is now hooking up with Katie Holmes? If you could trade lives with anyone, wouldn’t he be a prime candidate. First he gets Nicole Kidman, then he moves onto Penelope Cruz and now he scores the trifecta with Katie Holmes. Unfreakinbelievable.)

5. The Lakers/Kobe Bryant didn’t make the playoffs

Everybody off the bandwagon. You ain’t gotta go home, but you gotta get the hell up out of here. BTW, if you don’t think Phil Jackson will be strolling the sidelines in Hollywood next year then you are out of your mind. He has to love the begging right now coming from the Laker front office and Kobe Bryant.

4. The Diesel looks like the one that graduated from LSU

Shaq is in shape and is ready to inflict some damage on the rest of the NBA. Being held in check by Ben Wallace last year in the playoffs only adds to the drama that will be Miami-Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals.

3. The Phoenix Suns

I want everyone who has seen the Suns play three or more times this year to raise their hands. Not a lot out of you out there. If you like basketball then you should sit down and watch Steve Nasty and the boys play, because they play the most exciting brand of hoops I have seen in awhile.

2. This is Reggie Miller’s Last Stand

If you were down to your last $5 and you needed someone to hit you a big shot, wouldn’t you still take Miller over anyone currently playing in the NBA. There is something to be said about a guy who plays better when “the lights are on”. Miller never asked to wear a different uniform in a shameless attempt to be carried to a ring. For eighteen seasons he was the consummate professional while playing in the best basketball state in America. There is no way Miller lets Indiana lose in the first round to the Boston Celtics.

1. Because it is going to come down to Shaq and Duncan in the Finals…….

This is my bold prediction but I think it will play out. The two best players since Jordan walked away from the game will do battle with the NBA Title on the line. It does not get any better than that my friends.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] or [email protected].