Playoff Basketball

Well it is that time of the year again. What time might you ask, the time to be disappointed and to use the often cited phrase, "There is always next year." There are two times of the year when i find myself saying that phrase, NBA playoffs and MLB post season. Two of the most notorious teams at getting your hopes up, the Chicago Cubs and the Phoenix Suns, always seem to torture me. This year, the Suns where especially brutal to me. Not because they were ousted in the first round, but because they got the first round match up that they were looking for and still blew it. I know it sounds crazy to think that the Suns WANTED the Spurs in the first round, but hey nothing about them has made any sense anyways. Here are the reasons why the Suns wanted the Spurs:

(1) If they could beat the Spurs, then there was no team in there way with a physiological test in the way. The Spurs are the only team (with exception to Dallas) that have eliminated the Suns out of the playoffs in the last 4 years. Not only that, but pre-Steve Nash, it was the Spurs that knocked the suns out of the playoffs in the first round also. If they were able to get over the hump, they felt it would be the sign that they were destined to be the champs.

(2) The Spurs were the reason why the Suns got Shaq. Let there be no mistake or ambiguity as to why the trade for Marion took place, it for for defeating the Spurs, and it failed. By saying it failed, I am not saying Shaq didn't meet expectation, it is just that the desired result of the team was not produced. Did they wait too long to pull the trigger? I don't know, but one thing I do know, they traded away their future and any chance of longevity way before the Shaq deal. For an excellent article on this very subject, read this article (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080501). Also remember Shaq out played everyone's expectations this year, who is to ay he wont do the same next year? ( Hey remember what i said at the beginning "There's always next year!")

(3) The Spurs were one of the ONLY Western Conference teams that the Suns had any success against in the regular season. I know that means nothing when it comes to the post season, but I dont the Suns would have had ANY chance had they met the Hornets in the first round ( also a reason why I highly doubt the Suns wouild have gotten all the way anyways). This season, unlike most in the past had nothing really to do about playing better or worse teams in the post season, it was/is all about the match ups. Had Dallas beat the Hornets and the Suns beats the Spurs I wold have liked Phoenix's chance of going all the way to the finals, but you can't rig the playoffs (only the league has that ability).

While this series according to the end result didn't appear even close, those who watched all the games know how close it really was. Had it not been for Hack-A-Shaq (something that should be horribly illegal) the Suns may have escaped with a series win. Also a lack of identity and fourth quarter execution cost them big. On a side note, the thing that bugs me most about the league is their horribly inconsistent calls. Last year, in a non-existent altercation between Robert Horry and Steve Nash, two of the Suns players were suspended for a game, and yet this year, there have been MULTIPLE altercations where NO players have been suspended, where is the consistency. Even worse is the inconsistent fouls and free throw lane violations that are almost NEVER called that showed up the the Suns/Spurs series. It is no wonder Phoenix fans are so paranoid, they have legitimate claims. But enough of the demise of Phoenix. As for their future, they have one choice, if they want to win it all next year (or think to have a chance, they have to be willing to mortgage their future even more and get consistent three point shooters that are proven playoff guys. Sorry Barbosa, I like you a lot, but when it comes to the post season, you just don't cut it. Also, Amare is going to have to learn how to be multi-dimensional, none of this pick and roll only offense and you need to learn some moves on the defensive end. But only the future knows what is in store.

As for the rest of the playoffs, I am sensing a Boston Lakers show down, just what the league wants and doesn't deserve. I myself would be excited to watch a match up of Kobe against Allen and Pierce. I am predicting Boston in 6. As for now, the Suns can dream about next year and well for me, it is looking like this is "Next Year" for the Cubs...