I've been led to believe there are 14 people in Western New York who care about this, but I'm going to write it anyway — the NBA playoffs have been outstanding, and I'm going to see my beloved Boston Celtics in Cleveland at 8 p.m. this Saturday.
I've always been more of a college hoops fan than a pro-style guy, but this year's NBA is exceptional. Kobe Bryant has matured to a level beyond even my wildest dreams, to a point where I wonder if by the time his career ends we'll know him to be better than His Airness.
The New Orleans Hornets are bringing love to the beaten-down bayou by way of their freakishly sound point guard, Chris Paul. The Cavs have Lebron, the Spurs are a dynasty and the Pistons refuse to die. Orlando's Dwight Howard is an absolute monster, putting up 20 and 20 every time you check the box score.
The Celtics have enjoyed a rebirth of their own, with Kevin Garnett allowing Paul Pierce to finally be single-teamed every now and then. They play defense so suffocating that the state of Massachusetts may get arrested for attempted murder.
It won't end with this round either. Whether it's Boston/Detroit for the East, Kobe/Spurs for the West or some amalgamation of the Celtics, Lebron, Kobe or the Spurs in the Finals. It's all the reason that my fiancee and I are hopping in the car after Sportstalk Saturday to see Game Three between the Cavs and my Celtics. She loves basketball anyway, but the pro game is one that I'd bet women take to relatively easily, plus Lebron is a name snails recognize.
As an aside, I'd like to use this space to publicly abuse one of my favorite Howard Simon Show interns ever, Dan. Not only do you go to Syracuse, Dan, but you said drafting Rajon Rondo wouldn't work out for Boston, and that I was too hyped on him. Nice season for your Bulls, though, pal (I still love you Dan, if only for your jean shorts and massive rebounding during our victory in the Angola Village Jam Fest when Hager, you and I brought the pain to Chesley McNeil, Pete Gallivan and the Daybreak team. Holla).
There are so many questions to ask, perhaps the most important one being can I wear my "I Hate L.A." Celtics shirt to the game without being assaulted? This is a playoff game in another team's building, but I'd feel funny restraining my cheers anyway. I've worn a Cubs shirt at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, a Sabres shirt to a game in Columbus and a UB shirt to a basketball game at Pitt, but this is the playoffs.
Regardless, and I feel like a broken record because I make the same argument regarding soccer and baseball, but give the NBA a chance the next few weeks. Admire the freakish athletic ability of these gentlemen, and try to forget all the negative stories you hear, if only for a night. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, and then we'll have at least 15 people for hoops talk in Buffalo.
Go Celts.
EXTRA POINTS:
1) Pretend this paragraph is invisible. I know Corey Griswold and Jeremy White from the station also bought tickets tonight for Saturday, and the prices online are extremely reasonable. I was prepared to spend up to 80 bucks a piece for playoff tickets in Cleveland, and I got a terrific deal.
2) David Morse — Brutus from "The Green Mile" — was under the basket during Game One. I think he's one of the most underrated actors of all-time. He was also in "12 Monkeys," "The Slaughter Rule" and "16 Blocks," if you can't picture him.
3) The NBA, NHL and US soccer promos kick the stuffing out of MLB and NFL commercials. The matched-up player commercials are the latest of basketball's good ads.
4) When my fiancee took me to Boston for Celtics/Heat last year — she's a big Shaq/D-Wade fan — the celebrities in the crowd were Tommy Davidson of "In Living Colour," New Kids on the Block Donnie Wahlberg and Jordan Knight, and Patriots Larry Izzo and Wes Welker. Something tells me the courtside seats are a little more A-list this year, with the Celtics not purposely giving away 15-point fourth quarter leads for a better lottery pick.
Look for us on TV — in the upper deck with handkerchiefs for our noses, and email: nick@wgr550.com
