The Starting Five

I’ve been in so many Nash/Kobe/MVP discussions the past month, I finally decided to give it a rest, but…but…I had to get one last tweet in:

Cause I’m twice as fast. My spirit you cast, so with honor I reach back in the past, give them 2 MVP’s to Kobe and watch him laugh at Nash.

I can’t help it. Don’t label me a hater for hating what you think I’m hating hater…

Because championships are more important? Yessir. I doubt Mark Madsen and the rest of his mates would disagree.

I’m getting a sense Steve Nash’s ability is somehow being compared to that of Kobe. Bean. Bryant.

What the hell are you smoking?

That’s like comparing the Suns to the Lakers franchise historically.

I get personal because this series is personal. Maybe not as much for the Lakers because they are defending champs, but in the Suns case a win here validates their success the last few seasons.

The league is also a business, so the perfect storm is brewing. Will the player with two MVP’s defeat the best player of the decade? A once in a generation type player who has major individual accomplishments, but has won one MVP trophy despite 4 championships and a Finals MVP to boot?

How. Can. That. Be?

Oh yeah, the video of this pic will be posted…again…but before that ultimate slice of edutainment, let’s get down to business but I must warn that if you are a Suns fan, you won’t like the latter stages of this preview. It’s just like the pic.

I go in like someone should have a long time ago…

It’s being reported Kobe had his knee drained. How will Kobe respond? I don’t personally think he’ll let anything get in the way in his quest for a 5th title and who better to go through than the Phoenix Suns?

This is his chance once again to give it to the Suns. He will not be stopped. Might average over 35 the entire series. I say…38.

Bynum isn’t practicing but will give what he has and I respect that. He’s  tired of being on the sideline during the playoffs and told me how precious an NBA career is here:

MT: I remember vividly seeing you sit next to the court at the Finals and you look(ed) like you were straight pissed off. Help us out here. Did it inspire you? Was it a good thing?

AB: It definitely wasn’t a good thing to be in that position of being hurt. Only thing it made me understand is how quickly it all can be taken away. How you can be on top of the world one minute and below it the next.

Do not question Andrew’s mind, it’s the body that can’t go. Trust me he wants to be out there.

Defensively the Lakers will have to stop the Suns pick and roll. Steve Nash wants to get into the lane and either score or kick it outside to a bevy of shooters. If the Suns are able to get the score consistently in triple digits and play some credible defense they have a chance. The problem is, the Lakers can score with them. It’s the same thing with the Orlando/Boston series. Boston can play Orlando’s game.

If the Suns give up 30 point quarters at will they are gonna get blown out. Grant Hill will be asked to handle a lot of responsibilities on both ends of the floor. It’s good to see the old man go. He’s persevered in Phoenix since landing a couple of years back and seems to be very happy where he is professionally but he can’t guard Kobe.

When will Amar’e Stoudemire commit to defense? Will he ever? If not, the Lakers interior players will kill him offensively. This is where LA wants to be, they will take no shorts. Pau Gasol will be steady and is definitely one of the best skilled big men in the game. The Lakers will have a decided rebounding advantage based on their size…even with Lopez back. Robin Lopez is expected to play after being out since March with injury. He’s definitely another big man Phoenix needs.

What will Ron Artest do? Will he be able to keep up with the Suns fast pace or is he simply getting ready for the Finals? Of course I say that tongue in cheek, but seriously how effective will he be here regarding shot selection?

Seems like Lamar Odom flies under the radar the entire season and blasts off during the playoffs. His versatility will easily translate to the pace the Suns want to play off broken sets in the triangle. Expect a big series no matter who is guarding him. Something like 17, 7 and 7.

The Lakers bench has to play better than it has in these playoffs. This will be grueling series only because of the pace. Phil Jackson will open up his rotation just so players get their rest.

Alvin Gentry did a great job for the Suns. They aren’t the team they once were with Mike D’Antoni. They actually play a modicum of defense now and shoot later in the shot clock. Their aim is still to exploit match up advantages in the pick and roll.

This is a huge series for Steve Nash. The two time MVP is up against the ghosts of MVP’s past and scrutiny is coming for that ass. Derek Fisher is being thrown in the trash but most definitely is savvy enough to handle Nash when it comes down to it. Trust.

Nash will have to play outta his mind every single game for his team to pull off the insurmountable. I expect Game One to be an embarrassment because the Lakers are playing their best ball right now. Nash is sick on the break, driving along the baseline and getting into the lane. Will Amar’e step up or will he be dominated because the Lakers front line towers over him and his mates? He’s got to put up power forward numbers from a rebounding perspective…something in the 15-20 range…every night. Single digits won’t cut it.

Somehow there’s this thing where an athlete capable of putting up 40 has become a selfish player. Kobe Bryant is a scoring machine that has picked his spots. He could care less about 50, 60, 70 and even 81 point games. He could care less about LeBron James receiving all the shine as if he’s become this second rate star. He could care less that Steve Nash is actually sharing the same marquee.

Sike!

Kobe is gonna shoot the Suns eyes out and if you are a fan of Phoenix, turn the TV off now. Right now because a feeling of frustrated hatred might take over your summer.

Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest players to ever pick up a basketball. Not some gimmick star playing in a system designed not to win a championship. The Suns are one of the most over hyped teams in a long time and Steve Nash is the most overrated basketball player (possibly athlete) ever. He. Plays. No. Defense! There are two sides of the ball and he plays one well and the other very poorly. The hype the Suns received this season is just so a demography of fans spending  their hard earned money is still watching a NBA it can’t seem to identify with. The buck stops here. Watch as people are actually shocked as the Suns get destroyed. It’s not gonna be pretty.

This video will be symbolic for decades to come because the statement it makes will forever be relative to how Kobe feels about your MVP award.

Nash robbed them. Two times quick.

Be peace and please wake up. Your sons are getting fooled. You should want better for them.

Sorry Beans banged it on ya boy Doug Collins. At least he grabbed a piece of Philly and tried to take it with him. What was that about?

Just so you know. Hate is diminishing a credible standard because you yourself are in fact inferior. Realize the difference.

Steve Nash should never be mentioned in the same breath as Kobe Bryant. He’s entered unfairly this level of history that somehow is pushing the greats down a list he just doesn’t belong on. Name one reason why he’s better than Cheeks, Lever, Price, Archibald, Stockton…hell even Nixon? Each of these players added more to what the NBA has to offer and because of the current corporate restraints Nash has somehow become this mythical NBA giant. That’s BS. I don’t care what he does the rest of his playing days. He is a great passer. He’s a great shooter. He’s a great teammate and is definitely a great man but he is definitely no Kobe basketball Bryant. Stop it. Stop it now. Get over yourselves if you actually think any MVP this generation was anyone’s outside of Tim Duncan, Shaq, Kobe, Kevin Garnett and now LeBron. That’s just how it is. LeBron is going to have to deal with not winning a championship as he shines his two MVP awards. LeBron you are now on the clock. Step your game up because when you enter the two time MVP discussion, you better have chips to defend the accolades. Straight up. This ain’t just about Nash. Don’t get it twisted.

How does this all tie in to an WCF preview you ask? Look in the gold sprinkled historical dust emanating from Kobe’s kicks as the Lakers stroll into the Finals without even a baby punch and there’s your answer.

I’m not even a Lakers fan cot dammit.

Lakers in 5.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 at 12:35 pm and is filed under Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.