Match Made in Heaven

Well David Stern's wish is well perhaps Dick Bavetta's command.  After a grueling month of playoff action the Lakers and Celtics have begun the 2008 NBA Finals.  Now while I am not saying that these two teams do not deserve to be here, as both are two of the best teams in the game today.  However, what annoys me is the drama "manufactured" around the Celtics run to the finals.  In fact, it hasn't been since the 1987 Lakers won it all that a team had more than 8 playoff losses on the way to the championship.  Seems fitting right, the Celtics avenge their 1987 loss to the Lakers with a remarkable playoff run that saw the  Celtics potentially lose the most games for an NBA champion since that 1987 season.  This is what annoys me exactly.  That sounded stupid didn't it.  Right, who cares that the Lakers were last team to lose more than the 8 games already lost in the playoffs by the Celtics and still win it all?  For that matter who cares that the Andrew Bynum was not even born when the Lakers and Celtics last played in the Finals.  To me this is a failed attempt by the NBA to drum up extra excitement about the series.  Don't get me wrong I am sure that Lakers and Celtics fans the world over care passionately about this rivalry, but my point is that Cavs, Spurs, and casual NBA fans do not.  My second issue with this years playoffs gets back to my original point about the drama and suspense set up around the Cs.  So when was the last time the team with the best regular season record was a "surprise" to get to the finals.  It seems like every step of the way the Celtics have been made out to be an underdog or at least a shaky favorite.  Whether it was the excitement that the Hawks could knock them off or the expectations for the Pistons to send them home.  To me it seems a combination between officiating and pr that has created all of this.  The pr is obvious with ESPN running 24/7 creating the sports opinions of many viewers.  Further, much has been made about the drastic differences between home and road games in this years playoffs.  The easiest explanation is the manner of the officials with regard to the home team.  Anyway, the Celtics have won the first two games in a somewhat convincing fashion so it will be interesting to see how the series turns when they head back to LA.  With the Celtic's playoff road record as it is this season along with Pierce's knee injury this series could have just begun....

I will update tomorrow with Indians and Cavs reports and continue to post constantly with new content.  

For now I will lead you with this quote from LeBron James " Besides, dude's fakin' "