Chris Butler has written for numerous publications, including the Wilton
Bulletin and Fantasy Sports Zone Magazine. E-mail him
here.
Four teams remain. Lakers. Trail Blazers. Pacers. Knickerbockers. One team goes away happy. Three go away with a swirling, empty pit in their gut. Of course, you only have to watch the games, so you really can't lose. So please, for your own sake, just put away the remote. You won't need it I promise. It's NBA Conference Finals Week on the NBA on TNT.
The Lakers and Portland have already gotten started. L.A.
Scottie Pippen looks to prove he can do it without that Jordan guy...
got off to a 21 point lead at halftime and never looked back, coasting to a easy 109-94 victory in Game 1. In desperation the Blazers turned to the "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy in an ill-fated attempt to slow down the league's MVP. However, their little scheme proved as misguided as launching a land war in Asia as the Diesel was able to knock down 12 of the playoff record 25 gimmes he was awarded in the fourth quarter. The Blazers will need to come up with a new plan of attack in Game 2, like, for example, having their big men score points. Portland's own seven footer, Arvydas Sabonis, nabbed a grand total of zero points during the contest and Rasheed Wallace was thrown out in the third quarter for his cruel, penetrating stares at referee Ron Garretson. Game 2 should prove much tighter as Scottie Pippen looks to overcome the mind games of his former coach, Jedi Master Phil Jackson, and prove he can do it without that Jordan guy. Shaq, Kobe, Scottie, and Rasheed start things all over again Monday night on the NBA on TNT at 9:30 PM ET in Game 2.
The Eastern Conference finals are a repeat of last year's thriller, as the Knicks once again tangle with the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks earned the trip after sending the Miami Heat packing for the third straight year with a hard-fought 83-82 triumph in Game 7 in Miami. Though Latrell Sprewell had 24 points on the night and grabbed the final rebound, Knicks guard Chris Childs was the hero, scoring the team's first 10 points of the fourth quarter. Look for the same strong, physical play and defense when the Knicks meet the Pacers for their sixth series in the last eight years. Indiana will have the home court edge, but of course they had it last year as well. Things may be different as this is Coach Larry Bird's last chance to take this team to the finals, and he has an even better Jalen Rose and one of the game's best clutch shooters in Reggie Miller. If the Knicks are able to eke out a split in the first two, the series should go seven. We've got Game 1 and Game 2 at 8:30 PM ET on Tuesday and Thursday.
Alright, are you excited yet??? I mean come on. These are the Conference Finals! The NBA's four best teams scratching and clawing for four victories and a chance to become Champions. You don't have to do anything. We've got all the cameras, the cords, the big ass truck with all the equipment, and the multibillion dollar satellites. We do it all for you. All this week on the NBA on TNT.
