XMAS Day, let's talk about the NBA



It says something about the NBA that the undercard* of the annual christmas double-header features the two best teams in the association in a rematch of last year's NBA finals.

The NBA, moreso than any of the major sports corporations, is "star-driven" in it's approach to marketing itself. It makes sense then that the Kobe-Shaq Phil Jackson - Pat Riley match-up is the centerpiece of the christmas day.



It's a redemption year for Phil and Kobe of the Lakers. Just making the playoffs, which I believe they will, is enough to get their monkeys off their backs. The argument against Phil has always been that's he's only won because he's had the league's top talent. The argument against Kobe is that he's only been successful because he's had the league's dominant big man on his team. A playoff berth with this roster where only one player (Odom) other than Kobe would be an NBA starter would go a long way to mitigate both those arguments against.

In a sense, Shaq has something to prove as well. He hasn't really won championships without kobe and phil jackson (although he's been in finals and been very successful without them), but the story-line for Shaq is one of age and his window of dominance closing.

The story has to be Riley. As Miami's GM, he put together a combustible assemblage of characters (in essence a team that only he could coach) and returned to the sidelines when his trusted lieutenant inexplicably resigned. As a fan of the 80s Pat Riley, I'm hoping that he wins one more time and goes out on top. A championship in Miami would somehow legitimize the NY and Miami eras and stamp him as an all-time great coach as opposed to a great coach in his era. His Miami team is the sort that he could push to a championship. Not only do they have all the parts, but the eastern conference only has one super-team (Detroit)** to contend with.

Do I think they'll do it? If they're healthy in the playoffs and maintain their focus on running the offense through Shaq in the post, yes they can beat Detroit to reach the finals (San Antonio is a different discussion). That said, Miami is one Shaq injury from being an early playoff exit regardless of how much potential Dwayne Wade has.


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My Pat Riley "credentials": As a youth I read his book "Showtime" more than once. In that same era, I also read "The Winner Within". I winced when Riley took the Knicks head coaching job and brought a street-tough style (that would have made the Bad Boys seem rather pleasant) to the NBA, but later grew to appreciate the idea that intensity (or force of will) could make up for shortcomings in raw talent. I have never understood his move to Miami, and have been dismayed by what it will mean for his legacy.

* Note: I like the Pistons very much. They have a depth and a well-dispersed high level of talent that reminds me of many late 80s teams before the waves of expansion created this "two-stars and you're a good team" era.

** Note: Detroit is the number one team in the Eastern Conference. I would place Miami as number 2, Indiana as number 3 (with a non-crazy Ron Artest they would be higher), Cleveland as number 4, then a big scrum that includes Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukee, Washington, and New Jersey.

Posted: Sun - December 25, 2005 at 09:44 AM      

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