HoopsCorner.com Articles: Seasonal changes

H o o p s C o r n e r . c o m

HoopsCorner

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March 28, 2002

Looking at ESPN.com's NBA Standings section (yeah it's a shame a site like this doesn't even have it's own Standings section.), I noticed the x's next to the Nets' name and some other teams from the West.

Needless to say that means they've clinched the playoffs. Indeed it's that time again. The playoffs are coming, yet it seems to me like it was only yesterday when Shaq Daddy was laying down the beats for Dance Master Madsen.

The problem isn't that I enjoyed the season so much that I couldn't get enough. Rather, come to think of it this season has been one of the most unpredictable ones that I apparently spent too much effort trying to figure out the grand finale.

In unpredictable I mean, Jersey leading a Conference? Dallas thinking NBA certified jewelry? everyone thinking about an MVP who doesn't even rank in the top 40 in scoring? the Bulls in firm grip of the Lakers' number? the Knicks not grinding their way to the post-season? Pat Riley with a losing record?

Truly enough to disturb and upset the unassuming hoops fan. Since the regular season does give some revelation on the playoffs, the changes above will carry into the post-season.

The result will be new faces in May, and new heights for some players. But for us the fans who were looking to watch the next episodes of last year's playoff stars...heh there's always next year.

I wanted to see Vince try to pay back Iverson, Eddie Jones and David Wesley to show me who does his job best, Jamal Mashburn show Pat Riley that he was listening, and frankly just a lot more.

Simply put, the best playoff series are brewed over time. Kenyon Martin, Keith Van Horn, Antoine Walker, Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse, will be, and do just fine, but this year's playoffs will lack the ingredient that made Bulls-Knicks, Knicks-Heat, Bulls-Indiana the cream of the crop in series. Repetition.

The dillution of talent in the East has made the teams there, unable to hold any power position for long.

Championship contender here today, gone tomorrow. Right, those are the ones they call pretenders. That translates into no exciting story or saga for the true aficionado to scurry after.

If you're nothing like me, meaning your favorite teams are not in the East (go Knicks, go Wiz), you've got a real treat coming this post-season.

Meanwhile, the die-hard Eastern Conference fan will just have to wait for the days when serious and consistent regular season and playoff performers are again manufactured near the Atlantic.

Next: New Jersey: It's our turn (move over)
Previous: In Kings we hope

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