Sunday (12/25)
Best:
Lakers @ Heat: Okay, so Kobe v. Shaq on Christmas isn't exactly innovative, but it's still the best thing you can view on Christmas. What makes this game so much more enjoyable than the game before it is the personality. Aside from Rasheed Wallace, we don't any angst or emotion at all in the Spurs' game. With Spurs/Pistons, the stars (Duncan and-well there are no stars on Detroit) are nonchalant and classy. Zzzzzz. With Lakers/Heat, there's a miniscule chance that Phil Jackson could bludgeon Pat Riley with a feng shui book. Which is directly opposite of the other game, where Greg Popovich and Larry Brown are best friends. Yawn. Besides, Kobe and Shaq- what more has to be said? If that 62-pt game was vs. Miami, I'm pretty sure Bryant would've played in the 4th quarter.
Runner-up:
Spurs @ Pistons: While it's understandable for the NBA to market Lakers/Heat as the marquee match-up, they should be heralding the Spurs/Pistons game just much. These are the two best teams in League and yet they're being overshadowed by a game where the two teams combined records stand at 30-23. If you want to watch a game with better individual face-offs, then the one that follows is for you. However, this is the game we'll probably be watching again in June. The reason Miami and LA don't even have a shot right now at the Finals right now is they're both 1-man or star reliant teams. The Spurs have played the bulk of this season without Manu Ginobili and are still the best team in the West. Detroit has brought Hamilton and Billups up to be far more productive and reliable in the clutch than Rasheed Wallace. Both clubs have a strong emphasis on teamwork and continuity and should both play each other more than twice this year. |
