Road to championship goes through San Antonio

by Israel Soliz, staff writer

The 2008 N.B.A. All-Star Game has come and gone and now the real season is upon us. 

If the last couple of weeks in the NBA are any indication, this year’s playoffs are definitely going to be one of the most memorable in decades.  The quality of basketball being played by the top 10 teams throughout the league should definitely give every NBA fan a feeling of euphoria and nostalgia knowing the playoffs could possibly resemble that of an Emmy Award-winning drama series. 

Before I begin my assessment of why my San Antonio Spurs are going to win the championships this year, I’d like to let everyone know that although I do believe the Eastern Conference is inferior to the Western Conference, it also solidifies my theory of the “Tim Duncan Effect.”  Acquiring O’Neal from the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion was a good move for the Suns, not great, but good.  For the first time since Steve Nash’s arrival in the “Valley of the Sun,” he now has the luxury of a defensive presence in the low post. 

Amare Stoudemire has definitely benefitted more from this trade than any other player on the Suns roster.  Granted the Suns will lose some ‘flash’ without the high-flying act of Shawn Marion.  But esome record against Western Conference foes.  But in case anyone has failed to notice, it took Boston recruiting two Western Conference All-Star veterans in Ray Allen of the ‘Western Conference’ Seattle Supersonics and “The Kid”, Kevin Garnett, also of the ‘Western Conference’ Minnesota Timberwolves, just to make the Celtics a contender in the East.  Not a contender for the NBA Championship, but a contender for the Eastern Conference Championship.  

For Boston’s sake, they better realize that the real season has started, and the Western Conference is a completely different league all its own.  So while the Celtics have been playing against junior varsity teams in the East, this year’s NBA champion will emerge from the West. 

 Oh, by the way, even with the veteran-laden team in Detroit, the East still has no shot whatsoever of bringing the “Gold Ball” back to the East.  Yes, the same sentiments can be expressed about the revamped Cleveland Cavaliers as well.  Again, when the dust settles, the Larry O’Brien Trophy is not only going to remain in the Western Conference, I guarantee it’s staying right where it’s at, in the friendly confines of the AT&T Center, home of the Spurs.

Now, with all that said with regard to the East’s pathetic attempt to give NBA fans a misconceived notion that this year’s NBA Finals are going to be exciting, full of drama and riveting, I’m here to tell you…WRONG AGAIN! 

Sure, there’s been some pretty heavy trading going on in the West, but this year’s NBA Finals are going to be just as exciting as last year’s NBA Finals.  The majority of the excitement in this year’s playoffs are coming from the Western Conference, along with the champion, period. 

The trades that were pulled off by several teams in the West should give everyone an indication that this year’s playoff matchups and championship are going to be won in the paint.  Hey, don’t hate on me for being honest.  Besides, history is the greatest indicator, and no one can argue with that.  Go ahead and try and prove to me that I’m wrong, I dare you. 

During the past nine years, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal have played in and won eight out of those championships, and this year should be no different.  The Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers evidently must have realized the importance of a legitimate force in the paint before pulling off their trades in what I like to call the “Tim Duncan Effect.” 

Every team seriously trying to compete for an NBA Championship this year knows, or at least better realize, that a pretty offense makes for great highlights on ESPN, but defense wins championships.  The San Antonio Spurs having been proving that philosophy true for the past 10 years. 

Ok, I might be a diehard Spurs fan at heart, but I can also be objective.  Let me prove it to you by breaking down some of these trades. 

Phoenix Suns:

Although this trade is probably the one trade that makes the most sense to me, it also solidifies my theory of the “Tim Duncan Effect.”  Acquiring O’Neal from the Miami Heat for Shawn Marion was a good move for the Suns, not great, but good.  For the first time since Steve Nash’s arrival in the “Valley of the Sun,” he now has the luxury of a defensive presence in the low post. 

Amare Stoudemire has definitely benefited more from this trad than any oother suns palyer on the roster. Granted the Suns will lose some ‘flash’ without the high flying act sof Shawn Marion. But given the system, Shaq’s inability to adjust to the system in Phoenix and an inability to execute as a cohesive unit, the Suns have their work cut out for them. 

The Suns and the Mavericks finally realized having the number one seed in the West doesn’t mean much when you can’t stop the likes of the “Big Fundamental,” Tim Duncan.   With that said, as much as I respect what the “Big Aristotle,” O’Neal, has done throughout his career, the adjustment for the Suns to go from a high-octane offensive juggernaut to a half-court team is an adjustment which I feel is too dramatic in such a short period of time. 

The system is going to take some time for players to adjust to, but throw in the time frame for certain players to adjust to Shaq, and what you now have are the ingredients for an early exit from the playoffs. 

Reason for Trade:  Duncan.  Advantage:  Spurs.

Dallas Mavericks:

This trade still makes me laugh.  This trade makes no sense to me at all, and quite frankly, as an NBA fan, angers me to the point that I literally want to drive down to Dallas and slap the whole management team of the Mavericks.  Why?  Why?  Why?

I guess by giving away Dasagna Diop (by the way, the only true center Dallas had) and keeping Eric Dampier in Dallas, the Mavericks are now in the driver’s seat in the Western Conference?  What a joke!   Dampier versus Dikembe Mutombo, advantage Houston.  Dampier versus O’Neal, advantage Phoenix.  Dampier versus Andrew Bynum, advantage Los Angeles.  Dampier versus Marcus Camby, advantage Denver.  Dampier versus Tyson Chandler, advantage New Orleans.  Am I starting to get my point across?  And last but not least, Dampier versus Duncan…I won’t even acknowledge that last matchup. 

Let’s not even get into the whole Kidd-for-Devin Harris debacle either.  As much as I respect Kidd and agree with the leadership Kidd will bring to the Mavericks, the only aspect which will improve for the Mavericks will be game management.  But what good will that do when you’re down 20?  Ultimately, with the point guard play in the Western Conference being as talented and stiff as it is, it might be a little too much for the 34-year-old Kidd on a game-to-game basis. 

Reason for Trade:  Have no earthly idea.  Advantage:  Not Dallas.

Los Angeles Lakers:

The trade the Lakers made is one that even I find a little scary.  Pau Gasol, has had no problem adjusting to the system of basketball the Lakers have been playing.  The Lakers’ front court is one that can not only defend the paint with Gasol, Bynum, Lamar Odom, and Ronny Turiaf, but can also score consistently.  

Now add a Kobe Bryant to the mix, even if he isn’t completely healthy, and what you  have is a team with depth, consistency on the offensive side of the ball, defensively sound and a perimeter presence with the likes of Derek Fisher, Bryant, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic. 

What does this all mean?  Nothing.  If a less than 100-percent Bynum comes back sooner than expected and has to handle the play of quality big men in the low post such as Shaq, Duncan, and Carlos Boozer, it might be too much for the Lakers to compensate for.  On the other hand, if a healthy Bynum comes back and can play at the level at which he started the season, the Lakers might have a legitimate chance at representing the West in the NBA Finals.  I seriously doubt it though.

Reason for Trade:  Weak front court and Duncan.  Advantage:  Spurs.

 San Antonio Spurs:

The trade made for Kurt Thomas was one that I feel is the greatest trade in the history of the NBA (I’m being sarcastic again!)  Maybe not the greatest trade, but definitely significant enough to make an impact on which team represents the West in the Finals.  The Spurs were not only savvy in this transaction, but it clearly shows that such a transaction will guarantee the road to the Larry O’Brien trophy goes straight down I-35 to San Antonio, Texas. 

The Spur’s acquisition of Thomas will not only solidify their frontcourt with a veteran player who loves to play defense, but will also give Duncan help in the low post in key stretches during big games.  The acquisition, also enables Spurs coach Greg Popovich the luxury of not having to involve Robert Horry in defensive sets, which will give Horry the freedom to do what he does best…hit timely shots and if need be, knock smaller players out of big games (ask Steve Nash!).  

Reason for Trade:  Kurt Thomas deserves a ring (like Michael Finley).  Advantage:  Not the rest of the league.

Now, with everything I’ve presented, do I believe the Spurs will end up with the number one seed in the West?  No.  The Western Conference is deep with quality teams from top to bottom with the exception of a few teams that don’t even deserve to be in the league; but that’s another story.

Last time I looked even with the Lakers and New Orleans leading the conference, the Spurs are currently two games from the top spot in their division and still very much capable of attaining the number one seed in the Western Conference.  Not bad for a bunch of ‘old’ men.  Sure the style of basketball mastered by the Spurs is deemed by many to be boring, ugly and just not exciting.  But I tell you what, we’ll let the Lakers, Suns, Hornets, Warriors, and Rockets play “exciting” basketball, while we keep piling up the championships.   

I guess this piece isn’t very objective after all isn’t it?  See everyone on the RiverWalk celebrating another NBA championship!