The NBA playoffs will be great in 2008!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 3/12/2008

 I was listening the other day to a self-serving radio personality at my former employer talking about how nobody cares about the NBA. That the ratings and attendance are down locally at Minnesota Timberwolves games. That may be the case locally because the Timberwolves are suffering through another bad season, but that’s only because of the input of a couple of local boys — Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale — who have created a complete mess with this franchise.

 Did you know that 89 percent of the NBA players are Black? There are 30 NBA franchises across America ; and because most of the players in the NBA have guaranteed contracts, some people — particularly media personalities — have issues with millionaire athletes on bad teams. Owners and general managers get free passes from criticism because some media are biased and don’t know what they are talking about in the first place.

 Take it from me: The NBA is better than ever, and I can’t wait until the NBA playoffs; they are going to be fantastic. Look into your NBA crystal ball: Can you see Boston and Los Angeles in the NBA Finals? Larry Bird and Magic Johnson are gone, but the Celtics — thanks to McHale — and Lakers are back. But are they all the way back? We will soon see.

 Fifteen of the NBA teams have winning records, and they are tuning up for the 2008 playoffs. Headed by the Boston Celtics with the best record in the league (49-12), they have added Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to help Paul Pierce win a championship.

  Detroit is 46-17, and thanks to Taylor and McHale they have All-Star Chauncey Billups and Flip Saunders from Minnesota . Orlando is 40-24 and has slam-dunk champion “Super Man” Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis. Watch out for the Magic.

Cleveland is 36-27; last year they reached the NBA Finals and were swept 4-0 by the Spurs. They have the league’s top scorer in LeBron James (30.9); the King has some help this year thanks to Taylor and McHale.

 Remember Wally Szcerbiak? He and Ben Wallace are now in Cleveland , and the Cavs are much better. That’s about it in the East: One of those four teams will try and do what the New York Giants did in the Super Bowl: steal the prize from the Western Conference champion.

 As I handicap the West, let me first say that it’s loaded with explosive teams; any one of eight teams is capable of getting hot and getting to the finals. Los Angeles is 44-19 with MVP favorite Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Coached by Phil Jackson (nine-time NBA championship coach), the Lakers are good again.

  San Antonio (43-19) with the great Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, are still champions. Can they win it back to back? Houston is 42-20 and has lost center Yao Ming for the year, but they are still winning and have an NBA-best 18 straight wins. Can Tracy McGrady finally win a playoff series? Utah is 42-22: Can you say “Jerry Sloan”? Utah is talented and tough; led by point guard Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko compliment each other. Is this the year for the Jazz?

  New Orleans (42-20) is the surprise team in the West. Byron Scott might be the NBA coach of the year. He has turned talented point guard Chris Paul loose, and he is an All-Star. The Hornets will sting you.

  Phoenix is 41-22, and with NBA assist leader Steve Nash getting older the time is now for the Suns. They have added Shaquille O’Neal in a trade with Miami . Amare Stoudelmire is gifted and will dunk on anyone. They also have Grant Hill, who can still play. Will the Shaq trade burn the Suns?

  Dallas is 40-23, and they have slipped in the West. Last year they were an NBA-best 67-15, but they folded like a tent in the first round of the playoffs. They have a league MVP in Dirk Nowitzki and have added play maker Jason Kidd. The pressure is squarely on Dallas to win it all. Golden State (39-23) pulled off the NBA upset of the decade last year by beating Dallas in the first round. Baron Davis is the real deal at point guard; he can do it all.

 The Warriors are a nightmare match-up for anyone in the West. Denver (37-25) is in the hunt for the playoffs, and with two All-Stars like Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, Head Coach George Carl could win 50 games and not make it. So goes the rugged West Conference: If you blink, someone might pass you.

 The NBA has something for everyone; the game is good and the playoffs will be great. Nine teams could win 50 or more games in the Western Conference; that would be an NBA record. However, only eight of them will make the playoffs.

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and biweekly he commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.