Well, it looks as if David (Behind the Scenes) Stern got the matchup he sought. Three superstars in the finals! Shaq, Wade and Nowitzki. You've got up-and-comers in Howard and Diaw. You've got old vets vying for their first rings in Walker, Zo and Payton. Not to mention that I believe this is the first trip to the Finals for both teams. The subplots are immense. ABC will be pleased. Everybody wins here, right? No more boring basketball predicated on defense that will have the fans clicking off the NBA Finals in favor of reality TV or "That '70s Show" reruns. That's not to say Dallas hasn't improved its D under the Little General and that Miami can't play a little D, too. But from Stern's point of view, this works out pretty good. If only that pest Mark Cuban wasn't a factor. Yeah, Suns vs. Heat would've been better for the league. That matchup would've been a real scorcher. What say you, Pistons fans? How do you feel about this matchup? Will you watch?

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"I don't believe there's any problem in this country, no matter how tough it is, that Americans, when they roll up their sleeves, can't completely ignore. - George Carlin

I am watching and rooting for the Heat.
Watching the Heat play against other teams I never got the sense the NBA wanted them in the Finals but I knew they wanted White Dirk in the finals. Nothing brings the ratings up like getting a white guy in the Finals.

The Mavs got every benefit from the refs when it mattered. So did Dirk and for that reason alone I want them to lose.

I won't watch a second of the Finals but hope the Mavs will win. There are too many unsympathetic figures on the Heat roster. Zo, Payton, Walker to name a few. They trump Mark Cuban for me.

Steve Nash isn't white?

Anyhow, while the NBA very well may have got what they wanted, I don't think Stern could blatantly say "No fouls on the white guy". I could see him telling refs to call "everything" or something like that. But I don't think that helps the Mavs against the Suns.

I think Dirk and his team is just playing really well. Not all teams fold after a great regular season.

I'm not watching. Mavs in 6. Damnit the Mavs or the Heat will be defending champs next year.

Basketball season is over for me.. I am NOT watching the Finals. Hope Dallas win though.

I may sneak a peak, maybe. It`s funny that you mention Stern, you are correct that he got somewhat the Finals he wanted. He really wanted a Lebron and Kobe Finals, or God frobid, Shaq vs Kobe Finals.

John Thompson had Stern on his radio show last week and they were talking about the rule changes Stern put in place recently. Of course he mentioned the league needed to eliminate the physical play and increase the offensive flow of the game.

Stern was very pleased with this years playoffs, the play of Lebron, Wade, and any other offensive prowess was given praise and admoration.

The days of the good hard nosed in your face, "no free chili" defense may be over. I have never seen a team that lost a conference final (Phoenix Suns) get praised more for losing by almost everyone, in my life. Don`t get me wrong I like Phoenix, and their style of play is entertaining, however, is it fair for that style to be favored and stuffed down our throats by the NBA brass and media alike?

Until this high powered offense, and slacking defense wins a championship, let`s not label it GREAT yet, just fun to watch, at best.

As was stated in this forum and by others the league is changing, and nobody is happier than Mr Stern!!

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"We are going to be really good offensively and definsively, we are going to be a team that can beat you 120-110, or beat you 80-70" Coach Michael Curry on the 2008-2009 Pistons.

Nash might be the MVP but the NBA wants to make a star out of Dirk.
Nash will always be a great passer but they want Dirk to be the face of the NBA.

I don't buy this conspiracy stuff. If Dirk was supposed to be the face of the NBA, why didn't he win the MVP?

I think people sell him short. He lead the league in efficiency. He's able to dribble, pass and shoot from long range. He's a legit superstar, playing superstar ball in the playoffs.

Is it such a surprise they are in the Finals?

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Momma was queen of the mambo, Poppa was king of the congo, deep down in the jungle, I start banging my first bongo
Every monkey like to be, in my place instead of me, cause I'm the king of bongo baby, I'm the king of bongo bong
-Manu Chao

I'm very surprised. I thought the Spurs and Pistons would be close to locks to have a rematch this season.