We have seen it all in this years post season. I haven`t heard about the TV ratings thus far, but I would guess the networks and the NBA are pleased. Phoenix came back from a 3-1 defecit to defeat the Kobe led Lakers, and this was in the 1st round! The Spurs are on the brink of doing the same in the 2nd round. The heavily favored Pistons down 3-2 has forced a 7th game, and the other LA team will face the Phoenix Suns in yet another 7th game. We haven`t made it to the Conference Finals yet folks. For hard core hoops fans it is a delight to see so many game 7`s. It is awesome to witness an Elton Brand dominating on this stage and getting the exposure and recognition he deserves. It is only fitting to see the defending Eastern and Western Conference champions staring eleimination in the face, only to force a 7th game. At this point the only thing that can make the NBA and its executives happier is more of an international flavor in the league. I am sure thats in the long term plans, but now let`s just enjoy and be entertained by the play of these extrordinary athletes under tremendous pressure. And oh yeah, GO PISTONS!!!!!!!!!
San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker = France Manu Ginobili = Argentina Rasho Nesterovic = Slovenia Fabricio Oberto = Argentina Beno Udrih = Slovenia Sean Marks = New Zealand Tim Duncan = Virgin Islands LA Clippers Yaroslav Korolev = Russia Boniface N'Dong = Senegal Vladimir Radmanovic = Serbia & Montenegro Zeljko Rebraca = Serbia & Montenegro Detroit Pistons Carlos Delfino = Argentina Cleveland Cavaliers Anderson Varajao = Brazil Martynas Andriuskevicius = Lithuania Zydrunas Ilgauskas = Lithuania Sasha Pavalovic = Russia Miami Heat Michael Doleac = Mongolia (j/k) USA Phoenix Suns Leandro Barbosa = Brazil Pat Burke = Ireland Nikoloz Tskitishvili = Georgia Boris Diaw = France Steve Nash = Canada Raja Bell = Virgin Islands Dallas Mavericks DJ Mbenga = Democratic Republic of Congo DeSagana Diop = Senegal Pavel Podkolzin = Russia Dirk Nowitski = Germany
I can't wait until the NBA has an American invasion and every team has the token American player. Should be a lot of fun. Not. Check out the Heat and Pistons. The Heat have zero non Americans, and the Pistons only have 1 after dropping Darko + Arroyo for spare change and pocket lint in Orlando.
Some could think Joe's a racist since he shipped out Rebraca, Okur, Arroyo, Darko and maybe some more. Fino should feel a little bit uncomfortable since he is the only Non- American left :P
Since Joe brought in or drafted all of those players, it's hard for anyone to build an argument that he is rascist. Reality is that Arroyo is barely a bonafide starter, Rebraca never realized his potential and is now on the downside, Okur was a money issue, I'm betting Joe keeps him if the Collective Bargaining Agreement at the time helped teams retain their second round picks, and Darko, well, it's all been written. From both sides.
I don't think it's good for the league to have dominant teams. Even if it was Jordan and his Chicago Bulls. The league wants more fans for more fan spending. Because Detroit is a city with issues, the league[s] like to ignore it. Detroit is not a small market. It used to be 5th largest. EBrand is from LA, like they need more hype. Be glad NY is out. But NJ will move there soon. Newark gets dissed. ...Good thing our boys dissed the "Witness" plan. ...How can you explain Jordan leaving the Bulls for one year?
