Game 7 - Showtime on Satellite TV
When it comes to the ultimate in sports, it's hard to top a winner-take-all game 7. Commissioners dream that their championship series will have a ratings-friendly, sponsor-happy showdown that leaves fans and players alike in a frenzy.
In the NBA, the playoffs have always been a thrilling event, a combination of the razzle-dazzle offense and the effective team defense that wins championships. With Magic Johnson's "Showtime" Lakers dueling Larry Bird's Celtics in the 1980s, the NBA reached the apex of its summer classic. East vs. West, old-school vs. flashy new school, the Lakers vs. the Celtics series was the hottest ticket in years.
With 2009's NBA playoffs, we've seen the return of the dramatic game 7. Ignoring Lebron James and his dominant Cavaliers, the slew of game 7's has been lighting up satellite TV for the past month. Cleveland has taken the approach of Moses Malone's dominant Sixers, that of the "Fo', Fo', Fo'," which is to say, sweep every team in four games. When you have Doctor J or King James, this is a real possibility. But even Kobe Bryant has been vulnerable, with his season already going on the line against the short-handed Houston Rockets.
How did the Lakers respond to their game 7? By blowing out the Rockets in a game described by one announcer as "over in the first quarter." Truly, it wasn't close, but Kobe had to feel a little rattled. In the east, it was the defending champion Boston Celtics who found themselves in two game 7's in two series. First was the finale to a wild series against the upstart Chicago Bulls that had HD TV sets burning late into the night, with the Celtics finally moving on after four overtime games. Next it came down to a game 7 against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, the Eastern Conference's three seed. The defending champs didn't make it out this time, with Howard and the Magic winning in convincing fashion. Injured or not, the Celtics proved difficult to eliminate, but their year is over.
Now what? Satellite TV is going to be buzzing as the conference finals kick off. Cleveland vs. Orlando is an interesting match-up, but the Lakers vs. Denver in the West could be a real dogfight. Denver has been the surprise team of the playoffs, winning both series with relative ease. With prominent big men Kenyon Martin and Nene, Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets could strike Kobe dead before he ever sees the finals.
It would be a shocker. For much of the year -- and especially after the Celtics' Kevin Garnett went down with an injury -- Kobe versus Lebron has been the HD dream series. Neither of them cares, of course, but the fans, sponsors and commissioner have all been looking forward to the match-up. It's like Bird vs. Magic all over again. Actually it's like Jordan vs. Jordan, if you really think about it. Either way, the NBA playoffs on satellite TV have not disappointed yet. On to the finals we go.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_R._Harrison
In the NBA, the playoffs have always been a thrilling event, a combination of the razzle-dazzle offense and the effective team defense that wins championships. With Magic Johnson's "Showtime" Lakers dueling Larry Bird's Celtics in the 1980s, the NBA reached the apex of its summer classic. East vs. West, old-school vs. flashy new school, the Lakers vs. the Celtics series was the hottest ticket in years.
With 2009's NBA playoffs, we've seen the return of the dramatic game 7. Ignoring Lebron James and his dominant Cavaliers, the slew of game 7's has been lighting up satellite TV for the past month. Cleveland has taken the approach of Moses Malone's dominant Sixers, that of the "Fo', Fo', Fo'," which is to say, sweep every team in four games. When you have Doctor J or King James, this is a real possibility. But even Kobe Bryant has been vulnerable, with his season already going on the line against the short-handed Houston Rockets.
How did the Lakers respond to their game 7? By blowing out the Rockets in a game described by one announcer as "over in the first quarter." Truly, it wasn't close, but Kobe had to feel a little rattled. In the east, it was the defending champion Boston Celtics who found themselves in two game 7's in two series. First was the finale to a wild series against the upstart Chicago Bulls that had HD TV sets burning late into the night, with the Celtics finally moving on after four overtime games. Next it came down to a game 7 against Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic, the Eastern Conference's three seed. The defending champs didn't make it out this time, with Howard and the Magic winning in convincing fashion. Injured or not, the Celtics proved difficult to eliminate, but their year is over.
Now what? Satellite TV is going to be buzzing as the conference finals kick off. Cleveland vs. Orlando is an interesting match-up, but the Lakers vs. Denver in the West could be a real dogfight. Denver has been the surprise team of the playoffs, winning both series with relative ease. With prominent big men Kenyon Martin and Nene, Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets could strike Kobe dead before he ever sees the finals.
It would be a shocker. For much of the year -- and especially after the Celtics' Kevin Garnett went down with an injury -- Kobe versus Lebron has been the HD dream series. Neither of them cares, of course, but the fans, sponsors and commissioner have all been looking forward to the match-up. It's like Bird vs. Magic all over again. Actually it's like Jordan vs. Jordan, if you really think about it. Either way, the NBA playoffs on satellite TV have not disappointed yet. On to the finals we go.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_R._Harrison
posted by global take off at
5:16 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home