When I used to step back and think about sports from a clean slate, trying for a brief moment to grab at the truth in things that I often didn't see at all, attempting to conceive how sports has completely entrenched itself in American culture, it was because there was a lull in the annual cycle of different sports. I could suggest February or August as examples.
Sometimes, however, I try to use my brain more than two times a year. I could suggest 1988 and 1994 as examples. The following will be an attempt at objectivity, a description of how I see the different sports in the United States shaping up right now. I certainly don't mean for "the" to be confused with "all".
I might be one of the few football fans to wonder if the game is used as an instrument to distract our population from the important issues facing our society. I've been considering for awhile that the NFL may be a regressive force without or culture. One of my main reasons is that if I said the previous sentence in public, I might be beat up. I lean towards fearing institutions which are so powerful that speaking any bit of ill about them is considered heresy. I certainly don't mean for "the" to be confused with "all". Fortunately, I am starting with something much lighter:
Part 1
Basketball (NBA):
I'd be a jerk, a real phony, not to start here, given that this sport is further along in its season than any other right now. Truly, the NBA is not alone in hoping for a Kobe vs Lebron, or if you want to be "accurate", Los Angeles vs Cleveland final. It's not like at this point the average or casual fan can still root for their team, with most of them having been eliminated already. Not even a diehard fan. It still seems quite possible that the finals could be Lakers vs Cavs, with both series tied at this time. I think any of the four teams could win the NBA title, with Orlando being least likely because I believe Denver (or L.A. to a lesser extent) to be a tougher finals matchup. If you were given a choice to save the world and had to pick one of the four teams, it'd have to be the Lakers, unless you ignore the last decade.
I'm skeptical of my favorite team's (Wizards) chances next year, but a large chunck of that skepticism is because I can't visualize Gilbert Arenas being healthy and playing. If he is healthy, he will still average at least 20 ppg, and a solid draft pick could set a positive tone, but the highest point of my expectation ceiling is at a 1st round playoff loss.
At any rate, the NBA has the most exciting batch of playoff matchups since the epic Kings vs Lakers battles of the early 2000's. Finally the Eastern Conference has some merit, and it's not all because of Lebron James. It was kind of amusing in Game 3 that James made the game winning shot, given that Orlando could have played for "the last shot". It's not called that for arbitrary reasons, Mr. Van Gundy. The magic really blew that last one, I mean having one on one coverage on the best player on the Cavs is pretty silly, and you knew James had to vindicate himself after playing shotty defense not moments before on Turkoglu's almost game winning shot. Still, the Magic are truly outplaying the Cavs, and while shooting hot has something to do with it, it seems clear that they are the better all around team.
The rest of the Cavs startig lineup is barely playable, let alone their bench, which is certificably mediocre. Sasha Pavlovic and Zydrunas Ilgauskas played up to their maximum ability in Game 3, so aside from James perhaps scoring 48 again, I don't know where the Cavs expect their necessary scoring to come from. It is clear the Magic are going to make shots. Moe Williams improved his performance from Game 1, but the team is simply not as deep as the Magic. Rashard Lewis is playing phenomenally. With that being said, I guess you'd still have to give Cleveland the advantage if they make out of Orlando and game 4 with a split. Without a doubt the huge edge many pundits and analysts thought Cleveland had is simply not present. The Magic aren't even playing unreasonably well, but they are making clutch shots. With added production from Courtney Lee and Rafer Allston, the Magic could win this series. Their frontcourt is taking care of business. Much like another frontcourt...
That of the Nuggets. My goodness, Carmelo Anthony is a monster in the post. He probably won't continue to shoot as well as he has from the outside, but that may not matter if Billups can actually make a 3 in the 1st half, or if Anthony keeps dominating on the inside. Sure, he looks kinda out of shape and doesn't play transition D, but he's holding his own against the best player in the NBA. Kobe, I expect will continue to play awesomely, and make what seems to be 99.99% of his free throws. The Lakers bench has played decently, but not playoff worthy. I am skeptical whether Phil Jackson will be willing to give his "B" group (Walton, Farmer, Brown, Vujacic) the minutes necessary to make a huge impact. He may not need to with Bryant going for 30 every game, but if Ariza has a small output and Odom continues to be contained, the Lakers could be in trouble, especially with 2 games in a row in Denver.
Still, it's doubtful how much of an impact Kenyon Martin and Nene Hilario are going to have, it seemed like maybe Martin hit his ceiling with 16 points in game 2. Pao Gasol may not be great on the defensive end, but he is holding his own on the offensive end, certainly with the amount of rebounds on that side of the floor. If the Nuggets don't have a more well rounded output, the Kobe+Gasol+Odom output may be enough to win 3 more games. The coaching coming from the Nuggets side does not seem to be optimal, but I can imagine their bench being the difference maker. Consider me surprised if J.R Smith goes for 25 though. However, If Derek Fisher continues shooting 3 pointers, the Nuggets have an awesome chance. It feels strange to say this, but they seem like a more organized team at this point. At least, they seem to be playing like it. Honestly, I was just shocked to see Kobe Bryant get called for a foul in the 2nd half of a playoff game. It seems acting extremely indignant and surprised at every call that doesn't go your way is not the all encompassing solution to basketball we all thought it was.
Teams on the upswing for next year:
Portland, New Orleans, Orlando, Charlotte, Miami, Philadelphia, and Houston.
Teams on the downswing for next year:
Detroit, Boston, Indiana, Chicago, Dallas, and San Antonio.
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