2008 Play-Offs - The Real Deal Starts Now

Since I started writing for this blog, I've manage to make friends from various community. I always wondered what was their opinion from their own perspective which is why I had an interesting idea for this post.

With the post season just around the corner, I was thinking of sharing this space with of the best NBA blogging expert about their respective team and most important of all, the Tall Albiceleste that plays for them.

So I went on a mission to looks around for anyone who was keen to share their views with us. Fortunately I had good friends from the Raptors and Rockets camp but very unfortunate non from the Spurs or Pistons side.

Nevertheless, as they say the show must go on.....

So let me just start of with what I feel about Manu GINOBILI, Fabricio OBERTO and San Antonio Spurs. Do they have what it takes to do it back to back titles?

Well before I answer that question let see how did they actually faired during the regular season. To be honest, I feel they were very lucky to finish at third spot in the wild wild Western Conference. Don't get me wrong here, it wasn't like they were playing badly but as always when you are the defending champion, your opponents will play their best game against you. Just ask the Suns.

However there is no doubt that Manu GINOBILI raised his game to whole new level. He was simply out of this world. Once again there was huge debate about him being a starter or a bench player. But for me , the fact that he delivers that matter the most. Do you remember his back to back 37 points last year. What that 46 points he posted in Cleveland? He is Spurs top scorer this season and now everyone talks about him being the this years “Sixth Man” winner.

Fabricio OBERTO pick up from where he left off last season. Many times, as the starting center, he allows himself to do all the little things that others often decline. He also had couple of big nights as well, like the one recently in Sacramento and another one against Denver back in December. He was bound to loose his minutes of playing when Spurs decided to bring in Kurt THOMAS. But in true Argentinean nature, he work hard and fought his way back into the team.

Now the real deal starts, against a team that is even more determined to knock them out after that high intensity series last year. When I think about the Spurs/Suns series, it does remind me a lot when Argentina take on England in football. Though the Suns have Shaq but Spurs have the character that suits well for games like this. A lot will be expected from Manu to deliver the points, considering that he has been their most consistent shooter through out the season. If he does that, than Spurs will be fine on the offensive.

As for OBERTO and Timmy are going to deal a bigger headache when facing off both Amare & Shaq. Its hard to say how this series is going to but I can tell you this is not something that you want to miss. Go Spurs Go!!!

The Raptors are one of the most exciting teams to watch. This is true when you look at their roster that consist the best of two world, NBA and International pedigree. So after all the struggle that he had gone through in Detroit, I just wonder how is Carlos DELFINO going to fit in the puzzle. To talk about that, the best person to refer has to be Sam from RaptorsTalk.com – The Best Damn Raptors Blogger around.

With all the success the Raptors had last season, finishing .500 this year has been a step back in the development of this franchise. The Raptors were unable to take advantage of easy stretches they had in the schedule to offset the massive injuries to BOSH and FORD. The only positive thing to come out of FORD's injury was the emergence of CALDERON as a legitimate NBA starting point guard. He filled in admirably, only fueling the FORD/CALDERON debate. When the shots rain down, the Raptors are as tough a team to beat then any top team, but when defenses have dug, the shooting has cooled down.

Carlos DELFINO, for the most part, has been a welcome addition. He is the best man-defender at the small forward spot the Raptors have. He has the ability to shoot the three, and is one of the few Raptor players who consistently attacks the basket off the dribble. His inconsistent play has been the cause of concern for some of us. He will drop bomb-after-bomb on way to a 20+ point game one day, then will disappear totally for three games.

For the Raptors to be successful against the Magic, DELFINO will have to step up his level of consistency on the offensive end. He has to continue attacking the basket, and limit his attempts from beyond the arc. On the defensive end, he has to take away drive penetration, contesting shots and drawing charges. The one thing we can count on DELFINO for is his immaculate hair style!

I was very excited when I heard that the Rockets decided to buyout Luis SCOLA’s rights from the Spurs. With him playing alongside YAO and T-Mac, are we looking at the possibility of another BIG THREE in the making? Maybe the dish was superb but just lack that important spice and flavour. To explain more on this, I’ll hand over the mike to Houston’s very own Grunge Love & Lee from the Dream Shake blog.

Luis SCOLA is in a rare class of professional athletes. Translation? There are only 5 players in NBA history whose replica jerseys I actually paid money to own: YAO Ming, Robert HORRY, Remggie MILLER, Penny HARDAWAY... and now Luis SCOLA. It takes a certain type of skill and tenacity for me to wear a particular player's jersey. SCOLA has all the necessary qualities.

A year ago, the Rockets had a significant hole at the power forward position. Chuck Hayes and Juwon were serviceable, but just not enough for the Rockets to succeed in the playoffs. This year... everything is different. At the end of January, Rick ADELMAN put Luis SCOLA into the starting lineup at power forward. The Rockets have not looked back since. Those first 22 games with SCOLA as a starter were all wins. All of them. In a row. SCOLA is everything the Rockets needed in a power forward: size, skill, hustle, defense and attitude. The Rockets surprised everyone by winning 55 games, even with YAO Ming missing more than a quarter of the season. Luis SCOLA is the common denominator.

What do I expect to see from SCOLA and the Rockets in the playoffs? Well, we face Utah (again). So we get to see precisely how much the Rockets improved over a year ago. The Jazz, are essentially the same team as last year. The Rockets are missing YAO, but have SCOLA, Carl LANDRY and Bobby JACKSON as prime players. SCOLA is a grinder, and that fits right in with Shane BATTIER, Chuck HAYES and Dikembe MUTOMBO. I expect SCOLA to be the 2nd option on offense and the best rebounder in the entire series. Which I think will go the full 7 games... only this time - Tracy McGRADY wins that ever elusive playoff series. And he'll have Luis SCOLA to thank.

With that said, let me just end this article on the one last player that is left to talk about. Just who am I referring to? For some of us, he is known as El Guerero but for most of you out there he is Walter HERRMANN.

If there is one team that is capable of stopping the Boston Celtics it has to be the Detroit Pistons. No offense to others as my preferred team on the East has to be the Raptors. Their regular season record of 59-23 is even better than the Los Angeles Lakers. With the likes of “Need4Sheed” WALLACE, Richard Hamilton and Chauncey BILLUPS doing their thing, they should make it to the Conference Finals again. In recent games, coach Flip SAUNDERS decided to give his bench some time-playing and their responded with positive results.

But my main concern on this team is Walter HERRMANN, who will be going to the play-offs for the first time in his NBA career. From a Bobcats he became a Bad Boy. I'm still surprise on Charlotte decisions to sell him considering the way he flourished for them towards the end of last season. Going to Detroit wasn't really a good idea as he will in the pecking order behind Tayshaun PRINCE and Jarvis HAYES. But if you look at the stats, he does seems to contribute something despite of his limited time playing.

So big the question for the play-off will be, is that how much are going to see him in action against the 76ers? I will not be surprise that he might be place under the inactive list. But as SAUNDERS has already mentioned that he will not hesitate to use him if needed. So we will just keep our fingers cross for the time being.

With all that, so let the play-offs begin. I know can't really wait for this happen considering the number of mouth watering series that will take place. I would also like to give a big shout out and special thanks to Sam and Dream Shaker crew for their contribution. Really appreciated it. Good luck to all your respective teams.