The first game of the Western Conference playoffs between the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns last Saturday showed everyone that it’s on and poppin’ in the NBA.
The Spurs’ thrilling overtime victory set the tone for what should be an exciting couple of months of playoff basketball. As we get hot and heavy into the playoffs this week, it is time for me to give all of you my annual reminder, which comes at the start of the playoffs.
Do not sleep on the San Antonio Spurs.
The Spurs are an easy team to forget about. They are not sexy; they do not play in a big media market and fans generally call them boring. They were also the one team that did not make any headline-grabbing deal at the trade deadline, which was the case with fellow contenders Los Angeles, Phoenix and Dallas.
But the Spurs are four-time world champions for a reason. They still have the best player in the game in Tim Duncan, they have a dominant backcourt in Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, they play championship-level defense and they know how to win. Phoenix dominated that first playoff game in San Antonio and should have won, but they made crucial mistakes at the wrong times and gave the Spurs an opportunity to steal the victory. And as most championship teams do, the Spurs took advantage of the opportunity.
The Spurs-Suns series has the makings of a classic because both are veteran teams that are capable of winning the championship. The Spurs are looking to cement their dynasty with a fifth title, and the Suns are hungry for their first and would love nothing better than to eliminate the one team that has stood in their path of a title in recent years. If the first game was any indication, this should be fun. And remember, this is only the first round.
We have also learned a couple of things in the first few games.
* The time-honored playoff tradition of hard fouls, whining in the media for more calls and flopping is already in full effect.
* The Denver Nuggets will play absolutely no defense.
* The Washington Wizards talk a much better game than they play.
* Once again, the Detroit Pistons will occasionally play to the level of the competition as they snoozed their way through the second half of their loss to Philly in Game 1.
* Orlando’s Dwight Howard and Phoenix’s Amare Stoudemire are incredible, young big men who have yet to scratch the surface of their talent.
* The Utah Jazz will be a tough out for anybody. They can put five offensive weapons on the floor at once.
* Tracy McGrady is well on his way to another ignominious first-round defeat.
Everywhere a sign
Last week was the beginning of the national signing period for the spring and several talented athletes from the area made their college choices official. Alton High’s Ruben Cotto signed with Saint Louis University. The 6’0” Cotto averaged 22 points a game this past season.
East St. Louis star Teandrea Smith, the top girls player in town, officially signed with the University of Illinois.
Josh McCoy of Fort Zumwalt South is headed to Cleveland State University. The 6’4” McCoy led the Bulldogs to two consecutive Final Four appearance in the Class 5 state tournament.
Normandy High basketball standout Anthony James signed with Northern Iowa. James averaged 21 points a game for the Vikings. His teammate, Isaac Moore, signed with Graceland College in Iowa. Vikings’ track standout Darwin Price signed with Grambling State. Price is one of the top middle distance performers in the state as well as a top amateur boxer.
The Gateway Tech basketball trio of Jesse Perry, Kenneth Harris and Derron Hobbs are all headed to John A. Logan Junior College in Carterville, Ill. The dynamic trio of players led the Jaguars to the Public High League title and a berth in the Class 5 state quarterfinals.
Vashon High’s Cornelius “Cornbread” Walker signed with Wabash Valley Junior College… Edwardsville High’s Brandon Hogg signed with NCAA Division II power Southern Indiana. The 6’0” Hogg led the Tigers to the Southwestern Conference championship.
Soldan High’s Kenneth Brown signed with Southwest Tennessee Community College. Brown was an all-PHL performer and one of the most underrated basketball players in town. Former De Soto basketball standout Ryan Lawrence is headed to the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The 6’4” Lawrence played the past two years at Mineral Area College.
Eagles over Arkansas
The St. Louis Eagles’ 16-and-under basketball team won the championship at the Old School Basketball Classic in Conway, Ark. last weekend. It was the second consecutive tournament title for the Eagles. The team members are Eric Clark (Cardinal Ritter), Karl Madison (Springfield Lanphier), Julian Johnson (Whitfield), Kony Ealy (New Madrid), Ryan Pierson (CBC), Skyler Suggs (Washington), Devonte Bell (Clayton), Brier West (Soldan), Ben Brackney (Lincoln, Ill.), Chris Babbitt (Hazelwood Central), Caleb Davis (Decatur Eisenhower), Eric Mason (Madison), Justin Clayborne (Belleville West).