Contrary to what my brother has previously reported (see below), the Spurs are definitely dead. This is a painful time for me, as I work in an office filled with annoying Lakers fans. Now I understand the pain, although nowhere near the magnitude, that my buddy Zamp was trying to convey to me after the Giants won the Super Bowl. He had to go to work everyday in Jersey surrounded by Giants fans, and being a die hard Eagles fan, that is painful. Either way, the Spurs and Lakers will meet tonight in Game 5 at the Staples Center, and Kobe Bryant will most likely see to it that he and his Lakers teammates do not have to board another plan en route to San Antonio.
I had been holding out hope that I would not have to see the freakin’ Lakers and Kobe Bryant much more, but it looks like I was wrong. The worst part about this series is that it has left me with a lot of “what ifs?” I watched Game 4 in anguish as the veteran Spurs seemed to be allergic to ACTUALLY taking the lead. They must have tied that game up 6 different times, only to miss wide open looks to take the lead for the first time. The Spurs have no one to blame but themselves for being in this position. They have not earned themselves a spot in the NBA Finals. They let the Lakers off the hook. There is no chance now that the Spurs can win 3 games in a row, two of which would be in Los Angeles. What this means is I need to spend a few minutes whining and complaining about things that matter very little. So the pain continues for me.
Do I think this series would have played out differently if Manu Ginobili could actually move? Absolutely. Do I think that the spoiled brat Kobe would be MVP or the Lakers would have even gotten out of the first round if they never were handed Pau Gasol on a shiny platter? No I do not. Is it a damn travesty that Joe Crawford, who was basically suspended for his feud with Tim Duncan and the Spurs was allowed to ref a pivotal playoff game? You’re damn right it is. Don’t even get me started on that one. Can you say conspiracy theory?
Then there is the Brent Barry last second non foul call. It’s like the NBA welcomes the conspiracy theories. I am not saying the NBA has instructed officials to help the Lakers reach the finals, or better yet just stop the Spurs from getting back. But, that doesn’t mean it looks good. All those who refuse to admit that are just fooling themselves. No way Crawford should have been anywhere near that arena. None. Not in the era of the Tim Donaghy scandal. Who was the official closest to that play? Oh, that would be Joe Crawford.
Yesterday the NBA announced that a 2 shot foul should have been called on Derek Fisher. Sweet! Thank you David Stern. Brent Barry definitely should have gone into the air when he had Fisher off balance and forced a foul call, but somehow I doubt that even that would have mattered. I realize this is all just spilt milk. I needed to vent, and it would have been much more entertaining if my editor would let me use the words that I really wanted to. I have to work tonight, and I will be recording Game 5, but I am sure one of the stupid ass Laker fans in my office will let me know the result long before I have watched the game. I still cling to a sliver of hope that a miracle can happen, but I am not going to hold my breath. It sure looks like we are headed towards EXACTLY what the NBA wanted all along: A Celtics versus Lakers NBA Finals. I will have to sedate myself to get through those two agonizing weeks.
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