NBA Finals

The 2005 NBA Finals get started tonight as the champions of the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons, visit the Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs. This will be a match-up of two fairly even teams. Both have deep front lines, both have talented back courts and both are have great coaches. This series is also the first time since 1987 (Lakers-Celtics) that the last two NBA Champions will meet in the Finals. Unfortunately, not many casual observers believe that Pistons-Spurs is worth watching. To try and stir up some interest in what should be a fantastic series, here are five good reasons to watch the NBA Finals. 1.) Tim Duncan may be the greatest power forward who ever lived. Duncan is so quiet and unassuming that few people actually appreciate his greatness on the court. Duncan is the most complete player in the league and he is so skilled with the ball that he is nearly impossible to defend. Watching him go up against The Wallaces (Ben and Rasheed) will be entertaining basketball. 2.) The Larry Brown saga. Brown, one of the truly great coaches in basketball history, is on the verge of winning back-to-back championships with the Pistons. Yet that hasn't stopped him from flirting with the Cleveland Cavaliers in an attempt to become their team president. I doubt the rumors will adversely affect Brown's coaching but it will be interesting to see how his players respond to the nagging questions about their coach's future. 3.) The emergence of Manu Ginobili as a true superstar. This has been an on-going story throughout the season. The multi-talented Argentinian swingman has the flair for the dramatic and the fans are starting to catch on to his brilliance with and without the ball. This could finally be the series when America realizes what kind of a star they are watching in Ginobili. 4.) How tough are the Pistons? We all know that the defending champs are a mentally tough group who come through when the chips seem to be down. But how deep are they willing to dig to defend their title will truly define the greatness of these Pistons. 5.) Can Tony Parker defend Chauncey Billups? Parker is the lightning fast Frenchman who runs the Spurs offense with precision but he has problems covering physical guards, such as Billups. Billups, last years's Finals MVP, is likely to try an exploit Parker in the low post -- as he did to Damon Jones of Miami in the Easterm Conference Finals. If Billups can hammer away at Parker in the post, the Spurs will be at a large disadvantge. As for my prediction as to who will walk away as champions, I must lean towards the Spurs. In such an evenly matched series, I will go with the team that has the best overall player (Duncan). San Antonio in 7. However, I think the Pistons can steal Game One tonight. They have momentum from coming back from a 3-2 deficit to beat the Heat and the Spurs have been off for over a week after taking care of business with the Suns. But the Spurs will rebound to win the series.