There is always next year...

Let me begin by saying that those five words are some of the ugliest sounding words in the whole world. I absolutely hate saying them, but I do, every single year when it comes time for the NBA finals. I say it every year when it is playoff time in the NFL. Which is actually little surprise since I am a Cleveland Browns fan. I say it every year around March Madness time, every college bowl season and every fall for baseball. But I came to a realization last night that one, just one championship would be enough.
As I was watching game 6 of the Western Conference Finals with my two best friends from Arizona, a cute girl from Arizona that I had invited over for the game, and another friend from Michigan (who was cheering for the Suns), the Suns had just recently fallen short on their miraculous comeback, when begin to say how much we now can care less about who wins the NBA Finals. This is the Lakers 31st finals appearance, and the 21st for the Celtics. The Celtics have won 17 championships and the Lakers have won 15. I mentioned to my friends that I do like Rajon Rondo and I think he is fun to watch, and I hate the Lakers, so obviouly, I want the Celtics to win. Jared, the kid from Michigan said that he also loved Rasheed Wallace. We all look at him like, what? How do you like Rasheed? And then I remember that Wallace played for his Pistons. Jared says, "He helped us win a championship!" It was in that moment that I realized how special it is to be able to say that your team has won an NBA Championship. In the past 30 seasons, only eight, that's right, only eight franchises have won championships (Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs, Pistons, Rockets, Heat, and 76ers). There are 30 teams in the NBA, and only a handful can say that they are NBA champs. Only 4 current coaches have championship rings (Phil Jackson, Greg Popavich, Larry Brown, and Doc Rivers). There are 14 teams who have never ever won a championship, some of which include Phoenix, Orlando, Denver, Utah, Dallas, Cleveland, and others. All of these teams that I mentioned where playoff teams this year, all of which had the chance to win one, but once again, in the Finals we find two teams that have won a combined 32 championships. There are a few teams out there who have won only one, the Heat, Blazers, and SuperSonics (who no longer exist). This total domination of the NBA by a few teams to me is sickening. I can almost guarantee that I will not be watching the Finals this year cause no matter who wins, it won't even be worth celebrating.
When Jared talked about his Pistons winning back in 2004, I realized that if I could only say that my team has won just one championship, at least I would be able to hold my head up high and feel proud. I said to Jared "I wish that I could just say that about my team, winning one championship would just feel so good, even one would be enough." The my friend Ryan reminded me that that is exactly how he feels about Arizona Wildcats basketball. Back in 1997, the University of Arizona's mens basketball team made an improvable march to the final four as a number 4 seed. They finished 5th that season in the Pac-10 winning only 19 regular season games and most people did not expect them to even make it out of the first weekend of the tournament. But they made it to the Final Four beating the tournament favorite Kansas Jayhawks in the Sweet 16 and by coming from behind in every single game. They were not dominant, but they got it done. They then came from behind in the National Semifinal against North Carolina to advance to their first ever Championship game. They played Kentucky in one of the all-time most exciting final games ever played. Miles Simon, the MVP of the tournament, scored 30 points for Arizona that night as they came out on top, victorious in overtime. That game was one of the most memorable games of all time. With 2o ties and 18 lead changes, it was impossible to know who was going to finally come out on top. But by scoring 10 points in overtime, all from the free throw line, Arizona was able to finish off the defending champs from Kentucky, 84-79. It was literally Madness. Arizona was and still is the only team to knock off three number one seeds on their way to a NCAA Championship. No one, I mean no one thought they could do it. I was 9 years old. I still to this day remember the absolute joy that I felt as I saw my team win a championship. The year before in 1996, Arizona was knocked off in the Sweet 16 by Kansas. I still can remember crying the entire night. Nothing or no one could calm me down. I literally thought life would not go on from there. What to me at that time was most important, was just lost. But there was hope. I did not know it, and neither did anyone else, but the following season, that team, led by Mike Bibby and Miles Simon would make a historic drive to the championship. Arizona has since returned only once to the Final Four, losing in 2001 to Duke in the Championship game. But although I was absolutely devastated, in the back of my mind, I knew that my team still had at least one Championship. I did then, still do today, and will forever hold on to that 1997 victory with pride. They won it, and no one can ever take that from them or from me. They were National Champions.


So once again, an NBA season comes to an end for my team, the team I care about most, the Phoenix Suns. Although last night I did not cry when the game was over, well, I did plenty of internal crying, but luckily, no tears fell last night, it is hard to hold my head up and just say "Well, there is always next year." But the honest truth is what else can I say. I do not have a magic dagger or a Delorian that will allow me to go back in time, break Kobe Bryant's legs, and allow the Suns to go to Finals. So with the obvious being stated, all I can do is look forward to next season and hope that the Suns will get better (or that Kobe gets real sick, maybe from eating a fried avacado). But there are some things that I can look at from this season and be happy about. The year was not a total waste. I can be positive about some things:

1) The most important is that the Suns were not swept by the Lakers. I have been living in Utah for the past month. I hate the Utah Jazz and I very strongly do not like their fans. Even though the Suns made it to the Conference Finals and the Jazz made it to the Semis, that would not be enough to prove that the Suns are better than the Jazz. The Suns won two games against the Lakers, which is two more than the Jazz did, so I can at least hold my head high knowing that the Suns are once again, better than the Utah Jazz.


2) Steve Nash is playing like he is still in his 20's. My prediction is that he will only be around for 2 or 3 more seasons. He is getting old age wise, but his play is still young and better than any other point guard. NBA announcers are so quick to crown the new best point guard in the NBA. For a while it was Chris Paul, then when Deron Williams had some good games against the Nuggets, it was D-Will, then Rajon Rondo started to play like a stud against the Cavs and Magic and suddenly he is the best quarterback of his team. But can I please just state the obvious, no one has yet to take the crown from Steve Nash. Those other guys are great, but they are not consistently amazing every single game without getting cold like Steve Nash is for the Suns. Plus, Nash is not aging as much right now because he is getting plenty of rest, which brings me to my number 3,

3) The Phoenix Suns bench is the best in the NBA. I have been saying this for months now, but no one took time to notice them until the playoffs. Goran Dragic did have his coming out party against the Spurs in game three when he scored 26 points, 23 of which came in the fourth quarter, but if you have watched the Suns during the year, he has had other BIG games and has quickly and consitently been getting better and better. He is not only able to come in and run the team, but he gives Nash plenty of rest so that he can finish out the night. Sometimes, he plays so good that the Suns don't even need to put Nash back in. All this rest that Steve is receiving because of the great play of his backup, will prolong his career and allow him to be great for years to come.

But it is not only Dragic who is amazing, the rest of the bench has stepped up huge in huge ways. Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, Leandro Barbosa, and Sweet Lou Amundson have all shined in the spotlight of the playoffs this season. Each has had games where they have come in and been the spark that either gets the Suns back in the game or allows them to pull ahead and start blowing others out. The Suns are the only team that I know of that plays all 5 bench players at the same time. And those five guys are often going up against all or most of the opposing teams starting lineup. Nothing phases them. They play with such confidence and will attack anyone. They don't care that they are bench players, they will go after anyone, even the leagues biggest stars. I love the Suns bench and hope that all five of them are back next year.

4) With lots of off season deals that will be made this summer, Steve Kerr, the Suns General Manager may be able to find the missing piece for the Suns to help them get over the hump and make it to the Finals for the first time since 1993, when I was 5 years old. There are tons of free agents out there this off season, and although the Suns will not end up with a Lebron James or Carmelo Anthony, there are other guys who they could be the spark for this team next season. But there is one downside to all of this, Amar'e also is a free agent and he may not be coming back next season. But with a good run in the playoffs and a team that is starting to look like a possible future contender, he may just decide to stick around.

5) Alvin Gentry is amazing and is the perfect coach for this team, OK!

Although the season is over, and I do not want to say it, there is always next season. But for now, I am going to try to think about more positive things, like the World Cup that starts in two weeks. Maybe the United States will make it out of their group and make a good showing this year. But more likely, maybe, hopefully, Diego Maradona and Leo Messi will find a way to make magic happen together on the field the way that Maradona did in 1986 when he was touched by "the hand of God" and Argentina won their second world cup. The only thing that can in any way stop me from drinking my current problems away is the hope that the world cup too is not a huge disapointment like the Suns are year after year.

So well, GO SUNS, there is always next year...

The True Meaning of Hate

Hate. It is such a strong word. One that I try not to use ever. I do not remember the last time that I used the word hate to describe how I felt about another person. I have had girls lie to me, cheat on me, break up with me over text, but it didn't take me long to forgive them and I never described even my bitterest feelings towards them using the word hate. But today, I am going to use this word to describe how I truly feel for a certain person, actually a group of persons, a team, the San Antonio Spurs. This hatred that I feel comes from the fact that my team, the Phoenix Suns, cannot seem to beat them. But I am not only bitter because my favorite team plays worse than them, that is not always the case, sometimes, the Spurs get away with knees to the groin and body checks into the scorers table. Let me explain...
Back in 2007, I knew, with my whole heart, that the Suns were going to win their first championship. Everything was in place. They had been playing the best basketball of the season heading into the playoffs. They were the 2 seed in the west and the number 1 seeded Dallas Mavericks were knocked off in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. The road was paved for the Suns to make a run to the finals. But coming in their way was a dirty San Antonio team who had already beaten them in the playoffs in 2003 and 2005. The Suns lost game one at home 111-106, but came back to win game two by 20. Then it was off to San Antonio. The Suns lost a close game three in which Bruce Bowen sent his knee in the man parts of Steve Nash. (Watch Here) Bowen did not get suspended or fined for his flying knees. Then in game four, with the possibility of going down 3 games to 1, the Suns trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter before mounting a comeback. With under a minute to go the Suns took their first lead on a behind the back pass and jam from Nash to Amar'e. The Suns held a 3 point lead with about 32 seconds left. The Spurs had the chance to tie it with a three, but they missed their shot, Nash came up with the big rebound and began to bring the ball up court. The Spurs had to foul, but they did not just wrap up Nash, instead Robert Horry checked Steve Nash into the scorers table. (Watch the madness here) Nash got up obviously a quite upset, and understandably, both Amar'e and Boris Diaw, who where on the bench, stepped up to go and see what had just gone down. Neither of them got into the skirmish that ensued, but because they even took one step off the bench, they were both suspended for a pivotal game five back in Phoenix. To use a Poker term, with the suspension of their two big men, the Suns were on tilt, and although they did not lose game 4, the had just suffered a bad beat. Without their two starting big men, the Suns came out hot in game five, but they did not have the stamina to stop Tim Duncan and lost game five and the following game six back in San Antonio. It was the Spurs who committed the flagrant foul on Nash, and yes Horry was suspended, but overall it was the Suns that were penalized and lost the series because of a blow up by Robert Horry. So, I think my hate for the Spurs is quite understandable. The Spurs went on to win the Championship that year and the following season, they knocked off the Suns again in the first round of the playoffs. Not only have they beaten the Suns the last four times they have meet in the Playoffs, they have beaten them playing dirty ball. The last time the Suns won a playoff match up with the Spurs was in 2000 when a bleached blond Jason Kidd was running the point in Phoenix and Avery Johnson was not commentating on ESPN with his mouse voice, he was actually playing for the Spurs. That was 10 years ago. It has been an entire decade since the Suns have beaten the Spurs in the Playoffs. And now, in 2010, they meet again...
So the big question is will this year be any different? Once again, the Suns have home court as they are the three seed and the Spurs are the seven seed. But don't let their seed fool you. They just beat the Dallas Mavericks in six games and looked impressive in every one of their victories. The Spurs and the Suns are both different teams then they were back in 2007 and 2008. The key players are still around for both the Suns and Spurs. The Suns still have Nash and Amar'e while the Spurs have Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili. But there are lots of new additions to both teams. Many of the players did not experience those playoff series and do not truly know the hate that exist between these two teams. I think Grant Hill, who was not with the Suns for their playoff defeats said it best, "It would mean a lot to beat the Spurs, but you can't get caught up in the emotion of it and the history. You have to disassociate all that stuff and remove all that emotion from the equation and just get down and play basketball. All that ill-will and all that hate, it's all in the past. There are a lot of new faces in this locker room and Alvin [Gentry] will do a good job of making sure we stay focused and attend to the task at hand." Jason Richardson, one of those "new faces" to the Suns said "I wasn't here for that stuff. There's a lot of bad blood. Anybody who's followed the NBA or watched the NBA understands there's bad blood there. Should make it fun."
So here we go again, another Suns vs Spurs playoff match up. What will happen this year? Will we see a repeat of the past or will the Suns find a way to finally knock out and possibly literally knock down the Spurs like they have done to them so often in the past? The Suns won two of the three meetings in the regular season, the most recent being on April 7th when the Suns ran all over the Spurs holding Manu to only ten points. Ginobili, going into that game, was the hottest player in the NBA, having scored 30 or more points in 4 of the previous ten games including 43 points against the Magic. But Jared Dudley found a way to slow him down. He went out and tweeted about Ginolbili, asking the fans how to stop him. The response, make Ginobili go right. That's exactly what the Suns did and they stopped Manu from catching fire.
I truly think that the key players for both teams will have big games, they're not gonna be stopped, Amar'e and Timmy will get their points. The Suns may try to stop Duncan, but he is one of the all-time great big men and he is going to score. The key will come down to the play of some of the role players for each team. Will George Hill be able to lead the Spurs with Parker coming off the bench? Will Richard Jefferson continue to score in the playoffs and fit in with the rest of the Spurs? Will Robin Lopez be healthy enough to play and also be effective? And most importantly, will Jason Richardson be able to score like he did against the Blazers? In the Suns wins against Portland, J-Rich averaged over 28 points a game, but in their losses, he only scored 14 points per game. If Richardson can continue to shoot over 60% from the field (including 51% from 3 ) against the Spurs and if Amar'e can have big dunks like this one, this just may be the year that the Suns find a win. Another big key for the Suns will be their bench. In game 5 of the last series, the Suns bench scored more then 50% of their points. But I believe the most essential part for the Suns chances of winning will be their scoring. The Spurs are only 2-12 this season when allowing their opponent to score 100 or more points. The Suns average on the season 110 points per game. If the Suns can score, and score lots with their much improved defense, their chances of winning increase exponentially. So if you were to ask me who is going to win, of course I will say the Suns, and my true feeling is that this is going to be their year. But that does not stop me from feeling nervous about this series. It is very possible that the hate I have for the Spurs grows and grows, but hopefully, this year, finally, after so many years, I will look back on the 2010 playoffs and have a soft spot in my heart for the Spurs because the Suns were finally able to break through against them.