04/25/24
May 30, 2010
SportsFilter: The Sunday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I wanted Orlando to make the finals, but this matchup will get strong ratings because these are two of the most storied franchises in the NBA and they're in big TV markets. I'll bet if you had polled fans beforehand about which of the four possible combinations they wanted to see, Boston-LA wins in a walk.
posted by rcade at 10:12 AM on May 30, 2010
I'll bet if you had polled fans beforehand about which of the four possible combinations they wanted to see, Boston-LA wins in a walk.
I don't know. I think there might have been some love for seeing Nash and Hill make it to the finals for the first time.
posted by grum@work at 10:30 AM on May 30, 2010
Boston-Phoenix would have been sorta fun because there's some wild prior history there. The announcers would have gotten some mileage out of it at any rate.
I think this Finals is a big deal because of legacy, posterity, etc., but also because these are two focused, determined teams. This series should qualify as a collision, and that should be worth watching.
Rasheed was on hand to help with the dismantling of the Lakers by Detroit in 2004. It will be interesting to see how he figures into this series.
I know people have Boston-LA fatigue, but with all the historic connections and themes at play here, this might be the last "hallowed ground" Finals we see for some time. At least between these two teams. This feels like the last roundup.
Accordingly, Commissioner Stern should do the right thing and switch the series back to the classic 2-2-1-1-1 game format instead of the miserable 2-3-2 that many people detest. Just for this one time anyway. A final lap with a little bygone majesty and drama. And maybe a Game 7.
posted by beaverboard at 10:34 AM on May 30, 2010
Accordingly, Commissioner Stern should do the right thing and switch the series back to the classic 2-2-1-1-1 game format instead of the miserable 2-3-2 that many people detest.
The problem is that it leads to an INSANE amount of extra travel for everyone involved.
2-3-2 has two cross-country flights (LA to Boston and Boston to LA).
2-2-1-1-1 has four cross-country flights.
That's a significant amount of extra time and money for the league, teams and press.
posted by grum@work at 10:43 AM on May 30, 2010
I know the travel and expense is a killer, I just wish the NBA would make the gesture.
Besides, the Finals schedule is an illogical mess as it is currently planned.
Twice they go from a Thursday game to a Sunday game with no travel in between. A cushion of two full days off, including between Games 1 and 2.
Then they have only one day between games as the series heads back out to LA after Game 5, and then again only one day between Games 6 and 7.
If anything, they should reverse the day off allotments in the schedule and put the extra time off toward the end of the series and get more fan interest and momentum going by having just one day off between Games 1 and 2.
Then the teams would have more left in the tank if we got to a Game 6 or 7.
posted by beaverboard at 11:05 AM on May 30, 2010
I'm glad to see Indians pitcher David Huff okay after taking an A-Rod line drive to the temple. The video of it is quite unsettling, so view with caution.
posted by NerfballPro at 12:16 PM on May 30, 2010
Who says soccer is not a sport with hard physical contact? I looked at youtube this morning, but could find no video. If someone finds it later on, I'd love to see it.
posted by Howard_T at 01:36 PM on May 30, 2010
I'd add my name to a petition of those who would rather not have to drool mindlessly through Lakers-Celtics again.
posted by boredom_08 at 03:00 PM on May 30, 2010
Angels celebrate calmly after Kendrick's walkoff home run
posted by tommybiden at 09:52 PM on May 30, 2010
I did find a photo Howard_T. It's not pretty.
posted by BoKnows at 10:09 PM on May 30, 2010
Thanks, Bo, no human leg should ever bend in that way.
posted by Howard_T at 03:13 PM on May 31, 2010
One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi, four Mississippi, five Mississippi.
The Celtics vs the Lakers for the NBA championship. Again. I'm sure that the fans of the respective teams are happy, but I could care less. And I don't believe that I am alone in that feeling. Personally, I hope that the games get the lowest viewer rating of all time. I can't see anyone but Celtic and Laker fans wanting to watch yet another matchup between these two teams.