Summer is finally getting started, which can only mean two things. Obviously, I am talking about a #21 Bros Only Vacation, but more importantly it's time to crown an NBA Champion. LeBron, his BFF Delonte West, and the rest of the Cavaliers are watching from home, and it appears that the planets are back in order. With Cleveland and Orlando falling, it looked like the Lake Show would run away with another title, but after watching Pierce light it up and Rajon Rondo emerge as one of the leagues best PGs (after D-Will of course), Doc Rivers and his squad could very realistically make it 2 titles in 3 years. Like always, you can count on Fuerto to give you the most in-depth analysis, as well as plenty of pointless trivia.
No doubt Rondo is a stud, as he leads all remaining players in both assists (9.8) and steals (2.3). He has stepped up his game big time, and is a jump shot away from being on the same level as Deron Williams. On the other hand, it's hard to go wrong with Derek Fisher, because every time I see him, I see flashbacks of him in a Jazz jersey knocking the Warriors out of the playoffs in 2007, one of the most heroic moments in NBA history. Fisher lives for June, and will show that he still has plenty left in the tank.
The big matchup of the series is at the SG position where NBA legends Kobe and Ray will duke it out. The Black Mamba has scored 30+ points in 10 out his last 11 games, and shows no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, Ray has been held to single digits 5 times in the postseason, and seems content deferring the big plays to Pierce and Rondo. Allen has to step up in order for Boston to take the series.
Kobe is no question the best player in the series, but Paul Pierce is playing pretty damn good too, averaging just over 19 per game. But it's a lot tougher when you have a "Tru Warier" guarding you. Lil Ron-Ron hasn't done a whole lot offensively, with 4 exceptions, but plays lock down D almost up to the standards of Ken Carter, and is still a much better shooter than he is a rapper. This is the matchup I'm looking most forward too, and I've got a feeling that Artest is gonna come up big.
Gasol-Garnett is going to be another classic, as KG will have to pick on someone his own size, which is always more fun to watch. After a huge performance against Cleveland, he was pretty quiet against Orlando, except for Game 4. If he gets dominated by Pau, watch for Big Baby to get some extended minutes. Oh yeah, and that band aid on your forehead - not a good look.
Perhaps the most important stat about Kendrick Perkins is his impressive 0.4 technical fouls per game, by far the highest of all remaining players. You know its bad when Rasheed Wallace isn't even your biggest threat to get T'd up. For LA, Bynum is probably the most inconsistant player on the squad. He went from 21-11 to 6-4 in back to back games against OKC and 17-14 to 0-4 against Utah. He should be good for 2 or 3 games, and will take up a lot of space for the remaining games.
Just some random thoughts on the benches... Sasha Vujacic reminds me of the Monstars after they give back the NBA players' talent, but he's also dating Maria Sharapova, clearly trying to outdo Lamar Odom... I love watching Rasheed Wallace sitting next to Brian Scalabrine on the bench... Adam Morrison is actually getting paid over $5 Million a year, just over twice as much as Rajon Rondo... Luke Walton has been referred to as the hardest worker on the team, but to quote Charles Barkley "If you go out with a girl and they say she has a great personality, she's ugly. If they tell you a guy works hard, he can't play a lick. Same thing"...I wouldn't count on much at all, except for some good high fives... That's all I got...Fuerto out.
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