Well it’s official, we will not be having a first time NBA champ this season. Quite the opposite actually.

Lakers, Spurs, Celtics, and Pistons. Together they account for thirty seven of the sixty one NBA championships that have been won since the NBA was founded as the Basketball Association of America back in 1946. Every one of said franchises has had a time in NBA lore when it was considered the dominant club (in the case of San Antonio, that time would be the present) in the league. And it would be difficult to imagine a more established and respected group of franchises represented in the conference finals than what we have this year.

So which will be the one to raise the Larry O’Brien trophy in about a month? Well that topic is for a couple weeks time, we’ll just deal with the here and now by grabbing a rundown of the Conference Finals slated to get underway tonight in Boston.

Eastern Conference

Boston v. Detroit

Let’s see, we’ve got the Celtics. Team with all those titles, but are making just their second conference finals appearance in twenty years. The team that had the league’s best road record during the season but can’t win on the road in the playoffs. One wonders if the Knicks could have taken them to seven games.

Then there’s Detroit. Is it safe to start calling these guys the Atlanta Braves of basketball? This is their sixth consecutive trip to the conference finals with just one title(’04) which was earned under heavy underdog status and a Finals appearance a year later. All done with a core of players that has remained somewhat intact through the years. Tyshawn Prince, Chauncey Billlups, and Richard Hamilton have been with the team for all six appearances and Rasheed Wallace is here for his fifth.

Boston won the season series two games to one, and each team won a game on the opposing team’s home floor(imagine that Celtics). If Boston wants to get by these guys they’ll have to do it again. This isn’t a young group of newbies(Atlanta) or a club personified by one player(Cleveland), Detroit’s chemistry as a bunch of veteran guys who’ve been together for a significant period of time is going to be a huge advantage over Boston, who thanks to all of the key additions to the team prior to and during the season are the complete opposite.

Boston wins if: The homecourt record stays intact, Rondo wins head to head against Billups, Allen and Cassell realize that the season is still in progress.

Detroit wins if: Sheed plays at the top of his game, the D locks down on KG. Laimbeer smacks down on Ainge(ooops, time warp flashback).

Petey’s heart pick(Celtics in 6)….the real pick(Pistons in 6)…the Celtics just need more time to gel. Unfortunately, it may be too late for Ray Allen. If his game is on a permanent downswing, the door for the Celts may close for good without another significant offseason move.

Western Conference

Lakers v San Antonio

First a quick bit to vent about last night’s Hornets/Spurs game. It’s utterly clear that while New Orleans has the talent, they didn’t quite have the mindset or experience necessary to be able to finish off San Antonio. Just as obvious was that San Antonio did, while the Hornets tried to lean on their star players(West/Paul), the Spurs got critical contributions from several of the role players….Udoka, Finley, and heck…let’s change “Cheap Shot” Bob’s nickname back to “Big Shot” while we’re at it. The Hornets answer in that department was a fourth quarter flurry from Jannero Pargo….that isn’t gonna get it done. Not against that crew. But props to New Orleans on giving the reeling city in the Bayou another reason to be proud.

I’m thinking that the Spurs matchup even better against LA than against the Hornets. Derek Fisher isn’t going to put up Chris Paul like numbers, and certainly isn’t going to be able to slow down Tony Parker. Pau Gasol should have trouble with the Spurs frontcourt presence. Manu will get his.

And mind you…which Laker will get the wonderful pleasure of being guarded by Bruce Bowen?? Lotsa fun that’ll be I bet.

Of course, the best player on the floor will be wearing the purple and gold and Kobe’s presence will be needed, and Lamar Odom will HAVE to be a night in and night out guy in this series.

The two clubs split four regular season games with the home court team winning each time.

(To say nothing the two coaches here….haven’t they coached about 467 NBA titles between the two of them…what….thirteen of them…..really? Close enough)

Spurs win if: Key contributions from bench/role players continue en masse….they’re just deeper in that regard.

Lakers win if: Kobe goes beserk and continues for entire series. Gasol develops a mean streak, Charles Barkley picks them to lose(But don’t worry, he’s never going to bet or gamble….ever again…trust him).

Petey’s heart pick(Lakers in 7….gawd I want a Celtics/Lakers series soooooo bad!) Reality check: (Spurs, aka The Borg in 5)

Pistons/Spurs? Send me a postcard, at least the Stanley Cup Final will be going on….. wha?….they’ll be done??? Arghh……..

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