Go Spurs Go

And so Tim Duncan clinched his 3rd title of his career. Me thinks TD is not done yet. Remember, all throughout this playoffs, TD is coming off from injuries left-right but still was able to get another ring. Not even 30, he still got 4-5-6 good years in the tank therefore possibly taking a couple more hardware. The pieces are in place for him to do so: (1) Manu Ginobili career is surging. (2) He's got a decent big in Mohammed. (3) Still capable tandem of oldies in Barry and Horry. (4) Nice young reserves. Therefore, they've got to be the team to beat in 2006. Now, if Tony Parker can only hit his 18 footer and farther shots, it would be a lock. This guy, Tony, hasn't improve his game in a couple of years. Now approaching his mid-20s, let's see if he has anything to show next year other than Eva.

Come next season, there would not be much marquee player movements, so by the process of elimination, let's see who'll will take it all next year. In the East, it will still be the triangle of Indiana, Heat and Detroit. It will be very intriguing to see what Indy has to offer now the Uncle Reggie has left the building. This coming season, I sense that as soon as good boy Ron Artest is on the hardwood again, now that Stephen Jackson is formally Pacers 2 guard, Tinsley's and Jermaine's all healed up, I put this team over the Heat. I'll put everything on the line here, I say Shaq O'Neal is quite done. Approaching 34, with so much weight to carry around, he's body is givin up on him. No amount if conditioning can make a body carry 350 pounds day in day out. I'll bet my bottom peso he will not register 60 regular season games. Other than Wade, I do not see much fire power in that team. And assuming that the Diesel is "100 per cent" healthy, his 100% nowadays is roughly equal to 70% of yesteryears. It is is interesting to note that, in Shaq's Championship Years, when he was 100% full throttle, with KOBE as his tag team partner, he did not get his belts that easy. They had it very very tight in Portland and Sacramento in different years. And now that his 100% is not really a hundred per cent, it would not come easy. In fact, it will be hard. So hard, that Pat Riley will realize there is no point in exteding Shaq's Miami run. In the end, it will be Indiana versus Detroit in the east. Detroits core will still be intact and maybe Darko will finally play but up until I know who'll coach the Pistons, ill put the east on hold. (I can't decide the East, what with Brown, flirting with the Cavs. In case, Who then will handle the pistons? Why not Laimbeer?)

As for the west, assuming only minor tweaks in the line up will happen, I see only 2 teams that are capable of dethroning the spurs, the Rockets and the Suns. I like Nowitzki's game but this guy needs help bad. Dampier is shaky and the scoring punch of Finley and Stackhouse is getting old. Finley's mileage is so high. If Cuban can't fixed this line up as well as his hairdo, the Dallas will make the play-offs for series or two then adios again. Not even conference finals. As early as now, we read that Phoenix is making some moves to get a center, so they can move Stoudemire back to 4. NY Kurt Thomas is being mentioned in exchange for Richardson. Regardless of posotion, Stoudemire's game is SCARY. Real Scary. I smell something big for Amare. This guy will be breaking records next season. And then, there's the Rockets, 10 years after the Dream put the Houston on the sporting map, they now again have a chance. With Yao and McGrady playing together for a year, they should be a factor in the west. If I remember it correctly, their GM won the front office award, so maybe, we can expect the Yao-TMac combo to be flanked by complementary players. Maybe younger players this time. But in the end, a team will remaining standing, celebrating once again. Back to back. I can not wait for next season.



The Spoon Fed LA/Kobe segment below...

What about my beloved Lakers... The drama is now back in L.A. MaZter Zen is back, and now with a vengeance. He wants to prove the he can build a TEAM. A TEAM who's foundation is, Ahem, Ahem, KOBE BRYANT! Let see now what Kobe has to offer, now that he is the main man of a structured team. Last year is a mess. Odom does not even know his position! They have as many Hollywood Stars in the courtside as their Small Forwards. L.A. has a lot of fixin to do. Positions 1 and 5 at the top of the list. If only Yao and Amare are available now. But then again, I do not know if they have cap space to take either one. But then again part 2, why the hell would Yao leave TMac for another premaddona baller in Kobe. And, why the hell part 2, would Amare go to LA, if he is the King Sun and possibly King NBA, meaning NBA MVP next year.