Burning questions: Is this the real Finals?
ESPN.com
The showdown in the Western Conference finals continues tonight with Game 5 between the Blazers and Lakers, with the site shifting back to the Staples Center in L.A.
Over the past weekend the series took a sharp turn, as the Lakers won twice in Portland. Before that, the Blazers had whipped the Lakers in Game 2 in Los Angeles. With the series possibly ending in Game 5, we return to our Q&A series with ESPN's NBA experts. And today's question is a simple one, backed up by the relative strength the top two teams in the NBA record-wise have shown this year:
Is this series essentially for the NBA title?
Ramsay |
NBA analyst Dr. Jack Ramsay
No. The winner still has to play the winner from the East. While the Lakers and the Blazers are the two best teams in the league, only one of them will survive. Then that team will be challenged by whatever team comes out of the East. For example, if it had been Miami, the Heat did a good job against Shaq. He had one of his worst games against Miami on March 5 (17 points, 5-of-17 shooting), and Alonzo Mourning outscored Shaq in the teams' two meetings. |
Carter |
NBA analyst Fred Carter
I said it long ago that the winner of the Western Conference
would be the NBA champion. I still believe that, probably in a four- or
five-game series. I believe the Lakers-Blazers series will go seven games,
especially with Portland winning Game 2. |
Aldridge |
NBA reporter David Aldridge
Yes, I think so. They are the two best and most consistent teams in the league. I don't think the Finals will be a walk-over. Neither team will sweep or dominate. The Finals will be hotly contested. But the Lakers and the Blazers have more weapons and more ability to win the series than any of the teams out East. |
Jackson |
NBA 2Night's Jason Jackson
With all apologies to my friends in the Eastern Conference,
yes. I just think both teams are superior to any of the teams remaining in
the East. They have more offensive firepower and defensive excellence. The
Knicks and the Pacers have played tremendous defensive basketball in the
playoffs. But they haven't played teams like the Blazers and the Lakers, who
have so many offensive options. |
Bucher |
ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher
I'm not as much of a believer that there is a disparity
between the top two teams in the East and the West. Since it's Knicks-Pacers, I
think either one of those two teams could make it an interesting series. But
ultimately, I think whoever wins the Western Conference finals will be the
best team and will be the favorite going into the NBA Finals primarily they will
also have the homecourt advantage, which will be a big factor.
|
|
