HOME-ROAD 22-3 as NBA welcomes the Conference Finals

Only the third road victories closed the second round saga of the 2008 NBA Playoff starring the mighty SPURS against the bravery HORNETS. In a round that included some of the best stories from 8 best teams in the league so far, home teams won their first 12 games before Billups-less PISTONS showed their experience by beating a more complete but less-experienced MAGIC. Then it went another nine in-a-row before LAKERS' superstars finished off the JAZZ, guardian of the Delta Center.

The closing game at New Orleans this morning summed up that this year NBA title wouldn't go farther than the magnificent 8 that won the last twenty eight titles, starting by Bird's CELTICS in 1981, one of their 3 titles in the 80s. Duncan's SPURS is the defending champion, with Magic's LAKERS won 5, Thomas' PISTONS had 2 consecutive, Shaq's LAKERS went 3 in-a-row, and Billups' PISTONS once in between.

As the series goes to Conference Final, it wouldn't be likely there be another sweep (although I'd like to bet for one), but some may bet that there's another 7-game series battle to the end. Every team will do everything in order to guard their homecourt advantage they desperately had during 82 regular games. Like Coach Rivers said, "We want our homecourt advantage, and we fought (82 regular games) for that!" And so be it! CELTICS has never won a single game outside Boston Garden, and must went through 7 games series twice in their journey to Eastern Conference Final, but they were a perfect 8-0 on home. LAKERS and SPURS, who were also perfect in home games, won 3 and 2 games on the road, respectively. PISTONS who lost in their first playoff games (on HOME!), went to the Eastern Final after 5-1 home record and 3-2 record on the road.

So... what does it take to advance to the Final? A road win, i guess. Just one.

Ada Apa Di Celtics? Ketika babak kedua sudah di depan mata...

Penggemar NBA sebenarnya sudah bersiap-siap melihat akhir dari babak I playoff (dengan hormat, tanpa mengecilkan fans Atlanta Hawks, tapi mereka tidak dirancang untuk membuat kejutan sejauh ini!), andai saja Boston Celtics bisa membuat paling tidak 2 field goal di menit terakhir untuk memenangkan game 6 tadi pagi. Sayangnya itu tidak terjadi, dan sementara ini fans Celtics sedang tidak habis pikir akan keadaan ini. Tim dengan rekor terbaik melawan tim terburuk; sesuatu yang sepertinya mudah, bahkan tidak mustahil dengan 4-0. Tim terbaik di Barat, L.A. Lakers telah memberi contoh bagaimana seharusnya hasil akhir yang benar jika tim peringkat pertama bertemu dengan tim terlemah.

Game yang dilaksanakan serentak pagi tadi sepertinya telah dirancang untuk menjadi penutup rangkaian drama babak I playoff NBA 2008, yang walaupun dihiasi perlawanan tim yang lebih inferior, tetap saja tak mampu menahan laju tim unggulan. Washington Wizards yang mengejutkan Cleveland Cavaliers saat unggul di Ohio, malah tenggelam di kandang sendiri oleh triple-double LeBron James. Houston Rockets yang berharap Rafer Alston kembali bisa merubah hoki mereka saat menghadapi garangnya Delta Center, akhirnya takluk oleh Utah Jazz. Tapi ternyata 3pt Joe Johnson dalam selang menit terakhir mampu merusak acara terakhir, hingga Cavs paling tidak dapat beristirahat 2 hari lebih lama, sambil berharap akan mendapat lawan yang lebih ringan.

Dan saat minggu pagi besok dipertandingkan partai pembuka babak II di kandang New Orleans Hornets yang kedatangan San Antonio Spurs, para petinggi stasiun televisi ABC bakal terus memutar otak; akankah mereka melakukan segala upaya agar skenario partai klasik Lakers-Celtics tetap terjadi di final NBA 2008?