Locker Room Talk Volume One

Is it Cleveland or Los Angeles?

As the NBA regular season closes, the league ushers in yet another exciting postseason war.

Just like last year, the protagonists for the 2009 NBA Playoffs had to endure different journeys to get to where they are. Rising (Orlando Magic) and traditional powerhouses (San Antonio Spurs), comeback teams (Chicago Bulls), disappointments (Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Hornets) and even surprise entries (Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers) make up the background of this year’s NBA elite.

Did I say background? Yes I did, since all these teams would be slugging it out whoever meets who.

However, there are two teams who I think will take centerstage as the season comes to its climax. Both are number one seeds, both have legitimate MVP candidates and both boasts of a very prolific supporting cast. Oh, one more thing, both had to endure the pain of losing to separate opponents in the last two NBA Finals, so I guess both teams have their eyes on taking home the Larry O’Brien trophy this year.

Ladies and gentlemen, they are the Cleveland Cavaliers, champions of the East, and the Los Angeles Lakers, the best in the West.

My best friend back in high school, Renel Donguya, and I had a heated discussion as to which we think would win it all this year. A few months back both of us agreed that LA, bannered by last year’s MVP Kobe Bryant, will steamroll everyone that would come its way. Come to think of it, it’s probably safe to assume that the ”Lake Show” will bring back the gold back in Hollywood. Bryant has a powerful post presence in Pau Gasol, an intimidating Andrew Bynum to man the paint, a pesky wing defender in Trevor Ariza and a solid sixth man in Lamar Odom.

Renel still says the Lakers will win this year and Bryant will be cementing his place alongside the company of Laker greats Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and even coming close to his comparisons with who-else but His Airness Michael Jordan.

I changed my mind though as the regular season came to an end, I think the other MVP candidate who would most likely win the award this year, should be given credit for the ascension of his team on top of the NBA ladder. 24 year old manchild LeBron James deserves all the credit for giving the league a taste of all around play this year. Heck, former Houston Rockets coach turned sportscaster Jeff Van Gundy even said that LBJ should win not just the MVP award but the Most Improved Player (because his game is forever evolving) and Defensive Player of the Year award too (very Jordanesque huh?).

Throw in undersized but very talented starting guard combo of Mo Williams and Delonte West, a potent frontline of Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and Joe Smith, and a bench attack led by Daniel Gibson and Wally Szcerbiak, it looks like LeBron’s support cast is finally complete.

With the NBA best record, homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs and only one loss at home this season (even if the Lakers beat them big time here), I’d place my money on the King and his court to give Kobe and his boys another stinging loss in the NBA Finals for the second straight year.

Lakers or Cavaliers? Take your pick, the poll is at the right hand corner.

Parting shots: Tim Duncan and the Spurs and Allen Iverson

Renel says the Spurs will march on to the Western Conference finals and even give the Lakers a run for their money. Why? He believes that Tim Duncan will again resurrect come playoff time and give his team a much needed lift even if Manu Ginobili is out for the rest of the season including the playoffs.

I say the Spurs will have a hard time getting past the first round as they face the surging Dallas Mavericks in yet another exciting chapter of these two teams colorful intrastate rivalry. Note that the Mavs won Game 1 relying on the "bench attack" led by Jason Terry, J.J. Barea and Brandon Bass. Game 2 is in progress today.

Renel still says that the Spurs can do it because it’s an “odd” year. Remember the Spurs won their previous championships in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

I say they can’t, because they don’t have their resident “Hitman” Robert Horry in the line-up this year.

Renel was infuriated with the fact that Detroit coach Michael Curry chose to bench Allen Iverson and gave more playing time to the likes of Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey. He says, Iverson just wants to help his team in whatever way he can, just don’t let him come off the bench.

To quote Renel, “AI can still average 25 points per game.”

I said, he may be capable of doing so but I think he’s not capable of winning anymore unlike when he was in Philadelphia. I even cited how well Denver is doing now with Chauncey Billups, unlike when Iverson was manning the point.

Then Renel told me that there are rumors that AI may be headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves next season. It’ll be interesting to watch if he can jell with up and coming stars Al Jefferson and Randy Foye.

Let’s wait and see if this becomes a reality next season. I’m pretty sure some team will gamble in AI’s veteran presence and star power.