The Construct

It’s such a bad thing that the NBA playoff games air during the mornings this side of the planet especially if you’re rooting for the Celtics (at least until they get swept by LBJ and the Cavs, then I’d start cheering for the East in the Finals). I have watched almost every single game the Celtics played and with their penchant for overtime games and late rallies, it has been a stressful stretch for me as a fan.

Since most of their games air 8 PM ET (8 AM Manila due to DST), that meant I have to work as I watch. While I do get the work done (master multi-tasker here), I just feel so tired after win or lose for the Cs.

Just last game, I was so relieved and yet so drained after Big Baby sank the game winner. Game 5 this morning, I turned the game off when the Cs were 14 down since I couldn’t bear to watch a blowout (and risk my mood dropping until I get into a condition where I can’t work). Even if I did keep the show on, I would’ve been so riled up by the late rally and win that adrenaline would’ve screwed my body up.

I just can’t wait for the Cs to be swept by the Cavs (I’m pegging Cs in 6 or 7 versus the Magic) so that I could only care less after. Still, I’d be cheering on LBJ against the Rapist.

Yes! After 82 games for each of the 30 team of the regular season, we’re down to just the top 8 for each conference. I always favored the playoffs over the regular season due to the heightened grit and intensity when glory is at stake.

Last season, I was rooting for the Celtics all because I wanted KG to get his ring. This year, I don’t think they deserve a repeat by the way they played for most of the season.

While I want D. Wade to restore his glory and rest all doubts to his capabilities, I think El Heat won’t last past the second round.

I still have that any team but the Lakers mentality and since the Lakers are realistically the best in the West, I’ll be rooting for the East. I’m quite adamant to go for the Cavs but their NBA best regular season record has got to count for something and with homecourt advantage, they will be the team to beat.

My MVP pick goes to LeBron and I hope he gets a ring to cap off an amazing season.

Now, if only I had cable to watch the games. I’m seriously considering burning $30 for an NBA League Pass for the Playoffs but with a crappy Globelines connection, it’s a considerable risk . Haha.

I am a sports nut and I’ve been paying attention to a lot of sporting events this year. (Except for tennis, though. Pretty Russian players aside, never liked the sport.) I have teams that I root for and teams that I hate. Unfortunately for me, most of them fell on their way to championships.

Too bad, aside from the Olympics, there isn’t much anything more that I’ll be following this year until seasons start again later this year. Here’s my take for this year in sports.

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I’ve been rooting for the Heat since last and I still am. It’s tough to expect a playoff run with Dwyane out with a separated shoulder. But it’s not impossible.

If there’s one word to sum up the Heat’s lackluster performance as defensive champs, it’d be “injuries.” Key players have been down unhealthy. Shaq had a knee injury and he’ll never be just as nimble and quick as age catches up to him. Jason Williams has also been out for the better part of the first half .

Come to think of it, Miami’s bench isn’t that shallow. Let’s see, they’ve got James Posey and Eddie Jones - both of whom are effective scorers. Udonis Haslem and Zo Mourning are tough challenges inside. Not to mention, they’ve got the reigning 3-ball champ Jason Kapono to provide the outside touch. Still, the best option is a two-man game of Shaq and J-Will. Provided that they’d stay healthy, they might just pull through.

It’s time to step up and the rest of the team just needs to up the tempo and fill in the void left by D-Wade.

What can I say about the last minute roster shuffling? Not much. There weren’t any too big trades to .

Well for one, the Chicago Bulls really, made the push with the trade of Ben Gordon and Luol Deng to the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol. So far, everyone in the Bulls seemed mediocre with no one racking up close to 30 PPG. That said so much about them as a team, how they share the ball, and how everyone just practically contributes.

The Bulls do need a big man up front as Ben Wallace didn’t last too long being unhealthy for the good part of the season. This would give Kirk Hinrich some room to shine but as far as I see, it’d be a two-man game in Chicago.

Anyway, the Jason Kidd trade didn’t push through. Phoenix could have used his playmaking ability with MVP Steve Nash suffering a bad back.

So as far as the East is concerned it seems like Detroit got the most out of getting Chris Webber. Now Webber’s getting old but you can’t deny that he’s one of the best big man passers in the league. He can still extend the defense with an outside touch. So that’d mean more space for the Detroit guards to operate.

So duds are duds. Jason Kidd will remain with a non-contender team. LeBron James will not get the point guard that he needs. And most of the better players that deserve some playoff runs will not get there.